0170 Favor

Words : 1148 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

0170 Favor Lupin gave a bitter smile and looked at the young wizard across the table with admiration. He knew that Bryan had seen through his intentions, but he still hoped to persuade him to accept his request. "There is one more thing I need to ask you, Bryan." Lupin said earnestly, waiting for Bryan's response. "Let's hear it, Remus." Bryan said, gesturing to the empty chair in front of him. He poured a cup of tea for Lupin and offered it to him. Although he had some resentment towards the man lupin wanted to avenge who had cuckolded Professor Snape, whom he respected, Bryan did not want to be too narrow-minded. He was willing to listen to what Lupin had to say. Lupin hesitated for a moment, then nodded gratefully and took the seat opposite Bryan. He felt the warmth of the tea in his throat, which calmed his nerves a bit. Although he was respected by the children in the school, He was well aware that he was an unwelcome werewolf in the wizarding world. He appreciated that Bryan, who knew his secret, was still able to talk to him civilly. There were not many wizards who would do that. "There is something that worries me, Bryan. I hope you can do me a favor." Lupin said in a low voice, meeting Bryan's gaze. Bryan leaned his chin on his hands and listened quietly, without giving any indication of his thoughts. "You know, Bryan, I turn into a werewolf every full moon night." Lupin said matter-of-factly, as if he was talking about the weather. "I know that, Remus. And I also know that you can't teach when that happens." Bryan said, raising his eyebrows. "Do you want me to take over your classes for a few days every month?" "No, no, that's not it. Dumbledore has already arranged that. Professor Snape will temporarily replace me during those days." Lupin said quickly, as if he was afraid that Bryan would refuse him because of that. Bryan smiled, thinking that his old professor would finally get to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. He wondered how Snape would cope with the curse that seemed to haunt that position, and whether he would last a full year. "The first full moon after I joined Hogwarts will be at the beginning of next month. In a few days, I will start taking small doses of a diluted wolfsbane potion, as prescribed by Professor Snape. But he told me that since I have never taken this potion before, it might not work as well as expected. It might not suppress my aggression completely. So I told Dumbledore about this, and you can imagine, Bryan, how terrible it would be if I lost control in the school. I can't take that risk." Lupin said calmly, as if he was not talking about himself. Bryan was silent for a moment, then gave a slight smile and narrowed his eyes. "Dumbledore told me that the wizard who tried to break into the Black family mansion last night was not Black, but a dark wizard who was after the Ministry of Magic's reward. I agree with him, we both know Black, and we know he doesn't have that skill." Lupin said, as he looked at Bryan. "Oh?" Bryan replied, as he met Lupin's gaze, smiling calmly. "Then, who does Headmaster Dumbledore think that dark wizard is?" Bryan asked sarcastically, as he leaned back on his chair and looked at Lupin with a vague smile. "Dumbledore has no idea either." Lupin said honestly, as he shrugged his shoulders. "But he confirmed one thing, Sirius Black is not hiding in the old Manor of the Black family." Lupin explained before Bryan could ask any questions. "Phineas Black was a former headmaster of Hogwarts, and his portraits are in both the headmaster's office and the Black family mansion. Last night, Dumbledore asked Headmaster Black to go back to the Black Manor and check, and he confirmed that there was no one alive in that house." Lupin said, as he pointed to the Daily Prophet that had a picture of the Black family crest on the front page. "Thank you for sharing the news, Lupin. I was planning to ask my friends at the Ministry of Magic about Black's incident last night. I think working with you is a smart decision." Bryan said, as he picked up the bitter tea to refresh himself. He took a sip, and nodded at Lupin, as he appreciated his honesty and cooperation. The sun rose higher in the sky, and cast its golden light on the land. In the alley in front of the house, an unlucky wizard who had violated the temporary management regulations and apparated to Hogsmeade was cursing and paying a fine to an official of the Magical Law Enforcement Department that Bryan had never seen before. But as soon as he turned his head, the officer pocketed the money for himself. "So what if you know?" Bryan said indifferently, as he shrugged his shoulders and walked to the door. He looked at the distant hill that had become clear under the sunlight, and his eyes sparkled with a faint light. He saw the isolated house on the hill that had lost its gloom and revealed its shabbiness. Bryan's brow moved slightly, and he suddenly felt that the Shrieking Shack was a good place for that soul curse research. It was quiet, remote, and he did not have to worry about anyone breaking in, nor did he have to worry about Dumbledore spying on him in that house. "What does it matter?" Bryan returned to the bedroom, ready to repair the bed board that was crushed by Hagrid. As he turned around, he muttered again, as if he was talking to himself, or to someone who was not there. "Please tell me!" At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, in Hagrid's hut, the gentle and elegant Professor Lupin frowned. He had just finished tucking Hagrid in with a blanket, who had drunk himself into a stupor after raiding half of the wine cellar of the Three Broomsticks pub. He could hear Hagrid's loud snores, mixed with occasional sobs and murmurs of his beloved hippogriff, Buckbeak, who was doomed to be executed by the Ministry of Magic. He turned to look at Harry and Ron, who were as quiet as mice, and Hermione, who was mortified and wished she could disappear. He saw their guilty faces, and he felt angry and disappointed, as he knew that they had skipped their herbology class, and had broken the school rules, to visit Hagrid. "If I remember correctly, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, you three should be in Professor Sprout's herbology class, not Hagrid's hut." ******************************* For More Chapters; /FicFrenzy

0170 Favor

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