Chapter 248: Opening Feast 1993
“Professor Lupin, Professor Lupin…”
Harry’s call brought Lupin back from his daze.
The Thestral Carriage was parked below the foyer steps, warm bright lights streaming from inside, ghost cheers, student murmurs, the whistling of the evening breeze over the tower and courtyard, all the castle’s sounds just as they were, Professor McGonagall standing at the door to greet them, small boats of first-year students drifting on the distant Black Lake.
“Hogwarts, long time no see,” Lupin said in his heart.
He had never thought he could return here, a place that could be called his second home, the best place in his memories. After contracting lycanthropy, he had wandered everywhere, but here he had spent his most stable student years, making friends like James.
That figure stood in front of the foyer, wearing an ink-green robe, her hair in a neat bun, black-rimmed glasses on, holding an orange-red small lamp in her hand.
“Second year and above students, proceed to the Great Hall. Do not linger in the foyer or on the steps. Do not hinder the first-year students.” Professor McGonagall’s voice echoed in the foyer.
Lupin subconsciously touched the patch on his sleeve, not quite daring to meet the professor’s eyes, even wanting to hide behind the students to slip through the foyer, but in the end he didn’t evade her: “Professor McGonagall…”
Professor McGonagall also saw this former student of hers and gave a gentle smile: “Remus, you should have returned to the school earlier. Filius and I would have had much less work.”
When Lupin saw Professor McGonagall’s slightly aged face and met her gaze, the awkwardness and restraint in his heart suddenly dissipated: “When I received Headmaster Dumbledore’s appointment letter, I had just found a new job in Wiltshire. The shopkeeper is a kind person, and it wasn’t convenient to resign immediately.”
“The task of setting up the Great Hall for this school year is yours.” Professor McGonagall looked at him gently.
“I guarantee I won’t let you down.”
Lupin paused slightly. “There’s one more thing. On the way back to school, Dementors broke into the Express Train. No students were injured, but Harry fainted…”
“I’ll have him go to Poppy later for a check-up.”
Professor McGonagall stayed at the foyer to greet the first-year students. Lupin followed behind the students into the Great Hall. A full moon hung above the magical dome, casting clean silver radiance. The long tables were just as they had been decades ago, square and sturdy, with mottled annual ring patterns unfolding beneath the tung oil, ancient and simple.
Slightly more refined tablecloths were laid on the high table, and in the center sat a familiar figure, a hundred-year-old wizard with silver hair and beard.
“Head… Headmaster Dumbledore.” Lupin was somewhat dazed.
“Remus, your willingness to return to teach at the school is a great help.” Dumbledore’s voice was very warm, his face beaming with a smile.
Seeing the headmaster, Lupin felt as if he were back at that first meeting in his eleventh year. He had always wanted to return here, but these years had not been very dignified.
“You know all the deans well. Let me introduce you to a few elective professors. This is Melvin, this is Victor, Bathsheba…”
Magical candles floated in mid-air swaying. On several adjacent seats to the side of the high table, Melvin, Flitwick, and Lupin sat side by side. The banquet hadn’t formally begun yet; the table had only some desserts and drinks, bubbles rising and bursting in the wine, a gentle warmth flowing from the fireplace. Every detail exuded comfort and reassurance.
Melvin had also just arrived at the school not long ago, wearing that brown trench coat, weathered from wind and rain, not soaked like a drowned rat but with some fine wrinkles, not quite smooth.
Lupin was wearing that shabby robe, with several patches at the sleeve joints. The two looked somewhat alike in their rushed, disheveled appearances.
Sitting in this Great Hall, Lupin suddenly felt himself relax completely. The awkwardness and anxiety, and even the panic of the full moon night, were all left outside the castle. This warm, stable feeling let him unwind, and even recounting the Dementor encounter on the train felt calm.
“Hot beer, hot chocolate, or champagne?” Professor Flitwick asked across one seat, holding a copper pot with sweet aroma wafting from the spout.
“Hot chocolate.” Melvin handed over a wine glass.
“Didn’t ask you. You’re already a professor who’s been teaching for two years. Don’t you know to get your own drink?” Flitwick grumbled as he poured hot chocolate for him, then looked up at Lupin. “Butterbeer? You liked drinking this when you were a student.”
“Professor, you still remember…”
“Who can remember the preferences of students from decades ago? I just think students all like drinking this.” Flitwick poured him a glass of Butterbeer, half full of buttery foam. “You just said Dementors appeared on the train and Harry fainted because of it. Is the situation serious? Were any other students injured?”
“No one was injured.” Lupin sipped the foam and explained, “The Dementors didn’t have time to disturb the students. Harry’s situation is just special. The Dementors seemed to trigger bad memories for him, so he fell into a coma.”
“That’s a lapse by the Ministry of Magic…”
With Professor Flitwick guiding the introductions, Lupin quickly blended into the group of professors, gradually getting familiar with those at the table. Most professors were very friendly, sharing teaching and life experiences, except for the odd Professor Levent next to him.
Lupin noticed his strange smile. This professor had been observing him the whole time, as if something worth anticipating was about to happen on him.
Melvin looked at him with a mild, friendly expression and raised his glass: “Welcome back to Hogwarts, Professor Lupin.”
“Just call me Remus.”
Lupin still felt something was off.
The sweet-tasting hot drink dispelled the chill. Ghosts and students entered the Great Hall, making the venue lively. Melvin sized up this new professor, in his early thirties, still young among wizards, but with thinning brown hair on top, streaked with gray, which looked somewhat striking.
He wondered what the average lifespan of a werewolf was.
Melvin noticed he kept glancing sideways at the moon on the magical dome and suddenly remembered these next couple of days were full moon time, but Wolfsbane Potion needed to be taken a week in advance to take effect at the next transformation.
If this Professor Lupin transformed tonight, he could probably only lock himself up.
A sharp, gloomy gaze stabbed from next door. Melvin turned his head and saw Snape with a cold sneer on his lips.
The opening feast formally began.
Professor Flitwick directed the Toad Choir to perform《two troublemakers》, the Sorting Hat sang its self-modified sorting song, and the first-year students lined up in two rows, stepping forward by name on the list to put the shabby, dirty hat on their heads.
Each student sat at the corresponding long table, prompting cheers and applause from their house mates. Clouds gathered and swirled on the magical dome.
The professors at the high table conversed in low voices. Lupin quietly watched the first-year students, holding his Butterbeer with the foam melting, taking occasional sips, his eyes showing reminiscence and emotion.
“Welcome! Welcome back to Hogwarts to greet the new school year!”
Harry and the others rushed back after the sorting ceremony, just in time for the headmaster’s speech, bending low and hurrying through, almost like three shadows, sitting at the end of the Gryffindor long table, looking up at the old wizard who was speaking.
“Before everyone’s heads are addled by the delicious feast, I have a few words to say.”
“First, let us welcome the new Professor Remus Lupin, who has graciously agreed to fill the post of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. Also, Professor Kettleburn has decided to retire and care for his remaining limbs. Fortunately, his successor is none other than our Rubeus Hagrid!”
Dumbledore turned to introduce him to everyone.
“Let us give Professor Hagrid a round of applause.”
“Good luck to you, Professor Lupin.”
Lupin stood and bowed to the students. In the gaps between the applause, he clearly heard the two colleagues beside him muttering about the blessing.
“The headmaster really doesn’t know how to speak. What does ‘good luck to him’ mean?”
“Maybe because previous Defence Against the Dark Arts professors haven’t had much luck, especially since you came to Hogwarts.”
“What does it have to do with me?”
“Quirrell and Lockhart were both sent away by you.”
“That’s slander, pure slander!”
Lupin couldn’t help but curve his lips, sitting back down to take a sip of beer. He didn’t care about the legendary curse. What curse was worse than lycanthropy? What misfortune harder to bear than wandering?
Dumbledore continued droning:
“Lastly, there is a serious matter. For your safety, at the Ministry of Magic’s request, Dementors from Azkaban will be stationed at Hogwarts until the fugitive Sirius Black is captured. The Dementors will guard all entrances to the school.”
“Though I have been assured that their presence will not disrupt daily study and life, I must warn you that Dementors are vicious and cruel creatures. They do not distinguish between fugitive and innocent. Therefore, I need to warn you all—”
“Do not give them any excuse to harm you!”
……
Night gradually deepened.
Street lights lit up on Hogsmeade streets, extending from the central post office outward. Many shops had closed, but The Three Broomsticks and the Hog’s Head Inn were still bustling.
In the alley opposite The Three Broomsticks, a figure huddled under the eaves, quietly watching the bright tavern hall.
The shop door kept out the wet cold rain and stray dogs outside. Patrons came and went at the entrance. Word was there was a new match on the projection mirror; these were all fans, cheering loudly now and then.
Tonight the Thestral had brought Sirius Black to Hogsmeade and dumped him outside the Hog’s Head Inn. The patrons there were all surly; seeing a stray dog, not kicking it was already kindness, let alone feeding it. Black relied on his sense of smell and black dog disguise, wandering half the village in circles, using his hazy memories to familiarize himself with the surroundings.
The day’s events were too bizarre. That young wizard hadn’t eaten dog meat and had even brought him to Hogsmeade. Sirius couldn’t help suspecting he was exposed, but hours passed with no Aurors or Dementors coming.
It concerned revenge and Harry’s safety. He wanted to find that wizard and get answers, but the Thestral had left after dropping him off. With no one to resolve his questions, he couldn’t abandon revenge and could only stay in Hogsmeade for now.
School had just started; infiltrating Hogwarts could wait. The most urgent thing now was to fill his stomach.
The black dog curled his body tighter, white mist puffing from his mouth and nose.
Early September weather, even in the Scottish Highlands, shouldn’t be this cold on a rainy night. It was all the damn Dementors’ fault; their cold mist stole the lingering warmth of late summer early autumn.
Fortunately, The Three Broomsticks had expanded its frontage a lot, adding two floors. The fireplace inside burned brightly. Pressing against the wall, his stiff body warmed up considerably. He should be able to hold out until winter snow came.
“Did you see that goal? I bet Bulgaria will make the World Cup next year!”
“The Scotland team didn’t score a single goal. I can’t figure it out; they were favorites to win the last World Cup.”
At that moment, two patrons exited the tavern, shrinking their necks against the cold wind, white breath from their mouths and noses, the aroma of hot food wafting from their arms—snacks packed to take home, it seemed.
Sirius smelled fish and chips and immediately got up and approached.
Patrons of The Three Broomsticks were mostly locals. Seeing the gaunt stray dog and the wet cold rainy night, they sighed and shook out a few pieces from the greaseproof paper bag, tossing them to the roadside stray.
“When did the village get a black dog?”
“No idea. Good luck to him. Don’t die this winter.”
“…”
Sirius buried his head in devouring the fish and chips. The hot food from the tavern would cool if not eaten quickly. There was no feeling of humiliation or anger in his heart; Azkaban had long worn away a normal person’s emotions.
He wolfed it down in three bites, then curled up in the corner again, waiting for the next kind patron.
Hogsmeade was a good place with plenty of food. In the morning, guarding Honeydukes’ door, the kind Flume couple would give leftover sugar-making materials. At noon, guarding Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, passing couples were happy to feed him. Arriving a bit late today, he could only guard The Three Broomsticks for dinner.
Until half an hour later, the black dog left with light steps, belly stuffed full.
With the problem of food and warmth solved, he now needed a warm, hidden place to sleep. He knew just the spot—no one would disturb him, and he had stayed there every month during his student days.
The Screaming Shed, the Marauders’ secret hideout.
……
Orange torches lit the staircase brightly. Stone statues were cold, armor in the corridor covered in water droplets. Passing students chattered, shaking off the droplets, bringing the castle to life after the silent summer vacation.
At the end of the student procession, professors walked and chatted, eyeing the new colleague, some in the know with flickering gazes.
“Remus, do you need help tonight?” Professor McGonagall asked.
“It’s fine. The clouds are thick tonight.”
“Be safe. Come find me if there’s a problem, or go to the Hospital Wing to find Poppy.”
“I know.”
Bidding farewell to the professors, Lupin returned to his office, locked the doors and windows, and stood for a long time in front of the bathroom mirror.
Since contracting it that May, Lupin had endured over three hundred full moon nights. He had plenty of experience dealing with it. He pulled chains and iron shackles from his trunk and put them on, so even if he transformed into a werewolf in his sleep, he wouldn’t trouble others.
……
In the Hogwarts boys’ dormitory.
Harry lay in bed listening to Neville’s snores, tossing and turning unable to sleep, whispering to the next bed: “Ron, Ron…”
“Hm?”
Ron was groggy, half asleep half awake: “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“I’m thinking about the Dementors.”
“Don’t think about it. The headmaster said they won’t come near the castle.”
“I…”
“If you’re worried, just self-study the Patronus Charm. You and Hermione have weekend tutoring; you can ask Professor Levent and Professor Flitwick.”
Harry pursed his lips, shrank into the covers and turned over again. Professor Levent’s words swirled in his mind until the pattering rain started outside the window again, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.
By the pillow on the next bed, the rat Scabbers huddled in Ron’s arms, smacking his lips, dreaming of the opening feast’s delicacies.
