I Think So

The sky was getting dark.

Tables were set up on the ground floor of the Shrieking Shack, with tea and snacks laid out. The professors sat around one table, while Loren and his three companions sat around another. A bonfire was lit in the middle of the room.

Professor Flitwick raised his stool slightly using Transfiguration so that the short man could sit at the same level as the others. Holding a teacup, he asked:

"I have an idea. If the Animagus can subdue the wildness of animals, then can the wildness of Werewolf also be controlled with magic?"

The professors present all looked thoughtful, while Dumbledore leisurely sipped his tea and ate his biscuits.

Crunch, crunch, cookie crumbs fell into his beard.

Professor Sprout attempted to conceive. "Werewolf basically lose their ability to cast spells after transforming, so if there is any magic, it must be cast before the transformation, or cast on the Werewolf by a third party..."

Snape calmly added, "That's difficult. Werewolf might not even have a brain after transforming."

If it weren't for his slightly sarcastic tone, the young wizards eavesdropping behind them might have thought he was having a serious discussion.

Professor McGonagall glanced at Headmaster Dumbledore beside her. The two professors were about to clash, while the principal was happily sipping his tea.

"..."

Professor McGonagall sighed softly and explained, "This has nothing to do with the brain of an animal form. The brains of many Animagus animal forms cannot support human thought. A wizard's consciousness is only related to Magic Power and the soul."

Lupin retorted calmly, "Isn't this common knowledge in Transfiguration? I thought Professor Snape knew that."

"..."

An awkward silence fell over the room.

Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout were looking at the sky outside and the teacup in their hands, respectively, while Professor McGonagall felt a headache coming on.

A glint flashed in Snape's eyes, but before he could find the right words, Professor McGonagall quickly steered the conversation toward the year's teaching progress, thus averting a potential conflict.

At the next table, Loren, who had been eavesdropping intently, clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Boring. I thought they were going to fight."

Hermione's hand trembled slightly as she held the teacup. She was somewhat relieved that the professors weren't eavesdropping on their conversation, otherwise this one sentence would have been enough to deduct points.

Harry felt the atmosphere was strange. It was supposed to be a crucial moment to test whether the Animagus could withstand the Werewolf transformation, but everyone was sitting here chatting and drinking tea.

There was another person there, stirring things up and wanting to see what the commotion was like.

"Do you know what Professor Lupin's Animagus is? Harry and I have asked him so many times, but he just won't tell us," Ron asked, clapping his hands after finishing his biscuit.

"It's a gray wolf."

"How did you know?" Harry and Ron looked at Hermione in surprise.

Hermione glanced at the sky outside the window. The sun had completely set, and night was deepening. Thick darkness filled the sky, with a faint, pale yellow glow peeking through the clouds.

Loren answered for her, "During the Easter Holiday, Professor McGonagall led us in some Transfiguration exercises to control our bodies, and Professor Lupin was also there."

"You two actually colluded with Professor Lupin to keep this from us..." Harry muttered, clenching his fists. "Damn it, it's just Animagus, I was almost there."

Ron opened his mouth, but immediately the biscuit didn't taste so good anymore. So he put the biscuit down, took out the Mandrake Leaf he had prepared from his pocket, and silently gave one to Harry.

"..." Harry smacked his lips, put the Mandrake Leaf aside, picked up the gingerbread biscuit and took a big bite.

I won't be able to eat properly for the next month.

Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "The moon is out!"

The four of them looked towards Professor Lupin, only to see him stagger to his feet, his body hair standing on end, his eyes wide, before he suddenly collapsed forward—

A well-proportioned gray wolf appeared before the group.

Under the wary gazes of the professors, Gray Wolf took a few steps toward the window, completely exposing his body to the full Full Moon. Every hair on his body appeared even colder and harder under the moonlight, but there was no other change.

"Looks like we won't need to brew Wolfsbane Potion for people every month anymore," Snape said casually.

"It's a success!" Professor McGonagall's voice carried a hint of joy. "The Animagus really can handle Werewolf Transfiguration."

Professors Flitwick and Professor Sprout went up to congratulate Professor Lupin, and received several "woofs" in response.

"That's wonderful, Professor Lupin!"

Harry and Ron shouted and jumped forward joyfully, their four hands reaching out to the wolf's waist and back fur, congratulating it while even trying to pet it.

A hint of human-like speechlessness flashed in the gray wolf's eyes, and it nimbly twisted its body to dodge.

"Enough!" Professor McGonagall grabbed the two men by the back of their collars and pulled them back. "Potter, Weasley, Remus, you don't need to worry about us anymore. Now come back to the Castle with me."

Just as she was about to drag the two into the tunnel, Professor McGonagall suddenly turned her head and looked at Loren and Hermione with a piercing gaze. "Morgan, Granger, and you too!"

Loren turned to Headmaster Dumbledore, pleading for his help.

Dumbledore stared intently at the biscuits and teacup in front of him, as if he could see something extraordinary in them.

Professor McGonagall led the four young wizards into the tunnel, Shrieking Shack fell silent for a moment.

"We have early classes tomorrow, so..." Professor Sprout glanced around, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks for a drink before heading back to the Castle."

"Great idea!" Professor Flitwick was the first to respond, and Snape did not refuse either. The three of them left the room one after another.

Only an old man with a white beard and a gray wolf remained in the room.

The tunnel was pitch black with no lighting, and the path was uneven. Harry and Ron stumbled and fell several times, but finally settled down after Professor McGonagall used Illumination Charm.

"Will Mr. Lupin have to turn into a gray wolf Full Moon Night from now on, Professor?"

Harry followed behind Ron, looking down at the uneven dirt beneath his feet. His voice, which had been joyful, was now somewhat dejected. "I mean, compared to turning into Werewolf on Full Moon Night, turning into a gray wolf doesn't seem much better. I still can't move around normally..."

"That's already very good." Professor McGonagall gently patted Hermione, a rare tenderness welling up in her eyes.

"Without the Wolfsbane Potion, Werewolf would lock themselves up after transforming, not attacking others but hurting themselves... Although the Wolfsbane Potion could keep Werewolf conscious after transforming, their mental state would always be very poor for a few days, making it almost impossible for them to live a normal life. Now he can run freely in the wilderness and enjoy the moonlight... Most importantly, he can sleep soundly on the night of the full moon."

"Get a good night's sleep..." Harry repeated softly.

Ron muttered it twice as well.

Loren and Hermione remained silent, recalling the nights they had spent with Professor Lupin, and they realized that for Werewolf, a good Full Moon Night was an extremely precious thing.

The next day at lunchtime, in the Great Hall.

Professor Remus Professor Lupin had Defense Against the Dark Arts all morning, was still full of energy. Having already devoured three steaks, he seemed unsatisfied and was cutting a fourth.

The little Witch below stared with delight, wondering if it was just their imagination, but they felt that Professor Lupin seemed to have become younger and more handsome.

Dumbledore sat down beside him and asked softly, "Have you made up your mind?"

"Wasn't it already decided?"

Lupin swallowed the steak in his mouth, the metal knife and fork making a soft cutting sound as they cut into the meat, "The method of restoring the Sorcerer's Stone is difficult to promote, and the long-term supply of Wolfsbane Potion is too costly. Thanks to Merlin's blessing, we actually found a way to use Animagus to counter Werewolf transformation... Professor, don't you think all of this was arranged by fate?"

What are your plans for the future?

"Let's check out that Werewolf community first, and then we'll see how things go before considering going back to China."

Dumbledore sighed. "It seems I'll need to hire a new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor again."

As Lupin deftly cut the steak on his plate into small pieces, he said, "After everything is over, I might come back here. Hopefully, there will still be an office available for me then."

"Of course, Remus... every one of your colleagues at Hogwarts will miss you."

Lupin laughed, "Severus too?"

"Hmm... I think so."