A Kind of Similar Loneliness

"I..."

Lupin's voice trembled slightly.

"I really don't know how to thank you, even back when we were training in Godric's Hollow... but to go to such lengths, for someone like me..."

Lucretia looked at him. "I believe you wouldn't hurt anyone. That day in the corridor, despite the... unusual circumstances, you still tried your best to control yourself."

Lupin took a deep breath, tapping his fingers on his knees a few times.

He paused for a long time. "You guessed right. I am... my condition... has been like this since I was bitten as a child."

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Lucretia.

His gaze was complex, wanting to see understanding but fearing to see fear.

"Dumbledore arranged safety measures for me. The Shrieking Shack... was prepared for me. I'm taken there every full moon to transform. That day was truly... I felt too awkward to refuse Professor Sinistra's request, especially with Gryffindor first-years also attending Astronomy class."

He cleared his throat and added.

"I promise you, I have never hurt anyone. That night was my carelessness; I thought no one would be passing by that path..."

Lucretia nodded, looking into his eyes. Her answer was without hesitation. "I believe you. If you were the kind of person who would hurt others, Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't have admitted you."

Lupin's shoulders instantly relaxed, as if a heavy burden had suddenly vanished.

Under the Invisibility Cloak, James turned to Sirius and silently mouthed See? with a proud expression.

It was as if he were saying, I knew our good student would say that.

Sirius nodded gently, a smile curving his lips.

Lupin's eyes were a little moist. "Besides the Headmaster, only a few true friends know my situation and still stand by me."

Under the Invisibility Cloak, both James and Sirius straightened up.

They exchanged a glance, their playful expressions gone.

They understood that warmth of being completely accepted by friends.

Lupin's voice was low. "They accepted the real me. Without them, I'm not sure I could have held on."

Lucretia looked towards the lake, her gaze distant.

The water swayed gently in the breeze, her fingers unconsciously touching the Crouch family crest pinned to her chest.

A faint warmth emanated from it, as if reminding her of something.

She knew that kind of loneliness.

The pain of wanting to help others but being seen as a threat.

Her voice was soft. "People are always afraid of things that are unusual. Sometimes that fear turns into hatred."

Ripples spread across the lake as a few ducks glided across the surface in the distance.

She avoided Lupin's gaze, looking at the figures of Emma and Luna in the distance.

"I read in history books that in the Middle Ages... many who understood herbal remedies were seen as outcasts, even considered dangerous..."

She didn't say the word, but the meaning was clear enough.

Lupin nodded in agreement. "Yes. Sometimes, even just the intention to help others can be misinterpreted."

Under the Invisibility Cloak, Sirius listened intently to her every word, even unconsciously softening his breathing.

Lupin was silent for a long time before speaking. "Your understanding of these matters... is profound. Can you tell me the spell you used that day? I've never heard of such a spell."

Lucretia sat up a little straighter, weighing how much to say.

She finally said, "It was an ancient Wolf Repelling Charm, not a standard spell from a book."

Lupin nodded, waiting for her to continue.

Under the Invisibility Cloak, Sirius and James couldn't help but lean closer.

Lucretia took a deep breath and softly repeated, "By the power of nature, in the name of life. I guard this place, and repel the wolves."

As she uttered these words, Lupin's entire body froze, as if struck by something.

That feeling returned.

A burning sting, like fire, yet simultaneously a peculiar calm.

Even though it wasn't a full moon, these words still evoked a certain memory within him.

He subconsciously touched his arm. "It's astonishing. Even now, I can feel its power. That night... it was like an invisible wall, suppressing the werewolf's instincts."

His sincerity relaxed Lucretia a little.

Lupin looked at her and asked gently, "Where did you learn a spell like that?"

A quiet atmosphere of trust formed between them.

He didn't press further, just waited with genuine curiosity.

Lucretia looked into his eyes. There was no fear or any negative emotion there, only understanding and a certain shared loneliness.

She blurted out, then suddenly stopped, "It's Mom..."

Her voice broke off in the air, as if forcibly cut short.

Lucretia bit her lower lip and lowered her head, her fingers brushing over the blades of grass by the lake. The tender green leaves trembled at her fingertips.

Blood rushed to her cheeks, painting them with a faint blush.

Beneath the Invisibility Cloak, Sirius watched her profile.

Memories of the cinema flooded back.

Her sharing popcorn with a strange big black dog, seriously discussing Michael and Fredo's stories, that look of maturity mixed with innocence.

Now she was doing the same thing.

Reaching out proactively, offering understanding.

Lucretia forcefully suppressed the emotions welling up inside her and raised her head to face Lupin again.

"It was someone very important to me. She taught me a lot."

Sirius's foot moved forward a step.

He wanted to tell her not to be afraid to reveal secrets, he wanted to...

James's hand quickly grabbed his sleeve, giving it a firm tug.

He widened his eyes, shaking his head silently, and pointed at the Invisibility Cloak they were wearing.

Sirius froze for a moment, realizing he had almost given them away.

He forced himself to step back half a pace, but his gaze still couldn't leave her.

Lupin noticed the change in her emotions and nodded, "I imagine she must have been a very wise person."

Without pressing for details, he steered the conversation toward the spell itself.

"This spell isn't just about repelling or harming, is it? It's more like a... balance. And also a comfort."

Lucretia gratefully picked up on Lupin's words, her voice gradually steadying, "Yes. It's not meant to harm, but to protect both parties. Like setting a boundary, telling the other person to stop here."

She looked up at the lake, the shimmering water reflecting on her face.

"I think the Wolfsbane Potion works on a similar principle; it doesn't forcibly suppress the transformation, but rather chooses to alleviate the pain and chaos associated with it."

"Like a bridge, between man and wolf. Not confrontation, but..."

Lupin paused for a long time, his voice growing softer.

"Reconciliation."

Lucretia looked at him in surprise, "That's exactly what I mean."

Beneath the Invisibility Cloak, James's eyes widened, and he mouthed silently to Sirius.

"Lucretia is amazing! She completely understands Moony's feelings!"

Sirius nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

Seeing his friend like this, James almost burst out laughing.

He made an exaggerated expression of adoration, hands clasped over his chest, silently mimicking blushing and a racing heart.

Then he used his fingers to form a beating heart over his chest.

Sirius's face instantly turned red, and he angrily elbowed James.

Caught off guard by the sudden jab, James stumbled, taking half a step back.

A crisp crack sounded from under his feet.

The sound was exceptionally clear by the quiet lake, like someone coughing loudly in a silent library.

The two people talking simultaneously turned their heads alertly towards the source of the sound.

Lucretia stood up, frowning at the empty grassy area, "What was that sound?"

Beneath the Invisibility Cloak, Sirius quickly covered James's mouth while fiercely stepping on his foot with his heel.

James's face contorted with suppressed laughter and pain. He rolled his eyes and pretended to faint into Sirius.

Lupin quickly tried to explain, his tone higher than usual, "It might have been a squirrel or... there are always many small animals by the lake, some of which are hard for us to see. Like... like invisible rabbits? And... uh..."

But as he spoke, his voice grew quieter.

Even he realized how absurd his explanation was.

Invisible rabbits?

Really?

His cheeks began to heat up, flushing from the roots of his ears down to his neck.