When Lupin walked into the classroom with a smile, the students who were having a lively discussion instantly fell silent.
He placed the tattered old box he was carrying on the podium and said, "Good afternoon."
He was still dressed in rags, but his complexion was noticeably better.
"Please put your textbooks back in your bags." Lupin pulled out his wand. "Today's lesson is a practical one, so you only need to bring this."
The students were reminded of last year's disastrous Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Lockhart brought a group of blue-skinned House-elf to the classroom and released them from their cages.
Then came the Acromantula, and then the Kraken in the Black Lake.
The practical lessons were dangerous, and the students began to worry.
"Alright." Lupin saw that everyone had finished packing, picked up his old box from the podium, and said, "Come with me."
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, the students followed him out of the classroom.
Walking through the empty corridor and around a corner, they saw Peeves the prankster.
He was hanging upside down in mid-air, stuffing chewing gum into the Portkey in front of him.
Lupin stepped forward and suddenly looked up.
That devilish face broke into a smile.
Peeves wiggled his bent toes and suddenly began to sing:
"Lupin, you crazy idiot! Lupin, you crazy idiot! Lupin, you crazy idiot!"
Although Peeves is usually rude, disrespectful, and unruly, he is generally quite respectful to the school staff.
The fact that he dared to insult Lupin to his face suggests that something unpleasant must have happened between them more than a decade ago.
It's quite obvious who suffered the loss.
"Peeves, if I were you, I would take the chewing gum out of the keyhole."
Lupin said gently, "If you do this, Mr. Filch won't be able to go in and get the broom."
"Pah!" Peeves remained unmoved and even spat at him.
This performance suggests that he has likely suffered a setback more than once.
"Sigh—" Lupin drew his wand and turned to look at the students.
"This is a very useful little spell, please pay attention."
He raised his wand to shoulder height, pointed it at Peeves, and chanted the spell: "Waddiwasi".
With a "whoosh," the piece of chewing gum flew out of the keyhole like a bullet and burrowed into Peeves's left nostril.
Peeves somersaulted into the air, cursing as he flew away.
"That's fantastic!" Dean exclaimed.
"Thank you, Dean." Lupin put away his wand. "Let's keep going."
Calling out names instantly bridges the gap between teachers and students.
The students' gaze towards him changed, becoming filled with respect.
After walking through the second long corridor, Lupin stopped outside the Staff Room.
"Come in." He opened the door and took a step back.
The Staff Room is a long room.
The walls were paneled with wood, and the room was filled with mismatched old chairs.
A professor sat in a low armchair against the wall; he was Professor Snape, the Little Lions least wanted to see.
He turned his face as the students came in.
Those dark eyes were Winky, and a mocking sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Lupin was the last to arrive.
Just as he was about to close the door, Snape suddenly said, "Don't close the door, Lupin."
I think it's best if I don't witness what's about to happen.
He stood up and strode past the students, his black robe billowing behind him.
As he stepped outside, he suddenly turned back around. "Perhaps no one has reminded you yet, Lupin."
Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley are in this class; I suggest you don't delegate anything complicated to them.
Snape's mocking gaze swept over Vincent and Hermione.
"Unless Mr. Wayne and Miss Granger are willing to whisper in their ears, and you can tolerate their classroom misbehavior without getting points deducted."
Neville and Ron blushed instantly.
It's one thing to be this bad in your own Potions Class, but to be this bad in other professors' classes too.
Lupin raised his eyebrows. "Really? I was hoping Neville and Ron would help me with the first step of the lesson. I was sure they would do an excellent job."
Snape's lips twitched.
He withdrew his malicious gaze, walked out of the room, and slammed the door shut.
It's definitely not just about being humiliated; perhaps the handsome student who bullied him along with James Potter back then was Lupin.
Vincent and Hermione exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming somewhat agitated.
Appearances can be deceiving; the professor who dares to confront Snape head-on has finally appeared!
If he sides with Gryffindor, his House Points, which have already been wiped out several times, might be saved.
"Alright." Lupin gestured for the students to come over.
He stopped next to an old wardrobe on the inside, and the wardrobe suddenly started shaking and banging against the wall.
"Don't worry." Lupin smiled reassuringly. "It's actually a Boggart inside."
Most students are now more worried.
For example, Neville, who was shrinking his neck, and Seamus was staring at the wardrobe in terror.
"Boggart really likes dark, enclosed spaces," Lupin said gently.
"Like wardrobes, gaps under beds, cupboards under sinks, and once I even encountered one that lived in an old clock."
He patted the constantly shaking wardrobe lightly, "This was just moved in yesterday afternoon."
I asked Professor Dumbledore to keep it so it could be useful in the practical classes of the third year.
Lupin smiled and asked, "So, could someone briefly introduce Boggart?"
Hermione quickly raised her hand.
"Boggart is a non-existent Magical Creatures that transforms into the thing a person fears most when facing them."
"A simple and clear introduction." Lupin smiled and gave her an extra 2 points.
"Therefore, the Boggart inside this dark cabinet doesn't yet have a concrete shape, because it doesn't know what the people outside the cabinet are afraid of."
He patted the wardrobe again. "Nobody knows what Boggart is like when he's alone, but as soon as I let him out, he immediately becomes the thing we all fear most."
Lupin's gentle gaze swept over Neville and Ron. "Have you all noticed? Actually, we have a significant advantage over the Boggart."
Harry, have you noticed this advantage?
Harry, who was called out, stammered, "Uh—because there are so many of us, it doesn't know what shape it should take?"
"Absolutely right!" Lupin nodded in satisfaction.
Gryffindor scored 2 more points, and the Little Lions were no longer as worried as before.
Vincent and Hermione exchanged another glance.
Your principal is still your principal.
He was conscientious and responsible, dared to challenge Snape, and took special care of Gryffindor.
With one addition and one subtraction canceling each other out, this year's House Cup is a sure thing.