It had been a more extreme reaction than he had expected.
Dumbledore was grateful that it was the beginning of the month.
If it had been midmonth, Lupin might already have been provoked into transforming.
"I know it's hard to believe. To be honest, I didn't believe it at first, either."
Dumbledore remained calm, showing no particular reaction to Lupin's distress.
"Back then, the Potter couple's home was protected by the Fidelius Charm, with Sirius Black serving as their Secret Keeper and safeguarding them.
"Later, Voldemort broke into Godric's Hollow and killed the Potter couple. Anyone would have assumed that Sirius, as their Secret Keeper, had joined Voldemort."
He paused, then changed his tone.
"But have you ever considered that the real Secret Keeper might not have been Sirius?"
"If it wasn't him, then who was it?"
Lupin's thoughts were in disarray.
After hearing Dumbledore's words, he felt both furious and as though he had glimpsed a clue.
If Sirius hadn't been the Secret Keeper...
How could the Secret Keeper not have been Sirius? He was the person the Potter couple trusted most!
"Even you, Remus Lupin, who was closer to the Potter couple than anyone, naturally assumed Sirius was the Secret Keeper. Of course Voldemort would have thought the same.
"That was exactly what Sirius wanted."
Dumbledore interlaced his fingers.
"He wanted Voldemort to hunt him down, so he could protect the real Secret Keeper."
It was like lightning flashing through Lupin's mind.
He had never considered anything Dumbledore had just told him.
"Mister Dumbledore, this is all just your guess, isn't it?"
For some reason, Lupin began to panic.
It was only a possibility.
But he was afraid.
Afraid it might all be true.
"No. Sirius told me all of this himself."
The projection of the River of