Dumbledore led "Lupin" to the Great Hall.
"Headmaster, where should I put my luggage?"
He asked. Dumbledore glanced at him and said, "Er, leave it here. I'll have a House-elf take it to your room later."
There were many House-elves at Hogwarts. One House-elf appeared out of nowhere, then vanished just as abruptly. It was clear that their magic wasn't called Apparition. House-elves, like Dumbledore, could use "instantaneous travel" here. Yes, instantaneous travel, not Apparition. They were no longer bound by that form.
House-elves were natural masters of wandless, nonverbal magic.
Dewey showed no sign of noticing when the trunk disappeared.
It was time for the professors to take their seats. They all gathered around the long table and sat down in order. Most of them knew Lupin, and they nodded in greeting.
Lupin exchanged polite greetings with them. The Sorting Hat began sorting students. Dewey's gaze swept over the candles that could fly on their own, then turned to the students below.
He did his best to empty his mind, because just then he'd been thinking about what would happen if he set off a bomb in here.
There were still forty-five minutes before he had to take the Polyjuice Potion.
Fortunately, Snape sat far away because of his dislike for Lupin, and everyone understood.
Dewey didn't have to worry about Snape catching the scent of the potion in his flat hip flask.
There was an empty seat at the Gryffindor table. If Dewey wasn't mistaken, it belonged to Harry Potter. A boy who'd been tormented by Dementors on the train deserved special treatment.
Harry wasn't like the trash they'd thrown into Azkaban, left alone and forgotten.
Dewey lowered his gaze to the plate in front of him. He sensed someone watching him and looked up. At the Ravenclaw table, he spotted the little girl who'd stuck her wand behind her ear.
The Sorting Hat was still singing, and everyone was excited. Dewey smiled at the girl.
Ron and Hermione saw this from the Gryffindor table.
"Does the professor know a Ravenclaw student?"
Ron asked softly. Hermione shook her head. "I don't know."
She thought it was strange too. She'd seen clearly that Professor Snape's expression had been grim from the moment Professor Lupin sat down. More importantly, she could tell that Snape's hatred went far beyond his usual loathing of Neville.
Why was that?
Had they known each other before?
The clever girl wondered.
At last, it was time to eat.
Dewey could hardly wait.
Professors had to eat too, but at every opening feast, the students were bursting with things to say to one another. Who would look up at the staff table?
Before the food appeared, Dewey saw Harry Potter come in. Dumbledore stood up. He must have cast Sonorus on himself.
Dewey casually unscrewed his flask and took a sip.
Dumbledore had already reached the front of the staff table.
"Welcome," he said to the students. "Welcome to Hogwarts for a new school year..."
He began by talking about the Dementors.
Everyone knew what Dementors were like. These Dark Creatures had neither mercy nor morals. They might fear Voldemort, but they wouldn't fear Dumbledore.
Because Dumbledore had principles and a conscience.
"So no one is to deceive the Dementors by any means, such as wearing an Invisibility Cloak.
Dementors are incapable of showing mercy.
So don't give them an excuse to hurt you.
I'm counting on the Prefects, as well as our newly appointed Head Boy and Head Girl, to make sure that no student gets into a confrontation with the Dementors."
He spoke gravely. No one thought the headmaster was joking. He was explaining the situation seriously, and his stern gaze swept over the Great Hall.
No one dared misbehave.
Even the haughty Slytherins wouldn't dare show disrespect to Dumbledore.
Even Malfoy didn't make a mocking noise.
Even the two Weasley brothers didn't dare fool around.
Dumbledore continued speaking.
The mood lightened.
"Now that I've delivered the bad news, I should share some good news. First of all, I'm delighted to tell you that two new professors have joined our staff.
"The first is Professor Lupin. He has kindly agreed to join us and take up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
The moment he finished speaking, the hall erupted in applause. The sudden burst of enthusiasm took everyone by surprise!
It was as if someone had set off a firecracker in the hall!
The loudest applause came from Gryffindor, and The Twins even cheered.
"Professor Lupin is the best!"
George or Fred shouted. Dewey watched them without changing expression, as though he hadn't been the one who'd sent them to the hospital.
He had to admit, the magical hospital was efficient. The Weasley family had recovered in just a few days.
The Expecto Patronum Dewey had cast on the train hadn't merely protected one compartment. In his fury, he'd unleashed the spell with all his might, filling the entire train with silver light and driving every Dementor away. When the young wizards learned that the new "Professor Lupin" had done it, they were thrilled.
Bravery, animals, light defeating darkness—who didn't love a story like that?
Gryffindor cheered, Hufflepuff applauded, and the Ravenclaws joined in enthusiastically. Only Slytherin remained as calm as ever.
Dewey's gaze drifted casually to Malfoy. Draco Malfoy suddenly remembered what had happened that afternoon, and the wand pressed against his waist.
He swallowed and, without thinking, raised his hands and started clapping.
Crabbe and Goyle stared at him as though he'd gone mad.
Dewey gave Malfoy a faint smile.
Even Dumbledore hadn't expected the students to be so excited. When had Lupin become so popular with them?
Wasn't he still that quiet boy?
Was he really so well liked?
Watching the scene, Snape felt as if his lungs were about to explode. Especially when he saw Malfoy clapping—his eyes flashed with murderous fury! Malfoy noticed his Head of House glaring at him and lowered his hands, looking dazed.
Snape's expression had already been terrible, and now he was even more incensed. Watching Lupin receive such a warm welcome, he wanted nothing more than to whip out his wand and hit Lupin with Sectumsempra, leaving hundreds, even thousands, of bloody holes in him!
"Look at Snape's face," Hermione couldn't help saying to Harry from the students' table.
Harry was stunned too. He'd never seen Snape this angry. If his eyes could cast spells, Professor Lupin would have died a thousand times over.
Snape's face had turned ashen.
Even the other professors at the staff table sensed something was wrong. An inexplicable tension had settled over them. If Professor Flitwick hadn't spent so many years devoted to teaching and cultivating his character, he might have pulled out his wand and cast Protego on himself before challenging Snape to a duel.
Dewey noticed Snape's hostility too, but gave no sign. Given Lupin's guilt toward Snape, that was how he should act.
Lower his head and pretend he hadn't noticed.
Guilt, yes, guilt.
Dewey reminded himself.
Fortunately, the others soon turned their attention to something else, because Dumbledore had a second appointment to announce.
The second appointee was, naturally, Hagrid. The old Care of Magical Creatures professor, Kettleburn, had retired, and Hagrid would take over the post.
The students erupted in an uproar.
This was far more exciting than Lupin becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!
Once the appointments had been announced, the feast began. Dewey quickly ate the food in front of him, especially the tender steak. He ate several pieces. All the while, Snape wielded his knife and fork as though he meant to slice through his plate, making a grating noise.
The feast ended, and the students left. The professors began to depart too. Professor McGonagall stayed until the end. When almost everyone had gone, she saw that neither Lupin nor Snape had left. She stood and said to Dewey, "All right, Professor Lupin. I'll show you to your quarters."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall,"
Dewey said. Just then, Snape, who'd been sitting in silence with a dark expression, suddenly stood up.
"I'll do it, Professor McGonagall. I'll show him to his quarters."
He said.
"Is that...?"
Professor McGonagall hesitated for once. Even the few professors who were about to leave stopped in their tracks. Professor Flitwick seriously considered what spell he should use to separate the two if they started fighting.
But who could have guessed that at that moment, "Professor Lupin" would smile at Professor Snape?
"Of course. Thank you, Severus."
Dewey nodded amiably to him, then thanked Professor McGonagall—thank you for your concern—and followed Snape out.
Everyone watched them go, worry in their eyes.
Before you continue