Chapter 306: Fearless, Professor Lupin is a Werewolf
Thorin Oakenshield was so angry he stomped his foot and slammed the crown he was wearing onto the ground, then continued to transform.
This time, an amiable old man appeared before Aaron. Curiosity and confusion filled the eyes of everyone else, even Professor Lupin and Professor Snape.
They could all feel the peaceful aura emanating from this old man; it was different from Dumbledore's, but absolutely trustworthy.
This old man clearly looked like a genuinely good person, not someone to be afraid of at all.
Could it be a deceased elder from Aaron's family? Seeing him might stir up some past memories.
Aaron secretly rolled his eyes.
Gandalf? Why didn't you turn into Dumbledore?
"I'll count to three, then you change to the next one.
With the responsibility this old bastard forced on me, it's a miracle I can resist slapping him twice. I've been more than benevolent."
Gandalf's eye twitched violently, as if he felt the strong malice emanating from Aaron, and he retreated a step in a panic.
His body slowly faded as he retreated, turning into a rapidly spinning grey sphere.
Roar!
A roar suddenly erupted, and the sphere transformed into a giant dragon, its cold, vertical pupils showing a human-like mockery.
The students' scalps tingled, and besides their excitement, they all involuntarily trembled. A few drops of cold sweat also appeared on Lupin's and Snape's foreheads.
Of all things, why did you have to turn into the most destructive creature in the Magical World?
Fortunately, this was just a Boggart; if it were a real dragon of this size, even both of them together would struggle, and Dumbledore would probably be needed to subdue it.
Aaron looked at the low-fidelity Smaug in front of him and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Its size was only ten meters, and the pressure it exerted on him was less than a tenth of Smaug's.
But that was right, a Boggart's transformation ability also had its limits. If it could truly imitate perfectly, it would be the strongest creature in the Magical World.
A white magic circle appeared to Aaron's right, and he took out a Black Arrow from it.
This was one of the arrows that killed Smaug, which he had secretly kept; no one knew about it.
Aaron locked his gaze onto the wound on Smaug's left chest, sneered, and charged forward.
He was able to kill Smaug back then because of Bard's divine assistance. Now, although he had no helper, his opponent was only a pseudo-dragon, and he was confident he could handle it.
"Riddikulus." x2.
Professor Snape and Professor Lupin cast the spell simultaneously. The Boggart shrieked and transformed into a wisp of blue smoke, rapidly darting into the cabinet, narrowly avoiding Aaron's fatal blow.
Aaron had no choice but to stop halfway. "Um... Professor, are we still going?"
"You don't need to continue. This Class is for you to deal with Boggarts, not to overcome your inner fears." Professor Lupin said with lingering fear.
He dared not let Aaron continue. The creatures the Boggarttransformed into, based on Aaron's fears, were one more exaggerated than the last. There was a real risk of a teaching accident.
"Professor Snape." Aaron looked at him expectantly, his meaning clear: I didn't embarrass you, did I?
Snape's mouth twitched, and he slowly nodded.
"Gaius, was that dragon just now... real?"
"How could it be?" Aaron spoke nonsense with a straight face. "That was a birthday present from my grandfather. He thought I was too timid, so he gave me a realistic toy model to practice bravery.
You guys... weren't scared, were you?"
The Gryffindors looked at each other; they had thought it was real!
A dragon was much more thrilling than those spiders, cobras, and severed hands.
Snape and Lupin exchanged glances. The former said nothing, while the latter stepped forward and coughed a few times.
"That's all for today's Class. Go to the back and retrieve your books.
Also, everyone performed very well in this Class. Homework is due next Monday. Briefly summarize the Boggart in simple words. As for the word count... use your own judgment, but don't be perfunctory with the teacher."
The students left the staff room chatting and laughing. They found this Defense Against the Dark Arts Class particularly useful and exceptionally interesting.
Professor Lupin also received unanimous approval from Gryffindor; at least compared to Gilderoy Lockhart, he was a very good Professor.
"Professor Lupin, it seems your Class almost had an accident!" Snape revealed a victor's smile.
"But it was still a complete success." Lupin was unfazed, because Snape's Potion Class had not been without explosions, and in comparison, his Defense Against the Dark Arts Class was much safer.
"Stubborn. Do you really think Harry Potter can handle Dementors?"
"That's why I would step in front of him in time," Lupin said. "As for Dementors... I will teach him the Patronus Charm."
"What a responsible and good teacher!" Snape said sarcastically.
Hearing this, Aaron secretly complained in his heart.
He was sure Snape had also thought about teaching Harry Potter this spell, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Now that there was a ready-made tool, he was probably secretly delighted!
"Gaius, Slytherin doesn't suit you." Lupin suddenly said, "If you're willing, I can talk to Professor McGonagall about transferring you to Gryffindor House."
"Lupin." Snape's face instantly darkened. "Trying to poach a third-year Slytherin right in front of the Dean of Slytherin, do you have no shame?"
"I'm just suggesting. If he doesn't want to, you can pretend I didn't say anything." Professor Lupin hastily added.
Snape gave him a cold look, then left with Aaron.
"Professor." Walking in the corridor, Aaron hesitated to speak. "What kind of person is Professor Lupin?"
"You'd best stay far away from him." Snape said meaningfully, "That's my advice to you."
"A Werewolf?"
Snape stopped, turned around to look at Aaron, and after a long silence, asked, "How did you know? When did you know?"
Aaron picked up Abey. "On the train, it told me that Professor Lupin had a beast living inside him.
At that time, I thought he was schizophrenic, but just now the Boggart transformed into a full moon in front of him... Apparently, normal humans aren't afraid of the moon, are they?
A beast living inside, afraid of the moon, I can't think of anything else besides a Werewolf."
"Very sharp observation." Snape said with a hint of satisfaction. "I was strongly against inviting a Werewolf to be a Professor, but the Principal agreed, so there was nothing I could do.
However, there's no need to worry about the students' safety. I will deliver the Wolfsbane Potion to him before the full moon."
"I suddenly feel some sympathy for him." Aaron said thoughtfully, "Werewolves have a low status in human society, so it's no wonder his clothes and suitcase are tattered."
"You'd best put away that sympathy." Snape warned sternly, "When he's human, he can still be somewhat rational, but when he transforms into a wolf, even the people closest to him will be torn to shreds.
If you are fortunate enough to encounter a Werewolf on a full moon night, the correct course of action is to..."
"Run?"
"Running is only for a last resort. The correct course of action is to kill him."
"Ah, this..."
Aaron was a bit dumbfounded. He didn't think Snape was wrong, but the problem was that their current Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was a Werewolf.
If he didn't know him, it would be fine, but to strike a killing blow against a teacher was somewhat difficult!
"It's best to hide in the dormitory on full moon nights from now on!" Aaron said, "Out of sight, out of mind. If you really can't avoid it... then beat him half to death.
Break all his limbs, and he won't be much of a threat."
Hearing this, Snape raised an eyebrow. "If you can do that... I have no objection."
"I have it, so doing that is really not difficult." Aaronmeaningfully pointed to Abey in his arms, and the latter also proudly raised its head.
Snape's eye twitched slightly, and he opened his mouth as if to speak but then stopped.
He had almost forgotten that Aaron kept a dragon. Werewolves were indeed vicious, but they were no match for a dragon.
And Aaron and his pet were basically inseparable, so safety was absolutely guaranteed.
"It seems I don't need to worry about you anymore."
Snape finished speaking and walked forward on his own, but Aaron still followed behind him.
"You're dismissed. Go back and rest!"
"Uh... it's like this, Professor, I still have some questions."
"Speak."
"Is Sirius Black really here to kill Harry Potter?"
Snape frowned tightly. "Why are you asking that?"
"Nothing, just a bit curious. I always feel like something is wrong, but I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Meddling." Snape said disdainfully, "Besides killing Harry Potter, can you think of any other reason?
Sirius went to great lengths to escape prison and come to Hogwarts. He can't possibly be revisiting old haunts and reminiscing about the past, can he?"
Aaron:...That makes so much sense, I'm speechless.
"Anything else?"
"Um... what if Dumbledore wants to see me?"
"You are my student. As long as it's not too important, I'll either block him or convey his message." Snape said seriously.
Aaron finally breathed a sigh of relief, then picked up Abeyand walked towards the Slytherin common room.
After watching him walk away, Snape let out a long sigh and changed direction, heading towards the eighth floor of the Castle.
Through a spiral staircase, Snape entered an oak door.
"You're here, Severus." Dumbledore held up his teacup. "Would you like some honey tea?"
"No."
Snape walked to the Principal's desk and sat on the chair opposite him, expressionless.
Dumbledore shrugged and placed the teapot on the table. "What did the Boggart turn into in front of him?"
"Much more exaggerated than you think." Snape mused, "Aaron seems to have nothing he's particularly afraid of. The Boggart transformed four times in front of him, but each time it failed."
"What did it turn into?"
"Three completely different people, but all three were cursed back by him.
The fourth was a dragon, but he didn't feel afraid. Instead, he picked up a weapon and actively attacked it.
If Lupin and I hadn't intervened in time, that Boggart might have been severely injured."
Snape explained patiently. After listening, Dumbledore was silent for a while. "It seems he is much more optimistic and much stronger than I thought. I am ashamed to admit I am not his equal."