Chapter 215
Chapter 215
A Patronus in the left hand and Avada Kedavra in the right: the ultimate dream of everyone transported into this world.
You thought Expelliarmus could defeat Voldemort?
Oh, don’t be ridiculous. If the power of spells formed a pyramid, Expelliarmus would occupy the middle while Avada Kedavra stood at the summit. Dark magic even came with its own power bonus.
If two equally powerful people met head-on using those spells, the wizard casting Expelliarmus would inevitably lose. Merlin himself would fare no differently.
Did you imagine everyone was Harry, a child of destiny who carried a hero’s innate advantage?
That did not mean Suer intended to seek out the Unforgivable Curses deliberately. During his second year, while wandering through the Restricted Section, a screaming book of magic had nearly seized his mind.
Besides, if he remembered correctly, a professor would arrive in fourth year and teach them those spells.
Let me think… A lame man with something wrong with one eye… Oh, yes. His name was Moo… Moody?
“When are we leaving? Suer? Suer?”
A small, pale hand suddenly appeared before his eyes and waved up and down. Suer instinctively reached for it, but the hand immediately withdrew.
Little Hermione emerged with both hands behind her back, laughter muffled in her throat.
“After dinner. At least wait until the moon rises.” Suer descended another step, and bottles clinked crisply inside his satchel. “Oh, damn. I forgot something.”
He had not given Professor Lupin the Wolfsbane Potion!
“I need to deliver something to Professor Lupin. Go to the Great Hall first, and we’ll meet at the usual place after dinner?”
Hermione looked curious but asked no questions. She gave a pretty nod.
Holding the satchel against his side with one hand, Suer ran back towards the classroom. Hopefully Professor Lupin was still there. It was already late. When Suer glanced through a window, the sun had sunk from sight, leaving only orange-red light upon the sky.
“Thank goodness you’re still here, Professor.” Suer pushed open the classroom door, panting. Remus Lupin sat in a chair, staring blankly through the window.
He looked faintly startled by Suer’s entrance. “Mr Bones?”
“Did you need something?”
“Yes.” Suer took several breaths, entered the room and closed the door behind him. His other hand rummaged through the satchel.
“Professor Snape instructed me to give you a potion after the lesson.”
Suer finally drew it out, hurried to the desk and set it down with a soft tap. Dark-brown liquid swayed inside the little bottle.
“Thank you.” Professor Lupin picked it up. “I thought Severus had forgotten.”
He pulled out the stopper. The moment the potion touched the air, a strange layer of blue smoke appeared above it.
Before Suer could speak, Lupin swallowed the entire draught.
Watching every feature on Professor Lupin’s face twist, Suer could not help swallowing. He could imagine how bitter the potion tasted. He had personally watched Professor Snape add several times the usual quantity of bitter-root grass…
“A pity it becomes useless if sugar is added… Please return the bottle to Severus for me.”
“Yes… yes, Professor.” Suer hesitantly accepted the bottle, replaced the wooden stopper and put it in his satchel. He did not know whether he ought to tell this thoroughly decent man the truth…
“Is there something else, Mr Bones?” The potion appeared to work well. A touch of colour had already returned to Professor Lupin’s pale face.
“No, Professor. Then I’ll be going?” In the end, Suer decided not to mention that detail. Unless he could persuade Professor Snape to show mercy, which seemed impossible.
“There’s no hurry. Would you keep me company for a while?” Professor Lupin asked with a smile. “We still have some time before dinner.”
A professor had invited him, and Suer naturally had no objection. He looked around, drew his wand and gave it a light flick towards a stool nearby.
“Chair, come here.”
“Very good. Who taught you that shortened form of the Summoning Charm? One step further and you may be able to cast it without a wand.”
“Professor Filius Flitwick has given me quite a lot of private advice.” Suer smoothed his wizarding robes and sat.
“Ah, naturally.” Lupin smiled and nodded. “The Summoning Charm is basic but extremely useful. It is a good spell with which to begin practising wandless magic.”
“I hear you are doing well in Potions too?”
Suer wondered why Lupin had abruptly changed the subject, but answered honestly. “Professor Snape assessed me as mediocre…”
“That sounds exactly like Severus.” Lupin chuckled. “Very few people can match him at potion-making. Your father was one of them. It appears, however, that you inherited your mother’s gift for charms.”
“In her day, your mother was a favourite pupil of both Professor McGonagall and Professor Filius Flitwick.”
“It is only a pity…” Professor Lupin sighed.
“You… knew my…” Suer paused. “My father and mother?”
“Of course.” Professor Lupin nodded. “When I studied at this castle, both your parents helped me a great deal.”
“You look more like your mother, incidentally.”
“I was astonished when your mother eventually chose your father.”
“They were forever bickering, each refusing to yield. He excelled at Potions and looked down upon foolish wand-waving. She excelled at charms and thought potion-making was nothing remarkable. Yet both also possessed considerable talent in Transfiguration and attended Professor McGonagall’s advanced class together.”
“Their Transfiguration duel in the Great Hall is a sight I have never forgotten.”
Memory flickered through Professor Lupin’s eyes.
Silence settled over the room. No one knew how much time passed.
“Will you tell me about them?” Suer pressed his lips together. “I never saw them. They were gone before I was born…”
“Of course.” Professor Lupin smiled faintly. “I still remember it very clearly…”
“The first time I reached the station, I could not find a compartment that would let me in. Your father invited me to remain in theirs. That was when we met. We were separated at the Sorting, however. He went to Hufflepuff.” Lupin glanced towards Suer’s robes.
“I am not surprised that you are a Hufflepuff too. The Bones family seems particularly fond of the House.”
“Though we belonged to different Houses, we remained in contact. I met your mother during a Potions lesson. She was so proud then–a Ravenclaw who nevertheless fumbled every step of brewing.”
Professor Lupin recalled an amusing story.
“Once, your father and mother were paired in Potions, and they began arguing. What caused it?” Lupin searched his memories, brow lightly furrowed.
“Oh, I remember. Your mother put an entire toad’s tail into the cauldron when it ought to have been chopped. At precisely that moment, your father increased the heat, and the whole potion exploded.”
“Professor Slughorn was furious… Ha ha…”
“If you are interested, visit the trophy room. Their plaques should still be there. Both became prefects in fifth year and won considerable honour for their Houses.”
“They were exceptional. Truly exceptional.”