When she arrived in the dining hall, Evangeline discovered that yet another person had joined their table. Every meal seemed to bring a new face, she mused, as she found herself being introduced to Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. He was a very tiny wizard, but he obviously had energy to burn. He also was bound and determined to regale everyone with all the details of his trip to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.
With him on one side of her and Minerva on the other, Evangeline found that she didn't have much time to devote to Professor Snape across the table. If she did chance to glance his way, he was usually focused on her with an unfathomable expression on his face. He didn't add much to the conversation, but he seemed to be reasonably relaxed and comfortable until Professor Dumbledore looked up and said, "I got an answer to my inquiry about the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, today."
Snape's goblet halted halfway to his face, and he turned his head swiftly toward Dumbledore. "Oh? And may I ask who you've tapped for that position this year, Albus?" he inquired in a cautious tone.
Dumbledore set his own goblet down and turned to Snape. "Yes, Severus, you may indeed. In fact, I intend to enlighten everyone right now. I have once again offered the position to Remus Lupin, and you may as well know, that he has accepted and plans to arrive at the end of the week."
Snape set his goblet down with a thump and glared angrily at Dumbledore. "Albus, how can you offer the Defense Against the Dark Arts position to that…man? The parents of the students won't put up with their children being taught by a werewolf! Didn't we resolve this over a year ago?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Things have changed a lot in the past year, as you know better than anyone. Lupin is the best man for the job, and I need him here." He took a sip from his goblet. "Actually, I didn't receive nearly as many complaints from parents as you might have wished either, Severus. It seems that he was a very highly respected teacher."
Snape sat there and quietly seethed. Evangeline could see the wheels turning behind his eyes, and could practically see smoke coming out of his ears. Obviously he and Dumbledore didn't see eye to eye on the subject of Remus Lupin. However, he held his tongue however reluctantly until Dumbledore added in a very casual tone. "He's probably bringing his dog with him, too."
Why that innocent comment should inspire the reaction it did, Evangeline didn't know, but Professor Snape's answer to that was to leap to his feet, throw down his napkin in disgust, and stalk out of the hall growling in inarticulate rage. Dumbledore followed Snape's furious retreat with a sad look and a deep sigh. Minerva reached across the table and patted his hand comfortingly. "Actually, Albus, that didn't go too badly. Severus didn't break anything after all."
Evangeline looked in astonishment from one to the other of them and said, "Am I to understand that you've hired a werewolf to be one of this year's instructors? And that you've actually done this before?"
Minerva turned to Evangeline and smiled. "Yes, my dear. Remus Lupin is a charming man and an excellent teacher. It's not his fault that he's also a werewolf. The students are in no danger from him. Professor Snape can produce a potion that Professor Lupin can take during the full moon. It allows him to keep his mental faculties during the transformation. He simply stays out of the way until he becomes human again."
"Then why does Severus object so strongly to his presence?" Evangeline asked with a puzzled expression.
The other three exchanged looks, as if debating who should have the responsibility of explaining. In the end it was left to Professor Dumbledore, as things usually are. "Remus and Severus were both here at Hogwarts at the same time. The Wolfsbane Potion, which Severus developed by the way, did not exist at that time. Lupin used to retreat to the building known as the Shrieking Shack, on the edge of Hogsmeade, during the full moon. Severus discovered Lupin's secret in a most unfortunate manner, and he's never really gotten over the shock. However, he'll have to find a way to come to terms with Lupin's employment here. That's all there is to it."
Evangeline thought about that and then added, "He seemed much more upset that Professor Lupin is bringing his dog with him. Does he have an aversion to dogs?"
Professor Dumbledore sighed again. "To this particular dog, my dear, I'm afraid he does indeed."