Chapter 128 The Warmth Of Trust
"I believe he is safe. He couldn't attack anyone!"
Evan's voice was not loud, yet it was clearly heard by everyone in the silent office.
All heads turned towards Evan with surprise. Instantly, he became the center of attention for all students and teachers in the school. Under everyone's gaze, Evan walked through the crowd, and all the young wizards made way for him.
"Evan!" Harry exclaimed, amazed.
Evan nodded and stood beside him. His eyes scanned the faces in the crowd, each bearing a different expression.
Upon hearing his words, most young wizards were astonished and perplexed. They couldn't fathom why Evan would speak in such a manner; meanwhile, Snape, Lucius, and the Slytherin students wore dark expressions, full of malice and disdain.
"I'm sure everyone already knows…" Evan took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Before you stands this werewolf is Professor Lupin!"
His words landed like a heavy stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples of disturbance among the crowd.
Since they entered this office, an ominous feeling lingered in the air. Listening to the confused discussion between Dumbledore, Fudge, Snape, and Lucius, almost confirmed their suspicions. But assuming something and having it distinctly confirmed by Evan were entirely different.
Deep within their young hearts, they simply couldn't believe, nor did they wish to believe, that the kind and amiable Professor Lupin could actually be a fierce and cruel werewolf.
A moment passed before everyone gradually fell silent.
Almost every one of them held their breath, their eyes fixed on Evan, awaiting his next words.
"Moreover, I'm certain you all know Hermione and I just encountered a werewolf in Hogsmeade that attacked us. You might now think that Professor Lupin was going to attack everyone, but let me assure you that Professor Lupin is nothing like the werewolf we encountered. He is not dangerous, and he had no intention of harming anyone tonight. He's been taking the Wolfsbane Potion for a week, which helps him maintain enough sobriety and reason when he transforms into a werewolf."
The young wizards had just overheard Dumbledore's dialogue with Snape and knew that Professor Lupin had taken the Wolfsbane Potion. The majority of them were unfamiliar with the effects of such a potion, and understood it well upon hearing Evan's explanation.
"The Wolfsbane Potion can ensure his safety. Even though he's now a terrifying werewolf, his heart is actually that of the Professor Lupin we know. He cannot…"
"Wait a moment, Mr. Mason! As a potions master, I have a few words to say." Snape narrowed his eyes at Evan, a mocking smile playing at the corner of his mouth, and continued, "I must remind you that the Wolfsbane Potion only allows werewolves to be rational, but it doesn't guarantee that they won't bite people! In fact, after taking the potion, a werewolf like the one you have before you can become more dangerous. Because they retain their mind, they become more cunning and harder to handle than an average werewolf."
"Thank you for the reminder, Professor Snape!" Evan turned around and went on, "What you've said is absolutely true, and there may be many people who, like you, would think that Professor Lupin is untrustworthy simply for being a werewolf. Yes, he is indeed one, but that is no reason to fear or discriminate against him! Let us just ponder on it! Think of his usual behavior and how he treats everyone. Do you still believe he would harm others?!"
Upon hearing Evan's words, many young wizards bowed their heads and reflected.
They recalled how Professor Lupin treated them. He was the best they had ever seen in the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. His class had always been engaging. He patiently answered all questions and went out of his way to teach them how to face dark creatures, even with teachings not found in common textbooks.
Remembering such a professor, almost everyone stopped believing he could harm them.
However, the buzz of controversy persisted. Although everyone remembered Professor Lupin's behavior, many were still repelled by his terrifying werewolf form.
Evan understood what Lucius was attempting, so he knew he had to seize the moment and take immediate action to demonstrate that Professor Lupin was nothing like Greyback.
He was not dangerous and would not harm anyone.
Thus, under everyone's gaze, he approached and reached out to touch Professor Lupin.
He extended his right hand towards him, and several girls screamed in the crowd.
All the young wizards watched nervously, holding their breath as if he might be attacked by the dreadful werewolf at any moment.
Lupin trembled softly and allowed Evan to touch him.
Unlike the smooth skin of normal people, a werewolf's skin is unusually tough, and the long fur pricked the hand and was a bit difficult to grasp, making it uncomfortable.
The strange sensation in his fingers and the terrifying wolf head in close proximity made Evan a little nervous. He felt the beast's hot breath on his face. But his right hand managed to look past the werewolf's frightening appearance to touch the man's inner self.
He could sense that Remus was even more nervous than he was.
Then, without thinking, Evan embraced Professor Lupin tightly.
Embraced by Evan, Lupin's body shuddered.
Tears welled up in his eyes. He never expected Evan to do such a thing. For the first time in over 12 years, he felt this level of trust again.
For a werewolf roaming on the fringes of society, trust is probably the most precious thing in the world.
Suddenly, he saw Sirius Black in Evan. At that moment, when his true identity was first discovered by his friends at Hogwarts, he was equally nervous and terrified. He feared the three of them would tell others and feared being expelled from school.
Like Evan, Sirius Black embraced him at that moment.
Faced with Evan's embrace, Lupin didn't know what to do. He felt like a child. He saw Dumbledore, who was standing not far away, nodding with a smile, just as he did at that moment when he insisted on accepting him at the school.
Tears rolled down Lupin's cheeks. He hesitated for a moment and tried to reach out and embrace the slender boy in front of him. Twelve years after the deaths of James and Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black's capture in Azkaban, he felt such warmth again.
Lupin knew that this was the warmth of trust.