Chapter 139 Unfortunate Lunch
Evan, Harry, and Hermione exited the school hospital. Upon entering the Great Hall, they noticed that the long tables for the four Houses had been pushed against the walls. Only a square table for twenty people remained in the center of the room. Those who chose to spend Christmas at the castle this year were gathered around the table.
Evan didn't see Dumbledore; his seat was unoccupied.
In addition to him, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Hagrid were all present, along with the caretaker Filch.
Filch had already shed his usual brown coat and was sporting a very old and rather outdated tuxedo. Two very nervous first-year Ravenclaws sat next to Professor Flitwick, while a sixth-year Slytherin student sat to Snape's left.
Ron was also there, seated alone at the end of the table. No one wanted to be near him.
Harry hesitated for a moment and approached Ron, his face filled with concern.
Evan quickly restrained Harry. He couldn't just approach like that. Due to the events with Professor Lupin the previous night, Harry had to react normally. He had to seem to detest Ron.
If he approached, he would spook the snake. That is to say, Peter Pettigrew is a clever opponent, and they have to be cautious.
The three exchanged glances, looking away from Ron, and sat down next to each other beside Hagrid.
Except for the sporadic smiles on Snape's lips, the mood around the table was very heavy and gloomy; it didn't feel like Christmas at all. Everyone ate in silence, and no one spoke until...
"Evan, Hermione, how are you two?" Hagrid asked with a somber expression.
"Don't worry, Madam Pomfrey said we are fine. We just need..." Before Evan could finish his words, he saw three owls flying into the Great Hall.
They carried three red envelopes in their beaks, heading straight for Dumbledore's empty seat.
"Enough already! Those Howlers have been screeching since morning!"
Professor McGonagall stood up. She glared angrily at the three Howlers the owls dropped on the table. The corners of the envelopes were slowly burning.
She drew her wand and waved it gently.
Three blue flames erupted from the red envelopes, turning them to ashes in the blink of an eye, sparing those around the table of their dreadful sounds.
"Incredible, simply incredible!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed sharply. "Are they all mad?! Sending Howlers to Headmaster Dumbledore. I haven't seen such madness in years."
"Silly owls and equally silly Howlers!" Snape sneered.
"I've noticed all these Howlers were sent by parents of students from your House, Severus," Professor McGonagall said, smiling.
"Thank you for reminding me. I hadn't realized!" Snape had a sinister grin on his lips. "But I can understand why the students' parents did it. In my view, what the Headmaster did was truly improper. Who would have thought that a schoolteacher could be a werewolf? And who would have thought that this tamed werewolf would attack his own students? With this lesson, I believe the Headmaster will definitely be very, very cautious in hiring staff in the future."
"Professor Lupin is innocent!" Harry glared at Snape angrily and shouted helplessly. "He didn't hurt anyone, he..."
"Silence, Potter! Five points deducted from Gryffindor." Snape turned to look at Harry and smirked. "I don't want to know about what's between you and that werewolf, but I must remind you to watch your tone. Don't bark at me like an uncouth wolf cub!"
Harry sat sullenly and forced himself not to look at Snape.
"Do not worry, Harry! With Dumbledore in there, Professor Lupin will be fine," Hagrid whispered, trying to console him. However, he didn't seem very confident. "It's been truly horrible; I can't count how many owls arrived before these three with Howlers. They've been coming constantly!"
"Was it like this all morning?" Evan asked, surprised.
"Yes, you and Hermione missed breakfast, so you didn't witness that scene. In front of the whole school, over 400 Howlers went off simultaneously!"
"I just told him," Harry said weakly. "Hagrid, any news about Dumbledore or Professor Lupin?"
"In fact, there is bad news," Hagrid said hesitantly. "I've just learned that the Ministry is preparing to send Professor Lupin directly to Azkaban!"
"How could they do such a thing without a trial?!" Harry looked at Ron, then quickly returned his gaze. He whispered, "Ron's accusation is obviously ridiculous. Professor Lupin will be proven innocent."
"I know; it's all Lucius Malfoy's fault. That guy has been playing tricks all along!" Hagrid replied angrily. "It's not that I don't believe in Lupin, but if it were me, I'd prefer to die than go back to Azkaban."
"Is it horrible there, Hagrid?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"You can't imagine. I was there, fifty years ago, for a couple of months when I was unjustly accused of using the Acromantula to kill a student in the Chamber of Secrets," Hagrid said calmly. "Nowhere is as bad, I thought I was going mad, with all sorts of terrible things running through my head. The day I was expelled from Hogwarts was the day my father died..."
"Because of the Dementors?"
"Yes, you've seen those monsters this year, but you probably haven't seen thousands of them together, the feeling of horror..." Hagrid closed his eyes, and painful memories reflected on his face. "Azkaban prison was built on a deserted island far off the coast. The island is full of Dementors. If you stay there long enough, you wouldn't know who you are or what it means to live. I often wished for sleep and not to wake up when I was alone. When they released me, it felt like I was revived, and I remembered who I was and why I wanted to live again. That is truly the most wonderful feeling in the world. I remember the Dementors didn't want to let me go."
"But you weren't proven guilty!" Hermione protested.
"Guilty?" Hagrid growled angrily. "Do you really think they value such a thing? They don't care. They already have 500 people there, and they've been sucking the happiness out of all of them. They don't care who's guilty and who's not."
Hearing Hagrid's words made Harry's stomach churn and a cold sweat broke out.
"Don't worry!" Seeing Harry and Hermione's expressions, Evan hastily said, "Professor Lupin won't be sent to Azkaban. Tonight, we will prove his innocence."
Harry said nothing, still lost in thought about Azkaban.
Suddenly, he remembered that Sirius Black had been there for twelve years. It must have been terrible for him.