Chapter 125 Tears Of The Werewolf
Harry had had enough; he did not want to play with Malfoy anymore.
He was ready to go to the school's Hospital Wing to check on Evan and Hermione's injuries.
"By the way, I need to find Ron; I haven't seen him since we split up this morning."
Ron certainly doesn't know that Evan and Hermione were attacked by a werewolf. Harry thought he should break the news to him, and they could all discuss Sirius Black's matter together.
However, he abruptly halted when he heard a pitiful, hoarse cry for help coming from Professor Lupin's office.
It truly sounded like Ron's voice!
Why would Ron be in Professor Lupin's office? And why would he be calling for help?
Harry had no time to ponder such matters and rushed towards the door.
But Malfoy was quicker. He was already standing in front of the door. He waved his wand gently, and it swung open.
Almost instantly, a crowd burst into the office. The interior decoration was simple and worn, with few ornaments. The most striking feature was a very large water tank in one corner. A pale green creature with small sharp horns had its face pressed against the glass.
It was a grindylow, grimacing and flexing its long, slim fingers.
In front of the tank, Ron stood pale, hands clutching his wand in front of him, his body trembling, his face filled with horror and anxiety.
He looked back and saw Harry running towards him, and he immediately collapsed to the floor.
Harry noticed Ron's mouth wide open, as if silently screaming. His eyes were bulging. It seemed like he was calling out to Harry.
"What happened, Ron?!" Harry hurried forward, asking eagerly, "What are you doing here?!"
Harry stopped talking and turned to where Ron was staring, where he saw a suffocating creature crouched under Professor Lupin's desk, staring back at him with its yellow eyes.
The creature had its hands over its head, and had curled up beneath the table. Its body resembled that of a normal human, but it was covered in long, dark gray hair. What was eerie was its head. It was a wolf's head.
It was a werewolf. Harry swiftly drew his wand as fear gripped his heart.
Evan and Hermione had just been attacked by a werewolf in Hogsmeade; and now there was a werewolf entering Hogwarts Castle. Was it also there to harm the young wizards?
But under the table, that creature was not making any drastic moves, nor attempting to use its sharp fangs and claws to tear into the students' young bodies. It simply huddled, gazing at Harry, seemingly unable, pain evident all over its face.
Harry was surprised to see tears streaming from the werewolf's eyes. As he looked into them, he suddenly felt their gaze was very familiar.
Harry felt those eyes did not fit such a creature. He had the sensation that the weeping werewolf before him was none other than Professor Lupin.
How could this be possible? How on earth could Professor Lupin be a werewolf?
Something must have gone wrong. Perhaps it was a failed experiment; maybe a spell gone awry turning him into that.
Otherwise, how to explain that the beast before him had not torn him to shreds yet?
Harry felt it was necessary to communicate with him. At least, from what appears here, this werewolf is completely different from the legend. It did not seem dangerous at all.
"Professor Lupin," Harry said softly. He said it so quietly that he could not even hear himself, as if only his lips were moving.
The werewolf huddled even further under his desk and nodded. His tearful eyes were filled with pain.
"Godric's Hollow!" Harry's eyes widened. His assumption was correct; the werewolf was indeed Lupin, without a doubt.
But now, he no longer felt fear, and warmth returned to his body. He dropped his wand and approached him. He must help him.
But before reaching him, he heard Malfoy shouting behind him. "Look what we found, a werewolf that broke into the castle!"
Malfoy approached and saw Professor Lupin huddled under his desk, then immediately ran over to his Slytherin companions. It seemed as if not a drop of blood ran through his pale face. Nevertheless, his mouth bore an unprecedented malevolent smile.
Harry glared furiously at Malfoy pretending to be surprised.
He and the other Slytherin students must have known all of this beforehand; otherwise, they wouldn't have led everyone straight to Professor Lupin's office.
It was an obvious conspiracy. Perhaps they themselves had turned him into this.
Harry wanted to explain to everyone that the werewolf in front of them was Professor Lupin and that he was not dangerous.
But it was futile. Upon hearing Malfoy's shout, everyone gasped as they retreated.
The atmosphere was dreadful, and everyone remembered the recent attack in Hogsmeade. There were already two victims in the school infirmary, and there was a rumor that second-year student Evan Mason had been killed by the werewolf.
Now, a werewolf had managed to enter the castle and was right in front of them.
Was it there to attack them? That was simply horrific. Panic gradually spread among them. After all, werewolves were usually more like mythical creatures. But now, they were appearing one after another. And, moreover, anyone bitten by one of them would themselves become a werewolf.
No one dared to approach the table. Only Harry and Ron remained there.
Harry turned and saw Percy running out of the crowd. He wanted to ask him to prevent more people from seeing Professor Lupin's current appearance.
He could see the pain in the professor's eyes.
Harry thought of persuading everyone to understand that there was no werewolf underneath, and that it was simply Professor Lupin. But he didn't have time to do so; Ron, who was beside him, suddenly whispered, "Diffindo!"
Instantly, his wand emitted a dazzling red light!
"No, Ron!" Harry shouted. But Ron's spell passed by him to hit poor Lupin who was huddled under the table.
No, he had actually dodged it!
The red light didn't hit Professor Lupin; it actually hit his desk!
Bang! It flew backward, and Professor Lupin, who had been hidden underneath it, appeared as a werewolf to everyone.
"Look!" Seeing Professor Lupin's appearance, all the young wizards held their breath as they took a step back.