NOVEL NEXT Chapter 204: Lupin
On the day school started, Madam Flamel got up early and personally prepared a breakfast for Link that couldn't be considered rich but was warm enough.
Afterward, she drove her dark red sports car and brought Link to the entrance of King's Cross Station.
But unlike before, no matter how reluctant she was, she would still put on a smiling face, this time, Madam Flamel looked worried all the way.
Watching Link push open the car door and walk toward the station, Madam Flamel finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Link!"
She chased forward and stopped Link, saying, "This year, in order to catch Black, that fool Fudge assigned many Dementors to Hogwarts. You absolutely must be careful, don't provoke those monsters!"
"Don't worry, Mother, I know what to do."
Link replied with a smile, but Madam Flamel still shook her head worriedly and said, "Don't smile like that. How terrifying Dementors are, you simply can't imagine."
"If you really can't take it, tell me. I'll arrange for you and Emily to temporarily drop out! Don't carry any psychological burden, you've already proved yourself…"
Madam Flamel talked on and on, with a feeling like she almost wanted to go to school with Link herself.
This was the first time Madam Flamel had ever shown such a state.
Link didn't feel annoyed by it, he simply listened quietly, nodding from time to time.
Finally, when the train was about to start, Madam Flamel stopped talking, touched Link's head, and said, "Go on, child. Don't forget what I said."
"Got it, Mother! I'll write to you as soon as I arrive!"
Link answered and quickly ran into the station, passed through the magical pillar, and amid the sound of train whistles, boarded the Hogwarts Express.
The next moment, the train departed.
"Phew!"
Link, who had boarded the train, let out a long breath. Beside him, Cedric, with a prefect badge on his chest, immediately came forward along with John and Emily.
"Link! You were almost late!"
"Ah… that's because a black cat crossed in front of me…"
Facing Cedric's question, Link randomly made up an excuse. Madam Flamel's public image had always been cold and strong, and Link didn't want to ruin that image.
Cedric didn't mind Link's nonsense, just shook his head and said, "All right then, you two go back to the carriage. I still need to continue patrolling, hope those first-years can be a little quieter."
After saying that, Cedric walked toward the first-years' carriage to maintain order. As a prefect, not only did he have the authority to manage all Hufflepuff students from first to fifth year, he also had to handle many extra duties.
"Really tough job."
Link shook his head with a bit of emotion. Beside him, Emily giggled and said, "Next year it'll be our turn."
John also nodded in agreement.
They'd be in fifth year next year. By then, the fifth-year prefects for Hufflepuff and Slytherin would definitely be Link and Emily.
Link chuckled softly but didn't say anything. He brought Emily and John to patrol the train, carriage by carriage.
At first, John thought Link was trying to find an empty carriage for them to rest in, but when he realized they had already left the area where Hufflepuff usually sat, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Link, where exactly are you taking us?"
"I'm looking for someone," Link looked around, then suddenly his eyes lit up, "Oh! Found him!"
John and Emily followed Link's gaze and saw in a separate compartment, a stranger was sleeping soundly by the window.
This man wore a tattered wizard robe, patched in many places. Though judging by his face he wasn't that old, his short light brown hair had already turned white, making him look sickly and completely without energy.
"Who's that guy?"
John instinctively lowered his voice and asked, while Emily looked at Link with a questioning gaze and said, "This is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"
"Bingo! Correct!"
Link smiled and snapped his fingers. Then he sat down next to the man and gently nudged him, saying, "Professor Lupin, wake up."
"Mm? Mm! Very sorry!"
Half-asleep, Lupin reflexively sat up and apologized as he did so.
"Professor Lupin, I didn't expect to see you here. You're our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, right?"
Link continued speaking with a smile, and hearing this, Lupin narrowed his eyes, stared at Link for a moment, then suddenly realized and said, "You are… Link? Link Flamel?"
"Wow! You actually forgot me, that's really disappointing."
"No no no! It's because you've changed so much these past two years!" Lupin quickly explained while gesturing with his hands, "You know, the first time I saw you, you were only about this tall."
"All right then, let me introduce my friends to you. This is…"
Link slowly introduced them. John acted very politely, but Emily was relatively cold.
To be honest, she didn't have a good impression of this Professor Lupin.
You know, usually professors wouldn't ride the Hogwarts Express with the students.
That's because they need to arrive at Hogwarts early, and also to maintain the seriousness of their professor status.
So they prefer to travel to Hogsmeade (a wizarding village next to Hogwarts) via the Floo Network fireplace, and then ride a carriage to Hogwarts.
If a professor chooses to ride the Hogwarts Express, it's either because they want to bond with the students, or because they're too poor to afford Floo Powder.
Looking at his shabby outfit, Emily clearly leaned toward the latter.
Such a person, Emily really found it hard to believe he had much teaching ability.
The group sat and chatted for a while, and Professor Lupin finally relaxed, returning to his original weak state, leaning against the window and yawning.
Seeing this, Link took a bottle of energy potion from the equipment belt under his robe and handed it over, saying, "I think you might need this."
"Mm! The quality of this potion is excellent!" Lupin sipped it lightly and said, "Did you make this yourself?"
"That's right."
Link smiled, and John, who hadn't been able to get a word in, proudly said, "Link is a potions genius! Last year, he even became the youngest-ever recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, thanks to a brand-new potion he developed!"
"It's not that exaggerated. That was actually mostly thanks to Professor Snape's help."
Link said modestly, and hearing that, Lupin murmured thoughtfully, "Snape, huh…"
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