booktalesy Chapter 285 Lupin's Mistake
Chapter 285 Lupin's Mistake
Chapter 285 Lupin's Mistake (5.1K) (1/2)
The door closed gently behind Lucius and Fudge, completely shutting out the remaining noise outside.
Fudge's gaze swept quickly across the room, first landing on the silent gray figure of Reggie, the president of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild, by the fireplace, and then turning to Lynch, who was smiling beside him.
He forced a bright smile, his tone carrying a hint of familiarity—though beneath that familiarity lay a deep-seated apprehension: "Mr. Lynch, we meet again. Let me think, wasn't the last time at the Leaky Cauldron?"
Lynch stepped forward calmly, a flawless smile on his face, and replied, "Minister, you have a good memory. Indeed, I had the pleasure of a brief conversation with you that time to ensure Harry's safety, and I thank you for your understanding."
Standing in the shadows by the door, Lucius raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly upon hearing this. Harry Potter? It seemed there might be some unknown connection between Mr. Lynch and the Savior Boy. He silently noted this information, maintaining his respectful and submissive expression.
Upon hearing Lynch's thanks, Fudge immediately waved his hand, trying his best to maintain an enthusiastic expression: "Oh, it's just a small favor. If Mr. Lynch ever needs the department to do anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask." He spoke quite generously, but the hint of apprehension deep in his eyes lingered.
Lin Qi bowed slightly, his smile remaining composed: "Since you are so generous, Minister, I will certainly not hesitate to ask for your help if I need anything."
As he spoke, he stepped aside to make way for Reggie, who had been standing quietly by the fireplace, and introduced him: "Minister, please allow me to formally introduce you. This is Mr. Reggie, the president of the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce, and also an important partner of mine."
Fudge's bright, social smile immediately faded, replaced by a more cautious, even inquisitive, expression.
He looked at Reggie, his tone carrying just the right amount of flattery: "President Reggie! I've long admired your name! I've always hoped to have the opportunity to meet you, but unfortunately you're always so busy, it's truly a rare chance. Today, I've finally met you, and indeed—"
His demeanor is extraordinary, unlike any other.
Reggie's large gray cloak twitched slightly, as if he were nodding.
Then, a hoarse, dry voice, almost devoid of any intonation, came from the shadow of the hood, like rusty metal rubbing together: "Minister Fookie, it's a pleasure to see you. I wasn't deliberately avoiding you before, it's just that I'm not feeling well enough to receive guests, please understand."
The unusual sound startled Fudge, a hint of undisguised astonishment flashing in his eyes.
But the fact that he was able to become Minister of Magic shows that he has exceptional adaptability.
Almost instantly, his momentary lapse in composure vanished without a trace, replaced by a warm smile as if nothing had happened: "I understand, I completely understand! Someone like you always has special considerations. It's already an honor to meet you."
After a seemingly amicable exchange of pleasantries, Lynch gestured to the comfortable sofa in the center of the room: "Minister, Lucius, please have a seat. Let's sit down and talk things over."
Fudge readily walked to the main sofa, while Lucius remained elegantly silent and chose to sit down on the side.
Lynch sat down opposite Fudge, while Reggie silently moved to a high-backed armchair a little further away, with his back to the gradually fading fire, his gray figure almost blending into the shadows of the corner.
Once everyone was seated, Lucius clapped his hands, and a servant pushed open the door and brought in fragrant black tea, placing it on the table.
Lynch picked up a glass and gently stirred the teaspoon in it. The silverware clinked against the porcelain cup with a crisp sound. He spoke as if casually, breaking the brief silence: "Minister, the reason I've taken the liberty of inviting you here is actually about something that's been troubling you quite a bit right now—we may have some clues about Sirius Black."
Fudge's hand, which was about to pick up the teacup, suddenly stopped, and the tea almost spilled.
He suddenly looked up, his face filled with undisguised surprise and eagerness, and his body leaned forward involuntarily: "Blake?!"
"You mean that fugitive?! By Merlin! Mr. Lynch, are you telling the truth? What clue? Where is he?!"
Faced with Fudge's barrage of questions, Lynch simply took an elegant sip of his black tea before slowly setting down the cup with a reassuring smile. "Minister, please be patient. Precisely because this matter is of great importance, we currently only have some unverified clues," far from being able to pinpoint their exact location. As you know, I am always cautious, especially when providing intelligence to the Ministry of Magic. It would be unacceptable for me to waste the Auror Office's valuable resources on mere rumors, or even create a misunderstanding."
Fudge opened his mouth, but the flush of excitement on his face quickly faded, replaced by an expression that was a mixture of disappointment and helplessness.
He certainly understood Lin Qi's implied meaning and was also aware of the power and methods of the "hanger" before him. Since the other party said it was "unverified," it meant he was unwilling to reveal the truth now. His deep-seated fear of Lin Qi, or rather, of the "hanger," prevented him from pressuring him too much.
He forced a knowing smile, but it was somewhat stiff: "Uh—of course, of course! Caution is necessary, absolutely necessary!" He rubbed his hands together. "So, once it's confirmed—?"
"Once the authenticity of the clues is confirmed, I will definitely send someone to inform you, Minister, immediately." Lynch replied smoothly, giving a clear promise. "After all, assisting the Ministry of Magic in maintaining the stability of the magical world is also our due responsibility."
"Great! I'll wait for your good news!" Fudge said quickly. Although he was reluctant, he felt that the trip was worthwhile since he had received this promise.
Seeing that the topic of Black had temporarily come to an end, Lucius Malfoy, who had been quietly listening, chuckled at the opportune moment and steered the conversation toward the theme of the evening's banquet.
"Speaking of good news," Lucius said with just the right amount of flattery, "our Stone Tower Merchant Guild's announcement tonight of its foray into the media industry is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the stagnant magical world. The fact that the Minister himself was present to witness this demonstrates the Ministry of Magic's strong support for commercial innovation, which is truly inspiring."
Fudge immediately understood Lucius's intention. A warm, official smile spread across his face as he turned to Lynch and Reggie in the shadows, stating confidently, "Of course! The Ministry of Magic has always been committed to creating a favorable environment for law-abiding and visionary businesses. Tonight's press conference was a great success, and I believe that the addition of the Stone Tower Company will bring more objective and diverse voices to our news industry—that's a wonderful thing!" He paused, as if remembering something, and added with a slightly complaining tone, "Especially now, the Daily Prophet sometimes—alas, always misses the point, reporting sensational news and lacking any constructive content."
Lynch calmly took over the conversation, his smile impeccable, but his words carried a clear purpose: "The Minister's affirmation is of paramount importance to us. As we discussed at the dinner, we aspire to build a more—rational,
"We value communication platforms for development. Of course, when entering a new field, we will inevitably encounter some ingrained—habitual forces, or obstacles that do not understand our original intentions." He gently put down his teacup, making a crisp clinking sound. "At that time, perhaps we will truly need you, Minister, and the Ministry of Magic, to uphold justice for us based on the principles of fairness and promoting the healthy development of the industry."
Fudge understood the deeper meaning in those words: it was a clear signal of seeking asylum and future political support.
He was well aware of the importance of public opinion and understood the benefits of befriending the "hangman" and the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce behind him.
He immediately straightened his back, adopting the authoritative posture of a minister, and readily agreed: "Of course! The Ministry of Magic will never sit idly by in the face of any unfair competition. Mr. Lynch, President Reggie, please rest assured that as long as it complies with regulations and is beneficial to the stability and prosperity of the wizarding world, the Ministry will definitely give it its firm support! If there are any issues, you can have Lucius contact me at any time, or you can come directly to the Ministry to see me!"
"With your words, Minister, we feel reassured," Lucius flattered at the opportune moment, raising his teacup as if in acknowledgment.
The atmosphere became exceptionally harmonious for a moment, and all parties received the verbal promises and gestures they desired.
The fire crackled softly in the fireplace behind Reggie, casting his silent, grey silhouette upon him, like a silent witness. Beneath the smiles and pleasantries, the scales of power were subtly shifting.
Since that transformative conversation with Lynch in the Forbidden Forest, Remus Lupin's life has been as if a boulder has been thrown into it. He tries to maintain a calm exterior, but inside, turbulent waves are already surging.
His thoughts kept drifting to that astonishing truth—Peter might still be alive, right there at Hogwarts!
Sirius may be innocent!
These two thoughts, like entangled venomous snakes, gnawed at his reason day and night.
When preparing lessons, he would suddenly stare blankly at a certain page of "Dark Powers: A Guide to Self-Defense" until ink dripped from the tip of his quill pen and stained the paper, at which point he would be jolted awake.
When grading student papers, he would sometimes give the wrong score or write comments that were completely unrelated to the content. For example, at the end of one of Simo's papers about red hats, he wrote in a scribbled sentence, "Trust needs evidence," which left Simo completely baffled.
Lu Ping's unease intensified, like a dark cloud hanging over him.
Despite his efforts to maintain a gentle and patient demeanor, the astonishing truth about Peter and Sirius was like a raging fire burning in his mind, constantly consuming his concentration.
This week's practical lesson focused on the Kaba—a Japanese water monster resembling an ape with scales and a saucer-shaped depression on its head. They are known for dragging careless travelers into the water and devouring their entrails. Although the one Lupin brought was under a powerful binding spell and confined in a specially made, water-filled magical tank, its ferocious appearance and occasional hissing sounds like fingernails scraping glass still filled the students with both fear and curiosity.
"Kaba's power comes from the water in the dish on its head," Lupin explained, his voice hoarser than usual, revealing a hint of undisguised fatigue. "On land, if you can cleverly make it bow, causing the water in the dish to flow out, it will lose all its power. That's the key to defeating it—"
As he spoke, he used his wand to guide the Kaba in the tank, signaling it to make an attacking motion in order to demonstrate how to induce it to "bow".
However, when Nakaba suddenly turned around in the water, staring at the students outside with his dark, cruel little eyes, Lupin's thoughts were once again abruptly pulled away.
Those eyes—for some reason, they reminded him of Sirius Black's gloomy yet sharp gaze in the Daily Prophet, and seemed to overlap with Peter Pettigrew's usually timid and flickering eyes—thoughts of betrayal and injustice gnawed at him like venomous snakes, instantly immersing him in his own world and making him forget the dangerous creature before him.
The tip of his wand, the faint light that held the Binding Charm in place, flickered violently as his mind raced!
That moment of relaxation was enough for Kaba.
The cunning water monster keenly sensed the weakening of the magical restraints. It let out a triumphant shriek and slammed into the water tank glass with a force disproportionate to its size!
"Click!"
The magically reinforced glass cracked instantly, and a stream of water mixed with a fishy smell gushed out.
Immediately afterward, amidst the students' terrified screams, Kabana's slippery, scaly claws gripped the crack, and his entire body burst out of the broken tank, lunging straight at Neville Longbottom, who stood frozen in terror at the front row!
Those gleaming claws were about to seize Neville's robes!
At the critical moment, Lupin was abruptly pulled back to reality by Neville's scream and the pervasive sense of crisis.
The fear that instantly overwhelmed all other thoughts was the fear for the safety of the students!
"They'll all be petrified!"
He waved his wand almost instinctively, his movements as fast as lightning.
A dazzling white light struck Kaba precisely in mid-air.
The monster, still in its ferocious pouncing posture, stiffly crashed to Neville's feet with a "thud," splashing water everywhere.
The classroom was deathly silent, save for the sound of the water tank leaking and Lupin's heavy breathing.
Lupin's face was deathly pale, and his chest heaved violently.
He strode forward, first checking the petrified Kaba to make sure it was completely under control, then immediately turned to Neville, his voice trembling unmistakably: "Mr. Longbottom? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Neville was still in shock; he could only shake his head vigorously, his lips trembling as he couldn't utter a word.
"I'm so sorry, everyone," Lupin turned to the class, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down. "This is a serious mistake on my part. Kaba are very dangerous creatures, and any negligence can have disastrous consequences. Today's incident is entirely my fault. Gryffindor—because of Mr. Longbottom's composure," he managed to find a reason, "get ten points. Now, please return to your seats. Today's practical lesson is over early."
Although Lupin quickly brought the situation under control and sincerely apologized, the news that "Professor Lupin was distracted while demonstrating the dangerous water monster Kaba, causing the monster to escape and almost attack Neville" spread like wildfire throughout Hogwarts.
The news naturally reached Snape's ears without missing a beat.
In the following Potions class, he paced like a circling vulture among the cauldrons, which reeked of a strange odor. When discussing a potion that required intense concentration to avoid exploding, he added coldly, "It seems not everyone understands the importance of 'concentration.' Especially when dealing with—dangerous substances." He paused meaningfully, his dark eyes sweeping across the class, "Imagine if your professor, while trying to control a bloodthirsty water monster, could fail because—lost in his own thoughts, then you should understand the—spectacular consequences—of daydreaming in the delicate discipline of Potions."
He didn't name names, but every word was like a poisoned needle, precisely aimed at Lupin, who was in another classroom. A knowing chuckle echoed from the underground classroom among the Slytherin students.
What made Lupin even more embarrassed was that Snape seemed determined to spread the word. Not only in the faculty lounge, in front of Professor McGonagall, did Snape "concernedly" ask Lupin if he was "unable to perform" his current position due to "health problems"; but even when he encountered Filch in the corridor, he would "unintentionally" mention: "Argus, be extra careful about the castle's security lately, after all, even in the classroom—unexpected monster riots might occur."
These rumors and Snape's continued malice were like a tightening rope, suffocating Lupin.
He knew that the accident was entirely his responsibility, and Snape's accusations were not unreasonable in some respects.
But it was this guilt, intertwined with external pressure, that made him realize more clearly that he could no longer wait passively, tormented by inner doubts and the ghosts of the past.
He had to do something, he had to personally verify the truth that had overturned his understanding of the past twelve years, otherwise, he simply could not live a normal life.
Lu Ping dragged his heavy steps back to his office door, his mind still racing, trying to figure out how to start the investigation without alerting the enemy.
However, when he looked up and saw the figure in a suit standing by the door, his heart sank.
It's Lynch.
His overly sharp eyes, gleaming in the darkness, were silently watching him.
The two stared at each other from a distance of a few feet, a silent tension filling the air.
Lupin's throat was a little dry. He silently opened the office door, then stepped aside and made a "please" gesture.
Without any hesitation, Lin Qi strode into the office.
Lupin followed him inside, then closed the door behind him, cutting off the light from the corridor and any potential prying eyes.
Before Lupin could even ask a question, or even sit down behind his desk piled high with books, Lynch had already turned around and cut to the chase. His voice was calm, yet it lashed at Lupin's heart like a whip: "Remus, I thought we had reached an agreement. I thought that, with your experience and circumstances, you were at least capable of accomplishing the simple task of 'keeping a low profile' and 'waiting patiently'."
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