Chapter 522 Humiliation
Durmstrang, Draco and Zabini, who had put the mandrake leaves into the crystal vials filled with their saliva last night, gathered in Draco's in the dormitory. The room was very quiet, only the sound of the host on the TV broadcasting the news could be heard. Looking out from the tall windows in the room, you can see that it is snowing outside, and the gray and white small snowflakes are reflected in the black sky.
"The Werewolf Control Bureau of the Ministry of Magic captured an out-of-control werewolf who had not registered with the Ministry of Magic in Hogwarts. It was shocking that after verification, the werewolf turned out to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Lyme at Hogwarts. Lupine..." The hostess in a white professional suit reported excitedly, her nose was red from the cold.
Behind her was a tall werewolf who was tightly bound by ropes. Under its thick thick black long hair, its long fangs were very intimidating.
Dumbledore's eyes that seemed to be able to read people's hearts swept across the people on the field, and Umbridge was triumphant and smiling brightly.
"Friends and children: don't panic." Dumbledore's voice suddenly exploded in the hustle and bustle, "I beg you to give this old man a moment to talk. The werewolf in front of you is Professor Lupine, yes, he I personally invited the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, I have always known about his situation. It is because I know Remus Lupine that I have full confidence that he will not be a danger to the students. Again Before, he took the wolfsbane potion made for him by the potion master Professor Snape one week before the full moon, so even when the moon was full, he would not completely become a werewolf, but would only become a wolf. A sleepy, ordinary wolf. Prior to this, Remus had never had any record of hurting anyone. Last week, Remus took the potion as usual, so his loss of control tonight must be caused by someone Framed, his medicine should have been tampered with, please believe me, give your Professor Lupine dignity, and give him a chance to prove himself."
Seeing Professor Lupine's appearance at this time, remembering the scene of Snape who almost killed himself when he was a student, he stepped forward a little annoyed: "Dumbledore, I don't bother to be in his medicine." Hands and feet! If you don't trust me, you can find someone else to do it for him before."
"Severus, you know that's not what I mean, don't let anger get to your head." Frowning, Dumbledore explained to Snape.
"Principal Dumbledore, please allow me to interject, since this ugly werewolf..." Umbridge couldn't help but paused when Dumbledore stared at her, and then continued to use her sweet He said in a false voice, "Since Mr. Remus Lupine can be tampered with in his medicine because of his negligence this time, then how can you guarantee that such a thing will not happen again, Principal Dumbledore? This time it was luck that our Ministry of Magic stopped it, so what if we don't find out in the first place next time? Headmaster Dumbledore, you made a personal decision because of your personal sympathy for Mr. Lupine. It is indeed a fact that the little wizards are in danger without knowing it!"
Some young wizards around nodded involuntarily, and felt for the first time that this rather annoying Ministry of Magic member made some sense.
"It's unbelievable that I have been in close contact with a living werewolf for so long! If there is an accident and we are also infected, wouldn't our life be ruined?!"
"The school took a werewolf living next to us for granted, but it was completely unsure of our safety, and it didn't pay much attention to our students. I have to write to my family to let them protest against the school. My dad is One of the school directors."
"Mr. Lupine is so gentle to us on weekdays. I like his class very much, but I didn't expect him to be a werewolf."
"Maybe his usual gentle attitude towards us is just to let us relax our vigilance?"
"These werewolves are soulless and evil,
The only thing he deserved was being sent to Azkaban. "
...
The tall werewolf had obviously begun to regain his sanity gradually under the drugs or spells administered by the Department for the Protection of Fantastic Beasts, but at this moment he was just tied up and sitting on the ground, quietly lowering his head, unable to see clearly expression, but the trembling body now looks so small and humble.
Around him, some students who came back to their senses angrily reprimanded and vented their emotions of shock and indignation after being concealed and deceived, and more students, even those who had a good relationship with Professor Lupine before Although the wizards did not participate in the abuse, those cold and unfamiliar eyes full of vigilance cast from a distance were the reason why Lupine lowered his head.
Tonight added another painful wound to Remus Lupine's already tormented life.
Harry finally broke through the crowd and came to Professor Lupine. He wanted to untie his restraints, but he was stopped by members of the Werewolf Control Bureau as soon as he got close, "No, Professor Lupine won't hurt others, no !" Harry could feel Professor Lupine's sadness and humiliation at this moment, and helplessly explained to the wizards around him.
Among the young wizards watching, Hufflepuff's Hannah Abbott couldn't bear to look at the scene in front of her, "Maybe what Harry said is true? Look, Professor Lupine has obviously regained his senses. He usually It's really gentle."
"Don't believe Harry Potter, don't forget the news on the "Daily Prophet", he has been trying to attract people's attention with lies about the return of the mysterious man, my mother is right, now even Dumbledore can't believe it .” Seamus Finnigan
There was a dispute with Harry and the others at the beginning of school, and Hannah's hesitation was refuted as if he had found ironclad evidence.
"Professor Lupine had a hundred chances to kill me. I spent a lot of time alone with him, but he never hurt me. The same with you? He is innocent." Harry's pleading eyes fell On top of the other Gryffindor companions, but all they got was their silence. Only Neville looked like he wanted to step forward to say something, but he glanced at the werewolf, shivered slightly and stepped back a little. He didn't dare to look Harry in the eyes anymore.
The werewolf who had lowered his head suddenly raised his head, causing the audience to cry out in fright, and many little wizards backed away one after another, trying to stay away from it.
Yet his glowing red eyes were humanly fixed on Harry, and he nodded to Harry, then shook his head again, thanking him for telling him to stop trying to speak for himself.
"I believe what Professor Dumbledore and Harry said. Professor Lupine is innocent." Hermione stood beside Lupine, and the group who were left behind by Harry finally squeezed forward.
"I believe in Harry, and I also believe in Professor Lupine." Ginny stood beside Harry succinctly, and took the initiative to hold Harry.
Ron hesitated thinking about Lupine's out-of-control and crazy appearance before, but in the end he puffed up his cheeks, gave Harry a glance, walked up to Lupine firmly, imitated Hermione and said dryly: "Professor Lupine is innocent."
At this time, the camera lens turned around at this moment and turned to the staff of the Werewolf Control Bureau. Their torn clothes and scratches on their bodies made them look very embarrassed, which made Harry and the others explain to Lupine Words seemed feeble.
The screen on the TV changed, and it was still the female reporter, obviously it was already daytime, and now she had left Hogwarts and was interviewing some angry parents of students. .
"For Professor Dumbledore's irresponsible behavior, we strongly protest. If the child's safety cannot be guaranteed, I would rather transfer him to another school."
"Hogwarts is probably not the safest place in the world anymore, and I regret that."
"I look forward to the Ministry of Magic taking effective measures to keep children safe."
...
For a while, public opinion was very unfavorable to Dumbledore. If it was said that he could barely match Fudge with his previous prestige, but now he can no longer maintain the previous balance. Even the parents of students who had been supportive or neutral in the past resented him for putting their children in a dangerous situation by employing werewolves as professors without authorization.
In this case, in order to keep Lupine from being made things difficult by the Ministry of Magic and exaggerated accusations, Dumbledore had to compromise with the other party.
Umbridge, who Fudge crazily praised and praised, was appointed as the first senior investigator in the name of the Ministry of Magic's pursuit of education reform, and also served as the vice-principal of Hogwarts and the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. The passage of this decree was very smooth, and it also represented an unprecedented degree of control of the Ministry of Magic over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"For some time, the minister has been increasingly disturbed by the current situation in Hogwarts. The werewolf incident is the best evidence." Percy Weasley, who has become an assistant to the minister, appeared on the TV screen, "He listened to the parents Concerned trustees also feel that the school appears to be moving in a direction they strongly disapprove of, so they support the minister's action."