A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 737 Extra: Lupine

"Can you tell me why you've come here?"

A short, unassuming wizard sat awkwardly in a chair. "I came here on Wolfman's advice. He said you're a very intelligent man, running the world's largest multinational corporation, and that gentleman's most trusted person; not only that, you're also... you're also..."

He secretly glanced at the person opposite him.

“Still one of your kind,” Lupin added. “Yes, yes,” the man said. Lupin looked kindly at the wizard. It was their first meeting, yet he felt a surge of familiarity, perhaps because the man was wrapped in a tattered, patched robe, cloak, and scarf, his face sickly, streaked with white hair, and his eyes filled with unease. How much he resembled him back then.

"Mr. Lupin," the man said, encouraged by Lupin's gentle gaze, his speech becoming much smoother. "I've lived a secluded life in the wild for over a decade, and only recently heard about the outside world from a group of explorers. It's incredible, like a dream. We marginal people..." He began to speak.

Lu Ping and others stopped, nodded in agreement, and said:

"I've seen many examples like yours. They came in looking distressed, perhaps the most helpless they've ever seen, completely bewildered by the changes in the world. But after talking with them, they left satisfied and started new lives. As far as I know, they're doing quite well now."

"Is that so!" the man said eagerly, his eyes filled with hope. "Wolfman said the same thing! He said you have a way to transform werewolves."

Lupin smiled.

"I don't recall having any secret formulas I absolutely had to keep hidden. I did extract some practical techniques from werewolf transformation magic, and almost everyone in the werewolf pack has a copy to facilitate mutual learning; I also founded the Werewolf Rights Association, where anyone who follows the rules can receive a dose of wolfsbane potion for a small amount of money each month; incidentally, the association is currently training its own apothecaries, and we have already mastered the methods for making four of the seven types of wolfsbane potions. These benefits are available to everyone, and you don't need to see me to receive them."

The man looked at Lupin with a puzzled expression, seemingly completely bewildered. He couldn't help but lean forward slightly and tentatively said, "But I think there must be something special about you, right? Otherwise, why would all the werewolves respect you? Well, just the things mentioned above are enough to warrant respect, but these two kinds of 'respect' are completely different, and I can sense it."

“Oh,” Lupin chuckled softly, “I’m honored by your trust. I do have some stories and a few suggestions that might help you integrate better into the world, but ultimately nothing special. On the contrary… I’d love to hear your story.”

When Tonks entered from outside, he saw Lupin and the wizard coming out of the study. As had happened countless times before, the unfamiliar visitor walked with a light step, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.

Lupin handed the man a business card.

"You can contact Miss Temple; she will take good care of you. Her competence is beyond question."

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin, thank you so much," the wizard said gratefully. He looked at Tonks, who was approaching, and said, "You must be Mrs. Lupin, right? Even someone as ignorant as me has heard about your love story. It's truly enviable. Mrs. Lupin seems like a kind-hearted person..."

"I've figured it out," Tonks said, raising an eyebrow after the wizard left. "All the comments I've gotten from your friends are about how 'kind-hearted' he is, as if that's why I'm with you!"

"I know. It's because of love," Lupin said seriously. "But in the eyes of other werewolves, love is a luxury, especially having such a beautiful and intelligent witch as a wife."

Tonks hummed happily twice.

Lupin opened his arms and embraced her just as he had eleven years ago at their wedding, unchanged. He was content with everything he had—a smart and considerate wife, a healthy and lively son (without any wolf-like features, inheriting his mother's disguise Magus), a godson (Harry's youngest son, Albus), a host of relatives and friends, a respectable career and social standing, and nothing more to complain about.

He was incredibly grateful that he had accepted Dumbledore's invitation back then.

Because ever since then, he has been 'receiving'. His heart is so full that he has been able to do things for his kind all these years—including the Werewolf Rights Association and simplifying werewolf transformation magic, as well as the almost weekly study conversations.

Every year over the years, werewolves have mustered the courage to emerge from the mountains, jungles, and wilderness, observing their unfamiliar surroundings with trepidation and vigilance. As perhaps the most famous werewolf in the world, Lupin has helped and comforted countless people.

The heartwarming moment didn't last long. A ten-year-old boy came rushing in, stomping loudly on the stairs. Lupin and Tonks exchanged a glance and looked at their child.

"Dad, Mom, Sirius asked me to ask when you're coming over!" Teddy Lupin shouted.

"Right away," Tonks said sternly, "if you don't cause trouble."

"But if I don't say anything, you'll definitely keep hugging each other forever!" Teddy shouted.

Tonks pouted and looked the little boy up and down.

What's wrong with your hair?

Teddy's hair was a striking fiery red, unlike the ginger-yellow he wore for breakfast. But he'd inherited his mother's ability to change his appearance at will, including his hair color, so her words were nothing short of nitpicking. He shook his head smugly. "I met a silly little red-haired girl, and I told her I was related to the Weasleys!"

Tonks and Lupin looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What's that little girl's name?"

"Could it be little Rosalie?"

"How could that be?" Teddy looked incredulous. "Sirius brings her to visit us for at least half the month, and we meet at Harry's godfather's house for the other half—"

"Is it Viktoria?" Lupin asked.

After thinking hard for a while, Teddy slowly said, "It seems to be that name."

"Good heavens," Tonks said, "that's Bill and Fleur's child. You two used to play together when you were kids."

Ten minutes later, when Lupin came out of the living room, he saw Tonks and Teddy staring at each other, their hair colors changing like a carousel. This was Tonks' specialty, but Teddy was not to be outdone; this was the first skill he learned after birth, even before he uttered his first word.

Lupin leaned against the windowsill, watching the scene with immense satisfaction. Ten minutes later, Teddy gave up, his hair reluctantly settling into its black color. In contrast, Tonks looked smug.

"Let's go," she said excitedly.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and the hotel was packed with tourists who had arrived at the banquet hall on the third floor. Even before entering, they were greeted by deafening music. Lupin was momentarily stunned, a sense of foreboding rising within him; the next second, that premonition came true.

Sirius Black was singing merrily on stage, a guitar in hand, dressed in a hippie outfit; behind him was Bill, his fingers flowing smoothly across the keyboard, his ponytail swaying from side to side, his fan-shaped earrings peeking out from ear to ear; Rove's drum kit was clearly struggling to keep up with the rhythm, as if he had been forced into it. Lupin wondered if he had arrived earlier, he might have been sitting in that spot, but more likely he would have been like Neville, holding a saxophone and looking around, seemingly having bought a standing ticket.

Lupin suddenly had the urge to close his eyes.

It's Sirius Black's "Hairy Boys." Even more unfortunately, he realizes he's also a member of the band (forced into it). Even the band's name was given by Sirius to mock his new nickname, "Hairy King."

The audience members had a variety of expressions. The performers' families all wore expressions of wanting to laugh but holding back, perhaps only Luna was genuinely enjoying it, her arms each supporting a small bird with rainbow feathers, her head bobbing gently to the rhythm in rapture; the Weasley family sat together, their expressions focused, Ginny desperately pulling at a boy, James, trying to stop his increasingly burgeoning desire to perform; Mrs. Weasley and Fleur were both staring at Bill's swaying ponytail, but Lupin dared to say their thoughts were completely different—written all over their faces! Severus sat in a corner, his mouth slightly agape; next to him, the portly Slughorn chatted merrily with Draco and Astoria; at the next table, Sirius's former students were whistling enthusiastically.

"To be fair, not bad," Mad-Eye Moody, near the door, grumbled. "What are they singing?"

"A great victory," Lupin said instinctively.

"That's right, that's it." Moody laughed and hummed along to the melody. With his hoarse voice as a contrast, Lupin could also hear the beauty of Sirius's singing.

When Harry, the organizer of the banquet, arrived, he was greeted by a scene of everyone singing together. Sirius and Bill's stage presence was even more rugged, leaving him somewhat bewildered. Did his godfather really have a talent for singing? Didn't Amelia say that only Kreacher had ever praised him?

Harry interpreted it as "unprincipled flattery," just as if if he asked Dobby, Dobby would definitely think his singing was absolutely wonderful.

(End of this chapter)