In the staff common room, the air seemed to have solidified.
The fire in the fireplace burned quietly, yet it could not dispel the heaviness that filled the room.
Dumbledore and the other professors sat in silence on the sofas. No one spoke, as if all of them were quietly absorbing a defeat.
At that moment, the door opened, and Sagres walked in.
He did not exchange pleasantries. Instead, he went straight to Dumbledore, a calm, deep sea reflected in his grey eyes.
"Professor Dumbledore," Sagres said directly, "I'm already aware of the disturbance caused by Peeves. Things don't have to reach the worst possible outcome."
Dumbledore gave a slight nod, signaling for him to continue.
"Remus Lupin is no longer a werewolf in the traditional sense."
Sagres spoke evenly. "He is now cured, living proof of magical progress. This can be made public to the wizarding world."
As for any consequences that might follow, they were insignificant.
If his plan to infiltrate the werewolf community was disrupted, that was also of little concern.
A brief silence fell over the room. At last, Dumbledore slowly shook his head.
His deep gaze rested on Sagres, as if he could already see this "perfect plan" sinking into the mire of reality.
"Sagres, it is not that I doubt you or Remus," the old man said, his voice heavy with fatigue. "But have you considered what 'going public' would mean? It would place both you and Remus under endless scrutiny from the wizarding world."
"They will demand proof. They will demand to examine your 'method of cure,'" Snape added coldly. "They will dissect every step of your process as if studying an unknown magical creature. Are you prepared to face constant questioning, suspicion, and even slander? And if you refuse even slightly, they will not hesitate to label it Dark Arts, a dangerous forbidden practice."
Professor Flitwick added sharply, "Oh, and those pure-blood families! They would never accept a 'cured werewolf' near their children. They would say there is no guarantee of absolute safety, claim it is only a temporary illusion!"
"More importantly," Dumbledore concluded, his tone heavy with weariness, "once panic has been ignited, it is very difficult to extinguish with reason. People fear the label of 'werewolf' itself, the prejudice ingrained in their blood, not the actual truth. For most of them, there is no distinction between 'once cursed' and 'still a monster,' because they will ignore all evidence of a cure."
Sagres frowned, a trace of impatience and incomprehension flashing across his face. "If you knew me well enough, you would understand that none of this is a problem for me. As long as we are right, we should not bow to anyone. And the most important fact is this—Lupin is an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. We all know that."
"Yes, of course I know that." Dumbledore nodded. "But this is also Remus's own choice."
Sagres fell silent.
All his logic and power, at this moment, met a wall called personal will and could not advance even an inch.
Lupin's decision was the least harmful outcome for Hogwarts, for Sagres, and for everyone.
Except for himself.
…
Moonlight draped the quiet corridors of Hogwarts Castle like a layer of cold silver gauze.
Remus Lupin finished packing the last of the books in his office. The worn suitcase stood quietly at the foot of the table, as if it, too, had been affected by its owner's melancholy.
The knock on the door was soft, almost drowned out by the whistling wind outside the window.
Lupin opened the door. Sagres stood outside, his grey eyes seeming particularly deep in the dim light.
"I heard you're leaving," Sagres said, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.
Lupin forced a smile, his expression carrying his usual weariness along with a faint, barely perceptible bitterness.
"Yes, it seems… news travels quickly." He stepped aside to let Sagres in. "You know, because of my… condition."
"Your 'condition' has already been resolved," Sagres said. "You can tell everyone the truth. None of this should have happened."
Lupin simply shook his head.
He knew better than anyone that some "problems" could never truly be solved. They were fears and prejudices rooted deep in people's hearts.
He was no longer a werewolf, but that identity would follow him for the rest of his life.
He did not want Headmaster Dumbledore to stand against the world, nor did he wish to cause trouble for Sagres.
Sagres's gaze swept over the nearly empty bookshelves and desk before he spoke directly. "Your departure is a loss to the school, especially for the students who need your guidance."
Lupin shook his head, his voice quiet. "This is the best choice."
Sagres nodded. "I respect your decision."
Then he changed the subject. "But the knowledge you teach should not end here."
"You put considerable effort into constructing your memory mirror image, a projection capable of teaching independently. However, it still lacks the most critical element—your unique, in-depth understanding of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and your ability to make judgments in real situations."
Lupin was slightly taken aback, as if he had not expected this to be brought up.
Sagres continued, "If you are willing, before you leave, you can fully infuse your core knowledge, the lessons you most wish to pass on, into that mirror image. In this way, even if you cannot remain at the castle, your knowledge and ideas can continue through it, accomplishing what you could not complete yourself."
Lupin took a deep breath and turned back. His eyes were still weary, but now carried a hint of resolve.
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
Sagres gave a slight nod, his wand silently sliding into his hand.
"Think about what you most want to teach them. Not only spells, but also the courage, wisdom, and composure you hope they will have when facing fear."
The tip of the wand glowed faintly as it slowly moved toward Lupin's temple.
A silver thread of memory was gently drawn out. Sagres guided this luminous strand into a crystal container already prepared on the table.
"I will help you integrate it into the Duel Monument," Sagres said, lowering his wand. "The castle will remember you in a more enduring way."
Lupin felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his heart.
He looked at the crystal container, as if seeing another version of himself resting within it.
"Thank you, Sagres," he said softly. "This is more precious than any farewell gift."
"Knowledge should not be halted by prejudice and fear," Sagres replied calmly. "Farewell, Remus. Hogwarts is with you."
The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a thin mist lay over the Black Lake as Remus Lupin quietly packed all his belongings into an old suitcase in his office.
He changed out of his professor's robes and into his worn Muggle suit.
There was no farewell ceremony, only a brief, silent meeting with Dumbledore at the door of the Headmaster's office.
The old man's gaze was complex, but in the end, he only let out a heavy sigh.
"You don't have to do this, Remus."
Dumbledore's voice was as gentle as ever, though now it carried a hint of weight.
"I must do this, Headmaster."
Lupin's voice was soft. "I have already caused too much trouble."
He gently placed his resignation letter on Dumbledore's desk. The former headmasters in the portraits watched him in silence, some with sympathy, others turning away.
Lupin picked up his suitcase and walked through the familiar yet now distant corridors one last time.
The castle gates slowly closed behind him, separating him from that brief and beautiful period of "normal" life.
He stood at the threshold of Hogwarts, taking a deep breath of the cold air, the future before him veiled in mist.
But this time, he was not empty-handed. His fingers tightened around the Bronze Feather badge in his pocket.
One mission had ended, but another had just begun.
________
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