"I just really don't get it. A professor being a werewolf is a difficult secret to keep. You've invited him here, so how can you withstand the pressure from the School Board, the students' parents, and the Ministry of Magic?"
Victor was perplexed. While his influence hadn't changed the fundamental setting of the original story, it had significantly altered the trajectory of events. Unlike in the books, where the Wolfsbane Potion could conceal a werewolf's identity, inviting Lupin to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was a thankless task for both Lupin and Dumbledore. Why would Dumbledore take on so much pressure to do this?
"I have already made ample preparations for all of those things you've mentioned, and I must say, you have a hand in this as well," Dumbledore replied.
"My hand? What do you mean?" Victor asked, confused.
"Last month, I visited the laboratory of a friend of mine, a man named Damocles Belby. With the skin mucus of the Moon Frogs you and Miss Lovegood discovered, he was successfully able to formulate a new Wolfsbane Potion."
"This potion not only allows a werewolf to remain lucid during their transformation but also suppresses the wolf poison in their body so it cannot be transmitted."
"So, the most dangerous part of a werewolf—the transmissible wolf poison—has been eliminated?!" Victor finally understood. "No wonder you're so confident. As long as Professor Lupin is no longer a threat of spreading the curse, and with your guarantee as the White Wizard, you only have to deal with the pressure from the Ministry."
"Precisely. However, although the new Wolfsbane Potion has been successfully developed, Mr. Belby is still writing his thesis on it. Therefore, many people still don't know that this new potion exists yet."
"But Professor, isn't there something you've failed to consider?" Victor asked suddenly, glancing at a bat-like figure in the distance. "Professor Lupin and Professor Snape—aren't you afraid they'll suddenly come to blows?"
Victor had noticed Snape's face had been as dark as a storm cloud throughout the feast. His childhood rival had snatched the Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship, a position he had always coveted. Anyone in his place would be incredibly displeased.
"Oh, well..." Dumbledore wore a sheepish expression. "They simply had a bit of a misunderstanding in their youth. Now that they're both mature, respected professors, I'm sure nothing unpleasant will happen."
"Professor, can you honestly say you believe what you just said?" Victor asked with a look of disdain.
"..." Dumbledore was left speechless.
The relationship between Snape and Lupin could not be described as a "misunderstanding." Their relationship was like oil and water.
In the past, Lupin had nearly killed Snape...
It was during their school years. Dumbledore had taken in the outcast Lupin at Hogwarts and provided him with the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade as a place to transform, with the Whomping Willow concealing his identity.
It was on one such full moon night, a night when Lupin transformed into a werewolf.
For some reason, Sirius Black had a terrible lapse in judgment and maliciously tricked Snape into going to the Shrieking Shack, allowing the transformed Lupin to attack him.
Although Harry's father later risked his life to save Snape, Snape was still terrified, and this caused him to despise Lupin.
But even so, Dumbledore still believed that Snape wouldn't do anything drastic to Lupin.
And as for Professor Lupin...
To be honest, because of his werewolf status, he had suffered much cold-shouldering and discrimination since childhood. He empathized with Snape and therefore never participated in the conflicts between James Potter, Sirius Black, and Snape.
That incident was entirely caused by the cruel-natured Sirius, and Lupin was merely collateral damage. Therefore, compared to Snape, Lupin had no reason to get into a conflict with him...
After his conversation with Dumbledore, Victor made his way to the Bronze Tree Palace.
As was tradition, the new first-year Ravenclaws had to come here to get acquainted with the Bronze Tree Palace.
After that, they would wait for a speech from their Lord of Wisdom, Victor.
Victor walked to the foot of the Bronze Tree and began to speak to all the Ravenclaws. "Since we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year, my teaching duties have come to an end!"
"Of course, practical training will not stop. Every weekend night, the third, fourth, and fifth years, you will take turns guiding the first-year students into the Mirage Realm to get a feel for the environment. Next semester, we will officially begin our practical training!"
"Yes!" The third, fourth, and fifth-year Ravenclaws replied in unison, startling the new first-years.
"In addition, there's something else you should all be aware of now. A large group of Dementors is floating around outside the school, so for the next while, everyone besides the first years must start learning the Patronus Charm!"
"I've already given the instructions to Penelope. She will distribute them to you all shortly. If you have any questions during your studies, you can ask the students who have already mastered the spell, or you can come ask me!"
Victor said, pointing to a wooden table not far away where a stack of parchment lay, with Penelope standing next to it.
"Finally, let me say one more thing to all of you. While at school, try your best not to get into a conflict with the Dementors, but there is also no need to fear them. If any of you are harmed, come find me, and I'll take care of them for you."
"Alright, does anyone have any questions?"
The moment Victor finished speaking, the Ravenclaws began to buzz with chatter.
Suddenly, a second-year Ravenclaw raised his hand and asked, "Wisdom Lord, if you're not teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, will you still hold exams?"
"No theoretical exams, but you won't get out of the practical ones," Victor replied directly, which was met with a collective sigh from the students below.
"Then, Wisdom Lord, could you explain Dementors to us? We've only ever heard of them and are curious about what kind of creatures they are." This time, a third-year Ravenclaw raised her hand and asked.
"... I don't actually know much about them myself, but since you all want to know, I'll research them with you," Victor first scratched his head, looking a little conflicted, and then immediately decided to begin a study on Dementors.
And so, in full view of everyone, Victor reached his hand into the void.
Suddenly, a floating Dementor was pulled out of a portal, startling the Ravenclaws who collectively took a few steps back in fear.
What on earth?!
This is insane! He just captured a Dementor and brought it into the Bronze Tree Palace!
The young Ravenclaws screamed silently in their minds.
At the same time, because of the Dementor's presence, the temperature in the Bronze Tree Palace began to drop. Frost began to form under the black figure, and the surrounding light seemed to dim significantly.
The students felt their courage and hope start to fade away, while a feeling of emptiness slowly filled their hearts.
"You can all feel it, can't you? This is what it feels like to face a Dementor," Victor said, using his Patronus Charm to hold the Dementor in place. He drew his wand and entered professor mode. "Dementors. These disgusting creatures are one of the most foul beings in the world."
"They roam in groups in the darkest and dirtiest places, creating corruption and shrieking despair while sucking all the peace, hope, and happy emotions out of the air."
"That's right. All positive, good emotions are food for Dementors! If a person spends a long time with Dementors, they will gradually become like them—soulless and evil, with only the worst memories and the most tragic emotions from their life in their mind."
"So, when you face a Dementor, the first thing you must do is strengthen your will and not be afraid!"
With that, Victor used the power of his Patronus Charm to flip open the Dementor's cloak, revealing an extremely ugly face.
On a gray, rotten, and withered skull, there were no facial features. In the place where eyes should have been, there was a bottomless black hole.
"This is the Dementor's mouth, also known as the Dementor's Kiss. It will suck out people's souls."
"Normally, when a Dementor feeds, it presses its mouth against the victim's and sucks out their soul."
"According to those who have received the Dementor's Kiss, the feeling is countless times worse than death!"
"A person whose soul has been completely sucked out by a Dementor will only have a functioning brain and heart. They no longer have a sense of self, no memories—nothing."
"And a soul that has been sucked out cannot be restored. So, those who have been kissed by a Dementor eventually become living dead."
"What's in that hole, anyway?"
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