Chapter 150
"I hope you'll all listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
Lupin tapped the desk lightly with his wand, trying to draw the students' attention. Most of them were still staring at him with pale faces.
"When you encounter a werewolf, if there is no chance of defeating it, the best choice is to run. Do not let yourself be bitten."
Whether the students were willing to listen or not, Lupin continued, as if speaking to himself.
"What happens if someone is bitten, Professor?"
Harry stood up.
Ever since Malfoy exposed the truth and Lupin admitted it, Harry's thoughts had been in turmoil. Seeing the fear and suspicion in the other students' eyes, he felt he had to speak. Ron had tried to hold him back, but Harry had pulled free.
"A good question." Lupin nodded. "Ten points to Gryffindor. As long as I'm still a teacher here, I have that authority. As for your question, Harry…"
"Anyone bitten by a werewolf becomes infected and turns into one," Hermione said hoarsely, her eyes red. "It's a cruel form of revenge. Some people would rather die than become a werewolf."
"Miss Granger is correct. Another ten points to Gryffindor."
Lupin forced a smile and even clapped, but no one joined him.
Standing alone at the front, he looked painfully isolated.
"Professor Lupin, please stop," Hermione said, her voice trembling. "This isn't the time for this. You should go to Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore."
Lupin ignored her.
"Where was I? Yes—new werewolves," he continued calmly. "Those infected are in an awkward position. Ordinary wizards fear them, and werewolf packs rarely accept them. Most of the time they live as normal humans. Only during the full moon do they transform, losing reason and becoming violent."
He glanced at the class.
"You may have guessed. When Professor Snape covered my class earlier this year, it was during a full moon. I claimed to be ill."
"Then where did you go that night?" a Slytherin student asked nervously. "Did you hurt anyone?"
Lupin gave a faint laugh.
"You should have more faith in your Headmaster. Professor Dumbledore would never allow an uncontrolled werewolf to teach. During full moons, I locked myself alone in a secure room."
His gaze drifted, as if recalling old memories.
"That was in the past. Under Professor Dumbledore's request, Professor Snape brewed Wolfsbane Potion for me. When taken regularly, it allows me to transform while keeping my mind. Most full-moon nights, I simply slept at my desk."
He added quietly,
"Though Professor Snape still didn't trust me enough—or perhaps simply disliked me. That's why he taught you how to identify and defend against werewolves."
"So… you never hurt anyone?" Seamus asked uncertainly.
"Of course not," Lupin replied.
Fear often comes from the unknown. As Lupin spoke openly, the tension in the room eased. The fear remained, but it was no longer the instinctive panic from before.
"I've done what I can," Lupin said softly. "You may treat this as the rambling of a werewolf speaking out of embarrassment. But as a teacher, I sincerely hope you'll remember what I've said."
His voice carried a faint tremor.
"Goodbye, everyone."
He bowed deeply, opened the door with a gentle push of his wand, and walked out.
This time, he did not look back.
Silence filled the classroom. Regret began to spread. For many, he had been the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they had ever had.
"Why did you reveal it?"
Hermione turned on Malfoy, her face flushed, her hands trembling with anger.
"I don't understand," Malfoy replied calmly, holding Pansy back with one hand. "Why should I bear the responsibility for this?"
"I confirmed with Professor Lupin beforehand that I wouldn't be held accountable for the consequences. That was his own decision. Did I do something wrong? In a duel against a Dark wizard, shouldn't you exploit any weakness? He just taught you that lesson—have you already forgotten?"
"But you know Professor Lupin isn't a Dark—"
"Who actually drove him away?" Malfoy cut her off.
"When I revealed the truth, none of you were pretending to be afraid."
His gaze swept across the room.
"He is a werewolf. That is a fact. He admitted it himself. I spoke the truth and helped you avoid potential danger, and now you blame me?"
"But he already explained—"
"What a joke," Malfoy said coldly. "What if Professor Snape tampered with the Wolfsbane Potion one day? Who would take responsibility then?"
"Your reactions already said everything. Fear. Rejection."
Several students lowered their heads.
"When people can't think deeply, they choose the simplest way to reduce risk. Labels are convenient. Following the crowd makes everyone feel less guilty."
He paused.
"But after an avalanche, not a single snowflake is innocent."
Uneasy whispers spread through the classroom.
Inside, however, Malfoy felt only a trace of weariness.
If possible, he would have preferred Lupin to remain.
But the space had to be cleared for what was coming next.
Whether peaceful coexistence built on concealment was better than honesty after the truth was exposed—
That question no longer mattered.
The choice had already been made.