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Not long after Peter was secretly taken away by the Ministry of Magic, the Daily Prophet broke a shocking piece of news that drew the attention of every wizard.
Sirius Black was actually innocent. There had been another truth behind the betrayal of the Potters. The supposedly dead hero Peter Pettigrew had not died at all.
One dramatic revelation after another was thrown out, attracting the full attention of wizards who already had very few entertainment options.
That day, the newspaper's sales instantly surpassed The Quibbler and returned to first place.
On the same day, the Daily Prophet released a special issue about Minister for Magic Fudge, describing how Minister Fudge had discovered Sirius Black's innocence.
The story was quite exciting. In the article, Fudge was portrayed like a mature, steady detective.
Although many high-ranking wizards sneered at that description.
Detective Fudge? That fool deserved the title?
Nevertheless, Fudge was indeed welcomed by ordinary wizards who did not know the truth, and his approval rose sharply.
Speaking for ordinary wizards. With that talking point alone, he leaped into the position of most popular Minister for Magic.
As long as that image held, he could sit firmly in the Minister's chair.
After all, powerful wizards were the minority in this world. Most were ordinary people.
Of course, Fudge also understood the importance of returning favors. Another batch of Hogwarts graduates had their jobs arranged, and even some students who had not yet graduated had positions reserved for them.
Among them was Percy, who had joined the disciplinary group not long ago.
So even a lump of filth had its uses.
Especially filth sitting in a high position.
The red sun gradually sank below the horizon, and the bright full moon climbed above the branches.
It was another full moon night.
"Is there really... really such a magical spell? I mean, this is too incredible."
In the Headmaster's office, Lupin was somewhat incoherent, because this mattered too much to him as a werewolf.
"Professor Dumbledore, I mean, can Mr. Dursley truly suppress my transformation?"
He had only just sat down, but Lupin stood again and paced back and forth in the room.
Dumbledore understood his excitement and nodded. "Do not worry, Remus. Dudley's ability is even more outstanding than you imagine."
Two weeks had passed since the Shrieking Shack incident. Because the matter involved the previous Minister for Magic and a shocking case involving thirteen lives, Sirius was currently staying where the Ministry required him to stay. Clearing his name required many, many procedures. The Wizengamot alone would have to discuss it no fewer than five times.
Dudley also said, "Professor Dumbledore has already submitted this spell to the Wizengamot. As long as it passes review and the spell is confirmed to be genuine and effective, the Ministry will announce it publicly. At that time, it can be spread on a large scale, and werewolf wizards will also be able to live like ordinary people."
Lupin no longer knew what words to use to express his feelings.
Excitement, certainly. And deep gratitude.
"If you can manage your big black dog friend and keep him from harassing Harry, I think I will be very happy."
Dudley's words made Lupin extremely embarrassed again.
During this period, Sirius had already come to harass Harry more than ten times. If not for the Ministry's forced requirements, that man would still have gone looking for Harry whenever he had the chance.
If Harry had been willing, that would have been one thing. The key problem was that Harry felt very little toward this godfather, who in name should have taken on the duty of raising him after his parents' deaths, but in reality had not appeared once in more than ten years.
In the wizarding world, a godfather was the guardian chosen by the parents, someone who guaranteed that if misfortune befell them, he would take responsibility for the child's upbringing.
However, Sirius as a godfather was not merely unqualified. He was practically nonexistent.
So in Harry's heart, Sirius was not even as good as Snape.
At least Snape could teach him Potions.
As the group spoke, the moon had already risen high in the sky.
A beam of bright moonlight shone through the skylight. Bathed in that light, Lupin suddenly fell to his knees, his body trembling constantly.
"That feeling is here. I am about to lose control!"
Lupin shouted, warning Dudley and Dumbledore.
Accompanied by a terrifying low growl, Lupin's head began to lengthen, and so did his body. His shoulders hunched continuously. Hair began growing visibly across his face, hands, and body. His hands curled into claws, and his teeth began changing into canine fangs that grew larger and larger.
His eyes were filled with bloodthirsty madness.
"Awooo!"
The transformed Lupin wanted to attack, but several vines wrapped around his limbs.
The places the vines bound were precisely the joints of his four limbs. Unless he could reach troll-level strength, breaking free from that restraint was impossible.
Although werewolves were more dangerous than trolls in many ways, in terms of pure strength, they were still far inferior.
Dudley calmly took out his wand and placed it against the werewolf Lupin's forehead.
"Human form restored."
That was the incantation of the human-form restoration spell.
A pale blue light released from the tip of the wand. Taking that point as the origin, it spread in all directions.
Slowly, the frequency of Lupin's struggles began to decrease. The madness in his eyes gradually faded, and clarity returned. His fangs shrank, and the thick hair withdrew back into his body until he recovered his human form.
"No matter how many times I see it, I still find it magical," Dumbledore said softly with a smile.
"How do you feel, Professor Lupin?"
Seeing Lupin return to normal, Dudley withdrew his wand.
"A little dizzy. Like I ate ten licorice sweets and my stomach feels so uncomfortable that I want to vomit."
Lupin shook his head as he spoke, then froze. He looked at his hands in surprise.
They were not furry claws, but the same normal hands as usual.
"It... it worked!"
Lupin shouted excitedly. Then his voice turned choked, and tears overflowed, wetting the corners of his eyes. After that, he began to sob loudly like a child.
Ordinarily, even with Wolfsbane Potion, Lupin could only retain his reason after transforming into a werewolf. He had to curl up in his professor's office until dawn.
And Wolfsbane Potion was far too expensive.
With Lupin's poverty before coming to Hogwarts, he absolutely could not afford it.
Returning to human form like this, becoming exactly like an ordinary person, was something he had not even dared imagine.
"I really changed back!"
Those words contained too much bitterness. For several decades, ever since he had been bitten by the werewolf named Fenrir, Lupin had dreamed of this even in his sleep.
Now his dream had finally come true. The Human Form Restoration Charm really worked.
Although he would still transform into a werewolf on full moon nights, at least there was a way to change back.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Dursley."
Lupin clasped both hands tightly around Dudley's right hand.
"Truly, thank you very much."
A thousand things crowded in his chest, but when they reached his mouth, only thanks remained.
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