LIGHTNOVELONLINE Ch219- Extension of the Curse?
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Outside the classroom, the corridors of Hogwarts were filled with the usual bustle of students heading to their next classes or chatting in small groups. Harry, Daphne, and Tracey walked together, discussing the lesson.
They reached the Great Hall and found seats at the Slytherin table. The room was filled with the delicious aroma of food, and the students eagerly helped themselves to the various dishes. As Harry looked towards the faculty table, he couldn't help but frown.
"It seems there's still no news about Professor Lupin leaving," Harry thought, directing his concerns to Nigel.
"My, Master Potter, do you want the poor professor to leave?" Nigel's voice chimed in with a hint of sarcasm.
Harry shook his head mentally. "Of course not. He's really competent, but the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position worries me. No matter if he's on Dumbledore's side or not, he was my father's friend and a good teacher. I'm afraid if he's not fired naturally, the curse might harm him."
Nigel's tone grew more serious. "That is a rather morbid thought, but unfortunately, it's quite possible."
As Harry ate his food, his thoughts continued to swirl. "I've noticed a pattern. In the last decade or two, most professors either got fired or had some sort of accident. Some even died."
Harry sighed and tried to push those thoughts aside. He turned his attention back to his friends, who were chatting animatedly about their plans for the day. Daphne was discussing the upcoming Quidditch match with Tracey, while Pansy was teasing Draco about his latest potion mishap.
"Did you see Draco's cauldron explode yesterday?" Pansy said with a mischievous grin.
Draco rolled his eyes. "It was a minor setback. Besides, I managed to fix it."
"Sure, you did," Tracey teased, earning a playful glare from Draco.
Harry looked around the noisy Great Hall and decided it was time to act. With a small, nearly imperceptible gesture, he cast a spell that sent a whisper drifting towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Did you know Professor Lupin is a werewolf?" The whisper caught the attention of a Ravenclaw girl, who immediately turned to her friend with wide eyes.
The girl, her curiosity piqued, leaned towards her friend. "Hey, did you hear? Someone said Professor Lupin is a werewolf."
Her friend, eyes wide with intrigue, replied, "Really? But why would anyone say that?"
"Think about it," the girl continued in a low voice. "He's always absent around the full moon. Remember last month? He was gone for three days, and Professor Snape had to take over his classes."
Nearby, a Hufflepuff student caught wind of the conversation. "Wait, what's that about Professor Lupin?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and interest.
The Ravenclaw girl turned to him. "Apparently, he might be a werewolf. It makes sense if you look at the evidence. He's always away during the full moon."
The Hufflepuff boy's eyes widened as he nodded slowly. "Now that you mention it, I do remember him looking pretty ill around those times."
Within minutes, the whisper had spread like wildfire across the Great Hall. Students from all houses began to murmur amongst themselves, piecing together clues and gossiping animatedly.
"He's always got those scars," a Gryffindor boy pointed out. "I thought they were just from some magical creatures, but maybe there's more to it."
"And he does know a lot about dark creatures," added a Slytherin girl, her tone thoughtful. "He taught us so much about them, almost like he had personal experience."
At the staff table, the professors exchanged puzzled glances as the murmurs grew louder. Professor McGonagall, ever vigilant, leaned towards Dumbledore. "Albus, it seems there's a rather alarming rumor spreading about Professor Lupin."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with a mix of concern and amusement. "Yes, Minerva, it appears so. It seems our students are quite adept at gathering and sharing information."
Tracey and Daphne, seated on either side of Harry, observed the growing murmurs among the students with curiosity. It didn't take them long to piece together the truth. The signs had always been there, and now the whispers confirmed it: Professor Lupin was indeed a werewolf.
Harry felt a pang of guilt. He genuinely enjoyed Lupin's classes and appreciated his kindness and knowledge. However, the thought of the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position weighed heavily on his mind. Lupin had been a wonderful teacher, but Harry couldn't shake the fear that if Lupin wasn't removed, the curse might bring him harm.
"Nigel," Harry asked with a wry smile, "can I be considered an extension of the curse this time?"
"Master Harry, your self-sacrifice is touching, but let’s not get melodramatic," Nigel quipped. "Think of it as strategic intervention."
Harry sighed, knowing Nigel was right. He had too much on his plate to investigate the curse thoroughly, and spreading the rumor seemed the quickest way to protect Lupin. As the whispers continued to circulate, Harry kept a careful eye on the reactions of those around him.
Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze scanned the hall, her expression a mix of concern and resolve. "We must address these rumors swiftly, Albus," she murmured to Dumbledore, who nodded thoughtfully.
"I believe it is already too late," Dumbledore replied, sinking into his seat.
Tracey nudged Harry gently. "Do you think Lupin will really be fired?" she asked, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.
Harry nodded slowly. "It's likely. The school board won't want to risk having a werewolf on staff, no matter how good a teacher he is."
Daphne sighed. "It's a shame. He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we've had."
Harry agreed silently. He was feeling a little guilty, but in the end, he felt that his intentions were noble.
Later that day, the news spread quickly through Hogwarts. Professor Lupin would be leaving his position at the end of the term. Students reacted with a mix of shock and disappointment, while the staff handled the situation with a strained professionalism.
Exams soon arrived, and Harry once again excelled in every subject. In Potions, Professor Snape again had Harry assist with overseeing his classmates to ensure that "none of them got too nervous and destroyed half the castle," as Snape put it.
As the results were posted, Harry's name was at the top of every list. Some of his scores were marked with stars, indicating his stellar performance, while in other subjects, he shared the top spot with other students.
As the second year at Hogwarts drew to a close, Harry entered the Great Hall, which was adorned with green banners celebrating Slytherin's triumph. Slytherin had secured the House Cup once again. Harry's impeccable record in Quidditch, where he won every game, coupled with his top-notch academic performance, had significantly contributed to this victory.
The atmosphere in the Great Hall was electric, filled with laughter and chatter as students celebrated the end of another school year. Harry sat with his friends, basking in the glow of their collective achievements. The sense of camaraderie was palpable, and even those from other houses joined in the festivities, appreciating the unity that had grown over the past year.
As the feast began, Dumbledore stood up to address the students. "Another year has come to an end, and what a remarkable year it has been. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Slytherin for winning the House Cup. Well done!"
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers, and Harry joined in, smiling broadly at his friends. Daphne, Tracey, and Pansy were all beaming with pride. As the applause and laughter filled the air, Harry felt a warm sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. In this busy year, he earned this little celebration.
Before long, Harry's friends from other houses arrived to congratulate and tease him. The Weasley twins made their entrance, carrying Gryffindor banners. Fred, grinning mischievously, said, "Harry, next year, we will curse you with a permanent leg-lock."
Harry laughed, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe then you can have a shot at winning the Quidditch games," he retorted.
The students around him burst into laughter, some nearly choking on their drinks. The lighthearted banter and friendly rivalry were part of what made Hogwarts feel like home to Harry.
As the night went on, more friends joined the celebration. Neville and Hermione arrived, their smiles as bright as the enchanted ceiling above. Hermione hugged Harry warmly. "You did it, Harry. Slytherin wins again!"
Neville nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Congratulations, Harry. You really deserve it."
Susan and Hannah approached next. Susan patted Harry on the back. "Great job, Harry! You really led Slytherin to victory single-handedly again."
Hannah nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. You've done so well this year."
Ginny, who had recently started spending more time with their group, smiled shyly at Harry. "Well done, Harry. I knew you could do it."
Luna drifted over, her usual serene smile in place. "Congratulations, Harry. Though I already knew you would do it."
Harry chuckled at Luna's unique perspective. "Thanks, Luna. I'm glad you think so."
Meanwhile, Pansy, Zabini, Cedric, Parvati, Lavender, Draco and Theodore all mingled with the group, sharing in the joyous atmosphere. Penelope Clearwater and Cho Chang from Ravenclaw joined in as well, congratulating Harry on his achievements.
The feast continued with lively conversations and laughter, the students enjoying the celebratory feast. Plates were piled high with delicious food, and goblets were filled to the brim with pumpkin juice. As the night wore on, Harry and his friends reminisced about the year's adventures and challenges. They talked about their favorite classes, memorable Quidditch matches, and the countless hours spent studying and practicing magic.
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