As Harry mulled it over, Fred kept reciting, proof that last year's detentions hadn't been for nothing.
Judging by the glazed looks of the other upper-year students—who'd clearly memorized the same passages—none of them could recall as much detail as Fred.
Still lost in thought, Harry suddenly felt a chill. He snapped back to reality to find Snape staring at him with icy intensity. The moment Harry met his gaze, Snape's eyes slid away, fixing instead on Fred.
Fred's voice carried on, "…If left untreated, a werewolf's monthly transformation is excruciatingly painful, and even after, they remain pale and weak for several days…"
At that, Professor Snape swept his gaze around the room, a cold smile on his lips. "It seems some of Douglas's ideas are actually working—making you copy out the textbook, for example… But if it were up to me, I'd bring in a real werewolf, let you see for yourselves how to identify and kill one…
From now on, your assignment is to copy this book. Now. Immediately. Get to work!"
Not all Hogwarts students were fools. After such a blatant hint from Snape, many recalled what Professor Sinistra had told them in Astronomy that week: the full moon was only a week away.
Some even started to wonder if Professor Lupin might be a werewolf. But they quickly dismissed it—surely Dumbledore would never hire a werewolf as a professor.
Besides, Professor Holmes had repeatedly praised Lupin as an outstanding Defence Against the Dark Arts expert, a man who had fought against You-Know-Who. How could he possibly be a werewolf?
Harry himself had considered the possibility, but then set it aside. He was more inclined to believe Black might be a werewolf.
Their investigation had revealed that Azkaban was a prison in the middle of the North Sea, guarded by emotionless Dementors. They'd never figured out how Black managed to escape and reach mainland Britain—but if he were a werewolf, it would explain a lot…
Most of all, there was Sirius Black's name. "Sirius" was the ancient Greek Dog Star, and wolves were part of the canine family. It all seemed to fit.
Harry found himself especially grateful to Professor Sinistra for making them memorize the Canis Major constellation chart just days before, and to the Dursleys for that childhood trip to the zoo, where he'd seen Muggles classify wolves as canines.
As for why Snape harped on about werewolves, Harry had his own theory.
They'd tried getting information about his father and Black from Hagrid. Hagrid had refused at first, so Harry mentioned that Dumbledore had told him about his father saving Snape's life, hoping to get Hagrid talking.
According to what they'd learned, Black and his father James had been best friends at school. You couldn't mention one without the other.
Sure enough, once Harry brought up Dumbledore's story, Hagrid spilled everything he knew.
"You've come to the right person. Even among the professors, hardly anyone knows about this.
I can't go into detail, but your dad really did save Professor Snape. It was all that blasted Black's fault—he showed his murderous side even then, after all the trust Dumbledore gave him…"
Hagrid hadn't said much, but it was enough for Harry to guess that Snape and Black had a grudge—which explained why Snape could barely contain his anger when talking about werewolves.
It was likely Snape had been attacked by Black while he was transformed, and saved by James.
The Black family must have been powerful indeed, Harry thought, to get a werewolf into Hogwarts as a student.
He'd have to discuss this with Hermione, and hopefully find out exactly when Black had escaped…
As he pondered, Harry absentmindedly jotted his thoughts onto parchment, sketching out a relationship diagram. He'd picked up the habit from his cousin's writing—remarkably useful.
He labeled Black as a "werewolf," drew double arrows between Snape and Black with "murder" and "revenge," then added his parents, connecting them to Snape and Black with arrows labeled "life-saving," "friendship," and "betrayal."
Suddenly, a pale hand snatched his parchment and tore it to shreds in a fit of rage.
Harry had been so deep in thought, he hadn't noticed Snape looming behind him.
"Writing things unrelated to detention during detention—ten points from Gryffindor. Just as foolish as your father…"
Harry shot to his feet, glaring at Snape.
Snape tilted his head back, sneering, "What? Am I wrong?"
Harry's voice was low and tense. "I think you're right. My father saved—"
Snape exploded, "Shut your mouth! You know nothing—NOTHING! Sit down and copy the book. Say one more word and Gryffindor loses fifty points because of you."
Harry stared at the furious Snape, wanting to argue, but in the end he shut his mouth. He didn't dare risk more point losses—Professor McGonagall would have his head, and he might end up spending as much time in detention as George and Fred.
After a final glare, Snape ignored Harry and barked at the rest, "What are you all staring at? Is this how you normally do detention?"
He was fuming. What on earth was going through Potter's head? How could that scum Black possibly be a werewolf?
He felt absolutely justified in making the students copy Lawless Wolves: Why Werewolves Don't Deserve to Live. The book made it clear: in human form, a werewolf could seem as friendly as anyone—utterly two-faced.
It wouldn't be long, he was sure, before everyone realized the truth about Lupin…
—
It was past eleven by the time Harry and the others returned to the common room. Everyone was either memorizing textbooks or buried in homework—the studious atmosphere no longer needed a class monitor to enforce it.
Harry found Hermione behind a mountain of books, scribbling away, while Ron kept sneaking glances at her work. Ginny sat nearby, quietly muttering textbook passages to herself.
"I've made a major discovery," Harry announced.
Ron and Ginny looked up at once, but Hermione didn't even glance up. "What is it?"
Harry quickly filled them in on the night's events.
When he revealed his theory that Black was a werewolf, everyone stared in shock.
Hermione turned to Ginny, "Ginny, could you fetch the original Daily Prophet article about Black's escape?"
Ginny nodded and dashed off to the girls' dormitory. Since joining the Charon Detective Society, Ginny had become Hermione's unofficial secretary—Hermione was always tied up with class, so Ginny handled most of the research.
While Ginny was gone, Hermione said to Harry, "Most of your reasoning is fine, but saying he's a werewolf just because his name matches a constellation is a stretch. Wolves being in the canine family is only a Muggle classification. The magical world doesn't use that system. Do you really think the prestigious pure-blood Black family would use Muggle logic?"
Hermione was already growing suspicious—every description of a werewolf, plus Snape's nearly explicit hints, all pointed to the new Professor Lupin.
Even with Professor Holmes's support, she wasn't ready to take Lupin off the suspect list. Harry was just jumping to conclusions.
Still, because of Professor Holmes, Hermione decided to keep her suspicions to herself for now.
Ginny soon returned with the newspaper, laying it out for them. "Sorry, he escaped around June 13th—by then, the full moon was long past…"
Hermione nodded, "According to the books, if he were a werewolf, he'd have been at his weakest then. Escaping would've been even harder—unless the Ministry just realized he was gone far too late."
But Harry, after a long silence, insisted, "I still think Black could be a werewolf. Don't forget, he nearly killed Snape. Why else would Snape harp on about how to kill werewolves?"
Hermione pressed her lips together, not bothering to argue.
Ron piped up, "What difference does it make to us if he is or isn't? It's not like I'll stop investigating the truth just because he's a werewolf. Besides, what about the Galleons?"
Harry blinked, then patted Ron on the shoulder. "You're right. No matter what, we have to get to the bottom of this. I just can't figure out why my parents would be friends with a werewolf—and why he'd be my godfather."
Hermione offered gently, "Harry, you have to remember—most werewolves weren't born that way. They were bitten by others and got lycanthropy. They're dangerous at the full moon, sure, but some are perfectly kind the rest of the month. I read in the paper that there's a potion now that lets werewolves stay sane during their transformations.
But the wizarding world is full of fear and prejudice. Just this March, the Ministry passed the Anti-Werewolf Legislation.
When I researched the Ministry's departments, I found the Werewolf Registry and Werewolf Capture Unit are both under the Beast Division—imagine, they classify werewolves as beasts. The Werewolf Support Services are handled by the Being Division, but because of all the discrimination, and the Ministry's arrogant attitude, they expect werewolves to register and promise not to attack others. If it were me, I'd never do it either…
No werewolf has ever come forward for help, so that office is about to be shut down…"
Harry suddenly looked inspired, "Wait—you said the Ministry passed the Anti-Werewolf Law. What if Black escaped because of that? Maybe he thought werewolves were being treated unfairly, and as their leader—"
Ginny interrupted, "Nope, the werewolf leader is Fenrir Greyback…"
Ron nodded, "Mum's always told us not to wander at night, or Greyback'll get you… Maybe Black wants to sneak into the Forbidden Forest through Hogwarts and rally the werewolves there? There've always been rumors about werewolves in the Forest, and Hagrid's never denied it…"
Harry's eyes lit up. That was a brilliant idea! He scribbled it down, resolving to warn Hagrid or Professor Holmes.
Hermione, watching the boys' discussion, could only shake her head. Why was Harry so stubborn about Black being a werewolf?
Still, once the full moon passed and Lupin reappeared, maybe they'd finally suspect the right person.
After all, that pallor and weakness were impossible to hide. She remembered that at the start of term—right after the full moon—Lupin had looked exactly the same on the train.
But before then, she decided she'd find a chance to ask Professor Holmes. If the staff all knew and were keeping it secret, she'd help protect Lupin as well.
"Harry, have you done your homework today? By the way, the Defence Against the Dark Arts monthly exam is the day after tomorrow."
Harry, who'd been in the middle of a heated discussion with Ron, froze, then glanced at Ron.
Ron blinked, shooting Harry a look—Hermione's right there.
Ginny burst out laughing at their expressions, drawing curious glances from all around the common room.
Hermione just shook her head and went back to her work.
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