Fudge didn't stay in the Headmaster's Office for long and soon left with the two unconscious Death Eaters.
About half an hour later, the Dementors stationed around and in Hogsmeade also received orders and retreated from the castle.
There couldn't be better news than this.
Although most students didn't know what happened, it didn't stop them from celebrating the departure of those annoying creatures, and the entire castle was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
The day before the holiday, Kael went to the Hospital Wing to visit Professor Lupin, who was still recuperating.
Harry and the others were there too, with a large black dog crouching beside them... Madam Pomfrey stood nearby, watching them with a scrutinizing look.
She couldn't understand why the Headmaster allowed students to bring pets here.
Professor Lupin lay on the hospital bed, his whole body wrapped in bandages, looking like a moving mummy.
Sirius propped himself up on his hind legs, panting at him with a flattering expression.
Seeing Professor Lupin's state, Kael also felt a bit embarrassed.
Strictly speaking, Professor Lupin's current condition was not unrelated to him.
That night, when Fawkes brought the werewolf and Devil's Snare to the Headmaster's Office, he was thrown aside.
Probably because Blake and Peter's stories were too captivating, and with the werewolf's mouth blocked by Devil's Snare, the mute creature was forgotten in the corner.
Until early the next morning, when the exhausted werewolf changed back into Professor Lupin, fell unconscious, and finally escaped from the Devil's Snare, crashing onto the floor.
It was this crash that, after a sleepless night, made the excited Sirius Black realize his old friend was still here.
Having been entangled for a whole night, even though the werewolf's body was strong enough, Professor Lupin was sent to the Hospital Wing with several broken bones and was exhausted to the extreme. He hasn't recovered even after resting until now.
As Kael walked into the Hospital Wing, he happened to hear Harry asking about the widely spread rumor in the castle.
"I just ran into Malfoy..." Harry said anxiously, "He said you're a werewolf and will be expelled from school, is that true?"
"Of course not." Lupin smiled, "I resigned voluntarily, I wasn't expelled."
"Why." Harry asked, "Just because you're a werewolf?"
"Isn't that reason enough?" Lupin looked calm.
"But apart from us, no one should know your identity..."
"No, Harry!" Lupin shook his head, "In this school, there are quite a few smart students like Kael and Hermione, they probably figured out my identity long ago."
"It must have been spread by Malfoy, and Snape..." Harry said indignantly, "Hermione mentioned he kept hinting about you being a werewolf during classes."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Harry."
Lupin smiled and said, "By afternoon, owls will deliver letters from the parents... They won't want a werewolf teaching their children... at least most parents wouldn't."
"And after what happened last night, I think they're right, I could indeed hurt you... That kind of thing absolutely cannot happen again."
"You might try growing Devil's Snare in your office..." Ron suggested tentatively, "I think that might convince most people to let you stay."
Upon hearing Ron's words, Lupin felt the injuries he had just recovered from beginning to pain him again.
Just at that moment, Kael also reached the bedside.
"Ron's suggestion is good." He placed a large box of Honeydukes' sweets on the cabinet beside, smiling, "If you need, I can lend you that Devil's Snare."
"I'd rather not." Lupin quickly shook his head, "I can't take more of that, but Kael, why do you carry such a dangerous plant around..."
"It's just a coincidence." Kael said vaguely, "And I find Devil's Snare quite safe."
Compared to other plants in the box, Devil's Snare is already considered the least harmful, ranking only slightly above decorative plants like Dittany and Ruta Graveolens.
Seeing Kael didn't want to elaborate, Lupin didn't ask further and instead said, "Sirius told me everything, I thank you on his behalf."
The nearby big dog also looked over with an expression of gratitude.
"I only gave a suggestion." Kael waved his hand, "Besides, it's too soon to thank me, wait until he's completely cleared of charges."
"What are you talking about?" Harry looked at them suspiciously, "Is Sirius okay now?"
"Nothing." Lupin shook his head, offering no explanation.
The matter is still confidential and not suitable for Harry to know about; through nearly a year of interaction, Lupin discovered that this kid couldn't keep secrets.
No matter how much Harry questioned, he didn't say a word.
Unable to get answers, Harry could only suppress the doubts in his heart and switched to another topic.
"So, where are you going next?"
"I don't know." Lupin sighed, "Being a werewolf makes it hard to find a job..."
Sirius flailed his front paws, appearing extremely eager.
He wanted to tell Lupin he could stay at his place after leaving Hogwarts.
But Lupin didn't look at him, and simply continued, "Maybe I'll go to the Wizard Examination Board... Because this year's N.E.W.T. exams included the Patronus Charm, and the students' passing rate was exceptionally good, Professor Marchbank approached me once and even explicitly asked if I'd be interested in joining the Wizard Examination Board.
"But I'm not sure if she knows my identity, and as a werewolf, it might be hard to enter the Ministry of Magic."
Harry seemed somewhat disappointed.
"Cheer up, it's okay." Lupin laughed, "I've long gotten used to it, and by chance, I'll also receive the school's salary for the last month, which should suffice for a while."
"If you're interested, you could visit Romania." Kael suddenly suggested.
"What?" Lupin looked at him.
"Fire Dragon Reserve." Kael said, "They don't care if you're a werewolf."
"Really?" Lupin's eyes brightened in disbelief, "Aren't they afraid?"
"Do you think a group that deals with Fire Dragons and Dark Wizards daily would fear a werewolf?"
Kael said, "Moreover, being a werewolf is actually your advantage; a werewolf who has taken the Wolf Poison Potion can do many things, and having a werewolf around can deter some with malicious intentions.
I heard they've hired several werewolves before, but most were dismissed because they couldn't withstand the temptation of dragon eggs."
Lupin bowed his head in thought.
Sirius flailed his front paws more rapidly, but no one paid him any mind.
Kael continued, "Although going there might be tough, especially during
the full moon, you might face those Fire Dragons alone, but the salary for a Dragon Tamer is quite decent..."
Lupin fell into contemplation once more.
Being more challenged is fine, he wasn't afraid of facing Fire Dragons, and the good salary was indeed a hard temptation to resist.
The only thing that made him hesitate was the distance.
Seeing Sirius is about to be cleared of all charges, he has so many things he wants to say to him, it's hard to be willing to go that far away at such a critical time.
Forget it, he thought, as he decided to wait until Sirius's situation is fully resolved before he considers finding work, while still having some Gold Coins in his pocket.
...