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Chapter 112: The Past
Chapter 112: The Past
When Remus Lupin emerged from the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron, he found Ved already waiting for him.
The man looked much better than he had during their first meeting. He wore a deep azure wizard's robe, free from the patches that had once covered it. The worry and haggardness that had marked his face were now largely gone, replaced by a calmness and subtle melancholy that came with age.
Such a man was undoubtedly charismatic, and Ved noticed some young witches discreetly glancing his way.
Lupin ignored their gazes. Upon seeing Ved, a smile broke out on his face, and he walked over and said, "It's been a while, Ved."
In the past six months, they had met only a few times, but their daily magic lessons had continued uninterrupted. Through their written correspondence, Lupin had become very familiar with Ved.
Despite his young age, Ved lacked the common flaws of most children, such as laziness, impulsiveness, immaturity, and restlessness.
He had clear goals and an extremely high level of focus, constantly learning and growing, and exuding a spirit of striving for improvement. He was also adept at listening and expressing his thoughts without simply following the crowd.
Furthermore, he was highly trusting and respectful of those around him and could empathize with others' difficulties. He treated Lupin with the same respect he showed the school's professors, never looking down on him just because he was a paid employee.
In his many years of wandering, Lupin had encountered all sorts of employers, some of whom had the mindset of, "I'm paying you, so you'd better act like my dog," trying to squeeze every last drop of value from their employees.
So, at this moment, his heart held infinite admiration for Ved, and the only obstacle was his own identity as a werewolf.
He didn't know that Ved had been aware of his condition from the very beginning.
"Lupin," Ved greeted him. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important by calling you here suddenly?"
Lupin smiled. "I haven't had much to do lately... Did something happen?"
"You know I'm classmates with Harry, and we get along quite well."
Ved didn't beat around the bush. "Ever since the holidays began, Harry has cut off all contact with his friends, and everyone is a bit worried. I said I could go and visit him..."
Ever since he had heard Harry's name, Lupin's expression had undergone a subtle change, as if he were lost in thought or pain.
Ved looked at him and said, "I heard that Harry's parents were your friends during school. So, I thought maybe you'd be willing to help..."
His voice trailed off slightly. "If it would be difficult for you, then forget it... I guess Harry is probably fine. Otherwise, Dumbledore would have intervened by now."
Lupin's current expression was somewhat unpleasant, as if someone had poured a spoonful of cold water into his ear.
"...No... It's not difficult," Lupin said slowly. "I also want to go and see him... It's just... I don't know if I should get close to him..."
His expression was somewhat dazed.
"If you want to see him, then go," Ved said. "Who has the right to stop you from caring about the orphan of an old friend? Besides, he may need help now more than ever."
The word "orphan" stung Lupin, and his expression became momentarily pained.
"You're right... I should go and see him... I should have gone a long time ago..."
Once Lupin had made up his mind, he didn't hesitate any longer. The two set off together. To avoid attracting attention, they changed into regular clothes and took the subway, then a taxi to Surrey, Little Whinging.
They got off at Privet Drive and looked at the almost identical houses lining the street. Lupin asked, "Ved, do you know which house Harry lives in?"
Ved examined the nameplate outside one of the houses and said, "It should be around here. His uncle is named Dursley."
"Dursley... I remember him—Vernon Dursley, Lily's husband. He was there when Lily and James got married."
Lupin frowned, his expression filled with disdain as he said, "He was a rude madman."
"What happened?" Ved asked, intrigued.
In his mind, James Potter was the typical school bully, surrounded by a group of obedient lackeys.
A Muggle like Vernon should have been at their mercy, with no means to fight back.
But Lupin's attitude... it was as if they were the ones who had been bullied, not the other way around.
Lupin took a deep breath and said, "He was one of the worst Muggles I've ever met... The first time I met him was at the wedding. He looked down on James and asked him what car he drove. James told him about his Nimbus racing broom..."
Just mentioning the name and recalling the past brought pain to Lupin.
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Then that man, Vernon Dursley, loudly proclaimed that all wizards were pathetic freeloaders living off unemployment benefits."
"James told him he had a large stash of gold at Gringotts. Vernon didn't understand what Gringotts was and thought James was making fun of him, so he flew into a rage. The couple left the wedding, causing Lily to burst into tears."
Lupin gave a bitter smile as he said, "You have no idea how much James loved Lily. He promised to make amends with Vernon for her sake... But the Dursleys' attitude... You can understand, can't you? In their eyes, we're all freaks..."
Ved's heart sank as he realized that there must have been further unpleasant conflicts.
"I should have come to see Harry sooner... I didn't know he had been left in the care of the Dursleys," Lupin said, his worry and self-reproach evident. "Damn it... I should have guessed. They were his only relatives..."
"But given your circumstances back then, you probably wouldn't have been able to raise a child properly either."
Ved suddenly stopped walking. "We're here."
The two of them looked at the house by the roadside.
It was a carbon copy of its neighbors, with no distinguishing features—from the gray roof tiles to the mottled brick walls, it was indistinguishable from the rest. A car was parked in the driveway, and the garden was neatly tended.
An ordinary house, an ordinary life, nothing out of the ordinary.
The windows of the living room were closed, giving no indication of whether anyone was inside.
The sun had set by now, and a faint light shone from the windows. Lupin narrowed his eyes.
"Look at those windows, Ved," Lupin said, his voice cold. "The shadows, they seem odd, don't they?"
Ved observed the crisscrossing long, thin shadows and said, "It looks like they've been sealed from the inside."
"Good." Lupin's voice was icy. "Now we know why Harry hasn't been able to contact anyone."
"Calm down," Ved reminded him. "Using magic on Muggles is illegal."
It wasn't against the law to reveal the existence of magic to a Muggle who lived with an underage wizard, but using magic to harm a Muggle was a serious offense.
The Ministry of Magic was notoriously inconsistent when it came to enforcing the law—sometimes, as long as the aftermath was handled properly (such as modifying the memories of any Muggle witnesses), they would turn a blind eye. But other times, the same offense could land you in Azkaban.
Hagrid had once turned Dudley into a pig, and while it was a crime by law, Dumbledore had managed to sweep it under the rug.
However, if Lupin broke the law, his werewolf identity would mean that the law would be applied much more strictly.
"I understand," Lupin said, biting his lip and forcing himself to calm down. He schooled his features and rang the doorbell.
(End of Chapter)
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