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Chapter 175: Friendship and Competition
Chapter 175: Friendship and Competition
Ever since Sirius Black's escape, Remus Lupin's gentle and amiable demeanor seemed to be slowly crumbling in front of Vernon's eyes.
He had become much more lively and occasionally revealed a devious side.
Of course, when facing Vernon, he remained the same gentle and accepting friend.
Lupin glanced out the window and said, "Let's go. The Vanishing Cabinet is already placed where you suggested."
Vernon had originally planned to do so, but just now, seeing Lupin's gaze unintentionally drifting towards the distant Quidditch pitch, he was suddenly moved.
"You want to watch Harry's game, too, don't you?" Vernon asked.
Lupin shook his head. "There will be many more games in the future. Since you think it's necessary to act today, then naturally, our priority should be the matter at hand."
"My task is indeed important, but this game is not something we can simply dismiss," Vernon argued.
He placed his hand on the cabinet door and closed it again. "Harry flies superbly. Professor McGonagall says he flies just like his father."
"Watching the game won't delay us much. Let's hurry to the Quidditch stadium," Vernon suggested.
Lupin paused for a moment, then smiled and accepted Vernon's proposal.
He also concealed himself with a Disillusionment Charm and followed Vernon out of the room. They quickened their pace towards the Quidditch pitch.
Snakelike lightning slithered across the sky, accompanied by distant rumbling thunder.
Lupin looked up at the gloomy sky and remarked, "It's going to rain."
"Mhm," Vernon agreed, glancing upwards as well. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "I don't know why, but I always feel that important matches are destined to take place on gloomy, rainy days."
Lupin laughed. "What does the weather have to do with it?"
"That's how they portray it in Muggle movies," Vernon explained.
"You often talk about Muggle-related things, and your inventions are also inspired by their ideas," Lupin observed.
"It's quite unique... Because most of the wizards I know who come from the Muggle world try to avoid talking about it. Even as adults, they still choose to live like wizards," Lupin added.
"I'm from the Muggle world myself. Why should we be taboo about it?" Vernon countered. "The witch hunts ended centuries ago, yet the two worlds remain so separated. I find that truly bizarre."
"Perhaps it's because many people seem to despise Muggles, but deep down, they find them terrifying," Lupin suggested.
"For us, the worst punishment is the Cruciatus Curse, which causes unbearable pain; but for Muggles..." Lupin trailed off.
"I once read about the horrifying and cruel punishments Muggles invented to inflict upon their own kind. It's truly barbaric... Vernon... The extent of it far surpasses anything a child like you can imagine," he said gravely.
"Even Bathilda Bagshot, who wrote 'A History of Magic,' didn't dare to include those details in her book," Lupin added.
"The terror caused by wizards is no less than that of Muggles!" Vernon exclaimed. "In 'A History of Magic in the Modern Age,' I read that Grindelwald once unleashed magical fire that burned half of Paris!"
Lupin shook his head. "How many people do you think are like Grindelwald, capable of taking lives without hesitation and feeling no remorse? His soul wasn't corrupted by Dark Magic; people like him are probably born of the darkness itself."
Speaking with a heavy tone, Lupin continued, "But for most wizards, the use of Dark Magic twists their hearts, and killing causes irreversible damage to the soul."
Vernon thought of Tom Riddle, who had once been strikingly handsome but later transformed into the noseless monstrosity of Lord Voldemort.
Such a change occurred because Riddle's soul had fragmented, leading to the terrifying mutation of his physical form.
Under the gloomy sky, their conversation gradually faded, each lost in thoughts that evoked a sense of oppression. The air between them was filled with an odd silence.
Until the students suddenly erupted into loud cheers, breaking the silence.
"Looks like the game has started." Lupin said.
They quickly climbed the stairs to the top of the stands and found a few empty seats.
The two sat down and, like everyone else in the audience, looked up at the sky. Several players darted back and forth through the air.
Suddenly, something furry brushed against Vernon, followed by two barks.
"Sirius?" Lupin, who was also invisible, said, "I'm over here."
The panting sounds of the animal suddenly stopped, followed by Sirius' complaining voice:
"I actually forgot—I'm invisible now, so I won't be seen even without transforming... Remus, Vernon, you're late. You almost missed the beginning of the game."
He didn't seem suspicious that Lupin might be deliberately teasing him.
"You have four legs, of course, you're faster than us," Lupin said.
"Oh yeah." Sirius quickly forgot about it and said excitedly, "Can you recognize which one is Harry, Remus? I'll tell you, the one flying the highest is him... He flies just like James..."
Vernon leaned back in his chair, listening to the conversation between the two invisible adults beside him, feeling a bit surprised and somewhat admiring.
Anyone who had gone through what Sirius had would likely become silent and gloomy, blaming the world, or even become cynical, neurotic, and hysterical.
But during this meeting, Vernon found that Sirius didn't show any of those dark and painful sides. If it weren't for his body, which was still much thinner than normal, it was as if those eleven years in prison had left no trace on him.
Vernon thought it was really great.
The pain of the past would not disappear so easily, but Sirius was trying to heal himself and, together with his friends, find the young man he once was, instead of remaining trapped in that desperate, dark prison.
No wonder Lupin seemed more lively lately... He must be helping Sirius in his own way.
The players in the sky engaged in intense competition, and with Sirius' commentary, the excitement of the game doubled. Vernon also began to understand the progress of the match.
Suddenly, he felt a chill on his forehead, and he closed his eyes reflexively. Then, he raised his wand and whispered a spell.
A ring-shaped airflow spouted from the tip of his wand, forming an invisible umbrella in the air. The "umbrella" was large enough to shelter all three of them.
"Great!" Sirius exclaimed. "I hate getting wet."
Vernon suddenly felt a gaze upon him, and he turned to see Professor Dumbledore giving him a slight nod and a kind smile.
Vernon: "..."
"Remus," Vernon said, "I think Dumbledore knows you're here."
"Oh well..." Lupin sighed. "It's not strange for a skilled wizard to detect the use of a Disillusionment Charm."
"Yeah, as long as it's not Professor McGonagall who found us!" Sirius said casually. "Dumbledore will probably pretend he didn't see us."
He looked worriedly at the sky and said, "Harry wears glasses, so the rain will affect him more than his opponents... I wonder if he knows the Water-Repelling Charm."
Vernon also watched the two teams entangled high in the air and thought, "Will there be another rogue Bludger this time?"
The Bludger was hit back and forth by both teams' players and was a common tactic to target the Chasers. In the heavy rain and poor lighting, it was impossible to tell if the small Bludger was moving in an unusual pattern.
Zoe and the others were prepared... Would Dobby come again?
(End of Chapter)
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