harleyscars Chapter 132 Lu Ping's Desire for Luxury Leads to Confusion
Chapter 132 Lu Ping's Desire for Luxury Leads to Confusion
Chapter 133 Lu Ping's Desire for Luxury Leads to Confusion
As Dumbledore headed toward Neumont Gard Castle, Harry left the headmaster's office and went to the Transfiguration classroom.
If he were late at any other time of year, let alone seeking out the headmaster, even if the Ministry of Magic took the money, McGonagall would definitely punish him for being late and deduct points from the academy.
However, today he was almost half an hour late, but unexpectedly, McGonagall not only didn't deduct points, but also showed some concern.
"So, Harry, what did Professor Dumbledore say? About Professor Trelawney's prophecy."
Harry clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Professor, please rest assured. Professor Dumbledore has his own plan, and he says he has already taken care of this matter."
McGonagall nodded upon hearing this, and the taut dough finally softened.
"I've already heard Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley talk about that prophecy; in fact, you don't need to take it to heart."
"I don't like to speak ill of my colleagues, it's just that since Trelawney came to this school, he's predicted the death of one student every year. So far, none of them have died."
Upon hearing this, the students who had also heard the prophecy breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts finally at ease.
Only Hermione frowned, biting her fingertip as she murmured, "But Professor Trelawney's last prophecy didn't say who would die..."
Before Hermione could finish speaking, McGonagall interrupted her, raising her voice, "That means she's changed her story this year. Mr. Potter, please turn to page seven; hopefully you can keep up with the rest of the lesson."
By the time the Transfiguration class ended, it was already high noon.
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to the Great Hall for dinner, Hermione and Ron flanked him on either side, eagerly asking about the details of their conversation with the headmaster.
Harry then recounted every detail of the headmaster's office. Upon hearing that Voldemort might have hidden Horcruxes throughout the world, the two were astonished, their faces turning ashen and their limbs going weak.
Ron gulped down a mouthful of pumpkin juice to calm his racing heart. "Merlin's hair, that's really scary."
Hermione, with half a piece of bread dangling from her mouth, stared up at the sky, remaining silent for a long time.
Suddenly, a glint flashed in her eyes, and she blurted out, "What if Professor Trelawney's prophecy wasn't directed at Harry?"
Harry and Ron were both stunned for a moment upon hearing this.
Ron snapped out of his daze and exclaimed in horror, "You mean, that sentence could also have been directed at both of us?"
Hermione didn't answer, but simply nodded. "After all, there were three of us sitting opposite Professor Trelawney at the time."
Hermione's words were truly terrifying; Ron had no appetite for drinking anymore.
He was so preoccupied with pondering what these three prophetic words would mean if they applied to him.
The atmosphere at the table suddenly became extremely tense, when Harry slammed his hand on the table and burst into laughter, saying, "Why are you and your brother acting so coy and effeminate!"
As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way," and "When you reach the bridge, the boat will straighten itself." Forget all the prophecies and cryptic pronouncements; let's just sit back and observe quietly!
Ron and Hermione were both taken aback by these words, but then their faces lit up with smiles.
"That's right, there's no use thinking about this now," Ron sighed. "Let's wait until we encounter something really strange."
Poems as proof:
The mysteries of prophecy are not to be fathomed, so why worry and fret unnecessarily?
Let us wait for the day when the winds of change will blow, and then we will laugh and watch the devil do as he pleases.
In the afternoon, Harry and his friends went straight to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
As soon as I stepped inside, I saw Lockhart dressed like a pheasant or peacock, standing on the podium waving and joking:
"Good afternoon, little wizards! How was your summer vacation? Did you miss me?"
This fellow had a loud, boastful voice, and all the students were in a daze, as if time had turned back and they were back in their second year.
They all patiently waited for Lupin, but he didn't appear for a long time. Only Lockhart was still on the stage, talking incessantly, like an old monk chanting scriptures, which made the Gryffindor students' hearts burn with anger and they were eager to fight.
Some rolled up their sleeves and robes, revealing iron-clad arms; others straightened their backs and bulged their chest muscles; still others glared angrily, their necks bristling like hills. What a sight to behold!
Lockhart's heart pounded as he saw the students, who resembled burly bandits from Liangshan. He unconsciously moved towards the door, fearing that they might swarm him and beat him senseless.
Just then, the school bell rang, and Lu Ping stepped into the classroom as the bell rang.
What a great professor! He took Harry's gold and silver back then, and now he's completely transformed!
Wearing a new robe embroidered with gold and silver, carrying a leather trunk with gilded copper buckles, he moved with the stride of a tiger, his eyes exuding a commanding presence, truly radiating an air of luxury and nobility.
Lupin placed the suitcase on the table, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, "Sorry, children, I'm late—"
Before he could finish speaking, he took a closer look at the room full of robust young men and was stunned.
What's going on?
Are they all this big?
When the professor arrived, the students quickly straightened their clothes and became solemn, and in a moment they regained their dignified appearance.
"Ah, Remus, you've come." Lockhart felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and quickly took a few steps back before embracing Lupin to the seat of honor.
Lupin then looked around at all the students in the classroom before saying strangely, "Please... put your textbooks away. Today is a practical lesson; you only need your wands."
Upon hearing the word "practice," Lockhart hurriedly leaned forward and whispered it in his ear.
"Remus, I must remind you, experimentation is not a good idea..."
"Don't worry, Gilderoy, I know what I'm doing, nothing unexpected will happen."
The students packed their books into their bags, and a few of the bolder ones exchanged glances, secretly marveling at the situation.
It should be noted that the Defense Against the Dark Arts course has always been all talk and no action; there has never been any practical application.
If Lockhart's release of a cage of Cornish goblins last year could be considered a real experiment, it would be utterly laughable.
After everyone had finished getting ready and each held their wand, Lu Ping said in a loud voice, "Now that you're all ready, come with me to the practical classroom."
The group escorted Lu Ping out the door, and as they turned the corner of the corridor, they saw that rascal Pipi Ghost stuffing chewing gum into the keyhole.
Lockhart was terrified and yelled, "Children, run!"
Before he could finish speaking, he had already darted more than three zhang away.
The mischievous ghost turned around upon hearing the sound, saw Lu Ping and a group of students, his eyes darted around, and he immediately began to sing in his raspy voice.
"Lupin, so stupid and confused~ Lupin, so stupid and confused~ Lupin, so stupid and confused~"
Seeing the mischievous sprite's arrogance and presumption, Lupin was about to draw his wand and show off his magic tricks to teach the students a lesson and establish some authority.
Unexpectedly, Harry suddenly jumped out and shouted angrily, "You filthy wretch! How dare you insult my second uncle! Are you asking for a beating?!"
Upon hearing this, the Gryffindor students all stared wide-eyed at each other in disbelief.
Is Professor Lupin a relative of Harry?
The rascal Peeves was so frightened by Harry's shout that he nearly fell from mid-air.
Hastily putting on a fawning smile, he rubbed his ghostly hands together and floated to Harry's side, pleading sweetly, "Oh dear, Mr. Potter, please spare this brainless little Peeves!"
"I misspoke just now, I actually meant to curse... Lockhart!"
"Yes, it's Lockhart!"
Harry glanced at him sideways and sneered, "You're insulting someone else, so why are you begging for forgiveness from me?"
Upon hearing this, Pipi Gui hurriedly rolled to Lu Ping's side and said with a forced smile, "Master Lu Ping, I'm so sorry~"
"Please, have mercy on this little rascal!"
The rascal spoke so obsequiously, his appearance so humble, that Lu Ping was stunned.
Hogwarts has changed so much!
Even Mischievous Ghost has students who are afraid of him?
He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he just nodded, and the mischievous ghost, as if granted a pardon, darted away without a trace.
Once the mischievous sprite had gone far away, the group continued on their way. Lupin pondered for a while, then couldn't help but ask:
"Harry, why is Peeves so afraid of you? When I was in school, almost no one dared to mess with him."
Before Harry could answer, Lockhart reappeared from nowhere, wiping cold sweat from his brow, and said, "Oh, that's simple. Because Barrow the Blood is afraid of Harry."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping felt as if he had been struck on the head, and was truly at a loss.
Isn't Blood Man Barrow an elder of the Ghost Council?
So it's not just students, even ghosts are afraid of Harry?
He froze, turned to Harry, and asked in a daze, "Harry, is that so?"
Harry waved his hand and laughed, "Second Uncle, don't listen to this scoundrel's nonsense. When has that Blood Man Barrow ever been afraid of me?"
"He just likes to hear me scold him a couple of times."
Upon hearing this, Lupin breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "I see. So Blood Man Barrow just likes being scolded by you—being scolded by you?!"
His face showed shock again. He looked around at the students, and saw that everyone was nodding in agreement.
"That's right, Blood Man Barrow does enjoy being insulted."
"But I only act like this in front of Harry."
The students chattered amongst themselves, leaving Lupin speechless, his mouth agape as if dislocated, feeling utterly alienated from Hogwarts.
As they walked, the students were noisy and boisterous, skipping and jumping along. But when they reached the door of the practical classroom, they suddenly fell silent.
In the dark corner of the classroom, a man in a black robe sat on a rocking chair. He had slicked-back hair and a cold expression. Who else could it be but Snape?
Lupin greeted him with a smile, "Good afternoon, Professor Snape."
"Oh, my dear Severus," Lockhart rushed forward, arms outstretched, and laughed, "Are you planning to audit my class?"
Snape's face was ashen. He simply pointed his wand and forced Lockhart to stop in his tracks, no longer daring to move forward.
"I think this should be Lupin's class, right? Lockhart, teaching assistant?"
The word "teaching assistant" stung Lockhart's face, but he still forced a smile and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter whose class it is. Remus and I worked together over the summer, and he's a very nice person..."
"Aha!"
Snape suddenly let out a mocking laugh, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. "Mr. Remus Lupin is a good man. That's the best joke I've heard all year."
Hearing such sarcastic remarks, Harry was instantly enraged and, with his hand on his ring knife, was about to step forward.
He had barely glimpsed an inch of the cold light when Lu Ping grabbed his wrist, shook his head, and whispered:
"Don't do that, Harry."
Seeing Lupin's restraint, Snape's anger flared even more. He abruptly tossed aside his bat-cloak and strode towards the door.
As he reached the threshold, he suddenly turned back and said with a sinister laugh, "I suggest you be careful, Professor Lupin."
"Over the past two years, every one of our Defense Against the Dark Arts professors has been hiding some little secrets."
"I hope you're different from them!"
After saying that, he slammed the door shut and left, shaking the walls.
Lockhart was terrified, but he forced himself to straighten his chest and looked around, saying:
"What? Did I ever do that?"
"Okay, I have to admit, I'm not as disciplined as the book describes; I sometimes stay up late too..."
He kept rambling on and on, which annoyed everyone, and they all glared at him angrily.
Seeing the melancholy on Lupin's face, Harry thought to himself: "That's right. My second uncle is of the same generation as my father, so he must know about the grudges between him and that scumbag Snape. Why don't I ask him?"
It is said: old grudges are hard to resolve, and today they stand facing each other, each concealing their sharpness. Whether Lupin truly knows of the feud between James and Snape remains to be seen; we shall find out in the next installment.
PS: 6000 today, more tomorrow!
(End of this chapter)