Chapter 148
Lupin still remembered the first time he met Malfoy—on the Hogwarts Express. Malfoy had used a formless Patronus to drive away several Dementors. Later, during the Boggart lesson, his performance had left Lupin speechless. Malfoy had deliberately forced the Boggart to transform into a Dementor—and then defeated it casually.
Lupin knew very well that Malfoy's true fear could not possibly be a Dementor.
And the words Malfoy had spoken as he stepped down from the front that day had made Lupin break out in cold sweat.
More recently, the situation had been even more shocking. Malfoy had seen through Peter Pettigrew's intentions. If the Daily Prophet was to be believed, he had even resisted the Imperius Curse and assisted Moody in the capture attempt. Even though Pettigrew had escaped, the courage alone was enough to impress Lupin.
Over the past few days, Lupin had wondered whether their own actions had alerted the enemy too early. Otherwise, Moody might have succeeded.
But there was no point thinking about that now.
What interested him was Malfoy's real combat ability.
He wanted to know whether this student could truly challenge him.
"Yes," Malfoy said, wand already in hand, though he did not attack. "I have one more question."
"Go ahead."
Lupin felt a faint sense of unease, but he nodded.
"Once the duel begins," Malfoy asked calmly, "may I treat you exactly as a Dark wizard? Use any method necessary to defeat you? And I won't be held responsible?"
A Gryffindor student scoffed.
"He actually thinks he can beat an adult wizard? Lupin was a top student back in the day. Arrogant Slytherin."
Only Pansy and Neville still looked expectant—Pansy out of absolute trust, Neville out of gratitude, though he did not truly believe Malfoy could win.
Hermione watched with a complicated expression.
Whatever his motives, Malfoy had helped Hagrid and Sirius. That much was undeniable.
As a student, she wanted someone to prove that their generation wasn't helpless. But personally, she also hoped Lupin would teach Malfoy a lesson.
Sometimes he was simply too irritating.
Especially when he had mocked her teeth and hair.
Did he think she didn't want to look better?
Still, she added silently, I hope Professor Lupin doesn't hurt him too badly.
The outcome seemed obvious. Magical power generally increased with age, and Lupin had more than twenty years' advantage.
If Lupin abandoned restraint and relied purely on defense, Malfoy might not even be able to break through an Iron Shield.
Yet Malfoy's confidence made her uneasy.
"If that's the case," Malfoy said lightly, "I'm relieved. I have one request. I'd like to say something before the duel begins. Once I finish speaking, the battle will start."
Lupin hesitated, then nodded.
"No problem."
The unease in his chest deepened.
Malfoy turned to face the class and gave a slight, polite bow.
"As you can see," he said calmly, "our respected Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mr. Lupin… is a werewolf."
He pointed directly at Lupin.
Lupin's pupils shrank.
So that warning back then—Remember to take your potion on time, Professor—had not been concern.
Malfoy had known.
And he had waited until now.
The classroom exploded into noise.
Aside from Hermione, who already knew, students instinctively backed away, whispering in alarm.
A chill ran through Lupin's body.
He did not dare meet their eyes.
Fear. Disgust. Suspicion.
He knew what he would see.
It didn't matter that he had never harmed anyone. The word werewolf alone was enough. Years of stories, books, and prejudice had already judged him.
Even victims could not escape that label.
Even those more decent than most.
"Expelliarmus."
Malfoy spoke almost casually.
The Disarming Charm moved slowly—slowly enough that Lupin could have stepped aside.
But he didn't move.
The spell struck him.
His wand flew into the air, landed, and rolled to Malfoy's feet. The impact knocked Lupin backward into the edge of the teacher's desk.
He had made no attempt to defend himself.
Hermione stared in shock, hands clamped over her mouth to stop herself from crying out.
How could he do this…?
When she had learned Lupin's secret, she had only used it to gain his trust—and then resolved to protect it forever.
She understood what prejudice felt like.
She would never have exposed him.
Never like this.
Then the explanation came to her.
Snape.
Snape knew how to identify a werewolf. If anyone had noticed the signs, it would be him. Malfoy and Moody must have learned it from him outside Lupin's office.
She wasn't the only one capable of putting pieces together.