Chapter 154
After reminiscing about the past, Harry felt noticeably closer to Sirius. Under Lupin's insistence, they accepted the fact that he was leaving and helped him tidy up the office.
"Oh, Professor Lupin, look! You left something behind!" Ron called out, holding up a bright purple hair curler he had found in a corner.
"That isn't mine," Lupin said after a glance, shaking his head.
"Do you really think Professor Lupin would use something like that? Ron, try using your brain," Hermione said sharply. Taking the curler from him, she examined it and added, "This must be something Professor Lockhart left behind."
"Right, right—you're the smart one, I'm the idiot," Ron muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Actually, this is all the luggage I have. You don't need to help," Lupin said gently. Then he turned to Sirius. "If you don't mind, could you take the three of them back to class? It should be halfway through by now."
He looked at the trio. "Skipping lessons isn't a good habit."
In the end, Lupin left.
After he submitted his resignation, Dumbledore did not try to persuade him to stay. He knew the decision came from Lupin himself—something no one else could change.
There were other reasons as well. Reasons that could not be shared.
Hogwarts soon returned to its usual calm.
Both vacant positions were temporarily filled. Snape took over Defence Against the Dark Arts for the remaining weeks. The news caused widespread complaints among Gryffindors.
As for Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid's replacement was an elderly white-haired witch known to the students as Professor Grubbly-Plank.
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It was another ordinary morning.
Students sat quietly in the Great Hall finishing breakfast. Soon, the owls began arriving. Wings beat loudly beneath the enchanted ceiling as letters and parcels dropped onto the tables. Some deliveries were less accurate, splashing into goblets of milk and creating small messes.
"Here," Draco said, pushing a box of neatly wrapped chocolates and sweets toward Pansy.
Narcissa's care was excessive. If he ate everything she sent, he would soon resemble Crabbe and Goyle.
"Oh? You've bought quite a lot, Pansy."
Only then did Draco notice the pile in front of her—packages delivered by many different owls. The air carried a faint mixture of herbal scents. With his experience in Potions, he recognized it immediately.
"Ah—nothing," Pansy said quickly. Startled by his movement, she hurriedly pulled the packages closer, covering the labels with her arms.
"Well, girls your age deserve some privacy," Draco thought, withdrawing his hand.
"These are girl secrets. You're not allowed to see them," Pansy said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Alright, alright. A secret. I'm not curious anymore," Draco replied, waving it off. He had no interest in the thoughts of girls their age.
Still, he had already caught a glimpse.
Rose Thorn? he thought to himself. The label meant nothing to him. Probably some popular trinket.
Meanwhile, Pansy was tense. Whatever she was preparing, she did not want Draco to know.
Next time, I'll buy things in batches, she warned herself. This large purchase was too conspicuous.
In truth, brewing potions did not require so many ingredients. But Pansy's skill level was limited. And Snape—no matter how biased—would never teach anything truly forbidden in class.
She had only one method: practice through repetition.
So she bought several times the required materials.
The price was a rapidly shrinking savings pouch.
"Do you need help carrying these to the common room?" Draco asked, eyeing the mountain of parcels.
"No!" Pansy reacted like a startled cat, shaking her head rapidly. Hugging the stack tightly, she hurried toward the hall exit, her small figure swaying under the weight.
Draco watched with concern.
"Then try not to be late," he called after her. "Being late for a substitute's first lesson isn't a good idea."
Today was Professor Grubbly-Plank's first class.
But judging from the way Pansy guarded those packages, she seemed to be hiding something important.