Sirius Black's break-in had thoroughly shaken Hogwarts.
The trouble caused by the Dementors only made the situation even worse.
If not for Aiyu's help, the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore would probably have received several more Howlers from furious parents.
Fortunately, during the following days, the professors no longer required the students to sleep in the Great Hall.
Instead, they imposed even stricter security measures.
The prefects were ordered to supervise everyone more closely.
No student was allowed to leave or enter the castle without permission, and prefects escorted every group of students to and from class.
As for Gryffindor…
The Fat Lady's vandalized portrait had been removed from the wall.
In her place hung the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat little gray pony.
The Gryffindors hated the arrangement.
Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the other half inventing absurdly complicated passwords.
He changed the password at least twice every single day.
Neville Longbottom suffered the most.
There was simply no way he could remember passwords that changed so frequently.
Thankfully…
The Hogsmeade weekend wasn't canceled after all.
It was merely postponed.
That alone greatly relieved the students.
Among Hogwarts students, two topics quickly became the center of every conversation.
The first was Aiyu's miraculous singing.
The second was how Sirius Black had managed to enter the castle.
As a result…
For nearly an entire week, Lewis didn't dare bring Aiyu outside Ravenclaw Tower.
Every time she appeared in a corridor, students immediately surrounded her, begging her to sing.
And every single time…
The easily encouraged little dragon almost agreed.
Lewis invariably had to cover her mouth.
What a joke.
Could a Carnival Dragon's songs really be performed whenever people asked?
The moment Aiyu opened her mouth…
The entire corridor would instantly turn into a giant party.
As for Sirius Black…
The rumors surrounding his infiltration became increasingly outrageous.
Hufflepuff's Hannah Abbott even guessed that Black had transformed into a flowerpot.
No one guessed the real answer—
That Sirius Black was an illegal Animagus.
Remus Lupin knew the truth, of course.
He simply hadn't told anyone.
The darkest theory, however, came from Professor Snape.
He firmly believed Black had received help from someone inside Hogwarts.
And in his opinion…
That traitor could only be Remus Lupin.
Dumbledore naturally refused to suspect one of his own professors without evidence.
That frustrated Snape immensely.
He carried that irritation straight into the next day's Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
The moment the Ravenclaws walked into the classroom and found Professor Severus Snape standing there instead of Lupin…
They were stunned.
The Slytherins, meanwhile, looked delighted.
"Professor Lupin is ill today," Snape announced smugly.
"So he has invited me to substitute for him."
His lips curled into a particularly unpleasant grin.
"As for what you've studied…"
"Lupin left no teaching records whatsoever."
"So."
"Who can tell me exactly what you've learned?"
His dangerous gaze swept across the classroom.
Without hesitation…
Every Ravenclaw turned to look at Lewis.
Lewis sighed helplessly and raised his hand.
Being admired usually meant having to take responsibility at times like this.
Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Excellent."
"Mr. Green."
"Tell me what exactly has managed to find its way into those otherwise empty heads of yours."
Lewis answered calmly,
"Professor Snape."
"We've already studied Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows."
"We were preparing to move on to Dark creatures with higher Ministry danger ratings."
Counting it all up…
Lupin was actually the first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor since Lewis enrolled at Hogwarts who had genuinely taught useful material.
Unfortunately…
Snape clearly didn't agree.
"So easily satisfied."
He sneered.
"I've never held such low expectations."
"In my opinion, third-year students should already be capable of dealing with Red Caps and Grindylows."
"Today…"
"We shall discuss…"
He rapidly flipped through the textbook.
All the way to the final chapter.
"…Werewolves."
He stopped.
"Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four."
His cold eyes swept across the classroom.
"All of you."
"Now."
Although no one understood why Professor Snape had suddenly chosen such an advanced topic…
Everyone could tell this had something to do with his personal grudge against Professor Lupin.
Faced with Snape's overwhelming pressure…
No one dared object.
"Now."
"Who can tell me how to distinguish a werewolf from an ordinary wolf?"
For the rest of the lesson…
The classroom remained completely silent.
Everyone sat obediently taking notes on werewolves while Snape stalked between the desks, inspecting the work they had completed during Lupin's classes.
At last…
The bell rang.
But Snape didn't dismiss them.
"You will each write an essay."
"Two rolls of parchment."
"The topic is identifying and killing werewolves."
"It will be due Monday morning."
"This class clearly requires proper discipline."
As everyone left the classroom…
Their moods had become even heavier.
Normally…
Hogwarts would already be covered in Halloween decorations by this time of year.
But Sirius Black's intrusion and the Dementors had driven all festive cheer away.
The gloomy Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson was followed by an equally gloomy Halloween Eve.
This year's Halloween Feast became the dullest one anyone could remember.
There were no decorations.
No performances.
Only Dumbledore's rather dry speech about campus safety.
The delicious food on the tables was the only thing capable of lifting the students' spirits.
After returning to Ravenclaw Tower…
Lewis noticed the entire common room was wrapped in anxiety.
Black's break-in…
The Dementors…
Everything had already left everyone uneasy.
And now…
Professor Lupin—
the very professor responsible for teaching students how to defend themselves—
had suddenly taken sick leave.
To the students…
It felt like yet another blow.
"Professor Lupin drove away the Dementors on the train."
Kevin said worriedly.
"I was planning to ask him to teach me the Patronus Charm."
"Why would he take leave at a time like this?"
"I guarantee Professor Snape would never teach us that."
Steve nodded.
"He only wants to pick on Professor Lupin."
"But…"
Cho suddenly pointed out,
"Professor Lupin wasn't the only one who drove away the Dementors on the train."
"Lewis helped too."
"So did Ciri."
"And Penelope."
"You could ask them instead."
"That's right!"
Steve's eyes lit up.
He immediately remembered the second half of last school year.
Back then…
They had all attended Lewis's Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons.
Turning toward Lewis, Steve said earnestly,
"Lewis…"
"We're counting on you."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Lewis asked curiously.
"You've seen what's happening."
Steve stood up and spoke loudly enough for the entire common room to hear.
"The Dementors are patrolling the school now."
"They could attack innocent students at any time while searching for Black."
"Kevin and I are living proof."
His words immediately drew the attention of everyone in the common room.
Many students nodded unconsciously.
Steve looked directly into Lewis's eyes.
His expression was filled with hope.
"I think…"
"Since we're all threatened by the Dementors…"
"And Professor Lupin can't teach us right now…"
"We should find another way to learn the Patronus Charm."
"And you…"
"You're the best teacher we could possibly ask."
"Lewis…"
"Would you teach us?"
"Steve's right."
Kevin quickly added.
"Everyone, think about last semester."
"We all attended Lewis's Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons."
"He may be our classmate…"
"But honestly…"
"He teaches just as well as the professors."
"Exactly!"
"That's right!"
The Ravenclaws immediately voiced their agreement.
"Lewis!"
"Please teach us!"
"We're begging you!"
"We want lessons like last semester!"
With the Dementors hovering above Hogwarts…
One Ravenclaw after another sincerely pleaded with him.
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