Classes start as usual the day after the opening ceremony. Leo was looking forward to the Care of Magical Creature and Divination classes he had chosen this year.
The first day did not include those two, but instead Transfiguration, Charms, and Magical History. It was the first class in a year, but it ended without any problems. As expected, it's best to summarize research in Magical History.
The next day, they were to attend Magical Creature Care taught by Professor Plank. They had heard good reviews from around them, but when they actually attended the class, they realized that the reviews were correct. First of all, they started by teaching thoroughly what magical creatures are, how to breed them, their dangers, and their usefulness. According to Professor Plank,
"Without knowledge, there is no practical experience! In this class, we will also do a lot of classroom learning. Students who feel like it's fun to interact with magical creatures will get hurt someday. First of all, you need to acquire correct knowledge about magical creatures. Then, when you become a senior student, you will be able to touch unicorns."
After that, Plank brought in simple magical creatures and showed them to the students, and then let the students handle them as well. The class ended without any problems because they taught the precautions thoroughly. It didn't take long for Care of Magical Creature to become one of the popular classes.
On the other hand, the evaluation of Divination was low.
When Leo first attended a Divination class, he had no choice but to agree with that evaluation.
First of all, the location is bad. It's at the very top of the North Tower and it's a hassle to move around. The classroom is filled with the smell of sherry wine, so it can't be said to be appropriate. However, compared to the teacher in charge, these things were trivial.
The person in charge of Divination is Sybil Trelawney, a woman who looks like a dragonfly with large glasses.
"Welcome to Divination. I am Sybil Trelawney. I didn't have much opportunity to meet with you all who are in the noisy secular world. My inner eye gets cloudy when I'm in the secular world."
While looking around at the students in the classroom, she continued her talk in a voice that seemed to come from beyond the fog.
"Divination is one of the most difficult things in magical studies. Let's make it clear at first. For those who do not have the talent to foresee the future, there is little I can teach. Books can only teach so much..."
After that, they were supposed to read tea leaves, but Leo was disappointed with the content. Trelawney certainly has a different kind of magic power inside her body that can be seen. However, she doesn't use that power at all when she is predicting about students' futures. Despite that, she truly believes that she has talent. Probably she needs some kind of condition when she uses her power and she doesn't even notice it herself, but it's not clear when she will be able to see it.
Trelawney makes a prophecy of death for Leo. Leo asks back.
"What exactly causes death? Illness, accident, being killed by someone? Or something else? If you know the future, I will take measures so could you tell me?"
"The future is vague and ambiguous and opaque. Therefore I can only tell you that you are destined to die."
She said so but it didn't look like she was making a special prophecy.
Leo gave up on Divination or rather Sybil Trelawney. He probably won't attend Divination classes in the future. It's better to do research than waste time.
The next day is Defense Against Dark Arts class. As Leo had been teaching classes as a teacher last year, it felt somewhat fresh for him as a student attending classes.
Since Hogwarts has already contacted parents about Remus Lupin being a werewolf, there have been criticisms against Dumbledore and Hogwarts but socially prejudice against werewolves is gradually disappearing and if Lupin causes any problems Lupin will be fired and Dumbledore will resign as headmaster so for now it's settled.
When they entered the classroom Lupin hadn't arrived yet. So far there hasn't been any talk about Lupin having any problems. On the contrary there were more good reviews than anything else. As students were preparing textbooks and such Lupin came in.
"Good morning everyone. You don't need textbooks so why don't you put them away in your bags? You might have heard from other dormitories but today we're going to do practical training right away. All you need is your wand."
A werewolf teacher and sudden practical training made quite a few students feel uneasy.
They were led to the staff room where there was a sieve chest inside which occasionally shook violently. When an anxious student asked a question Lupin calmly replied.
"It's okay don't worry. There's only a Boggart inside."
After that Lupin explained about Boggarts and gave out problems.
"From now on I want you all to confront the Boggart. One by one. If multiple people deal with it the Boggart will get confused about what to transform into and it will result in something strange. It's easy to drive away a Boggart but it requires mental strength. The spell to exterminate it is like this, follow me and try saying it, Ridiculous silly."
The students repeat the spell that Lupin said.
"Good, good, you're doing very well. But what's really needed isn't the spell, it's laughter. The spell alone doesn't mean anything. When you guys face a Boggart, it will transform into the thing you fear the most. When you chant 'Ridiculous', imagine that scary thing transforming into something ridiculous. Then the Boggart should transform just like that. Let's take some time to imagine what you're scared of and how to make it ridiculous. Then let's try it one by one."
The students each start thinking. Leo also thinks, but he couldn't quite imagine what he was afraid of. He concluded that he should deal with it when his turn comes naturally.
From then on, they each took turns facing the Boggart one by one. The Boggart transformed into various things such as giants, snakes, corpses, and something unknown. When it was Leo's turn, he stepped forward.
The Boggart was squirming to change its shape, but eventually it stopped moving and became an unidentified sphere about fifty centimeters in diameter. Everyone wondered if that was the existence that Leonard Taylor feared.
Only Leo understood the cause of this result.
"I see, it couldn't read my thoughts because of the 'block'. So this is the true form of a Boggart."
When Leo tries to grab the sphere, it flies away and escapes.
"I'm sorry, Professor Lupin. It escaped."
"Ah... well. It was a valuable thing to see, so there's no problem. Well, class is almost over. By next time, please create a report on your impressions of today and about Boggarts. Now dismiss!"
The practical use of magical creatures seemed to have captured the hearts of the students well, and their impression of Lupin seemed to have improved.
"Could you stay a little longer, Leonard? I have something to talk about."
Leo, who was called out, was led by Lupin and guided to his private room.
As soon as he entered, Lupin bowed his head to Leo.
"I've always wanted to thank you...! Thank you! Thanks to your improved Wolfsbane Potion invention, I and other werewolves are able to live without such feelings. I can't thank you enough!"
"Please raise your face. I didn't develop it just to be thanked, and that medicine is still incomplete."
Still not raising his face, Lupin continued to express his gratitude. Finally words like "I'll do anything you say" came out.
"Sigh... If you say so much then let's ask for your cooperation in one research."
"If it helps you I'll do anything! What should I do!?"
"Since we have a cooperative werewolf right now let's further develop the improved Wolfsbane Potion. Professor Lupin, do you want to return to being human?"
At those words Lupin was at a loss for words. After a while he finally spoke.
"...Is... is such a thing possible...? Of course I want to be human! I hate being such a monster..."
"So it's okay for me to cooperate in research? All you have to do is provide samples like blood."
"Of course! Take whatever you want as long as I don't die! How long do you think it will take until completion? 5 years or 10 years?"
"If possible within this year maybe? Well if there is something else that can be prioritized it will be postponed but is that okay?"
"Can such a thing be done so quickly...? I understand. Of course there is no objection on my part."
He returned to the research room and pulled out the documents from when he improved the Wolfsbane Potion. It was made about five years ago so looking back at it now there are various things that are not well done.
One goal for Leonard Taylor this year has been decided, To make the Wolfsbane Potion perfect.
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Care of Magical Creature is very peaceful without Hagrid.
If Trelawney had been in a trance from the beginning, Leo's view might have changed.
The Boggart that escaped has evolved due to the frustration of not being able to scare Leo
Currently, it's leading a satisfying life scaring Muggle researchers.
From the researchers, it's being told, "Oh, scary, scary."
Sorry, that was a lie.
Lupin has a great deal of faith in Leo.
If he asked to choose between Leo and Dumbledore, he would choose Leo without hesitation.
Wolfsbane Potion → Transforms but retains thinking.
Improved Wolfsbane Potion → Retains thinking and can remain in human form.
The next medicine → Plans to completely revert from werewolf to human.
So, stay tuned for the next chapter.
What kind of pet would you like to bring to Hogwarts?
I would choose a cat. Or rather, I feel like there are too few options.