The first Quidditch match was approaching, but Hogwarts encountered another strange occurrence.
Professor Lupin had been taking sick leave on specific days for the past few months, with rumors saying that he was ill.
During a Defense Against the Dark Arts class before the match, the young wizards were surprised to find not the popular Professor Lupin, but the detestable Severus Snape in front of them.
Snape sneered and informed them that Professor Lupin was ill, so he was substituting for the class.
This disappointed the young wizards, but what surprised them even more was that Snape ignored the original teaching order and changed the lesson to werewolves.
The students discussed it, and Hermione couldn't contain her dissatisfaction.
"But, sir," Hermione stood up and said loudly, "shouldn't we still be learning about werewolves?
We just studied Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows, and according to the order, the next one should be Hinkypunks..."
For this, Ravenclaw lost five points.
In the following class, Snape began to question the students on how to identify and kill werewolves, his tone filled with undisguised malice.
No one made a sound in the classroom after that.
They sat quietly, taking notes on werewolves according to the textbook.
While Snape walked among the desks, checking their assignments completed during Lupin's classes and criticizing Lupin's curriculum heavily.
"Poor explanation, incorrect information; Kappas are more common in Mongolia, Lupin said it's eighty percent? I'd say it's not even thirty percent..."
Finally, the bell rang to end the class, but Snape didn't let them leave.
"Each of you will write an essay for me, due on Monday morning, on methods to identify and kill werewolves.
This assignment should cover two pieces of parchment.
Someone needs to take control of this class. Weasley, stay behind, we need to discuss your evening studies."
In fact, it wasn't until the next day that everyone realized Snape had taught almost the same content in all years of Defense Against the Dark Arts classes and assigned the same homework.
As long as someone paid a little attention, they would realize that Professor Snape's behavior had a certain intention, hinting at something.
But most of the young wizards were only worried about filling up two pieces of parchment.
However, there were always smart people who could see the meaning behind it.
For example, Hermione in front of Alaric, holding a bunch of homework with tired eyes.
"Don't you find it strange?" she asked Alaric mysteriously. "The homework Snape assigned."
"What?" Alaric rolled his eyes.
"Strange? What's strange about it? Not that I'm saying anything, Hermione, but you should take a few days off. You look like you haven't slept in days."
"Oh! Never mind that." Hermione raised her eyebrows, somewhat annoyed.
"I'm talking about Snape's Defense Against the Dark Arts class and the homework he assigned!"
"Alright, alright," Alaric shrugged helplessly.
"You know, I never care about what professors teach in class, I neither listen nor do homework. Let me think, I remember he talked about... werewolves, right?"
"Yes, werewolves." Hermione was a bit excited and hurriedly said.
"You know what? I realized that Professor Lupin takes sick leave every month around the fifteenth.
I didn't pay attention to it until after this Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Guess what I thought of?"
"Lupin actually takes sick leave on every full moon, right?"
"Yes, and I also realized, the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class he gave us."
Hermione's eyes sparkled with a strange light. "I remember he introduced us to Bogart.
When faced with Lupin, the Bogart turned into a white sphere, which left a deep impression on me. At that time, I thought it was a crystal ball or something, but now it seems that the white sphere was..."
"The full moon!" Alaric interjected casually. "You mean, Professor Lupin is a werewolf."
"Ah, I didn't expect you to already know." Hermione widened her eyes. "I thought..."
"In fact, what you know is exactly what Professor Snape wants to tell you," Alaric nodded approvingly. "Isn't it?"
"So that's it!" Hermione looked disappointed.
Thinking that her great discovery came from the hints of her most hated professor made Hermione feel a bit lost inside.
"Hmph, that's normal. Snape and Lupin's enmity dates back to their school days, but he probably overestimated the average intelligence of Hogwarts students.
Because even though his hints were so obvious, only you figured out the answer."
"Enmity?" Hermione looked at Alaric with interest. "They were classmates before? How do you know this?"
"Of course," Alaric scoffed.
"Lupin, Sirius, James Potter, and that little rat Peter were good friends during their student days, calling themselves the Marauders, and they often bullied Snape during that time.
But since Sirius betrayed the others, killed Peter, and caused James Potter to be killed by Voldemort, the Marauders no longer exist."
These secrets made Hermione pensive for a while.
"But why would Dumbledore hire Lupin?" Hermione looked puzzled.
"You know, we're almost defenseless against a raging werewolf.
If a student is bitten by a werewolf, they'll be permanently transformed into one. Why would Dumbledore take such a risk?"
"What do you think?" Alaric looked at Hermione and asked, "Why would Dumbledore take such a risk?"
Hermione thought for a while and finally gave an answer.
"Wolfsbane Potion," she said firmly, "Snape made Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin, right?"
"Ah, truly the 'Know-it-all' Miss," Alaric nodded satisfactorily.
"But not entirely correct. In fact, when Professor Snape was too busy, I also helped a bit, so if you visit Lupin these days, you'll find a werewolf who is as docile as a little dog."
Hermione finally got a satisfactory answer. She hurriedly prepared to leave, but before she left, as usual, Alaric reminded her.
"I think you look too tired. Honestly, the Time-Turner is a burden for you. You've taken too many unnecessary classes."
Facing Alaric's persuasion, Hermione had only been perfunctory in the past, but today, she unexpectedly fell silent for a while, and then whispered in response.
"You have a point, but I still want to persist."
"Alright," Alaric sighed. "If you have any problems, come to me quickly, don't overdo it yourself."
"I will."
In fact, Alaric was right. In the vast Hogwarts, apart from Hermione Granger, no young wizard could see Professor Snape's hints. Alaric felt that such hints were already quite obvious.
Was it really an issue of intelligence?
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