The Great Hall was enveloped in silence, its enchanted ceiling twinkling with starlight that cast a faint, ethereal glow. Countless stars dotted the vast canopy above. Suddenly, the heavy doors creaked open, and footsteps echoed within the hall.
"Headmaster?" came Snape's low, sharp voice. "The entire fourth floor has been searched. He's not there. Filch has combed the main castle as well, and there's nothing."
"What about the Astronomy Tower? Professor Trelawney's quarters? The owlery?"
"All searched."
"Good work, Severus," Dumbledore replied, his tone calm yet contemplative. "Although I never truly believed Black would linger for long."
If that were true, Black must have used the chaos to slip out of the castle. But what was his true purpose in infiltrating Hogwarts? Augustus found it hard to believe someone would go to such lengths simply to vandalize a portrait.
If there were something vital to Black within the school, it would likely be in Gryffindor. Perhaps his real objective was to retrieve it. But the Gryffindor common room held little beyond students' personal belongings. Then again, if his target wasn't an object but a person, could it be Harry Potter? Was Black seeking revenge on Harry for Voldemort's downfall? That seemed unlikely. Finding Harry in a sprawling school without drawing attention would be nearly impossible.
"How did he manage to get inside? Do you have any theories, Headmaster?" Snape inquired.
"Many, Severus, though each seems as implausible as the next," Dumbledore replied.
"You recall our conversation, Headmaster, at the start of the term?" Snape continued, his tone low, as if to exclude Percy from their exchange.
"I do, Severus," Dumbledore said, his voice carrying a subtle warning.
"It seems... almost impossible... unless Black had inside help to gain entry to the school. I did express concerns when you appointed—"
What? Augustus's curiosity piqued. Was Snape implying there was a spy at Hogwarts? If Snape used the word appointed, the suspect had to be a teacher. But how could someone infiltrate the staff and fool even Dumbledore? The idea was unnerving.
"I do not believe anyone in this castle would assist Black," Dumbledore stated firmly, his tone brooking no argument. The matter was closed.
"I must inform the Dementors that the search is complete," Dumbledore added.
"Will they offer assistance, sir?" Snape asked, his voice tight.
"They would, Severus," Dumbledore replied coolly, "but as long as I am headmaster, they will never cross this school's threshold."
For days, Black's infiltration dominated conversations at Hogwarts. Wild theories about how he had entered the castle spread like wildfire. Hannah Abbott of Hufflepuff even claimed he could transform into a flowering bush—a tale she eagerly shared during their next Potions class.
Interestingly, Augustus's Animagus theory gained significant traction among both students and staff. As a precaution, all pets within the school were subjected to thorough examinations. Any unidentified animals were sent to Dumbledore's office for investigation. For a brief period, Filch wielded absolute authority over the fate of wandering creatures.
In today's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, something unusual occurred. When Augustus and his friends entered the classroom, Snape stood at the podium.
"Professor, does this mean you've replaced Lupin? What a cause for celebration!" Malfoy exclaimed, bowing theatrically.
Snape's icy expression softened into the faintest flicker of a smile. "Lupin is ill. I am merely filling in," he replied. Malfoy sighed in mock disappointment and took his seat.
Snape's teaching was peculiar. He skipped several chapters in the textbook, diving straight into the latter half. Ten minutes into the lesson, the classroom door suddenly opened.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I—" Harry stammered as he appeared, his face flushed.
"This class started ten minutes ago, Potter. That's ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down," Snape said coldly.
"Well, well," Malfoy sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "The Chosen One, late on purpose, just to stir up trouble. Pathetic."
"Where's Professor Lupin?" Harry demanded.
"He's too ill to teach today," Snape replied, his teeth bared in an unsettling grin. "Now sit down before I deduct fifty more points."
Reluctantly, Harry made his way to his seat.
"You have been coddled," Snape sneered, addressing the class. "Lupin hasn't challenged you at all. By now, you should be able to handle Red Caps and Grindylows with ease. Today, we'll discuss..." He flipped through the textbook, deliberately stopping at the last chapter, one the students had yet to cover.
"...werewolves."
The room fell silent. A flicker of intrigue crossed Augustus's face. Why skip so much material and jump directly to werewolves? Was this an intentional hint? Could werewolves tie into the "spy" Snape had alluded to earlier? Augustus was certain that Snape's actions were deliberate. There was undoubtedly a connection between these seemingly unrelated events.
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