Events outside the school did not disrupt Hogwarts's start-of-term feast.
Even though the grounds beyond the castle were filled with Dementors drifting everywhere, wailing like ghosts, it did nothing to dampen the students' excitement and joy at the start of a new school year.
The Dementors surrounded Hogwarts Castle, staring at the happiness floating above it, practically drooling with hunger, yet unable to reach it.
In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked out at the dreadful weather beyond the window and let out a sigh.
"Foolish, isn't it? Setting greedy hyenas to guard a piece of fragrant meat." As he spoke, he turned to look at Lupin, who was seated at the desk.
"It is foolish. They're repeating the same mistake," Lupin said with a nod, his expression dark.
As Sirius's best friend, he knew Sirius was an unregistered Animagus. There was no way the Dementors could possibly track him down.
And even setting that aside, even if the Ministry did not know he was an Animagus, they still ought to know that Sirius had already escaped once from Azkaban, a place under heavy guard and crawling with Dementors. So what was the point of using Dementors to search for him again?
It would only repeat the same mistake all over again.
"Cornelius is not the sort of person who admits his mistakes. He prefers to knowingly make them again, trying to correct them with the same methods, so he can show everyone, 'See? I wasn't wrong at all,' even when the evidence of his failure is piled right in front of him."
Dumbledore sat opposite Lupin. "But enough about him. Let us talk about what we need to face now. What do you think Sirius intends to do?"
"I... don't know." Lupin's face showed only confusion.
"Do not let your emotions blind you. For Harry's safety, I need Sirius's good friend. Your help." Dumbledore's tone was serious.
"But I truly don't understand why he chose to escape at this point in time." The confusion in Lupin's eyes did not lessen. "He's an Animagus. He could have escaped the moment he was sent to Azkaban. It's not a place anyone would ever stay in willingly."
"Perhaps it was for Harry..." Dumbledore speculated.
Lupin cut him off. "Professor, that doesn't make sense. If he wanted to kill Harry, there was no reason for him to endure more than ten years of torture in Azkaban. Not unless he's insane."
"Many people say he is. Otherwise, he would never have betrayed James," Dumbledore said.
"So what, the Dementors cure insanity now? That's not funny at all." Lupin took a deep breath, and his voice trembled. "I think something is wrong here. There's a truth hidden underneath this, and I'm afraid it's something I'll regret."
Dumbledore watched the change in Lupin's expression, and a pleased smile appeared on his face.
"You've changed a great deal, Remus," he said.
"What..." Lupin looked up at him, puzzled.
"You're much more lively than before. It's obvious you've become more optimistic. Something very interesting must have happened to you," Dumbledore said.
"Me?" Lupin froze for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. "Maybe it's because I've felt respected. Thanks to my companions, I've been doing fairly well lately."
"The werewolves of Knockturn Alley?" Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "They have been much quieter lately. When they were expanding before, they frightened Cornelius badly enough that he revived an old tradition from years ago and wrote to ask my opinion."
"You..." Lupin was startled. "Then what do you think of us..."
Dumbledore caught that us, raised a brow, but said nothing about it. Instead, he answered, "My view is to let things take their natural course. Knockturn Alley is far too chaotic. Having rule-abiding werewolves there would make the place much cleaner."
Lupin let out a sigh of relief, then scratched his head awkwardly.
"Still, the power of werewolves cannot be underestimated. I gave Cornelius my advice, but if the werewolves continue to grow, sooner or later they will provoke his displeasure," Dumbledore said.
Lupin was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Professor, let's talk about Sirius."
His feelings were complicated, especially when he found himself caught between Dumbledore and the werewolves.
On one side stood the mentor who had always supported him. On the other stood the new werewolves, who had cast off their savagery and cruelty, and had even avenged him.
If he were ever forced to choose one of the two as the side he would devote himself to, he was certain he would go mad.
Fortunately, for now, there was no conflict between them, which meant he still had room to maneuver.
Dumbledore looked at Lupin, saw the conflict in him, and nodded. "Very well. Then let's continue with Sirius... As for his Animagus identity... yes, if he had wanted to flee, he could have done so long ago. There was no need to suffer through more than ten years of torment. So there must be a reason he chose to escape now."
"And one crucial question remains. Why didn't he run before?" Lupin drew a deep breath and forced aside the turmoil in his mind about Dumbledore and the werewolves. "I suspect there was more to what happened back then than we knew."
"There is too much we do not know, including why Sirius suddenly escaped." Dumbledore shook his head. "For now, all we can do is guard against him as though he were a Death Eater and prepare for the worst. It is far better to expect the worst than to be careless and let tragedy happen."
"I understand." Lupin nodded. "I won't make a mistake. Until I'm certain Sirius is not a threat, I'll regard him as an enemy."
"That is good." Dumbledore sounded relieved. "And rest assured, we all know this is not betrayal. On the contrary, it is responsibility toward James and the others. We cannot stand by and allow tragedy to happen."
"For Harry..."
...
New term, same old story. Every year, students got punished at the start of term for their summer homework, and every year they stubbornly refused to learn.
As Leonard walked along the corridor, he could still hear students complaining that the professors' punishments were too severe. Why should they have to clean the castle corridors for a whole week just because they had not finished their assignments?
None of that had anything to do with Leonard. No matter how eventful his summer had been, it had not interfered with his finishing his holiday work perfectly. Still, that did not stop him from taking a bit of malicious pleasure in watching other people suffer for playing around too much.
Ordinarily, Leonard would not waste time caring about how others ended up. The main reason was that he was in an unusually good mood today, because before long, he was about to obtain a truly delightful prize.
One of the most outrageous artifacts in the entire Harry Potter world. A magical item that could send someone back through time.
The Time-Turner.