"𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙮"
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IN WHICH ~ Jupiter Cassiopeia Lestrange thought she could escape her family's dark legacy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but in her second year, Tom Riddle's diar...
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"There is power in ending. It takes you to the beginnings of what is meant for you."
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"Hello," Professor Lupin greeted softly, his calm voice reaching them before Harry or Jupiter had the chance to knock on his office door. Inside, a small, scratchy machine played a wistful melody, its needle tracing circles across a weathered disk. The music drifted through the room, gentle and a little melancholic. Harry and Jupiter exchanged confused glances as Lupin took a stack of books from his shelf and dropped them onto his already cluttered desk.
"I saw you two coming," Lupin explained with a tired smile, flicking his wand to silence the machine. Oddly, the song continued to play for a few moments longer, as if it, too, were reluctant to say goodbye.
Harry took in Lupin's appearance—he looked even more worn out than usual, with dark shadows under his eyes and a new scar marring his pale cheek. "Why're you packing, Professor?"
Lupin shrugged, nonchalant but clearly weary. "Ah, I've decided to resign."
Harry's face fell. "Resigned? But... why? You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had! You can't leave!"
Lupin's tired smile grew wistful. "As flattering as that is, Harry, someone let slip about my condition. By tomorrow, the owls will start arriving, and parents won't want a..."
"A wolf," Jupiter said, finishing his sentence as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lupin's smile softened with appreciation. "Exactly. A wolf teaching their children."
Harry protested, "But Dumbledore—"
"Dumbledore has already risked enough for me. I can't ask him to fight any more battles on my behalf. This... is just the way our world works," Lupin said with a resigned sigh, flicking his wand to pack the remaining items into his trunk, which shut with a decisive click.
Jupiter, sitting on the edge of his now-empty desk, crossed her arms. "You shouldn't be used to it," she murmured, defiant.
Lupin's gaze lingered on her, a glimmer of pride in his tired eyes. "I agree, Jupiter. But sometimes change requires time—and brave people to lead it." He paused, studying her with a warmth that softened the sadness in his expression. "You know, you'd make a wonderful healer."
Jupiter felt her cheeks flush, and she looked away, focusing on a spot on the floor.
Lupin turned his attention to Harry, whose shoulders sagged with disappointment. "Why do you look so miserable, Harry?"
"Pettigrew escaped," Harry muttered, his voice full of frustration. "It didn't make any difference."
"Didn't make any difference?" Lupin scoffed gently, surprised. "Harry, it made all the difference in the world. You uncovered the truth and saved an innocent man. That's more than enough."
