Chapter 12: Early Morning
Early morning. As sunlight spilled into the tavern room, Lyra yawned and slowly got up.
After briefly washing up, she changed into the new robes she had bought from Madam Malkin's shop a few days ago and sat down at the table in the room.
Piled on it was a thick stack of newspapers. They were newspapers from the past fifty years, all delivered together with the books on Magic Formations.
Mr. Lupin is such a kind person!
Lyra thought to herself as she lowered her head to read.
Although wizards weren't particularly sensitive to time, and the wizarding world wouldn't change drastically in just a few decades, it was undeniable that a lot had happened in the fifty years Lyra was unconscious.
Among these, aside from Lord Grindelwald's temporary defeat, there were some other interesting items.
For example...
The 1946 Quidditch World Cup was won by the Heidelberger Harriers from Germany... In Lyra's memory, that team was never a favorite to win.
The International Statute of Secrecy hadn't been amended in the slightest... Those Ministry types.
Dumbledore had actually become the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. He must have bribed them with half a million Galleons! And in his duel with Lord Grindelwald, he probably used some underhanded trick...
After that, there was Voldemort.
A fellow named Voldemort had called himself the Dark Lord and swept across all of Britain, attempting to establish his own dark reign.
Not just anyone can call himself the Dark Lord, okay?
When Lyra read about Voldemort's downfall, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. See? Even Lord Grindelwald couldn't defeat Dumbledore. What made you think you could?
For some unknown reason, Lyra actually felt a little happy seeing Dumbledore win.
Wait... but on second thought, Dumbledore is my enemy now, too... If neither Lord Grindelwald nor this Voldemort fellow could beat him...
Lyra's smile vanished, and she sighed.
She felt a wave of anxiety... She had to read something more light-hearted to relax... So, she picked up a book titled, What Are Magic Formations? Ask Lockhart.
This was, apparently, one of the few books in Flourish and Blotts related to Magic Formations... or so Mr. Lupin believed.
As far as Lyra was concerned... she could only say this book had absolutely no connection to Magic Formations... The only connection was the title on the cover.
Mr. Lockhart seems to be a famous wizard... Could it be that the term 'Magic Formation' has taken on a different meaning in the last fifty years? But based on what Dumbledore said, it shouldn't have... Wait, Dumbledore is an old man now. It seems perfectly normal that his ideas might be behind the times.
While thinking, Lyra began to draw on the parchment beside her... She was reviewing the knowledge of Magic Formations she had learned before.
A Magic Formation was composed of Ancient Runes and spells. The Ancient Runes were the main body, serving as the focal point, while the spells played a supplementary role, providing support to the runes.
Currently, Formation Masters knew the meanings of about ten Ancient Runes, each with a different function... including, but not limited to, energy storage, communication, protection, and transportation... As for the runes with unknown meanings, there were over a hundred.
Lyra already had a thorough understanding of the ten known Ancient Runes... She picked up her quill and sketched a circle on the parchment.
Immediately after, she pricked her finger with the tip of the quill. Using her own blood, she slowly drew the Ancient Rune for 'Energy Storage' in the center of the formation.
Crafting a Magic Formation required various magical materials. Veela blood happened to be one of the best... But unfortunately, she wasn't a pure-blood Veela... so its effect as a formation ink wasn't optimal...
It must be said, being a half-blood is the worst... This made Lyra think of Durmstrang again... If it weren't for my pointed ears...
She shook her ears and patted her cheeks. Focus... This is the great Study of Magic Formations!
As Lyra's hand moved faster and faster, the formation on the parchment became more and more complete.
Finally, with a light tap of Lyra's quill, a complete, perfect Energy Storage formation was finished.
This formation could continuously draw magical energy from the air to fill itself. It was the fundamental formation required for all magical formation items...
Watching the formation begin to glow with a faint blue light, Lyra gave a satisfied smile.
I really haven't forgotten... In that case, I'll strike while the iron is hot and...
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. It startled her so much she nearly fell out of her chair.
"Miss Hamilton." It was none other than the gentle Mr. Lupin. "I have something to discuss with you."
Since their trip to Diagon Alley, Lupin hadn't been back, aside from when he dropped off the books a few days ago.
Now that he had suddenly appeared, Lyra instinctively felt a little nervous.
He doesn't have Dumbledore with him, does he?
She peeked carefully, and after confirming Dumbledore wasn't there, she pressed her lips together and said, "Please come in... Mr. Lupin." As she spoke, she pulled up her hood, covering her pointed ears and silver hair.
She still wasn't used to showing them.
"I'm not disturbing your rest, am I?" Lupin asked quietly, poking his head in. After confirming Lyra was indeed awake, he nodded lightly and entered.
"No." Lyra forced a smile. Mr. Lupin was her first and only friend. How could a visit from a friend ever be a disturbance?
Even if it were midnight, Lyra would force herself to sit up, wide awake.
"That's good." Lupin, unaware of Lyra's thoughts, gave a small nod and then looked at the blue, glowing thing on the table.
"Is that..." Lupin began to ask, then, realizing something, quickly shut his mouth.
But Lyra had already heard his question. She immediately and excitedly held up the formation. "Mr. Lupin, this is the Magic Formation I just drew! It's an Energy Storage formation! It can absorb..."
"A-Ahem, one moment, Miss Hamilton!" Lupin quickly interrupted her. He truly did not understand a single thing about Magic Formations. He had idly flipped through that Lockhart book after getting it, briefly wondering if he should learn about it.
But unfortunately... the book held absolutely no interest for him. So, he hurriedly cut Lyra off, saving the eager "missionary" from wasting her breath.
And as he spoke, he quickly brought out the object he had been hiding behind his back.
It was a cage, covered by a black cloth.
"What... is that?" Lyra stared at the covered object, momentarily confused, and lowered the parchment.
"A gift for you," Lupin said with a small smile, casually pulling off the black cloth to reveal what was inside.