Chapter 13: The Gift
It was an owl that wasn't large; in fact, it was quite petite. It had gray feathers that, in the sunlight, looked just like Lyra's hair.
"A-A-An... owl?!" Lyra stared at it in surprise. She pressed her lips together, subconsciously wanting to step closer, but the sight of the owl's sharp beak made her shrink back.
"Are you afraid of owls?" Lupin asked, momentarily stunned.
"N... no." Lyra pressed her lips together, and suppressing that small flicker of fear, she slowly approached.
The owl seemed to sense her approach. It slowly raised its head, looking at Lyra with its large, blue eyes.
"V... very cute," she muttered after a careful inspection.
She also noticed that the owl's coloring and eyes were just like hers... Even its size, relative to its breed, was similar.
Is this the smallest owl I've ever seen?
"I... I can't accept this." But the thought that this was a gift from Mr. Lupin made Lyra quickly shake her head in refusal.
"It's alright." Although Lupin's face was etched with weariness, he still spoke gently, "Owls don't cost very much."
"N-No, no... I don't know how to take care of... an owl..." Lyra said, embarrassed. "And I don't have any money to pay you..."
"I already said, it's a gift," Lupin had to repeat, clearing his throat. "Besides, you don't know how to care for an owl? Miss Hamilton, surely you had an owl when you were at Durmstrang?"
"Mm..." Lyra's expression turned pained. She lowered her head and said in a small voice, "I... did. Once."
"But not long after... it flew away on its own... All that was left was the cage."
"The owl... flew away on its own?" Lupin was stunned. He fell silent for a long time. His gentle, steady eyes dropped for a few seconds before he pressed his lips together and said, "I see."
So... I already said I can't take care of an owl... In that case... Lyra glanced at the cute owl one more time, pressed her lips together, and took a few steps back.
"That's alright, Miss Hamilton. I know how to care for an owl." Seeing Lyra's retreat, Lupin suddenly stepped forward and placed the cage in her hands. "Just let me teach you." His tone was earnest yet still gentle, and his gaze was sincere.
"I..."
"Besides, Miss Hamilton," Lupin cut in again when he saw she was still trying to refuse. "How can a witch not have an owl? Especially a Hogwarts professor," he added. "What will you do if someone needs to contact you?"
"N-No one... will contact me... My..." Lyra's pointed ears drooped slightly, and she wrung her hands in front of her.
"Why not?" Lupin blinked. "I'll contact you. Aren't we friends?" He smiled faintly. "So, this is a gift from one friend to another."
"But..." Lyra peeked up at Lupin, then said quietly, "I... I don't have a gift for you."
"People don't give gifts to their friends just to get one in return," Lupin laughed. "It seems, Miss Hamilton, you still need to learn how to interact with friends."
"Mr. Lupin... do you have... many friends?" Lyra asked instinctively.
"Ah..." Lupin froze, then suddenly lowered his head with a wry smile. "I... suppose so?"
"But that's not important, is it?" Lupin cleared his throat, steering the conversation back to the owl. "You should give her a name. She's your owl now."
"Mine..." Lyra let out a soft breath. She still didn't want to accept the gift, mainly because she had no way to repay him. But faced with his kindness, she didn't know how to refuse.
"Give her a name," Lupin said again, his voice insistent.
"Then... let's call her Theia..." Lyra said quietly. "My first owl had that name."
"That's a meaningful name." Lupin was silent for a few seconds, then gave a slightly awkward smile. "But I'm sure she won't be like her predecessor."
"Mm... mm!" Lyra nodded, then carefully studied Theia. The little owl seemed to be curiously studying her right back.
"..."
After a long silence, Lyra suddenly looked up at Lupin. "Mr. Lupin, why are you being so nice to me?"
"..." Her question made Lupin pause.
Why was he being so nice to Miss Hamilton? Lupin himself didn't know how to answer. Beyond Dumbledore's instructions, what was the bigger reason?
Was it guilt? After all, he had let her walk into danger a few days ago... He glanced at her. ...Is it because I see her as a child? She would probably be angry if I said that, wouldn't she?
No, that wasn't it either... Lupin didn't know what he was thinking. Suddenly, his eyes caught on the wisp of silver hair escaping her hood.
Is it because I think she's just like me?
Lupin felt the thought was rude.
Seeing him silent, Lyra bit her lip and said, "It... it must be because of my Veela blood, right? Veela just... naturally make people like them..."
That's right... Aside from Mister Grindelwald, everyone who had been nice to her since she left Durmstrang had, to some degree, been influenced by her Veela heritage... Mr. Lupin must be, too...
"Ah?" Lupin, who had been surprised, froze for a second and then suddenly started to laugh.
"Miss Lyra Hamilton," he repeated her name. "Please forgive my rudeness."
"But, to be honest..." He looked Lyra up and down. "I really haven't felt any..." He paused, searching for the word. "Allure? Or... that kind of charm's influence, I suppose?"
Lupin felt like he was fumbling with his words, but he truly had never sensed any Veela bloodline from Lyra. Except, of course, for the pointed ears and silver hair.
Is... that so?
Hearing Lupin's earnest reply, Lyra's expression visibly brightened. She pressed her lips together, a smile emerging. But in the next second, she realized something.
Does Mr. Lupin mean... I have no charm at all? Should I be happy or sad about that?
Looking at Miss Hamilton's half-smiling, half-pained expression, Lupin couldn't help but press his lips together in a wry smile.
He really did see Miss Hamilton as a kindred spirit...
And yet... thinking of her identity, and the talent she possessed, Lupin secretly shook his head. He just needed to be her friend. That's all. His own 'kindred spirits' were long gone... dead twelve years ago.