Chapter 14: The Headmaster's Office
Early morning. Sunlight spilled onto the green lawns outside Hogwarts, marking the arrival of a new day, glistening on the dew.
It was not currently the school term. Without the hustle and bustle of students, Hogwarts was exceptionally tranquil.
Except, of course, for the Headmaster's Office.
"Albus..." McGonagall coughed lightly, looking at Dumbledore, who was sitting complacently in his chair eating Fizzing Whizbees.
"This Miss Hamilton... I've never heard of her before," she said, shaking her head as she held the employment contract. "And... two professors sharing responsibility for one course? This is entirely unprecedented."
"We can't always live in the past, can we?" Dumbledore said, looking up slightly as he popped another Fizzing Whizbee into his mouth.
"You know that's not the point, Albus," McGonagall said, her expression turning serious. "Last year's Quirrell already caused us more than enough trouble."
"We cannot hire someone who has just graduated to be a professor." McGonagall looked at the age listed on the contract. "She's only eighteen."
Looking at the surname, McGonagall seemed to realize something and lowered her voice. "This doesn't have anything to do with the Hamilton family, does it?"
"On that point, I must clarify," Dumbledore said slowly and leisurely. "This has nothing to do with the Hamilton family."
"Furthermore, strictly speaking... Miss Lyra Hamilton is not just eighteen years old."
"What do you mean?" McGonagall froze, looking at Dumbledore in confusion.
Dumbledore shrugged and slowly explained what had happened to Lyra. As the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, he naturally couldn't hide such a matter from her.
"Fifty years... you say?" McGonagall looked at Dumbledore in disbelief. Her expression first turned to one of sympathy, then, as if she suddenly recalled something, she paled.
"Is she that Lyra Hamilton?" she pressed, "The one who mastered non-verbal spells and graduated early from Durmstrang Institute...?"
"Indeed," Dumbledore nodded gently. "Fifty years ago, I believe we even discussed her."
"That was for the fight against..." McGonagall stopped abruptly. Knowing Dumbledore's past, she didn't continue, but instead changed the subject. "If it is that Miss Hamilton..."
"Then she is indeed qualified to be a professor at Hogwarts."
Lyra Hamilton. A rising star who had shone brightly in the European wizarding world fifty years ago. She had won the school dueling championship twice in a row while at Durmstrang.
Furthermore, she graduated from Durmstrang Institute at the age of sixteen. She was the youngest graduate in Durmstrang's history and the only wizard known to have completely mastered non-verbal casting.
"The Wordless Witch."
McGonagall clearly remembered the headlines in the Daily Prophet at the time...
"But..." Thinking of what happened to Miss Hamilton afterward, McGonagall couldn't help but frown. "This Miss Hamilton was imprisoned at the age of seventeen for Dark Arts research."
"To hire a witch who has... been in prison... to be a professor, seems a bit..."
"Minerva... I can clarify this point on Miss Hamilton's behalf as well." Dumbledore seemed to have known McGonagall would raise this objection. He cleared his throat gently. "Miss Hamilton was not arrested for engaging in Dark Arts research."
"The real reason..." Dumbledore paused for several seconds, then shook his head.
Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, McGonagall felt helpless. "Albus, I trust you unconditionally... but the school governors, and the students' parents..."
Dumbledore smiled faintly. He had already thought of this. "Therefore, Miss Hamilton is currently engaged in a task that draws a clear line between her and her past."
As he spoke, he took out a report and handed it to McGonagall.
"The Ministry of Magic?" McGonagall froze as she looked at the report, then studied it closely for a few seconds.
"Hiring a 'Miss Lyra Hamil' as a special consultant for the Dark Artifact Inspection Team?"
"Correct," Dumbledore nodded. "It's an alias for Miss Hamilton. After all, if they knew her true identity, they would most likely not agree."
"If she undertakes the inspection of Dark artifacts... that will naturally be enough to convince the Board of Governors and the students' parents," McGonagall said softly.
"You knew all this?" McGonagall was instinctively surprised. She looked at Dumbledore's calm and unhurried expression. "But Albus... why are you doing all this?"
"It's simple." The leisurely look on Dumbledore's face slowly faded, replaced by one of guilt.
"To ensure that everyone involved in that conflict receives the compensation they deserve," he said, enunciating every word. "And to make up for the fifty years Miss Hamilton lost because of it."
"Albus..." McGonagall sighed softly, wanting to comfort him, but in the next instant, Dumbledore's lips curled into a slight smile. "And besides, Minerva..."
"Thanks to Quirrell, we have received news concerning Voldemort."
"He will, one day, return." Dumbledore stood up slowly and walked to the office window. Looking out at the sunlit lawn, he smiled. "We are both well aware of Miss Hamilton's capabilities."
"Are we not?"
"Harry..." McGonagall couldn't help but think of the Gryffindor boy, and she nodded slowly.
That's right... To fight Voldemort... they truly did need Miss Lyra Hamilton's abilities. Just like fifty years ago... Only now, their enemy was far more terrifying and cruel.
However, Lyra, who was currently in the Diagon Alley tavern, had no idea she held such an important place in Dumbledore's plans.
At this moment, her focus was entirely on the owl perched on the table across the room.
"Th... Th... Theia, c-c-c... come..." Lyra stared at the owl and muttered under her breath.
"Miss Hamilton... I think you need to be a little louder," Lupin said from the side, shaking his head gently. "Even an owl can't hear a command that quiet, can it?"
"I... I know..." Lyra took a deep breath, her blue eyes fixed on the owl. Beneath her hood, her pointed ears twitched upward.
"Th... Th-Theia!" Her voice was a little louder this time, at least reaching the volume of a normal conversation.
Theia heard her call. The petite owl instinctively snapped its head around to look at Lyra.
"Eek!"
Seemingly startled by the owl's abrupt movement, Lyra let out a sharp cry and shrank back.
"Miss Hamilton..." Lupin fought to keep from laughing at the sight. "I don't think Theia is going to eat you."
"S-Sorry..." Lyra pressed her lips together and fiddled with her fingers. "I... I'm just a little... scared..."
Does no one else think the way owls turn their heads is terrifying? It doesn't even have to move its body!
"Alright, let's try one more time, Miss Hamilton."
"Y... Yes!"