Chapter 16: The Ministry of Magic
"Welcome... How can I..." The Auror at the door had just begun to speak when his eyes, lifting from his newspaper, landed on Dumbledore.
"Ah... It's Headmaster Dumbledore!" He smiled respectfully. "Long time no see."
"Mr. Rowell, is it?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on his old face. "It's been ten years since you graduated from Hogwarts."
"You still remember me," the Auror named Rowell said, looking very pleased.
"Of course," Dumbledore inclined his head. "I remember every one of my students."
"Then, Headmaster Dumbledore... are you here today because..." The Auror tilted his head slightly, glancing at the two people behind Dumbledore.
When he saw Lupin, a look of visible disgust crossed his face. However, likely out of consideration for Dumbledore's presence, he merely cleared his throat.
And when his gaze fell on Lyra, he paused.
"Headmaster Dumbledore... is this your... granddaughter?" he asked, as it was the only thing he could think to say.
"She is not," Dumbledore answered with a smile. "This is Miss Lyra Hamil." As he spoke, he gently patted Lyra's shoulder.
Lyra visibly flinched at the touch, then gave a stiff, jerky nod.
Even though Dumbledore had already told her about the alias...
...suddenly facing this unfamiliar Auror, Lyra bit her lip, unable to say a word.
What a... strange person... Watching her remain silent, the Auror looked a bit confused.
"We are here to meet with Director Scrimgeour," Dumbledore said, stepping slightly in front of Lyra. "May we go in?"
"These old bones of mine can't stand for long."
"Ah, my apologies, Headmaster... this way, please." The Auror didn't have time to ask any more questions. He just nodded and led Dumbledore inside.
Lyra, following behind, kept her head down low. She didn't even dare to look up at the people here... It wasn't that she was afraid these Aurors would recognize her; it was simple nervousness.
So... so many people...
Hurried Ministry employees bustled back and forth. Thanks to Dumbledore's "celebrity effect," they paid close attention to the group, their appraising gazes naturally shifting between Lupin and Lyra.
Of course, upon seeing Lupin, most of the Ministry employees showed looks of disgust. When they saw Lyra, most just looked confused.
But even these confused stares were enough to make Lyra's face pale with anxiety. She clutched her hood tightly, desperately trying to hide her silver hair and pointed ears.
"Miss Hamilton..." Lupin noticed Lyra's nervousness. He moved a little closer, positioning himself to her side to block the curious stares.
"Th... Thank..." Lyra muttered her thanks, but the sound was so quiet it was drowned out by the sound of the Aurors' leather shoes on the floor.
She was truly terrible at handling crowded places, especially when they were full of Aurors... It was... it was making her dizzy...
Fortunately, the walk to the office wasn't too long. Lyra managed to make it to the door before she fainted.
"Director Scrimgeour is in here." Rowell bowed slightly, then looked at the two people behind Dumbledore.
"Mr. Lupin..." Before he could finish, Lupin nodded to himself and gave Lyra a helpless smile.
"I'll wait out here for the Headmaster."
Seeing Lupin's cooperation, Rowell nodded lightly and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
A rather stern voice came from within.
"Director Scrimgeour, it's Headmaster Dumbledore and..." He paused. "...Miss Hamil."
"Have them come in." The voice had barely sounded from within before Dumbledore pushed the door open and walked inside.
Lyra followed nervously behind him.
The office wasn't large... at least, Lyra didn't think it was. The only things she could really see were the rug and the mahogany floor beneath her feet.
"Good morning, Headmaster Dumbledore." Scrimgeour's voice came. He sounded like a very serious person.
"Good morning, Rufus." Dumbledore smiled faintly, the picture of amiability. "It seems we haven't arrived too late."
"We didn't interrupt your lunch."
His joke didn't seem to have any effect. Neither Lyra nor Scrimgeour laughed.
Lyra only dared to peek up at Scrimgeour for a second. Upon seeing his tawny, lion-like mane of hair, she immediately lowered her head.
He looks so fierce!
"Well, please, both of you, sit." After a somewhat awkward silence, Scrimgeour cleared his throat and spoke.
As the two sat in the chairs before him, Scrimgeour spoke slowly. "Headmaster, is this Miss Lyra Hamil?"
"Correct." Dumbledore nodded gently. "This is Miss Hamil, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the upcoming term at Hogwarts."
Hearing them mention her, Lyra instinctively tensed. She felt like she should say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.
This useless mouth!
She wished she could slap herself across the face.
But Scrimgeour didn't seem to mind. He just studied Lyra for a few moments and then said sharply, "She doesn't look much like a professor, but she'd be qualified as an Auror."
You're the Auror! Why don't you just call my whole family Aurors while you're at it...
Lyra was not pleased with his assessment, though she had no idea how Scrimgeour had reached that conclusion.
"However, Headmaster... we need a consultant who understands Dark artifacts, not... a witch who is skilled in combat and grips her wand in her sleeve even inside the Ministry."
His words made Lyra jump, and she quickly shrank back into herself.
"Please trust me, Miss Hamil's talent with magical items is no less than her talent in dueling," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "She is the most knowledgeable person on the Study of Magic Formations I have ever met."
"Magic Formations?" Scrimgeour raised an eyebrow, his sharp eyes blinking behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
"But I've never heard... of a Miss Hamil who is an expert in Magic Formations." Scrimgeour frowned. "Headmaster, it's not that I don't trust you... it's just that I cannot afford any oversights."
"This matter is very important to the Ministry," he said, lowering his voice. "Especially after what happened at Hogwarts."
What happened? Was it about Professor Quirrell?
Lyra wasn't clear on this. She hadn't seen any reports about it in the papers... Only The Quibbler had mentioned that Quirrell was supposedly a pawn of Voldemort...
But that paper's editor was Mr. Lovegood... Lyra felt its reliability was questionable!
"I am well aware of that," Dumbledore said, not at all surprised. He nodded, as if he understood Rufus Scrimgeour perfectly. "But I also trust that Miss Hamil will not disappoint you."
Wait! Stop talking, Dumbledore! I... I'm not that good... What if this Director Scrimgeour asks me to fight a dozen Dark wizards... I definitely can't do that!
Hearing her name, Lyra desperately wanted to clamp a hand over Dumbledore's mouth to stop him from making such boastful-sounding claims.
It'll be terrible if I disappoint Mr. Scrimgeour...
"..."
Scrimgeour was silent for a long time, then he finally shook his head. "I understand."
"Miss Hamil!" His voice suddenly became stern, startling Lyra so much her pointed ears shot straight up.
"Tomorrow morning at nine... I will personally lead the first inspection for Dark artifacts."
"Since the Headmaster trusts you so much... I will be anticipating your performance."
No... don't... Don't... don't anticipate it...
"Miss Hamilton? Miss Hamilton?"
Back in the tavern room, Dumbledore and Lupin exchanged a glance. Watching the girl sitting in the chair, completely spaced out, they both pressed their lips together.
"A transportation formation requires an energy-supplying formation to provide its power source. The distribution ratio must follow one-to-three, and furthermore..." Ever since she left the office, Lyra had been muttering these facts about Magic Formations.
"It seems Rufus Scrimgeour put a bit too much pressure on her," Dumbledore said slowly.
"Director Scrimgeour is certainly a bit..." Lupin thought for a moment, trying to find a neutral word. "...Stern."
"This seems a bit too difficult for Miss Hamilton," Lupin said, looking at DumbledDumbledore. "Perhaps we should find someone else..."
"No, Remus." Dumbledore shook his head decisively. "This is a matter that Miss Hamilton must handle."
"Also." Dumbledore slowly took something from his robes and placed it in Lupin's hand. "This might help Miss Hamilton overcome her stress."
Looking at the pale girl, still muttering facts about Magic Formations, Dumbledore smiled faintly. "I believe Miss Hamilton is far less fragile than we imagine."
...............
That's right, Lyra was not as fragile as she looked... but that definitely didn't mean she was strong.
"Good morning. Are you... Miss Hamil?"
The next morning, the Aurors at the Ministry of Magic office greeted their new consultant.
She was a petite... wizard? Her entire head was shrouded by a hood, and she was even wearing a silver mask.