Chapter 35: Late Night
The dark night shrouded the quiet fjord. A black castle stood amidst it, emitting a dim, yellow glow.
This was Durmstrang Institute, a magic academy located in Northern Europe, and one of the few schools that still taught the Dark Arts.
Even though they had already produced Grindelwald, who was currently stirring up trouble across the European continent.
"For the Greater Good." The mottled words were carved into the wall outside the library. Students passing by would occasionally glance at them, but when they saw the girl sitting on the steps beneath the wall, clutching a book, their expressions turned to disgust.
Lyra Hamilton. A filthy hybrid of wizard and magical creature. A freak too cowardly to even speak.
But at this moment, she seemed completely engrossed in the book before her.
It was a book on Magic Formations. Ever since coming to Durmstrang, the girl felt like she was swimming in an ocean of knowledge... This was truly a wonderful place... assuming she didn't think about what she encountered every day...
Thwack.
"Ah..."
The girl felt a sharp pain on her head. She clutched her head and looked for the source... It was a small stone, thrown from who knows where.
"Hehehehe."
Snickering could be heard. Were they the culprits?
It didn't matter... Knowledge of Magic Formations was far more important than arguing with them... Besides, the girl was afraid of conflict.
But sometimes, conflict and strife don't care what you want. They always come knocking when you're most afraid.
"Hey! Pointy-ears!" A voice, laced with amusement, called out, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Ah..." The girl looked up, pressed her lips together, and slowly stood, clutching her book tightly. Her other hand pulled her hood tight.
She seemed to recognize the speaker and instinctively wanted to flee.
But unfortunately, two boys in thick robes blocked her path. They wore malicious grins, their wands pointed at her.
"I heard Veela ears can be used in potions. I wonder if that's true or not." A young man with curly black hair spoke, his chin held high as he approached the girl, surrounded by his entourage.
"Why don't you just give them to me?" he shrugged, sneering. "You don't want them anyway, do you?"
"N... No..." The girl whispered in protest. "This is... my mother..."
"Ah, of course we know your mother is a magical creature," the boy shrugged and yawned. "We also know how she, being a Veela, lured your pure-blood wizard father into bed."
"You..." The girl stammered, wanting to argue, but her words were drowned out by laughter the moment she opened her mouth.
"By the way, I also heard Lord Grindelwald is coming here soon," the boy raised an eyebrow and continued. "Do you know why he's coming?"
The girl gritted her teeth and said nothing. She curled into herself, wanting to leave, but everywhere she looked, she saw figures in thick black robes.
"He's coming to kill you," the boy smirked. "To kill filthy things like you, who stain wizard blood just by being born..."
"Enough!" Another voice rang out, making the boy frown and the girl freeze.
"I said, enough, Karkaroff!" The owner of the voice slowly walked out of the crowd. He first glared at the black-haired boy, then continued, "Do you always enjoy this game of bullying the weak?"
"Or are you just so pathetic that you need to demean others to feel satisfied?"
"This is none of your business, Müller," Karkaroff glared.
"Of course it's my business," the young man named Müller stepped between the girl and the boy. "I can't tolerate useless trash like you bullying others."
His words were harsh. Karkaroff frowned and raised his wand, but the people beside him quickly held him back.
"That's Müller... don't fight him," someone whispered. "They say he used the Cruciatus Curse on a classmate once."
Hearing 'Cruciatus Curse,' Karkaroff paled. He gritted his teeth, took a few steps back, and said, "Just you wait... triangle-eared freak... and you too, Müller."
"You'd better not walk alone."
"I am always alone," Müller said slowly, unfazed by the threat. "But you, Karkaroff... you won't always have a crowd around you."
Watching Karkaroff and his group leave, Müller turned to look at the timid girl, who was trembling in the corner, clutching her book.
"Miss Lyra Hamilton, I hope you can learn to protect yourself," he said, shaking his head, and walked away.
The girl only dared to lift her head slightly to catch a glimpse of his retreating back.
"Gasp..."
In the dead of night, Lyra gasped, waking from the nightmare. Her face was pale as she gulped down cold air.
She had dreamed of her days at Durmstrang... days that had been hard to endure. And she dreamed of the person who might have been considered a friend...
Might have been...
Lyra shook her head, refusing to dwell on what happened after.
What time is it?
She reached under her pillow for her wand and gave it a flick.
Specks of light emerged from the tip, illuminating the clock in the room.
2:00 AM...
She had woken up a bit early... Lyra looked at the wristbands on the table.
It had been many days since she started crafting them, and the communication wristbands were nearing completion... Tomorrow should be the final touches.
I wonder what time Miss Lovegood will come...
It seemed a bit early. Should she rest some more...? Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly noticed that Riddle's diary on the table was open.
Was it the wind?
Lyra instinctively got up and walked to the table. Just as her slender fingers touched the diary to close it, faint writing suddenly appeared on the page.
"Good evening, Miss Hamilton." It was Riddle. He was communicating with her.
"Good evening... Mr. Riddle." Lyra thought for a moment, then picked up the quill and wrote, "Don't you sleep?"
"I am dead. I do not need sleep."
Sorry... Lyra felt she was asking stupid questions again. Maybe it was because she had just woken up and was still a bit groggy?
"I have something to tell you," Riddle continued. "It concerns one of your friends."
"A friend?" Lyra paused. She only had two friends: Mr. Lupin and Miss Lovegood.
Could it be Miss Lovegood? After all, she did say she wanted to throw the diary away.
"Is it Miss Lovegood? She's a good person, she just has jumpy thoughts..." Lyra hadn't finished writing when she saw Riddle's reply.
"I am not talking about Miss Lovegood. It is Lupin..." his writing paused. "Remus Lupin."
"Mr. Lupin?" Lyra froze, watching Riddle's words slowly appear.
"Listen carefully."
What?
Seeing Riddle's words, Lyra paused, then instinctively pressed her ear to the wall.
SMASH!
The sound of breaking glass came from next door, making Lyra jump. It was followed immediately by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Something really happened to Mr. Lupin!
Lyra quickly wrapped her robe around her, not even bothering with boots, and rushed to Lupin's door.
It was late at night. The tavern hallway was quiet. The rooms seemed soundproof; no one else had heard the noise except Lyra.
"Mr. Lupin?" Lyra knocked on the door.
Silence inside. No answer.
Was I too quiet?
Lyra pressed her lips together and raised her voice. "Mr. Lupin!"
Still no answer...
Lyra took a deep breath and raised her wand.
Sorry, Mr. Lupin. If you're really okay, you can scold me all you want...
Alohomora.
Lyra silently cast the spell and flicked her wand.
Click.
The door slowly opened. Lyra poked her head inside.
Mr. Lupin wasn't in the room!
The room was a mess. Books and shredded fabric were scattered everywhere. The broken glass by the window reflected the full moon outside.