Chapter 50: The Unwelcome Visitor
It was finally over. After the suffocatingly awkward feast, Lyra felt like she had come back to life.
Did that man Dumbledore do it on purpose? To make it harder for me to defeat him? Or is he just naturally that malicious?
Thinking this, Lyra walked to the side door of the Great Hall. Because she had deliberately waited, all the students had left, and the professors too...
Finally, she could be alone.
Click.
Suddenly, Lyra heard strange footsteps.
Is it Dumbledore?
Or a ghost? She had already met those "friendly" folks at the feast...
"Mr. Potter... what a coincidence... running into you here..."
"Eek!"
Hearing the voice from around the corner, Lyra stiffened.
It was Professor Snape's voice!
Wh... why is he here?
Lyra had felt lucky not to encounter Snape at the feast, but now it seemed it would have been better to meet him there!
She quickly raised her wand and flicked it.
Disillusionment Charm!
With the help of the charm, Lyra rapidly became translucent and vanished into the corridor.
Just as she disappeared, Snape walked over with two students.
One was Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived whom Lyra had met in Knockturn Alley. The other was a boy with red hair.
Hmm... Watching the two disgruntled students loudly explaining something, Lyra thought of the girl she had met on the train.
She was probably looking for them, right?
"Silence, Mr. Weasley!" Snape seemed fed up with their explanations. He glared, his voice low. "I really should ask Professor McGonagall to turn you both into pocket watches."
"That way, you might actually be on time, and you'd keep your mouths shut."
"!"
Just listening to Snape filled Lyra with pity for the two unfortunate students... It might have been better if Dumbledore had caught them, but this was Professor Snape...
I'll pray to Merlin for you!
Watching the three disappear down the corridor, Lyra let out a soft breath.
She didn't want to talk to Professor Snape, nor did she want to run into him... Even though she needed help with potion-making, Lyra didn't want it now.
She needed a few days to mentally prepare herself. Maybe a month?
Thinking this, Lyra waved her wand to lift the charm and hurried toward her office.
Only when she sat down in her office chair did that long-lost sense of relaxation slowly return.
"Hoo?"
Seeing Lyra return, Theia hopped over and stood in front of her.
"Ah... Theia." Lyra wanted to hug her owl and marvel at the fact that she was still alive... but honestly, seeing Theia turn her head 180 degrees to look at her made her lose the urge.
And she didn't know if she'd still be alive tomorrow.
It's all Dumbledore's fault... His inexplicable trust has raised the students' expectations.
I'm definitely going to disappoint them...
Wait!
Lyra suddenly realized something and slapped her cheeks.
Why am I being so stupid!
This job isn't why I came to Hogwarts! I came to defeat Dumbledore! To help Lord Grindelwald achieve the Greater Good!
What classes? What disappointed students? As a cold-blooded member of the Zauberpartei, how could I be afraid of disappointing students?
I should probably disappoint them, make sure they don't learn anything useful! That would weaken Dumbledore's forces and contribute to Lord Grindelwald's cause... right?
Lyra felt this reasoning could convince herself... but it didn't make her feel any calmer.
She was still nervous...
After all, seeing people look at her with disappointment was just too scary...
I need to find a way to defeat Dumbledore sooner.
Maybe tonight would be good?
I could sneak into the Headmaster's office and take him down with a swift, decisive spell.
Then he wouldn't even know who attacked him...
"Miss Hamilton?"
"Ah!"
"D-D-D-Dumbledore!"
Hearing the voice at the door, Lyra scrambled up from the bed.
Does Dumbledore have telepathy? Why does he appear every time I think of his name! He didn't appear the last few times!
And isn't it a bit rude for an old man to come to a lady's room late at night?
"May I come in?"
Of course not!
Lyra wanted to shake her head and refuse, but to avoid making Dumbledore suspicious, she pressed her lips together and said, "O... Of course."
Click.
Dumbledore pushed the door open. The Hogwarts Headmaster had somehow managed to change his clothes in these few minutes; he was now wearing a purple robe embroidered with buzzing bees.
"I haven't disturbed your rest, have I?" Dumbledore asked slowly, looking at the slightly messy bed.
"N... No." Lyra flicked her wand to smooth out the wrinkles, then asked in a small voice, "Do... do you need something?"
"Ah... it's about tomorrow's Defense Against the Dark Arts class," Dumbledore nodded. "Minerva was supposed to tell you."
"But she seems to be busy with something right now..."
Something? Lyra instinctively felt it had to do with the two late students from earlier.
"Of course, that's not important," Dumbledore continued. " regarding tomorrow's class, are you ready, Miss Hamilton?"
Now you're asking if I'm ready? Didn't you just brag about me in front of the students... saying I was some... exceptionally outstanding witch...
"Hahaha, I seem to have asked a boring question," Dumbledore said, slowly sitting down. "I've heard about your research."
"Those formation items you've created will surely be an eye-opener for the students." Dumbledore smiled faintly and lowered his voice. "Inspired by the Pensieve, correct?"
"Mm... mm!" Lyra nodded nervously. Actually, a part of it was thanks to Mr. Riddle's help.
"I see..." Seeing Lyra nod, Dumbledore fell into a thoughtful silence for a few seconds.
Then, he slowly stood up and left.
What did he come here for... just to chat?
Lyra watched his retreating back with confusion, unsure what he was thinking...
Wait, now is the time to strike... Lyra prepared to draw her wand, only to see Dumbledore already disappearing around the corner.
I'm so useless... I can't even seize such a good opportunity.
Lyra lay back on the bed in frustration, inadvertently beginning to miss her days at Nurmengard.
Lord Grindelwald... where are you?