Chapter 55: Conversation in the Hospital Wing
McGonagall swept down the corridor toward the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, her face filled with bewilderment.
She had never expected a Hogwarts professor to faint in class. Nor had she expected this professor to faint in someone else's class. And she certainly hadn't expected this professor to faint in Lockhart's class.
Just as she reached the door to the Hospital Wing, she saw an awkward-looking Lockhart standing there.
"Ah, Professor McGonagall." Lockhart forced a smile. "This shouldn't have anything to do with me..."
"She was just overly excited as my fan... It's very common among students." He rubbed his hands together with a smile. "So... may I go now?"
"..." McGonagall took a deep breath and simply nodded. She was afraid if she opened her mouth, she might transfigure Lockhart into a speechless stone.
Watching Lockhart leave, she pressed her lips together and pushed open the door to the Hospital Wing.
There weren't many people inside. Madam Pomfrey was sitting in a chair, and there were only two people in the beds.
"Professor... Professor McGonagall?" Seeing the newcomer, Lyra's hair stood on end, and her pointed ears perked up beneath her hair.
"Miss Hamilton..." McGonagall started to speak, then saw the other person lying in a bed.
Ron Weasley... one of Gryffindor's famous loudmouths... Although he seemed to be asleep, McGonagall still lowered her voice as she walked to Lyra's bedside. "What happened?"
"What did Professor Lockhart do?"
"He... he didn't do anything..." Lyra said, a bit distraught. "It was my own... my own fault."
"Mr. Lockhart wanted to praise me... and I... I fainted because I was too... too scared..."
"..."
McGonagall didn't even want to ask why Lockhart was praising Lyra. She just wanted to ask why someone would faint over such a thing.
But...
She thought of Miss Hamilton's experiences at Durmstrang... and her usual demeanor...
"Miss Hamilton," McGonagall said softly. "Perhaps it's my fault... I shouldn't have forced you to do these things..."
"Instead of auditing classes, perhaps it would be better... for me to review the memories you intend to use in class..."
Lyra quickly shook her head at McGonagall's suggestion.
"No... no." Lyra pursed her lips. "I already promised... you, Professor McGonagall..."
"And in Mr. Lockhart's class... I... I learned a lot."
Then I definitely can't let you audit any more classes!
Hearing Lyra mention Lockhart, McGonagall took a deep breath.
She pressed her lips together, choosing her words carefully before saying, "Miss Hamilton, your health is more important than the classes."
"Can you promise me you won't faint from auditing a class again?"
Her words silenced Lyra. That was a promise she really couldn't make...
If Mr. Lockhart talks to me like that again... Lyra quickly patted her cheeks to keep from fainting just thinking about it.
Seeing Lyra's silence, McGonagall continued, "You are a genius, Miss Hamilton."
"Don't be in such a hurry to deny it." She raised a hand slightly to stop Lyra, who was about to speak. "So... Miss Hamilton, I believe you can teach the students very well using memories."
"I also trust in Durmstrang's educational capabilities."
"However..." McGonagall paused, speaking earnestly, "You need some... discretion."
"In the selection of memories." She glanced at the person lying in the other bed.
"Mr. Weasley is lying here because of the Killing Curse in the memory." She said softly, "So, Miss Hamilton... as a professor..."
"You cannot ignore any factors that might have a negative impact on the students." She stood up slowly and said to the stunned Lyra, "In this regard, I trust you."
With that, she slowly left. But just as she reached the door, she seemed to remember something and hurried back.
"Also, Miss Hamilton," she added. "Do not emulate Professor Lockhart's teaching style."
"It does not suit you."
"Mm... mm..." Lyra actually felt the same way... She could never be as cheerful and generous as Mr. Lockhart.
Watching McGonagall leave, Lyra let out a soft sigh and slowly climbed out of bed.
Her feelings were complicated at the moment.
She hadn't come to Hogwarts to teach students... she came for Dumbledore's promise, the promise to take her to see Lord Grindelwald.
And to gain Dumbledore's trust...
But... Lyra absolutely did not want anyone to get hurt because of her, especially children... even though she wasn't much older than them herself.
She pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and looked at the sleeping Ron Weasley.
I absolutely cannot let this happen again... Lyra... neither Father nor Mother would want to see such things happen...
Click.
Just as Lyra was feeling sad, the door to the Hospital Wing was pushed open again.
This time, a girl with dirty-blonde hair skipped in. Upon seeing Lyra, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Lyra," she said softly, walking up to Lyra and twirling the ends of the bewildered girl's hair.
"Miss Love... Miss Lovegood?" Lyra stammered, taking a few steps back.
Wasn't I in disguise? How could Luna...
"Of course I can recognize you," Luna smiled. "We're friends, aren't we?"
"..."
Lyra pressed her lips together in resignation, then nodded slightly.
"You don't seem very happy?" Luna took Lyra's hand and led her to the other side of the Hospital Wing, where the curtains were open, letting the sunlight spill onto her hair.
"Mm..." Lyra nodded, choking back a sob. Seeing a friend when she was feeling down made it hard to control herself, especially since she hadn't had a proper rest since arriving at Hogwarts.
And hadn't talked to Luna once...
"I know you seem to be in trouble," Luna shrugged. "Remember what I said before?"
"If you have any difficulties, you can come to me."
"Miss Lovegood..." Lyra sniffled, pursing her lips to keep from crying.
Crying in front of a girl sixty years younger than me... I absolutely cannot do that!
"I... I'm just a little lost." Lyra thought for a moment and asked softly, "You've been to my class, right?"
"What do you think... of it?"
"Hmm..." Luna tilted her head and thought for a moment. "It was very interesting."
Ah... so it must have been bad... definitely strange...
So Lyra slowly recounted what McGonagall had said.
"So... you don't want everyone to see those Dark Arts, right?" Luna mused. "Those evil, smelly things that easily attract Nargles?"
"Mm..." Lyra nodded gently. "But at Durmstrang... that's how we learned."
Her answer made Luna smile.
"This is Hogwarts, isn't it?" she whispered. "Professor McGonagall actually has a point."
"You just need to understand it by tilting your head."
"Tilting my head... understand?" Lyra looked at her in confusion.
"For example..." Luna reached out and pinched a strand of Lyra's hair. "I heard Headmaster Dumbledore used to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."
"He must be one of the best in Hogwarts history, right?"
Her words made Lyra's eyes widen as she realized something.
"You mean..."
"You do need to be selective about the memories."
"Just not your memories."
"But someone else's memories... like... Headmaster Dumbledore's."
Lyra pressed her lips together and looked at Luna. "Miss Lovegood, you really are a genius."
"I'm not a genius," Luna shook her head, looking at Lyra's hair with interest. "I can't even turn my hair red."