Chapter 10: Regarding Magic Formations
"I'm sorry, Miss Hamilton." In the tavern room, Lupin looked apologetic, his weary face full of remorse. "If I had just held on a little tighter."
"It... it's not your fault... Mr. Lupin," Lyra said in a small voice.
This is my first friend. How could I blame my friend... Besides, if I hadn't been separated from Mr. Lupin, Miss Lovegood would have been in danger.
Therefore, Lyra, who was an expert at blaming herself, said softly, "I was the one who wandered off and ended up in Knockturn Alley."
That's right, Knockturn Alley... It's hard to imagine that right next to Diagon Alley, the center of the British wizarding world, there's a place that gathers so many Dark wizards and illicit dealings.
Those busybodies at the Ministry who love to meddle in other people's affairs have never dealt with it... What a strange bunch.
And Dumbledore? He loves opposing Lord Grindelwald and calls himself righteous, but he can't even handle Knockturn Alley? Has he really gotten that old...?
Thinking this, Lyra glanced at Dumbledore, who had been silent all this time. He was watching the two of them with a smile, but even so, Lyra could sense he remained vigilant, his folded arms held in a way that kept his hand lightly on his wand.
I still shouldn't underestimate Dumbledore... Hmm?
What is he smiling about?
Lyra thought for a moment, half-opening her mouth to ask him, but she instinctively grew timid and clamped it shut.
Dumbledore saw her expression clearly.
"Miss Hamilton, is there something you'd like to say?"
"Ah... ngh..." Startled by Dumbledore addressing her, Lyra's body twitched. Her pointed ears instinctively perked up, pushing against the inside of her hood.
"N-Nothing..." She couldn't very well tell Dumbledore she thought he was old and useless... so she fiddled with her fingers and said, "I... I was just... thinking... about what to do next..."
Just find an excuse to get by. That should work.
"What to do next?" Lupin froze, and Dumbledore also paused for a second.
Why... why are you all staring at me?
Being stared at by both of them with such strange expressions, Lyra felt flustered. She stammered, "Next... I... I have to find... find something to do... right? There's still... two months... until school starts?"
Lupin raised an eyebrow, instinctively wanting to tell Lyra that she could take the time to relax, especially since she had only just woken up from a fifty-year stupor.
But Dumbledore smiled and spoke first, "Miss Hamilton, as it happens, I have a small matter I'd like to ask of you."
"Huh?!" Lyra's blue eyes widened slightly. He... he really has something? I was just making it up, Dumbledore, don't take it seriously!
"I just..." Lyra quickly tried to refuse, but when she met Dumbledore's gentle gaze, she could only stammer, unable to get the words out.
"This is a very simple matter," Dumbledore said with a light chuckle as he slowly sat down.
"It's related to the Ministry of Magic."
"Th-Th-Th-The Ministry?!" Lyra shrank back, her pale little face growing even more fearful.
Lyra, who was already terrified of people, wanted nothing to do with strangers, let alone the detestable Ministry of Magic. They had not only thrown her in prison once, but had also repeatedly interfered with Lord Grindelwald's great plan...
"Don't worry." Dumbledore seemed to have misunderstood her. He spoke gently, "We are long past Grindelwald's era. Besides, the British Ministry of Magic is different from the German Ministry."
What does he mean, Lord Grindelwald's era has passed? Lyra pressed her lips together, but she couldn't refute him. But no matter what the Ministry was like now, she shook her head desperately, trying to refuse.
"The Ministry is planning a search for Dark magical items," Dumbledore continued, as if he hadn't seen her shaking her head. "They are hoping Hogwarts can send a professor to act as a consultant."
"I believe you, Miss Hamilton, are an excellent candidate."
"I... I can't..." Lyra said in a low voice.
Lupin also nodded gently. It was clear he didn't think Lyra was a suitable choice either.
"You are far too modest, Miss Hamilton," Dumbledore laughed at her words. "If I recall correctly... you have a deep understanding of the Study of Magic Formations, do you not?"
"Magic Formations?" Hearing this term, Lupin froze. He looked at Dumbledore as if to ask what that was.
Is that a subject at Hogwarts?
"Ah... Remus." Dumbledore turned to Lupin, explaining patiently. "The Study of Magic Formations is a rather advanced field, but it is also a special one with widespread applications."
"For example, the Sorting Hat you've seen, the Pensieve, and even the Hogwarts house point hourglasses—all of them are inextricably linked to Magic Formations."
"But as for what Magic Formations are..." Dumbledore looked at Lyra. "Miss Hamilton surely knows better than I."
Lupin turned to look at Lyra and was surprised to find that this timid young woman now seemed... excited.
"You... you actually know about Magic Formations!" Lyra looked up excitedly, her blue eyes shining with the joy of finding a kindred spirit. Even her stutter was gone.
"Then, Miss Hamilton..." Lupin pressed his lips together, looking at her. "What are Magic..."
"To put it simply, the Study of Magic Formations is the discipline of using Ancient Runes and spells to engrave magic onto objects. These objects, engraved with Magic Formations, can then be used as all sorts of practical magical items." Before Lupin could even finish, Lyra began to speak excitedly, her voice steadier than ever and without a trace of hesitation.
"Ah... I see..." Lupin had a look of not-quite-understanding, but Lyra had no intention of clarifying. She continued her tirade, "For example, the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts, which can judge a person's inner good, evil, and thoughts, is a product of this."
"Also, although there are many items made with Magic Formations, very few people understand the discipline. Most people just use the items but never pay attention to the principles behind them..."
"Please wait, Miss Hamilton." Lupin, who was starting to get dizzy, had to interrupt her. He had a feeling that if he didn't, she would go on talking to herself for a very long time.
"Ah... ah, sorry..." Lyra snapped back to her senses and quickly covered her mouth.
I went and started talking on my own about that 'boring' topic again...
After all, most people had no interest in Magic Formations. Lyra was the exception. She had been fascinated by them since she was a child, and after she grew up, she had even accidentally landed herself in a wizarding prison because of it.
Despite all that, Lyra still held an immense passion for Magic Formations and had always hoped she could meet someone else who understood them.
But unfortunately, besides her father... Dumbledore was probably the second person to ever say the words "Magic Formations" to her.
Why did it have to be Dumbledore... Lyra didn't want to see him as a kindred spirit... But Magic Formations... She asked anxiously,
"D-D... Dumbledore... your knowledge of Magic Formations..."
"My apologies, Miss Hamilton, my knowledge is only superficial," Dumbledore said with a helpless expression. "I only know of it because... during the battle with Grindelwald, at that castle, Nurmengard, there were numerous Magic Formation traps."
"They gave us quite a bit of trouble at the time."
"Oh... I see..." Lyra looked down, embarrassed. She couldn't let Dumbledore know she was the one who had set those traps. She asked in a small voice, "...Then... what do Magic Formations... have to do with... the Ministry?"
"The Ministry's operation this time is to recover and destroy Dark artifacts," Dumbledore lowered his voice slightly. "And the targets are, for the most part, pure-blood wizards."
"Their ancestral homes, which have been passed down for a thousand years, contain many hidden Magic Formation mechanisms."
"To prevent them from hiding Dark artifacts, I believe you are the most suitable consultant." Dumbledore said, leaning slightly closer to the still-hesitant Lyra. "It is said that many of these mechanisms are long-lost... and some are even one-of-a-kind, the only ones of their kind left in the world."
"One... one-of-a-kind... l-long-lost?" Lyra's eyes went wide, her upturned face filled with an irrepressible excitement.
Finally, she took a deep breath, mustered all her courage, and said, "I... I'll go!"
"That is excellent news," Dumbledore said with a meaningful smile.
Watching this scene, Lupin pressed his lips together... He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he couldn't help but feel that Headmaster Dumbledore's description was a bit exaggerated... And, Headmaster,why do you sound just like a child-snatcher trying to lure away a little girl...?