The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 79: Fishing Routine

"Mrs. Pomfrey said that Miss Hamilton is affected by some kind of dark magic." McGonagall stood in the headmaster's office, her lips pursed seriously. "It's very likely a trace of some kind of curse."

"But Mrs. Pomfrey said the curse had disappeared, though its effects remained."

"A curse?" Dumbledore's face darkened. "Minerva... I think you should know about the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor..."

“Of course I know that,” McGonagall nodded slightly. “But Miss Albus…Miss Hamilton was indeed affected.”

"Does she know about this?" Dumbledore asked slowly after a long silence.

“She doesn’t seem to know,” McGonagall said, shaking her head. “Mrs. Pomfrey said telling her might make her even more uneasy.”

"You should know Professor Hamilton's personality; she needs rest now more than ever."

She lowered her voice as she spoke: "Furthermore, Miss Hamilton has awakened from a fifty-year coma."

"She may still have lingering effects from the attacks by the UMNO party."

"..." Dumbledore paused for a few seconds, then nodded: "Or perhaps..."

He suddenly stopped, not uttering the name that was on his mind.

"Let Miss Hamilton rest," Dumbledore said, shaking his head and changing the subject.

McGonagall nodded, but then, as if remembering something, she added, "I suggest Miss Hamilton get some rest."

"She used to study magic circles until very late," McGonagall said, pausing for a moment. "That wasn't good for her rest."

"Researching magic arrays?" Dumbledore paused for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded. "Then inform Miss Hamilton accordingly."

"Oh, right, Minerva." Dumbledore chuckled softly as McGonagall was about to leave the headmaster's office. "Remember to use the method I taught you to persuade Miss Hamilton."

"Ah... I understand, Albus."

........................

It was another early morning, and as the first rays of sunlight shone on the shimmering lake beside Hogwarts, Loila and Luna simultaneously cast their fishing lines.

I actually came fishing.

Loila, with her red hair, pouted slightly as she looked at the tranquil lake in front of her.

I've had a really relaxing few days... These are probably the most relaxing days I've had since Dumbledore brought me here.

This was especially true a few days ago after I left the school hospital; I was either spacing out all day or on my way to spacing out.

Today was alright, since it's the weekend... Fishing with Miss Lovegood turned out to be the most interesting activity these past few days.

It's a pity, if only we could continue researching the new magic circle... I still can't figure out the purpose of the magic circle I found in Mr. Riddle's diary.

It seemed to have no function other than emitting light... Loila didn't think it was a glowing magic circle, after all, she had never seen such a complicated magic circle before.

If it's really just for the sake of glowing... then Mr. Del is being too boring.

So during the few days she couldn't study the magic circle, she asked Mr. Riddle a lot about it, but Mr. Riddle seemed to genuinely not know anything about it.

However, he's been writing much faster lately... probably because he's been in a better mood since coming to Hogwarts?

Lost in thought, Loila stared at the fishhook in front of her, not even noticing it swaying.

"Loila! Your fishing hook!" Luna saw this and immediately grabbed Loila's hand, jerking the fishing rod up amidst her surprised exclamation.

"Ah...it's...it's a bone." Loila pursed her lips as she looked at the bone in front of her. She had thought she could really catch a big fish.

"This bone seems quite interesting," Luna said, seemingly quite intrigued. She poked at the bone with her finger and said, "Look, there are signs of corrosion on it."

"Corrosion?" Loila picked up the bone curiously. There were indeed traces of corrosion on it, like some kind of venom.

Maybe it really was Slytherin who did it?

Thinking this, Loila pursed her lips and casually tossed the bone back. However, it seemed that she threw it too close, and the splash of water made her shrink back.

"Ah...right." Luna, who was standing next to her, seemed to remember something and asked, "Does Loira know about the ball?"

"Bal...ball..." Luna's words reminded Loila of this painful memory. She had been trying to relax in a daze these past few days, but Miss Lovegood still brought it up.

"I heard it's a masquerade ball," Luna said, kicking the water in the lake with interest.

"I see...I see..." Loila turned her head away guiltily, kicking the water on the other side with her foot.

She really didn't want Luna to ask her if she had a dance partner... it would be too embarrassing to answer no.

"Has Loila decided what she'll dress up as?" Fortunately, Luna's focus didn't seem to be on that. She tilted her head slightly and said, "I've already decided."

"No...not yet..." To be honest, Loila hadn't really thought about this question; just attending the ball was enough to trouble her.

Add to that the ability to disguise himself... Is Dumbledore really not joking?

"Naroira should think this over carefully," Luna said, pursing her lips. "Perhaps you could just go looking like this."

"You've transformed from Professor Hamilton into Miss Hamel Lola."

"I think... I'd better not." Loila quickly shook her head. She didn't want to show her face in front of so many people, even if... she looked like this.

Looking at her reflection, she couldn't help but feel a little worried... Her youthful, childlike appearance... would surely draw ridicule?

Especially those pointed ears... Although Loila now knows that many people don't mind, she still doesn't want to be so bold as to attend a costume party.

She'll definitely faint...

"Ah, I caught something good too," came Luna's voice. She pulled up the hook, only to find it was just a boot.

"These must be Slytherin boots," she said with a smile, then put the boots into her small bag.

Seeing her like this, Loila suddenly blurted out, "Then...then you..."

"Have you...have you found a dance partner yet?"

Ah... wait... why did I ask that question... and why am I talking like I've already found a dance partner!

Loila's face flushed red the next second, just like her long red hair.

"Not yet," Luna said, tilting her head to look at Loila. "But I shouldn't be short of dance partners then."

Is that so?

Loira was subconsciously a little surprised. She had assumed Miss Lovegood was like herself... after all, she had never seen Luna with anyone else around her before...

But thinking about it carefully, how could someone as smart as Luna lack friends?

But in that case... it seems like I'll really be all alone.

It seems I still have to ask Hagrid for help... I hope he won't refuse me...

Loila shook her head in distress, completely unaware of Luna's smiling expression as she looked at her.