"What are you doing, Dad?"
"Dad is studying Magic Arrays." Philip raised his head slightly, took off his glasses, and smiled at the young girl standing in front of him. "What is Lyla doing?"
"Aren't you cooking with Mom?" Lyla asked.
"Mom asked me to call you for dinner," the girl said. She hugged Philip from behind, affectionately rubbing her small head against his back.
"What kind of Magic Array is this?" she asked, tilting her head. Her bright blue eyes curiously scanned the complex blueprints scattered across his desk.
"It's a very complex Magic Array," Philip said without explaining further. He chuckled, picking up the blueprint. "When Lyla goes to school, she'll learn exactly what this is."
"Oh… then when can I go to school?"
"Probably in three more years." Philip counted on his fingers. "Three years from today, Lyla will go to school and become a qualified witch."
"But I don't want to be a witch," the girl said softly. "I want to be… a Magic Array scholar."
Philip burst into laughter, gently ruffling his daughter's hair. "Silly girl. Being a witch and being a Magic Array scholar aren't mutually exclusive."
"Is that so?" Lyla mumbled. Looking at his daughter's innocent face, Philip smiled and shook his head.
"Oh, by the way, Dad," Lyla said, her blue eyes suddenly filling with confusion as she remembered something.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Yesterday… yesterday I met a strange boy," Lyla whispered. "He said I was a half-blood monster."
"What does that mean?" she asked.
Her words made Philip frown deeply. "Who said that to you?" he asked, his tone darkening.
Startled by his suddenly serious expression, Lyla shrank back. "I… I don't know him. Did I do something wrong?"
"You didn't do anything wrong, Lyla." Philip sighed softly, his eyes filling with deep helplessness. "If anyone made a mistake…"
He shook his head slowly. "It was Dad who made a mistake."
"You made a mistake?" Lyla asked, tilting her head. "What mistake?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Philip said softly. He gently reached out and pinched the girl's small, pointed Veela ear. "You just need to know that Dad doesn't regret it at all."
"Is that… is that so?" Lyla shook her head, only half-understanding him. She reached out and placed her small hand on his cheek.
"Then you shouldn't look so sad."
Philip froze for a moment, then quickly masked his expression. "Dad isn't sad. I'm just thinking about what to eat for dinner."
"Really?" The girl puffed out her cheeks, looking entirely unconvinced.
"Of course." Philip smiled, standing up and scooping his daughter into his arms. "Come on, let's go sneak up on Mom, shall we? But you have to be completely quiet!"
"I will be!"
"That's right… only a quiet girl can become an excellent Magic Array scholar…"
Their voices grew fainter and fainter. As they left the room, the candlelight on the desk slowly extinguished.
Only a few tranquil rays of moonlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the unfinished Magic Array diagram left on the table…
"Dad…" Lyla mumbled in her sleep.
"Cough, cough…" Waking up to an itchy throat, Lyla coughed and slowly opened her eyes. She had been dreaming about the past again.
'How strange,' she thought. 'Strictly speaking, since I was in a coma for fifty years, that memory is from over sixty years ago… how can I still remember it so clearly?'
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and stretched her limbs.
It was another morning at Hogwarts. The third week of the semester had already begun. Lyla looked at the complex Magic Array diagram she had left on her table and sighed.
She still hadn't figured out what that new array did. Even after interrogating Tom Riddle in his diary, the only answer she received was a blunt 'I don't know'.
"Cough, cough." Her throat was incredibly itchy. Perhaps she hadn't drunk enough water before bed?
She lazily waved her wand to summon a glass, then cast the Aguamenti charm to fill it with clear, cool water.
After drinking the water, she felt much better. Physically, at least.
Several days of researching the new Magic Array with absolutely zero progress had put her in a sour mood.
'But I suppose this is normal,' she reasoned. 'After all, Dad used to research a single Magic Array for years on end.'
'I am nowhere near as talented as him in this field...' She shook her head, forcing the negative thoughts away.
She still had several important tasks to complete today. First, she was waiting on Professor Lockhart. He had promised to finally extract his memories for her this morning.
Then, there was the Duelling Club this afternoon. 'I wonder who will be Mr. Lockhart's assistant today?' she thought.
It seemed her performance as his assistant during their duel hadn't been quite what he was looking for. Lockhart had subtly expressed his dissatisfaction, noting that 'Professor Hamilton might be better suited to teaching work'.
That was perfectly fine with Lyla. Just showing up and helping Lockhart once had earned her an entire semester's worth of teaching memories!
It was easily the most cost-effective deal Lyla had ever made.
Aside from Lockhart, Lyla had also promised Luna they would go watch the upcoming Quidditch match together.
'I really don't want to go,' Lyla whined internally. 'It's so dangerous! What if I get hit by a stray Bludger?'
'But Miss Lovegood is my first genuine friend, and I can't possibly refuse my friend!'
Besides, Luna was incredibly perceptive! Lyla had frequently considered recruiting her to "revive" Lord Grindelwald's cause.
'She definitely has the potential to become an excellent Dark Witch!'
Luna would be the very first follower she cultivated here at Hogwarts. When she was a bit older, Lyla would proudly tell her all about Lord Grindelwald's grand ideals!
Which were… um… what were they again?
'Please forgive me, Lord Grindelwald,' she thought sheepishly. During her time as an acolyte, her life had revolved entirely around academic research.
She didn't actually understand what his cause represented. 'I just vaguely remember it had something to do with wizards and Muggles. Perhaps it was a campaign about wizards and Muggles living together in peace?'
Lyla, who had consistently ranked at the absolute bottom of her faction's ideological studies, shook her head.
'It seems I really need to catch up on my political theory in my free time.'
'Though I'll have to find a way to stop falling asleep every time I open a manifesto.'
Picking up a towel to dry her face and pointed ears, Lyla let out a long sigh before strapping on her silver mask.
Alright. The severely socially anxious, stuttering Lyla Hamilton was now gone. In her place stood the cold, calculating, and untouchable Professor Hamilton.
"Professor Hamilton?"
"Ah!" Lyla violently flinched, her eyes snapping toward the office door.
It was… it was That Person's voice!
The terrifying wizard whose name she refused to even speak! 'I wasn't even muttering about him this time!'
"Good morning, Professor Hamilton." Dumbledore smiled softly as he looked at Lyla, who was now frozen in her heavy black robes. "I have something I would like to discuss with you."
"It concerns your Magic Array artifacts."