What is it?
"Walburga Black is dying?" Hearing Lys call his mother's name directly, Regulus cast a complex look at Lys. His mother's injury was all because of this girl before him.
He shook his head. "Mother is fine; the Black family is not so weak that we can't handle a little injury."
Lys ignored Regulus' arrogance. "Then why is she acting crazy? Where did she get the idea that I must return to the Black family and be recommended by you to become a Death Eater?"
The letter in Lys's hands turned to dust under her magic. "My mom was right; the Blacks are all lunatics. I suggest you go back and check on your mom. I think she's mentally unstable."
What Lys didn't say was that the crazy woman had also suggested in the letter that it would be an honor for her to bear a legitimate Black child... What a joke!
Marrying close relatives to ensure pure bloodlines? Lys felt there was something seriously wrong with that idea.
After speaking, Lys cleaned up the debris on the floor, turned around, and left, taking with her the book she had once stepped on during the second-year incident with Madam Pince in the Restricted Section.
The book's content was mixed, with many things she had neither read nor understood. She needed to copy down what she wanted to continue studying.
Glancing at the book from the Restricted Section, Lys silently thanked the inventor of the Quick-Quotes Quill...
Lys left, but Regulus didn't. He stood there, his face growing paler. Had something happened in the family that he didn't know about? Why was his mother so anxious to elevate the Black family's status?
Ignoring decorum... But the Blacks follow the Dark Lord...
He recalled the Muggle-targeted parade massacre during the holidays, and his body trembled involuntarily.
Something was definitely wrong!
Lys didn't care about the Black family's plans; she went back to copying the book. The scratching sound of the Quick-Quotes Quill under her magical control immersed Lys in her task.
On the desk, clippings were pasted, and Grindelwald was tirelessly spinning in circles.
——————————
Mid-June.
The Malfoy family had sent invitations to Lys and Snape; she was soon to bid farewell to this castle.
Lys stood on the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower.
Leaning against the railing, she looked at the horizon dyed red by the setting sun, raising her left hand. The red glow seemed to seep into the edges of the opal ring on her hand.
The beams of light through her fingers took shape, but when Lys clenched her hand, the light disappeared into the surrounding environment. Lys looked at her empty palm and stepped onto the railing, leaping off.
"Arrow!" Magic erupted instantly, enveloping her.
In a twirl, Lys stood atop the tower's dome. There was no cover on the curved top, and all the light shone directly on Lys. Even with her eyes closed, the light penetrated, illuminating her eyes.
She spread her arms, performing a complete gesture for the first time in her life—
Stepping aside, raising her left hand, wand resting on her shoulder, she bowed slightly.
A salute to this thousand-year-old castle.
A salute to the teachers and students who cared for and helped her.
To every portrait, armor, and relief that guided, comforted, and accompanied her.
A salute—to Hogwarts.
This castle silently accepted everyone...
Even those who had once violated countless school rules.
Packing up all her belongings in that cramped dormitory, Lys hefted her suitcase, turned back for one last look, and closed the door.
The little water plant in the corner of the window and the little octopus that made its home there.
The high-backed chair that had returned to its original state after she had once transfigured it into a bookshelf.
The shadow of Gaggle she had painted with bright minerals in third grade.
The stone bricks she had shattered in anger.
The lamp that had stayed on for over four years because she didn't know how to turn it off.
When Lys entered Professor Slughorn's office, the Slytherins leaving today had all arrived.
The old professor sighed, patting his belly. "You've all graduated, so quickly. I hope you won't forget this old man when you achieve success."
He sighed again, pointing at the Floo Powder on the mantle, letting the students operate it themselves, and reclined back in his chair, sipping tea.
"Sorry, Slughorn, please have Lys Black stay behind." A silver phoenix Patronus flew into the Potions Master's office, carrying Dumbledore's voice.
Lys sighed, mimicking the professor.
Soon, the white-bearded headmaster arrived, speaking to Lys with a resigned tone:
"That suit of armor is part of Hogwarts as a whole. I, as the headmaster, am not qualified to let you take it." The old man regretfully explained to Lys, asking her to return the armor to the corner of the abandoned dungeon.
"Headmaster, the armor itself agreed to come with me." Lys tried to argue.
On her way to the professor's office, Lys had a sudden idea when she saw the armor that often chatted with her. She cast a Muffliato and a Disillusionment Charm, using ten Lumos charms and a goblin's maintenance spell to entice the armor to agree to leave with her.
These seven years, apart from the former Elphias Doge and later Snape and Hagrid, she had no one to talk to at school. Only this suit of armor tirelessly chatted nonsense with her, and she wanted to take it away.
Dumbledore coughed at the sight of the armor being pulled out of the suitcase, explaining the magic on the armor and its connection to Hogwarts. Once it left the school, the armor would likely lose its current form, becoming just a shell of iron.
Lys was disappointed. Even Haelbo took some souvenirs when he left the first ship...
Moreover...
Stepping into the fireplace, Lys stood opposite the armor outside, sighing, "What a pity…"
And the armor, mimicking Lys, said the same,
"What a pity…"
One regret was unknown, and the other regret was equally unknowable.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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