The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 6: Diagon Alley

Even at dawn, just as the sun was rising, Diagon Alley was already bustling with activity, as wizards came and went along the narrow street, selecting the goods they wanted.

This naturally includes Royla... I guess so?

Wearing a hood, she followed behind Lupin without daring to lift her head. It was only thanks to the wand that was hooked on the hem of Lupin's clothes that she was not separated from the crowd, but even that was the best she could do.

Lupin, who was walking ahead, also felt a little strange... He wasn't a Hogwarts professor, yet he was taking Miss Hamilton shopping.

He didn't really like crowded places either; these lively places always made him feel a little uncomfortable, but he was still far inferior to Loila.

As the crowd grew, Lupin's words were met with Loila's responses, which were limited to tugging at the hem of her clothes.

It felt like he was a father with a child... Lu Ping suddenly thought of this, and the next second he patted his face.

I can't be so rude... Besides, strictly speaking, this Miss Hamilton is actually a bit older than me.

He had already heard from Dumbledore about Loyla's situation, and he had to admit... Miss Hamilton was rather unfortunate.

Fifty years were lost for no reason... During that time, countless friends and family members passed away.

Thinking this, Lupin looked at Loila with a hint of pity in his eyes.

If Loila knew what Lupin was thinking, she might feel a little awkward, because she doesn't have many friends, at least that's what Loila herself thinks...

As for her family... her family had already passed away before she even went to school.

Of course, Loira was still very saddened by the loss of fifty years, after all, Lord Grindelwald's mission and such...

"We've arrived," Lupin said softly, then looked at Loila.

Lady Malkin's Robes Shop... Loila glanced at the shop's name subconsciously.

"I think you might want to change your clothes first," Lupin said gently. "After all, the clothes you're wearing are probably fifty years old..."

Indeed… Loila looked down at her robe, a garment that wouldn’t have been fashionable fifty years ago, now looked like something a beggar would wear.

Could I smell bad?

Although she had already taken a shower... but hadn't changed her clothes, Loila blushed and lowered her head instinctively.

Lupin, who seemed oblivious, simply scratched his head in confusion.

"Please come in."

As the two entered the shop, the first thing Loila heard was a warm voice.

"Ah... a little wizard?" Shopkeeper Madam Malkin looked at Loira with interest. "Coming to buy clothes now... could it be that you're wearing this robe...?"

"Oh, wait a minute, what you're wearing doesn't seem to be a Hogwarts robe."

"Madam Malkin, she is not a student of Hogwarts," Lupin had to explain for Loira. "In fact, she is a professor at Hogwarts."

"A professor from Hogwarts?!" Madam Malkin paused, then lowered her voice, "Could it be dark magic..."

"Hmm." Lupin nodded slightly and glanced at Loila, unsure if she knew about the strange legend.

Loila noticed their odd behavior and glanced at Lupin slightly...

What happened to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?

Could it be related to dark magic...? Although Loila had never been to other schools, she knew that Durmstrang, a school that directly taught dark magic, seemed to be one of the few.

Could she be prejudiced against dark magic...? Loila subconsciously shrank back.

"I see..." Mrs. Malkin seemed to realize something, she smiled gently and said, "But this is the first time I've ever seen such a young professor."

"Miss Hamilton is naturally like that," Lupin said with a smile, without directly telling Mrs. Malkin about Loila.

"In that case... how about trying a new style?" Mrs. Malkin thought for a moment and said, "Miss Hamilton is a bit petite than the average professor... so she doesn't need those old-fashioned clothes."

"Perhaps we could learn from those students?"

"No...no need!" Loila quickly shook her head. "Just a regular robe...is fine..."

"Black robes..." she muttered.

She didn't want to dress too conspicuously, lest she attract unnecessary trouble, not only for herself but also for Lord Grindelwald's mission.

That's right! It's for Lord Grindelwald's mission!

"Is that so?" Madam Malkin seemed a little disappointed. "Miss Hamilton is a natural clothes hanger." As she spoke, she waved her wand and took a garment from a row of clothes.

"I have quite a few black robes here... but I don't have any in this small size," she said, pointing to the few robes in front of her.

"Which of these dresses does Miss Hamilton think looks best?"

"This...this..." Loila pointed casually without even looking at it.

"This one?" Mrs. Malkin raised an eyebrow and said, "No problem... I'll have two made by the afternoon."

With that, she flicked her wand, and the scissors and ruler flew straight to Loila's side, startling her so much that she instinctively took a few steps back.

"Don't worry, they're just here to measure the size of the clothes," Lupin reassured her in a low voice.

"I...I know..." Loila realized what it was for the next second as she stepped back; she was just startled by the scissors that suddenly flew out.

"The two items will probably cost... fifteen Galleons," Madam Morkin said casually.

Lupin nodded upon hearing this, then casually took out a Galleon and handed it to Madam Malkin.

"Thank you very much then." Lupin bowed slightly on behalf of Loila, who had fallen silent again.

…………

"Mr. Lupin..."

"What's wrong?" Lupin was startled when he was suddenly called out, then turned to look at Loila.

"That money... I... I'll pay you back..." Loila pursed her lips and said softly.

"Ah...no need." Lupin shrugged. "These were given to me by Headmaster Dumbledore."

Dumbledore is such a good person... Royla felt a subconscious sense of gratitude.

Wait, you actually want to bribe me with money? I'm one of Lord Grindelwald's men, I would never be bought off with such a small amount of money!

After a moment's thought, Loila pursed her lips: "Then I'll return it to Headmaster Dumbledore..."

"That's not necessary." Lupin scratched his face. "Headmaster Dumbledore said this money would be advanced from your salary."

"..."

I knew I had underestimated your kindness, Dumbledore.

"So, shall we go change your wand?" Lupin said slowly, looking at Loila's silent expression. "After all, it's always unsettling for a wizard to have a broken wand in their hand."

"Hmm...yes...that's true."

Loila also felt that having a wand would make her feel much more at ease... at least she wouldn't be holding a wooden stick anymore.