Before Lys could truly drift off to sleep, a burst of boyish voices calling out to Hagrid shattered the quiet. "Hagrid! We've come to see you! Remus found a gigantic spider recently—you'll love it!"
Hagrid, wearing an unusually bright and cheerful smile, hurried to open the door. But as soon as he cracked it open, he seemed to remember something and tried to shut it again. Too late.
Two boys squeezed through the gap, and while Hagrid grabbed them by their collars in an attempt to shove them back out, two more slipped in through the open door.
It was Potter and his gang. Lupin was holding a metal cage, inside which a spider larger than a hand was thrashing wildly, desperately trying to escape.
Beside him, Sirius Black wore a lazy smirk, occasionally jabbing the spider with his wand.
Perhaps it was Lys suddenly sitting up straight, or maybe it was the unmistakable awkwardness on Remus Lupin's face, but something made Hagrid recall the unpleasant incidents involving these five earlier in the term.
He suddenly stopped his frantic attempts to catch and evict them, standing instead in the center of the room, utterly at a loss. For someone of his size, such an expression was surprisingly disarming.
And then Sirius Black loudly declared, "That's a Slytherin! A dark wizard who's mastered black magic, Hagrid. You shouldn't let someone like that near your hut. Just look at her—she looks like she's addicted to Cheering Potions!"
To be fair, Lys did look rather unwell. Her large dark circles, prolonged unhealthy diet, and rapidly growing height made her robes hang loosely on her frame. The poorly knitted sweater beneath peeked out through the gaps in her robes.
Startled awake, her entire demeanor was still somewhat dazed and disoriented, making her appear even more peculiar.
Being jolted awake like this was far more exhausting than never having fallen asleep at all.
Forcing herself to focus, Lys steadied her gaze and looked at Hagrid. The giant man was nervously clutching the hem of his coat, mumbling, "It's not like that… You're all good kids… just a misunderstanding…"
"Gabbang, let's go." Lys tugged at the folds of her robes, which had crumpled from lounging on Hagrid's sofa—one so large it could easily double as a bed.
Hagrid was so fond of Gryffindors. As a Slytherin, it was only right for her to step aside during their moments of joy. Yes, that's what Lys told herself.
Just like when her mother was troubled or sad—staying silent, staying invisible, was the best way she could help.
Carefully placing Gabbang into its yarn pouch, Lys meticulously checked the warmth charm on it before wrapping her cloak tightly around herself and stepping out into the snowy yard.
From behind the door Potter had slammed shut, she could hear him exclaiming, "Oh, Hagrid, your biscuits are so hard!" followed by Peter's high-pitched curiosity: "Oh, Hagrid, what's this? A glowing rat? That's so cool!"
Lys didn't look back and made her way to the library instead. After greeting Madam Pince, she picked out two books that were vaguely related to the Patronus Charm. However, her restless mood prevented her from even conjuring a wisp of silvery mist this time.
With a mix of irritation and self-discipline, she forced herself to eat a sandwich before heading to the Astronomy Tower, the highest point in the castle. Arriving a bit early, she found the place deserted, with only the cold wind and swirling snowflakes for company.
Lys cast another warming charm on Gabbang's yarn pouch. She couldn't help it—Gabbang's homeland was a very warm place, and she worried about it falling ill if it got too cold.
Bracing herself against the strong wind that made her steps unsteady, Lys held onto the edge of the railing and gazed out at the scene before her. Her billowing black robes offered no warmth and even tugged at her, making her lean back slightly. The sensation reminded her of her first night at Hogwarts.
Her robes had been soaked with the water of the Black Lake, cold and heavy.
Snape, Elle, Madam Pomfrey, Hagrid…
They all had someone or something more important to care about. She should be more considerate, shouldn't she? Stop lounging around wherever she pleased.
What did that book say again? Herpo's followers believed he would lead them to fertile lands.
But what fertile lands could she possibly offer to anyone?
Her own fertile lands…
"I should try harder, shouldn't I, Gabbang?"
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