The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 13: The Gift

It was a small, even somewhat petite, owl with gray feathers that looked like Loyra's hair in the sunlight.

"Cat cat cat... an owl?!" Loila stared in surprise at the thing in front of her. She pursed her lips and subconsciously wanted to take a few steps closer, but when she saw the owl's sharp beak, she couldn't help but shrink back.

"Are you afraid of owls?" Lupin asked quickly, after a moment's hesitation.

"No...no." Loila pursed her lips, then slowly approached, suppressing her fear.

The owl seemed to sense her approach and slowly raised its head to look at Loila with its big blue eyes.

"Very...very cute," she muttered to herself after taking a closer look.

She also noticed that the owl's plumage and eyes were the same color as hers... and even its size was similar to that of its kind.

Is this the smallest owl she has ever seen?

"I...I can't accept it." But when she thought that it was a gift from Mr. Lupin, Loila quickly shook her head, wanting to refuse.

"It's alright," Lupin said gently, though he looked tired. "Owls aren't worth much."

"No, no, no... I don't know how to take care of... an owl..." Loila said a little embarrassedly, "And I don't have any money for you..."

"I already said this is a gift," Lupin had to cough to repeat, "and you don't know how to take care of an owl?"

"Miss Hamilton, you must have had owls back in Durmstrang, right?"

"Um..." Loila looked embarrassed and whispered with her head down, "There was... once."

"But not long after... it ran away on its own..."

"Only one cage was left."

"The owl... ran away on its own?" Lupin paused, remaining silent for a long time. His gentle yet resolute eyes lowered slightly for a few seconds before he pursed his lips and said, "I understand."

So… I already said I wouldn’t take care of an owl… Well then… Loila glanced at the cute owl again, then pursed her lips and took a few steps back.

"It's alright, Miss Hamilton, I'll take care of the owl." Lupin stepped forward when he saw Loila's actions and handed her the owl's cage.

"Let me teach you how to take care of an owl." His tone was serious but still gentle, and his gaze towards Loila was very sincere.

"I……"

"And Miss Hamilton," Lupin said again, seeing that Loira still wanted to refuse, "how can a wizard not have an owl?"

"Especially as a professor at Hogwarts," he added, "what should you do if someone contacts you?"

"No... no one will contact me... my..." Loila's pointed ears drooped slightly, her hands clasped in front of her.

"Of course I will!" Lupin blinked. "I'll contact you."

"Aren't we friends?" Lupin chuckled softly. "So this is a gift from a friend to a friend."

"But..." Loila slightly raised her head and glanced at Lupin, then said softly, "I...I don't have a gift for you."

"Giving gifts between friends isn't about giving them in return," Lupin laughed. "It seems Miss Hamilton, you still need to learn how to get along with friends."

"Mr. Lupin...does he have many friends?" Loila asked instinctively.

"Ah..." Lupin paused for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head and gave a bitter laugh: "I guess... I guess so?"

"But that's not important, is it?" Lupin coughed and changed the subject back to the owl: "Let's give this owl a name."

"It will be your owl from now on."

"My..." Loila let out a soft sigh. She still didn't want to accept Lupin's gift, mainly because she really didn't have anything to repay Lupin, but she really didn't know how to refuse Lupin's enthusiasm.

"Let's give it a name," Lupin said again, seemingly quite insistent.

"Then... let's call it Sia..." Loila whispered, "That's the name of my first owl."

"It's a meaningful name." Lupin paused for a few seconds before giving a slightly awkward smile. "But it certainly won't be like its predecessor."

"Hmm...hmm!" Loila nodded and then carefully looked at Sia, who seemed to be curiously looking at her as well.

"..."

After a long silence, Loila suddenly looked up at Lupin.

"Mr. Lupin, why are you so kind to me?"

"..." Her words startled Lupin.

Why am I being so nice to Miss Hamilton?

Lupin himself didn't know how to answer. Besides Dumbledore's instructions, what were the main reasons?

It must be an apology, right? After all, he put Miss Hamilton in danger a few days ago...

He glanced at Miss Hamilton subconsciously... was it because he had mistaken her for a child?

If I say that, she'll probably get angry, right?

But it shouldn't be... Lupin didn't know what he was thinking... Suddenly, he saw a few strands of silver hair peeking out from Royla's hood.

Or is it because you think she's the same as you?

Lupin subconsciously felt that he had been somewhat impolite.

Seeing Lupin remain silent, Loila bit her lip and said, "It must...it must be because of my Veela bloodline, right?"

"Vevas have a natural ability to make others like them..."

Yes... Apart from Mr. Grindelwald, everyone who was kind to Loila after leaving Durmstrang was, to some extent, because of her Veela identity...

Mr. Lupin should also...

"Huh?" Lupin, who was initially a little surprised, paused for a moment and then suddenly laughed.

"Miss Loila Hamilton," he repeated Loila's name, "please forgive my rudeness."

"But to be honest..." He looked Loira up and down, "I really didn't feel anything..."

"Seduction?" He paused and changed his words, "Or rather... the influence of that charm?" Lupin felt as if he had forgotten how to speak, but he had never sensed any Veela blood in Loyla.

Except for those pointed ears and silver hair.

Is that so...?

Hearing Lupin's earnest answer, Loila's expression visibly brightened with joy. She pursed her lips and smiled, but the next second she realized something.

Does Mr. Lupin mean that I actually have no charm at all?

Should I be happy or sad?

Looking at Miss Hamilton's enigmatic smile, Lupin couldn't help but purse his lips and give a wry smile.

I really did see Miss Hamilton as one of my own kind...

But... when I think of Miss Hamilton's status and the talents she has displayed...

Lupin shook his head inwardly. He only needed to treat Miss Hamilton as a friend. His "kind" had all died long ago... twelve years ago.