LRAB Chapter 144 Nightfall
Chapter 144 Nightfall
Chapter 144 Nightfall
It was another night, and Loila carefully left the office wearing the hat Mr. Lupin had given her.
Today is my night patrol day again — I hope nothing bad happens!
Loila still vividly remembered the scene that happened in the Hufflepuff lounge last time—she never wanted to experience such embarrassment again.
Today's target is the Gryffindor common room—the name alone is enough to make Lloyd wary, for no other reason than that the students in this house are the most enthusiastic of all the houses.
Those two Weasley twins—Miss Granger is a student at this house—but I suppose we won't run into each other, right?
It's so late, everyone must be resting by now, right? — They must be resting by now!
Loila clenched her fists, trying to muster a little courage. She was a professor, after all. What would it look like if she were scared by a few students?
Just as she was thinking this, Loila walked past the Transfiguration classroom and happened to see that the door was not closed.
Huh?
Is it Professor McGonagall?
She glanced around carefully and saw Professor McGonagall sitting inside grading papers—how dedicated Professor McGonagall was!
It's almost eleven o'clock and you're still not resting—Roy subconsciously admired this vice-headmaster of Hogwarts—you must have a hard time having a headmaster like Dumbledore, right?
Needless to say, I understand.
As the vice-principal, Dumbledore also had to teach students, while he spent his days either playing wizard chess or plotting some wicked scheme—he even had time to scare a conscientious Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—
Loila even thought Professor McGonagall was somewhat admirable—it would be great if she could join our Malay Party too!
"Professor Hamilton?" Suddenly, Loila heard Professor McGonagall's voice, apparently because she had been standing at the door thinking for too long, which caught her attention.
"Um!" Loila pursed her lips awkwardly and carefully pushed open the door: "I—I didn't peep—or anything—"
Her explanation startled McGonagall; her usually serious face appeared quite gentle in the candlelight.
"That's not what I meant," she said, shrugging. "You're on night patrol, aren't you?"
"Hmm." Loila nodded carefully, pinching her sleeve.
"Be careful, okay?" McGonagall said casually, holding up the parchment in front of her and shaking her head.
"Ah—I will—I'll be careful." Loila felt a warmth in her heart: "If I encounter an enemy, I'll—I'll use my wand—"
"Ahem—that's not what I meant." Upon hearing this, McGonagall quickly put down the parchment and said, "Hogwarts doesn't have any enemies."
"They're just some disobedient students at most," she said, adding, "Don't use any spells on them, right?"
"Ah—okay—" Loila nodded as if she had just realized something. "I didn't mean that—that—"
Even I wouldn't use magic on students!
"I understand." McGonagall smiled gently. "I was just reminding you."
"After all, last time—"
Ah—it must be about Professor Snape—
Loila pursed her lips and said, "I won't—I won't use any spells on the professor—I won't, I won't."
I was actually thinking about using the Oblivion Charm on Mr. Lockhart just a few days ago—
"Oh, right—" McGonagall seemed to remember something, put down her quill, and asked, "Professor Hamilton, who was on patrol with you tonight?"
"With...with me?" Loila was taken aback. So, when I patrol at night...do I have a companion?
This doesn't seem good—it doesn't sound very safe—neither of the two people is safe!
"Yes." McGonagall was also taken aback. After a few seconds of thought, she asked, "You didn't know before?"
"I remember it should have said on that form—" she muttered, then waved her wand and summoned a document from a pile of parchment.
After examining it carefully for a few seconds, her expression changed.
"Hmm—" She paused for a few seconds before saying, "The professor on night patrol again today—"
"You don't really need to know."
"Huh?" Loila scratched her ear in confusion. What did this mean? — I only found out today that someone else was patrolling with me!
The outcome, however, remains unknown to even anyone.
"You used to patrol alone at night, right?" McGonagall thought for a moment and said, "It's actually quite nice that way."
"After all, Professor Hamilton—you're not really keen on communicating with others, are you?"
"Neither—nor—" is actually a fear of communicating with others—or rather, a fear.
The word "don't want" is a bit too negative—right?
"I'm curious—who's it today?" Loila asked softly after a few seconds of deliberation.
McGonagall fell silent again upon hearing this. After looking at the parchment for a few seconds, she whispered, "It's Professor Lockhart."
Loila's expression immediately changed; her curiosity just moments before vanished into fear.
"Um—Professor McGonagall—could we switch places?" she said, glancing at the classroom door that wasn't closed properly, and instinctively waving her wand to shut it.
"It doesn't seem likely." McGonagall sighed softly. "It's already ten o'clock—the professors are all resting—"
"I'd like to switch with you—but—" She shook her head helplessly and pointed to a pile of parchment in front of her: "These are the students' homework."
"The grading should be completed by tomorrow."
She pursed her lips as she looked at Loila's frightened expression: "Actually—actually, there's no need to worry too much."
"Hogwarts is huge. Haven't you never encountered other professors on night patrol like yourself before?"
"No—don't say that!" Loila shuddered upon hearing this. It was terrifying that this was a statement that seemed to deliberately provoke Mr. Lockhart!
McGonagall seemed to be well aware of the situation between Loila and Lockhart, so she coughed lightly and said, "Also, Professor Hamilton."
"You don't need to worry too much—I think Professor Lockhart was just acting on a whim," she said tactfully. "If you didn't mean it that way."
"Just reject him outright."
But—but Mr. Lockhart didn't mean it that way at all! He just wanted me to come to his house as a guest!
Loira bit her lip, unsure how to answer. Besides, she wasn't unfamiliar with refusing—but Mr. Lockhart never gave up.
Stepping out of the classroom, Loila looked fearfully into the dark corridors of Hogwarts.
Although Mr. Lockhart hasn't been particularly bothering Royla these past few days thanks to the Pinecone Party's help, there shouldn't be any Pinecone Party members around in this evening setting—well, how should I put it—right?
What—what to do!
Loila pulled her hood tighter and put on her mask; Hogwarts had suddenly become a place fraught with danger.
This also brought back a slightly wicked thought to the surface in Loila's mind—if all else fails, she could use the Cruciatus Curse—or the Imperius Curse—or the Forgetfulness Curse, but wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate? However, after hearing Miss Nagini's hissing reminder, Loila still gripped her wand tightly.
But—but this is still better than being poisoned to death by Miss Nagini, right?