Suddenly taking charge of so many injured, Madam Pomfrey thought some Dark Wizard Legion had invaded Hogwarts. Fortunately, for wizards, broken hands and feet were only minor issues, which she quickly dealt with.
The troublesome one was Harry Potter, who remained unconscious. After talking with Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey arranged for Harry to have a private ward.
Vid unpacked the food and shared it with everyone — it was as if they then realized how hungry they were, their stomachs sticking to their backs. Amid the young wizards' gobbling, they also told Vid what had happened under the trap door.
The professors at the school, to protect the Philosopher's Stone, set up layers of traps, the first being the Devil's Snares laid beneath the trap door, saving them from a fatal fall. Unfortunately, Neville chose the wrong landing point, breaking his leg at the first gate, and could only wait nearby afterwards.
The next challenge involved catching the right key among a flock of bird-like keys; Harry fully utilized his Seeker talent to catch the key, while Theo, protecting others, was scratched all over.
Following that was a perilous game of Wizard's Chess, which Ron, having descended alongside Harry, won. But he was knocked out by a hard punch to the head from the opposing chess pieces and has not yet awakened.
Next came a troll, more gigantic and fierce than the one encountered on Halloween. The young wizards exerted all their strength to defeat it, resulting in Leian breaking an arm and the rest sustaining various injuries.
Vid was a bit surprised: "—Troll?"
"Yeah, a stinking troll," Theo sighed, "I can't believe you defeated that monster unharmed six months ago!"
"If the troll was part of Quirrell's traps, the one on Halloween was released by him to create chaos," Michael said, "I heard he pretended to be unconscious back then!"
Vid frowned slightly but said no more.
—The original trio did not encounter a troll.
Butterfly effect? Or...
"The last challenge trapped us in a room of flames. Professor Snape left potions, one to go forward, one to return, the rest were poison and nettle wine."
Hermione spoke with trembling lips, "I solved the riddle Professor Snape left, Harry went forward, we all took a sip of potion, then found Ron and Neville, trying to return the way we came... The rest you all know."
She tightly twisted her fingers, her tone still calm, rational, and methodical. But her hair seemed slightly raised, her body tense like a bowstring.
"Hermione!" Padma suddenly approached and hugged Hermione, "Don't worry... don't blame yourselves... confronting that person was Harry's choice, not your fault... And he'll recover, won't he?"
She gently pulled away the girl's hand, revealing blood marks on the back of Hermione's hand from her own scratching.
"You don't understand, Padma."
Hermione leaned on Padma's shoulder, tears falling unexpectedly.
She choked and said, "The trap door was bottomless. Harry didn't know the Devil's Snares would catch us, yet he jumped first... He said... If anything happened to him, we'd return immediately... I really..."
Padma gently stroked her back, slowly realizing why Hermione was crying now.
Not only because she worried for her unconscious friend... but because, back in a safe environment, the despair and fear of seeing a friend willingly face death surged from the depths of her heart...
She glanced around at the others — though the boys weren't crying, something different seemed to be between their brows... silently, everyone seemed to undergo some transformation...
Suddenly, a noisy commotion came from the doorway—
"No, Potter hasn't woken up, visitors are not allowed!" Madam Pomfrey said sternly.
"Madam, we're here to visit Theo and Leian — we're all from Hufflepuff College," someone pleaded at the door.
"...Alright, but no noise." Madam Pomfrey relented.
So a crowd bustled in through the door — these students likely saw Theo and others injured and broom-riding through the corridor, coming to inquire about the news.
While the injured were surrounded by the "visiting personnel," Michael exchanged a glance with Vid — probably because both were unscathed, others treated them as bystanders, not paying much attention.
Thus, the two managed to squeeze out of the infirmary.
"I want to take another look in the Chamber of Secret."
Arriving at the doorway, Michael exhaled and told Vid, "Since Dumbledore brought Harry out, the blocking flames might have disappeared too... I want to see what happened in that last chamber."
Vid said, "We'll go together."
"Of course." Michael smiled, "I guess you're curious too — how Harry Potter escaped danger once more."
Vid wasn't actually curious.
He just... wanted to take a look.
The traps under the trap door were nearly destroyed. The two rode brooms, smoothly passing through the stone corridor and brightly-lit rooms until reaching the end.
This was a relatively spacious room, with an arched ceiling, tall stone pillars embedded in the stone walls, and residual flames burning around.
Inside the room was a huge mirror, gilded with ornate decorations, with words engraved on it, supported by claw-shaped feet beneath.
"Look, Vid."
Michael suddenly squatted down, poking a Wizard Robe by the steps with a Magic Wand, whispering, "If I'm not mistaken, this is Professor Quirrell's robe — look, the scarf is here too —"
He suddenly paused, his eyes aghast as they fixed on the dust wrapped in the robe, retreating step by step, stiffly.
Vid advanced instead, conjuring a cylindrical bottle, collecting some of the dust on the ground.
"Vid!" Michael felt a chill down his spine, shrill with panic, "Do you know what that is?"
"Professor Quirrell's remains — also the Mysterious Man's vessel."
Vid capped the bottle, looking at the ash-gray dust inside, "Perhaps it'll be useful."
Suddenly, something like being startled awoke, a grim voice echoed from all directions—
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
"Disturb the deceased, the living shall die... nameless the dead, bestowed no reward..."
"Vid Gray... Michael Corner... Do you seek the journey to eternal rest..."
Michael immediately felt weak, goosebumps rising all over. Gripping Vid's arm, he said with a complexion like soil, "Vi-Vid... get rid of those things quickly..."
Vid was momentarily chilled, but soon he noticed something—
"Weasley?"
Vid lightly said.