Although that's the case, Vid couldn't just wait here — the young wizards who rush to the challenge are unlikely to die, but injuries are unavoidable.
So much time has passed, who knows which stage they've reached.
"I'll go and check." Vid said to Padma, "Curfew is almost here, head back to the dormitory first. If there's anything, I'll tell you through the Friendship Book."
But Padma grabbed his sleeve and shook her head vigorously.
"Padma?"
"Michael said the same to me…" the girl choked, "I can't wait anymore… Waiting is more painful than anything, I'd rather face the mysterious man with you all…"
Vid was silent for a moment, sighed, "...Alright, you follow me then."
Padma nodded, following Vid closely towards the fourth floor.
"Meow—"
Mrs. Loris suddenly let out a sharp cry, her back arched and her body bent, blocking their way.
Vid glanced sideways at the fish flakes scattered on the ground, apparently untouched.
"Sorry, but we must pass."
The two moved forward, Mrs. Loris bared her teeth and retreated two steps, then turned her eyes and quickly ran downstairs.
"Stupefy!"
Vid swung his magic wand, a red flash hit the gray cat's back. She let out a thump, slipped to the side of the corridor.
"Great—she was definitely going to notify Filch." Padma couldn't help but say: "How can there be such a nasty cat!"
"To her owner, she's the most loyal good cat."
Vid said as he pushed open the half-closed wooden door, Padma gasped seeing the scene inside.
A ferocious three-headed dog was tearing apart a harp, upon hearing the sound, it immediately looked over at them, letting out a deep growl.
Padma's lips trembled, stammering: "Harry said… as long as it hears music… it will fall asleep… I, I can sing to it?"
But in her urgency, she couldn't recall any song she knew.
"Music?"
Vid threw a small ball on the ground, it rolled around, and halfway through, started playing a pleasant piano tune.
"What is that?" Padma asked blankly.
"Für Elise, Beethoven's classic work." Vid answered.
"No—I mean, what is that little ball?"
Padma looked at the ball which was not only playing music but also spinning and emitting colorful light, and asked.
"A music player—magic version."
"—your new invention?"
"Not really." Vid said, "It's a Muggle invention, I just made a small modification."
Knowing there's a three-headed dog in the chamber, Vid naturally prepared for it.
Once the first note played, the once fierce three-headed dog started dozing off, soon fell on the floor asleep, its six nostrils emitting stinky hot air, its massive body occupying most of the view.
Padma gathered her courage, took a round around the three-headed dog.
"I… I heard there should be a trap door here… on the floor…"
The two looked at the three-headed dog simultaneously.
"Looks like it's being pressed."
Vid cast Levioso, moving the three-headed dog aside to continue lying there, and the floor revealed a trap door indeed. Vid grabbed the ring pull and opened the door, immediately hearing familiar voices—
"Great, finally someone came!" Neville's relieved voice came, "Who's above?"
"Get your magic wand, Neville!" Michael sternly warned, "Those above might be their accomplices!"
Padma heard their voices, sensing they're probably alright, laid on the trap door laughing and crying, "Michael, are you all okay?"
"Padma!" several voices shout joyfully.
"Vid is here too, we're together!" Padma told the people inside.
Then several people rode broomsticks, flew up one after another through the trap door—
Michael brought Neville—Neville's leg was broken, still bleeding.
"Luckily you came—the three-headed dog blocked the trap door, we tried every way but couldn't get out." Michael explained.
Theo had a large bruise on his face, many small, narrow wounds on his body, like being scratched by several sharp small knives;
Leian's arm bent at an odd angle, cold sweat pouring from the pain;
The most severe was Ron brought up by Hermione—he was unconscious, blood all over his head.
"Oh my!"
Seeing everyone's miserable condition, Padma was stunned, tears immediately welled up.
"I, I didn't bring Dittany Essence!" She panicked.
"It's okay, I've got some." Vid said, taking out several bottles of magic potion from his bag, handing them out: "—and pain relievers."
Honestly, he was impressed with these kids—such severe injuries, yet none of these eleven or twelve-year-olds cried or wailed or rolled on the ground, something many adults couldn't manage to do.
—Perhaps magic granted them some natural ability to endure pain… or heal injuries?
Leian drained the pain reliever in one gulp, pale-faced said, "Harry is still down there."
"What happened in there?" Padma fearfully looked at the pitch-black hole, "Did you encounter… that person?"
"No." Hermione unconsciously clasped her hands, nervously said: "Quirrell and Snape would try to steal the Philosopher's Stone in the final stage… Black flames block the path, only one magic potion allows safe passage through the flames… Harry chose to go alone…"
Padma exclaimed: "Isn't he afraid of dying?"
—Of course he is, yet he still chose to face it.
Vid's Friendship Book suddenly heated up, he opened it to see Maki's note: [It's alright].
[It's alright] can be interpreted in many ways, but at this moment, it just means one thing—
Dumbledore is back.
"Let's head to the hospital wing." Vid closed the Friendship Book, calmly said: "Even if just for your injuries, Madam Pomfrey will immediately contact Dumbledore."
The latter sentence convinced everyone, and they rushed to the hospital wing at top speed, encountering students who looked terrified—perhaps thinking these young wizards had a life-or-death brawl.
When they reached the hospital wing, they saw from afar a tall, thin figure, his long silver-white hair almost reaching his belt.
—Dumbledore was briskly walking to the hospital wing, carrying a dark-haired boy.
"Harry—" Hermione jumped off her broom, rushed over.
Harry Potter's eyes were tightly shut, his scarred body, the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, looked as if it had just been injured, red and swollen, his hands seemed to have been scalded.
Girl's tears immediately fell.
Vid looked at Dumbledore—
The greatest White Wizard didn't look serene and gentle as usual, or with that childlike craziness… his face was clearly marked with worry.
But beyond the worry, there was something else… like an emotion as deep as the ocean…