Back to St Mungo's

"Before the banquet begins, let us give a round of applause to Professor Sprout, Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake successfully healed all the petrified victims..."

Dumbledore's words drew thunderous applause.

Colin and Justin appeared before the crowd as they pushed open the door, sparking another round of cheers.

When they returned to their respective house tables, the young wizards gathered around them, chattering excitedly, with Ernie Macmillan being the loudest:

"What does a living Basilisk look like?"

How does it feel to be petrified?

"Were you conscious while you were lying in the hospital? Could you hear other people talking?"

"Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you bored?"

"To be honest, I'm a little envious," Ron said, picking up the chicken leg in front of him. "No classes or final exams, that's actually pretty good, isn't it?"

Loren swallowed the baked snail in his mouth and said quietly, "I can help you lie in the Hospital Wing for a year. Want to try it next school year?"

Ron, with a chicken leg stuffed in his mouth, shook his head frantically.

Dumbledore patiently waited for them to quiet down, then announced in a loud voice that Gryffindor had won the House Cup again, causing a burst of cheers from the Gryffindor table.

Padma of Ravenclaw remembered what he had heard in the Quidditch stands and couldn't help but steal a glance toward the High Table.

Professor McGonagall smiled broadly, frequently raising her glass in celebration with Professor Flitwick beside her. Dumbledore maintained his gentle smile, nodding at her when their eyes met.

Professor Snape remained expressionless. He seemed to sense her gaze, turned to look at her, but glanced at her briefly before looking away.

"It was just a joke Loren was making to Hermione, how could it be true?"

Padma found his absurd idea somewhat amusing, shook his head to dismiss it, and began to focus on enjoying the food at the banquet.

The celebration lasted a long time. In the latter half, the young wizards, having eaten their fill, ran around the Great Hall, chasing and screaming.

Colin squeezed between Harry and Ron, excitedly pestering them for details about the Basilisk Incident.

"That Basilisk is awful! It broke my camera. Don't worry, Harry, I'll get a new camera next semester and I'll definitely keep taking pictures of you," Colin shouted.

Harry's smile froze, and the food in front of him seemed to have lost its flavor.

Justin rushed over from Hufflepuff's table, grabbed Harry's hand, and apologized endlessly, saying he shouldn't have doubted him.

Ginny somehow found her way to the Ravenclaw dining table and was talking absentmindedly to Luna, her ear constantly turned toward Cho Chang beside her.

The faculty and staff in the High Table looked at the young wizards below with gentle smiles in their eyes, ignoring the fact that their noise almost shattered the starlight on the dome.

Professor Kettleburn chuckled and said, "That's what makes Hogwarts so memorable. The students are always so energetic, and sometimes they're even more adorable than the Fantastic Beasts."

"Silvanus, even if you say that, I still need you to retire and have some time to enjoy your old age." Dumbledore raised his goblet to him.

"Yes, yes..." Professor Kettleburn murmured, his mind not on the food and drink, but on his longing for the Castle and for these noisy little wizards.

"I think the animals are cuter," Hagrid said, his mouth full of beef stew in red wine, his words slightly muffled.

Professor Kettleburn's gaze fell on the Half-Giant and lingered for a moment.

Loren had attended several Hogwarts banquets before, but this was his second End-of-Year Feast. He noticed many things he hadn't seen before, such as the graduating students shouting the loudest, and the first-year wizards all looking around curiously...

Every year, this scene unfolds: one group of young wizards arrives in small boats, only to depart when another group arrives, leaving behind seven years of memories.

When the bright sunshine returned to Hogwarts, their final grades were handed out. Percy handed out the thick stack of parchment Grade Report one by one, seemingly enjoying the task.

The Grade Report was filled with "O (Excellent)" all the time.

Loren glanced at the Grade Report casually, then covered his face with it, leaned back, and sank into the sofa to continue sleeping. The sunlight streaming through the window made him feel lazy and comfortable; it was the perfect time to sleep.

After Hermione finished looking at her Grade Report, she naturally turned her gaze to him. The little Witch's eyes darted around a few times before she tiptoed over and took off her Grade Report.

Seemingly unaccustomed to the sudden bright sunlight, his eyelashes trembled a few times. Hermione simply covered his eyes with her hand, gently shielding him from the glaring sunlight.

She tiptoed and sat down on the armrest of the sofa, checking his Grade Report with her other hand. A happy smile spread across Hermione's face, "Tie for first place..."

After receiving his Grade Report from Percy, Neville automatically skipped the Potions Master section. When he saw the big "O" (Excellent) next to Herbology, his smile almost reached his ears.

Harry, standing on tiptoe, peeked at his Grade Report from behind and angrily denounced, "Snape gave you a 'P' (fail)? If he hadn't been standing behind you the whole time, you should have at least gotten an 'E' (exceeded expectations)!"

"Exactly!" Ron chimed in.

Both of them passed the exam with very high scores.

But Neville himself didn't feel regretful; he laughed happily, "Just like Ron said, life isn't always smooth sailing."

Just then, Percy returned after handing out the Grade Report: "By the way Neville, Professor McGonagall said Headmaster Dumbledore wants to see you. He wants you to go to the Headmaster's office. The password is ' Fizzing Whizzbees.'"

Neville blinked, looking somewhat flustered, and asked, "Did Professor McGonagall say what it was about?"

"No. But don't worry, your grades are very good, you'll be fine."

"Yes, I understand."

Not long after, Neville returned looking dejected. His eyes were red, and he walked absentmindedly to the sofa where Loren was sleeping.

He opened his mouth, then hesitated and closed it again.

He turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, he turned back.

When Hermione came to her senses and was about to smother the Grade Report in Loren's face, she looked up and saw Neville pacing back and forth between her and Loren.

"Neville, are you looking for Loren?" Hermione's face was a little hot as she gently woke Loren.

"I, I..." Neville stammered.

Loren opened his eyes and saw Neville's expression beside him—a timid joy, a hesitation that needed confirmation, and a hint of fearful disbelief.

Neville met his gaze and exclaimed in surprise, "Loren, I—"

"It's true. If you're not sure, just give it a try."

Neville stood there, stunned, just as confused as Harry. Could he really read minds?

Loren knew without a doubt that Dumbledore must have said something. He sighed and said, "Neville, don't worry, the holidays are coming soon, and we'll have the results quickly."

"The results will be in soon..." Neville murmured as he left.

The bright, warm sunlight streamed through the window and fell on him, but Loren could no longer fall asleep.

Hermione asked softly, "Why not give him a definite answer? With Headmaster Dumbledore involved, Neville will believe it, and that will make him feel much better."

"Because I cannot guarantee success, it is the cruelest thing to extinguish the hope that is within reach of someone."

As Neville anxiously awaited news, the Hogwarts Express whistle blew.

In front of the gates of Hogwarts.

"Why are you guys staying a few more days?" Ron asked, annoyed. "I wanted to play Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans with you guys in the train car."

He pushed his suitcase irritably. "Forget it, I won't ask anymore. Loren and Hermione, you two are always so secretive. Harry and I are used to it."

Harry was also confused. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know what you're up to, but I wish you all the best."

He pulled out a quill pen and a piece of parchment, wrote a number twice on it, then tore it in half and handed one to each of them. "Remember to call the Dursley house, okay? Sirius Black's been busy with something, saying he might not be home for summer vacation, and he's only been talking to Dudley for two whole months. I can't stand it..."

"Loren and I are neighbors, so one copy is enough." Hermione smiled and nodded, putting the note into her pendant.

"Hmm," Harry said with a complicated expression, "Okay, see you next semester then."

"Goodbye!"

Harry and Ron dragged their luggage and caught up with the group. Ron excitedly put his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Write down your phone number too, quick, quick! My dad will definitely be able to call your house."

They were laughing and joking, and their suitcases looked almost weightless.

After the two left, Draco appeared out of nowhere, dragging a suitcase that was also weightless, and said goodbye to Loren and Hermione.

"Are the Storage Scale useful?"

"Very convenient."

"Have a nice summer vacation." Draco hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't say anything more. "See you next semester."

Loren and Hermione nodded. "Have a great summer vacation, see you next semester."

Like an ancient behemoth falling into slumber, Hogwarts fell silent, quietly exuding a unique aura.

After an unknown amount of time, accompanied by a loud whistle, a plume of white steam rose from the platform, and the two watched as the Hogwarts Express roared away.

"Professor Flitwick is going to examine my Apparition at the Edge of the Forbidden Forest. It should be over before lunch!" Hermione said first, a smile on her lips revealing undisguised smugness.

"Then wait for me at school, and we'll Apparition home together." Loren smiled. "I'll go to the Headmaster's office to find Dumbledore and Neville, and then go to St Mungo's Hospital."

The two parted ways in the Entrance Hall; one went towards the Forbidden Forest, and the other went upstairs.

Half an hour later, the figures of an old man in a white robe with a long beard and two children, one fat and one thin, appeared in front of an old-fashioned red brick department store.

A large sign reading "Closed for Renovation" hangs on the dusty door, and the old signboard has the name Taotao Co., Ltd.. written in a blurry pattern.

Just like the last time Loren came, it looked deserted and dilapidated, never having opened for business. There were only a few broken mannequins in the window, wearing wigs askew, in different poses, and dressed in clothes from at least ten years ago.

Dumbledore nodded to the ugliest model in the center. "Hello, we've come to visit Frank Lomberton and Alice Lomberton."

Neville knew this place like the back of his hand, and Loren had been here once before. When they saw the dummy nodding and waving, the two instinctively grabbed Dumbledore's clothes, and the three of them disappeared through the glass.

Upon entering the crowded waiting room, the sounds around me suddenly became noisy. The Witch waiting for their appointments sat on rows of wobbly wooden chairs, their faces covered with extra eyes and noses, even elephant trunks and fish eyes.

All sorts of strange and unusual sounds emanated from their bodies: steam whistles, elephant calls...

Male and female Healer dressed in green robes moved among the waiting patients, their chests embroidered with the emblem of St Mungo's's: a cross made of a wand and bones.

Upon entering St Mungo's Hospital, Neville, who had been anxious, suddenly calmed down. Looking at the patients with terrifying symptoms, Neville tilted his head and said, "I actually always hoped that my parents had these strange illnesses. I mean, they look very strange, Healer know what's wrong and how to treat them."

Loren said softly, "Then you may get your wish. Today you will be able to see the lesions on your parents' bodies."

Dumbledore heard it, his deep blue eyes flashing with complex emotions, but he did not participate in the conversation between the two young wizards of the same age.

Behind the plump blonde Witch sitting at the inquiry desk, Headmistress Dilys Headmistress Derwent opened her eyes from her portrait frame and nodded and smiled at them. Dumbledore nodded in return.

First floor - Artefact Accidents; Second Floor - Department of Magical Creatures; Third Floor - Department of Magical Diseases and Curses; Fourth Floor - Department of Potion and Herbology Poisoning; Fifth floor - Department of Spell Damage; Sixth floor - Tea Room and Shops.

There were some stains on the sign, but they didn't affect readability.

"If I were here alone normally, I would definitely go to the sixth floor to buy some gifts for visiting the patients, but today I might have to be impolite and go straight to the ward," Dumbledore said, leading the two of them to the fifth floor.

An old woman dressed in a green robe and wearing a pointed wizard's hat stood guard at the top of the stairs.

Neville saw her from afar. "Grandma!"

"Albus!" The old woman came forward, touched Neville's forehead, and pulled him behind her. "This must be the Mr. Morgan you mentioned."

"Augusta." Dumbledore her hand.

Loren nodded politely. "Hello, Mrs. Longbottom, we met here last time."

"Good boy, good boy..." Mrs. Longbottom's lips were pressed into a straight line, her solemn expression tense, making the wrinkles on her face even more obvious.

She didn't voice any of the many questions she had been pondering for a long time. After a moment of silence, she said, "Let's not waste any more time. Let's begin."