Madam Pomfrey was a tall witch, skilled in healing, potions, herbology, and other forms of medicinal treatment.
According to rumors, St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries had invited her to join them three times, promising that if she agreed, she could take up the position of deputy director immediately.
Even so, Madam Pomfrey had firmly refused, saying she only wanted to stay at Hogwarts.
Of course, these were just rumors, and their truth remained uncertain. Neither Madam Pomfrey nor anyone at St Mungo's would discuss the matter.
They neither confirmed nor denied it.
It was one of Hogwarts' many small mysteries.
When Kyle entered the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey happened to pass him, handing a bottle of green potion to the young wizard lying in a bed.
"This is the last bottle of Cure for Boils Potion. Remember, you apply it. You're not to drink it again."
Then she turned and hurried over to another bed, muttering nonstop, "Why are so many young wizards brought in around this time every year?
"What are all those Hogwarts professors doing? How can every one of them be so irresponsible?"
She was clearly in a foul mood.
Just as Kyle was wondering how to speak up, Madam Pomfrey happened to look over at him.
"Merlin's beard, what happened to this child!" She hurried over and carefully laid Mikel on an empty bed, then asked without looking back, "What was it this time, Potions? Or Defense Against the Dark Arts? How did he end up unconscious?"
"Neither, Madam. It was Charms."
Kyle spoke softly. "Mikel cast a Wand-Lighting Charm, and then this happened... Professor Flitwick said he must have exhausted his magic."
"That's right, he did exhaust his magic... Wait, what did you just say?" Madam Pomfrey whipped around to look at Kyle, incredulous. "A Wand-Lighting Charm?!"
Her expression was as if she'd just seen Dumbledore pole-dancing on the Astronomy Tower.
She looked not only incredulous but also bewildered, clearly unwilling to believe Kyle.
Young wizards these days were becoming less and less reliable. Even if he was going to lie, couldn't he come up with a believable excuse?
Exhausting his magic by casting a Wand-Lighting Charm... Utter nonsense. Why not say Filius had been knocked out by one?
"It's true. The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first-years all saw it, and Professor Flitwick can confirm it too."
Kyle quickly explained, then gave her a rough account of what had happened in Charms.
After hearing him out, Madam Pomfrey's suspicions largely faded.
If first-years from two houses had seen it, word would soon spread through Hogwarts. If he was lying, it would be easy to catch him out, especially since he'd even brought Filius into it.
Madam Pomfrey turned and looked at Mikel as if he were a rare Fantastic Beast. She had never seen a young wizard with such poor control over his own magic.
From the description, that Wand-Lighting Charm sounded a lot like the result of a magical outburst.
Powerful, but uncontrollable.
But Madam Pomfrey was certain that when she'd examined the young wizard just now, she hadn't found any sign of a magical outburst. He'd simply exhausted his magic.
"Well... I've certainly learned something new," Madam Pomfrey murmured instinctively.
Kyle nodded in full agreement. He understood exactly how Madam Pomfrey felt because he felt the same way.
If casting a spell was like driving a car, then what Mikel had just done was like flooring the accelerator, draining the fuel tank, and racing two hundred kilometers in a single second.
Don't think that was a good thing.
He'd gone fast, but he hadn't been far behind in dying.
Fortunately, it had only been a Wand-Lighting Charm. If it had been Incendio... Kyle shuddered and swore that from then on, he'd keep as far away from Mikel as possible in class.
The farther, the better!
He'd thought the "explosive genius" who wouldn't enroll until next year was already absurd enough. He hadn't expected this year to produce a "forbidden-spell wizard" too.
Hogwarts really didn't let anyone sit idle.
A few minutes later, Dumbledore arrived after hearing what had happened, bringing Snape along from class.
Madam Pomfrey led them to Mikel's bed, quietly said a few words, then stepped aside.
Dumbledore bent down and carefully examined Mikel, occasionally tapping him with his wand.
After a long while, he put his wand away without a word, then turned to Kyle. "Good morning, Kyle. Were you the one who brought him to Poppy?"
"Yes, Professor." Kyle nodded.
"You did well," Dumbledore said with a smile. "And I heard what happened from Sabrina. If you hadn't helped the students who'd fallen, Mikel might not have been the only one lying here."
Kyle waved his hands quickly. "It was the right thing to do, Professor. And I wasn't the only one who helped."
"But you were the first to step forward." Dumbledore winked. "Many older students, even grown wizards, can't stay calm in a crisis. But you did, and you did very well.
"Your courage and humility have earned Hufflepuff twenty points."
Perhaps Dumbledore had accidentally hit some kind of trigger. As soon as he finished speaking, Snape—who had been looking at Mikel—turned his gaze to Kyle.
It was as if he'd only just noticed someone else was standing there.
Kyle didn't notice, though. He was looking at Dumbledore and asking, "Then how is Mikel, Professor? Can he still attend classes?"
"Of course." Dumbledore smiled. "It's a little troublesome, but not difficult to resolve. He just needs a little Magic Suppressant Potion, and our Potions Professor will have it ready soon."
"One day."
Snape came over and said coldly, "I guarantee I'll bring it here before Hufflepuff's Potions Class tomorrow. But until then, Mr. Chopper, there's something I must remind you..."
Snape paused, a mocking look on his face. "You'd better tell your friend to control his feeble brain and the wand in his hand. Frequent magical exhaustion can turn a wizard into a Squib. I assume you know what a Squib is."
"I do, Professor!" Kyle said.
"Good."
Snape ignored Kyle and left the Hospital Wing.
"I think we should be going too," Dumbledore said. "Mikel needs to rest. I suggest you come visit him this afternoon."
Before you continue