Slughorn

The moment Wade pushed open the hospital room door, he caught a heavy smell of sedatives mixed with blood.

Only a single kerosene lamp was lit in the room, leaving it dim. In the corner, a hunched figure was curled up on the floor, wrapped tightly in dark green robes like a frightened hedgehog.

"Don't use the Lumos Charm, and don't speak loudly." Pai Yi, the young healer who had brought them there, quietly warned Wade and Harry. "He's afraid of bright lights and loud noises."

The sound of several people entering had already startled the patient huddled in the corner. He twitched reflexively, trying desperately to hide himself, and said hoarsely:

"No... don't come closer..."

Wade saw that he was an extremely thin, bald old man. Even his nightclothes hung loosely on him, like curtains draped over a skeleton.

His exposed neck and wrists were covered in bandages, with dark red blood faintly seeping through them.

Ordinary wounds could heal in the blink of an eye under the effects of Potion. Wounds that still required bandages and continued to bleed either contained severe toxins or had been inflicted by Dark Magic.

Dumbledore slowly walked over and said gently, "Horace, it's me, Albus..."

"No... no..."

Slughorn suddenly began to tremble violently, flailing his hands wildly before him as he screamed, "I don't know anything... Let me go... Please, let me go..."

He slammed himself against the wall several times. Dumbledore hurriedly flicked his Wand, preventing him from hurting himself further.

After Slughorn was restrained by the spell, he struggled frantically for a few moments, then abruptly stopped. A sickly gleam lit his clouded eyes, and his lips stretched into an exaggerated smile.

"Oh, oh, thank you for the pineapple. Yes, I like it very much..."

A flush appeared on his