Explosion

Pandora was stunned by the sight before her, watching as the corpses had already crawled out from the stairwell, their rotting stench pressing toward the exit.

She let out a sharp scream, drew her wand, aimed at the small bundle on the ground, and shouted with all her might: "Bombarda Maxima!"

Hearing the sound, Snape twisted his body desperately in midair, trying to see if Pandora was hurt.

Everything seemed to slow down. He watched helplessly as the small bundle, under the effect of the spell, first trembled slightly, then flashed with white light, and rapidly swelled as if inflated.

Almost at the same moment, Snape reacted instinctively without a second thought, shouting loudly: "Protego Maxima!"

A translucent barrier tinged with faint blue light instantly formed, shielding the three of them.

"Boom—"

The explosion was deafening. The once-solid passage was torn apart in an instant like paper.

The staircase collapsed, walls crumbled, stones tumbled, dust filled the air, and the entire castle seemed to tremble in the roar.

The immense force instantly shattered the magic gripping Snape's ankles, sending him flying sideways at an angle.

Pandora, not far ahead of him, was also hurled high into the air by the blast. She drifted like a falling leaf, about to slam heavily into the stone wall of the corridor.

"Binding Charm! Rope Summon!" Snape shouted anxiously.

"Ah—" Pandora screamed in terror as her body uncontrollably flew toward Snape.

Using the opposing force from catching her, Snape barely managed to adjust his position in midair.

Then, the two of them crashed heavily to the ground.

Snape felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his back, the pain searing. He could barely feel his back anymore.

"Are you alright?" He gritted through the pain, untied the ropes binding Pandora, patted her as she lay on his chest, and asked loudly, "Are you injured?"

Pandora seemed not yet recovered from the shock. Dust covered her hair, and her mouth opened soundlessly.

After struggling to help her up, Snape slapped his own head hard, trying to stop his ears from ringing.

As the dust gradually cleared, the devastation of the passage was revealed.

The secret tunnel was now riddled with holes. The staircase had vanished, leaving only rubble and scattered, reflective mirror shards.

A few pale, severed limbs of corpses twitched weakly; a half-bodied corpse, like a puppet, stubbornly crawled toward them, dragging a deep black trail behind it.

Snape pinned its remaining arm with a stone, leaving it struggling in place, unable to get any closer.

"Where's James?"

His heart tightened as he remembered James was also here, and he quickly looked around.

Finally, in a corner, Snape spotted him.

James lay silently on the ground, blood streaming from his forehead down his cheek, one arm bent at an unnatural angle.

"Mending Charm." Snape waved his wand and chanted the healing spell.

As the spell took effect, the wound on James's forehead quickly closed.

Then, Snape bent down, tapped James's twisted right hand with his wand, and chanted: "Splint Charm."

Bandages wound around automatically, tightly securing James's arm to a thin wooden splint.

James let out a soft groan, as if regaining some awareness.

Snape reached out to check his breath, then slapped him across the face: "Hey, time to wake up."

James opened his eyes weakly, his face pale from pain.

His gaze was a bit unfocused as he looked dazedly at Snape, instinctively reaching up to touch his own face.

"Stop touching it, you just hit your face in the fall," Snape said irritably. "Do you know you almost caused a huge disaster?

"I saved your life, James Potter, do you understand? I saved your life!"

Before James could respond, hurried footsteps approached, and professors in their robes rushed over.

Leading the way was Professor McGonagall. Her face was stern, her lips tightly pressed, her eyes carrying authority and urgency.

Short Professor Flitwick, plump Professor Slughorn, and gray-haired Professor Gradelan followed closely behind, walking quickly.

"What is this?" Professor McGonagall stared at the chaotic wreckage, asking loudly in disbelief. "Snape! Potter! Why is it you two again!

"Flahos, why are you here too?

"Who did this!"

She looked as if she might faint from anger, her fingers trembling uncontrollably as she pointed accusingly between Snape and James.

The pinned corpse struggled, making a slight noise.

"What is that thing?" Professor McGonagall shrieked.

"Corpses," Professor Gradelan said, crouching down to examine the still-struggling corpse with a grave expression. "Not normal corpses—weaker than usual."

"Wilhelmina, what does that mean?" Professor McGonagall pressed.

"They weren't made from fresh bodies," Professor Gradelan said, sniffing and wrinkling her nose in disgust. "These corpses are nearly rotted."

"This isn't something they could have done," she said, standing up and pointing at Snape and the other two. "I think you need to explain exactly what happened here."

"Let's seal this area off first," Professor McGonagall said.

Streaks of light flashed, and magical barriers quickly took shape.

The professors isolated the collapsed passage, blocking entry and exit.

"Professor McGonagall," the caretaker, Filch, huffed and puffed as he caught up, his sallow face flushed red from running, "What's happened? More troublemaking students?"

He glared venomously at James and Snape with his sharp eyes. "Utterly lawless! You don't consider my workload at all!"

Just then, a series of urgent bells rang out from afar, jarringly loud in the silent night air.

It came from the direction of Hogsmeade.

The professors' expressions suddenly tensed.

Professor McGonagall paced anxiously on the spot, as if weighing a decision.

"Argus," she said, having made up her mind, "take the three of them to the Hospital Wing.

"Horace, Wilhelmina, the school is in your hands. Protect the students, and have the prefects bring them to the Great Hall.

"Filius, given the urgency—you're a dueling champion. Come with me to Hogsmeade."

The faculty members each acknowledged their orders and moved swiftly.

"What about Professor Dumbledore?" Snape called after Professor McGonagall's retreating figure.

But he received no answer.

Professor McGonagall hurried away, her figure soon vanishing around the corner.

The bells of Hogsmeade still echoed through the castle.

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