Chapter 54

As Lys turned around, eager for another piece while still wolfing down her food, she found herself face to face with a large furry creature.

Her already fragile nerves finally shattered completely after this terrifying encounter.

Lys's eyes widened to an impossible degree, as if trying to shield herself from the disturbing sight before her.

Objects around her began to vibrate and leap before settling back into place, while the kettle and teacups on the bedside table shattered one after another with resounding crashes.

The Headmaster and professors, sensing the crisis, attempted to contain and channel Lys's runaway magic, finding they could suppress but not redirect it.

Dumbledore noticed that Lys's gaze remained fixed on the stuffed animal he had conjured.

With a snap of his fingers, he vanished the puppy toy, but the child - Stalys Black - showed no signs of recovery, though her condition stabilized.

"Hiss, hiss," came a sound as her shirt rustled, and a plump snake emerged, its broad white triangular head nuzzling against its owner's face.

The floating objects crashed to the ground as the magical energy finally dissipated, and the shattered potion bottles released their aromatic contents into the air.

Lys took a deep breath while stroking Gaben. She couldn't let Gaben get hurt. Gaben was comforting her.

Gaben had no fur... thank goodness...

Just as Slughorn began to relax, he watched in horror as the child began bleeding profusely from her nose, a disturbing smile playing at her lips, and her eyes turning blood-red.

Glancing around, he realized that among those present, only Flitwick - that dunderhead in potions - was here, as Madam Pomfrey was surely tending to Madam Pince.

So among the three - no, four people present, as McGonagall had just arrived - he was the only one qualified to care for this child?

Sighing in resignation, the Potions professor quickly examined Lys's condition, finding her magical energy dangerously depleted.

He searched through the surviving potions and located two vials of Magic Replenishing Potion and Blood-Stopping Potion, followed by a Dreamless Sleep Potion. He promptly administered these to the poor child.

A more thorough examination and treatment would have to wait until Madam Pomfrey finished treating Madam Pince.

McGonagall, arriving slightly late, hurriedly inquired about the situation while casting "Scourgify" and "Reparo" spells.

When she learned that the child had been triggered by the stuffed animal, McGonagall's expression darkened considerably.

She vividly remembered Lys telling her how she used to love small animals, but after being hurt by students from her own house, she could no longer bear the sudden sight of anything furry.

And now look at her pet - a snake, perfectly smooth and hairless. Those responsible students would definitely face serious detention!

When McGonagall reached out to help change the child into comfortable pajamas, the snake suddenly reared up, slightly baring its fangs in warning for McGonagall to keep her distance.

Sensing Gaben's movement, the sleeping Lys stirred, seeming about to wake.

Seeing the child stirring, Slughorn quickly pulled McGonagall back, waving his wand to tuck the blankets more securely around the child.

Once they saw the child was being cared for, Flitwick and Dumbledore retreated to the inner chamber.

Flitwick, having witnessed the library's terrible state, was concerned for his colleague's safety.

Dumbledore, meanwhile, felt rather embarrassed.

He had tried to comfort a child by conjuring a stuffed animal, only to trigger a magical outburst - hardly befitting a wizard of his years and experience.

Madam Pomfrey's face was grim. "The situation isn't good, Albus."

Albus Dumbledore promptly asked what the problem was.

"Madam Pince appears to have been cursed or enchanted by one of the books. Her mental state is unstable, and she subsequently suffered severe blood loss from the attack. These wounds aren't all - see this silvery area? These are particularly resistant to treatment. I shudder to think what might have happened without that child's intervention. We might have lost her, Albus."

That night, Flitwick, Dumbledore, and Madam Pomfrey studied Madam Pince's condition.

Meanwhile, Professor Slughorn and Professor McGonagall dealt with the Restricted Section of the library, temporarily reinforcing the magical barriers and enchantments to prevent any wandering or rule-breaking students from getting hurt.

When Slughorn returned the next morning, he too had been bitten - by the book that had been struggling against its chains, which had finally broken free just as Flitwick had left with Lys and Madam Pince the night before.

While treating his wound, Madam Pomfrey glanced at Lys. The snake beside the child was too vigilant, preventing her from examining the girl. However, it appeared the child was merely suffering from shock and needed rest.

McGonagall placed Lys's belongings - parchment, wand, water bottle, and other items - on her bedside table, quickly retreating from Gaben's defensive perimeter.

Madam Pomfrey had explained that it wasn't a local species of snake, and the infirmary's antidotes had been destroyed in yesterday's chaos, so everyone should avoid touching the child to prevent being bitten by the protective snake.

Though some professors objected to a student keeping a venomous snake, given that the school letters clearly specified only owls, cats, or toads were permitted, McGonagall firmly defended her.

"Oh, leave it be. Due to our oversight, this child has already suffered quite a shock. Are we really going to take away her pet now?"