Deep Sea

"Even so, Wade couldn't just stand by and wait," he thought. "The young wizards who went ahead probably won't die, but injuries are unavoidable."

So much time had passed; he wondered which stage they had reached.

"I'll go check," Wade told Padma. "Curfew is almost here, so you should head back to the common room first. If I find anything, I'll tell you through the Book of Friends."

But Padma grabbed his sleeve and shook her head vigorously.

"Padma?"

"Michael said the same thing to me…" the girl choked out. "I don't want to wait anymore… waiting is worse than anything. I'd rather face the Mysterious One with you…"

Wade was silent for a moment, then sighed. "…Alright, then follow behind me."

Padma nodded and followed Wade step for step toward the fourth floor entrance.

"Meow!"

Mrs. Norris suddenly let out a sharp cry, arching her back and blocking their way.

Wade glanced out of the corner of his eye; the dried fish was still scattered on the ground, untouched.

"Sorry, but we have to get through."

As the two walked forward, Mrs. Norris first bared her teeth and retreated two steps, then her eyes darted around, and she quickly scurried downstairs.

"*Stupefy!*"

Wade waved his Wand, and a red flash hit the gray cat's back. She fell with a thud, sliding to the side of the corridor.

"Perfect! She was definitely going to tell Filch," Padma couldn't help but say. "How can there be such an annoying cat!"

"In her owner's eyes, she's the most loyal and dutiful cat."

Wade said, pushing open the half-open wooden door. Padma gasped as she saw the scene inside.

A hideous Three-headed Dog was tearing at a harp. Hearing the sound, it immediately looked at the two of them, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

Padma's lips trembled as she stammered, "Harry said… if it hears music… it'll fall asleep… Can I—can I sing to it?"

But in her panic, she couldn't remember anything to sing.

"Music, you say?"

Wade dropped a small ball onto the ground. It rolled along, and halfway through, a pleasant piano tune began to play.

"What is this?" Padma asked blankly.

"Für Elise, a classic by Beethoven," Wade replied.

"No—I mean, what is this small ball?"

Padma asked, looking at the ball that not only played music but also spun and emitted colorful light.

"A music player—the magical version."

"—Your new invention?"

"Not really," Wade said. "It's a Muggle invention; I just made a small modification."

Since he knew there was a Three-headed Dog in the chamber, Wade naturally chose to be prepared.

From the moment the first note sounded, the originally fierce Three-headed Dog began to grow drowsy. Soon, it collapsed onto the floor, fast asleep. Its six nostrils puffed out foul-smelling hot air, and its massive body filled most of their view.

Padma bravely walked around the Three-headed Dog for half a circle.

"I… I heard there should be a trapdoor here… on the ground…"

Both of them looked at the Three-headed Dog.

"Looks like it's lying on it."

Wade cast the Levitation Charm, and the Three-headed Dog was moved to the side, where it continued to lie down. Sure enough, a trapdoor was revealed on the ground. Wade grabbed the handle and opened the door, immediately hearing familiar voices—

"Great, someone's finally here!" Neville's relieved voice came. "Who's up there?"

"Wands out, Neville!" Michael warned in a low voice. "It might be their accomplice!"

Padma heard their voices and knew they were alright. She lay on the trapdoor, crying and laughing as she said, "Michael, are you all okay?"

"Padma!" several voices cried out in surprise.

"Wade's here too, we're together!" Padma told the people inside.

Then, several figures on broomsticks successively flew up through the trapdoor—

Michael was carrying Neville—Neville's leg was broken and still dripping blood.

"Good thing you came—the Three-headed Dog blocked the trapdoor, and we tried everything but couldn't get out," Michael explained.

Theo had a large bruise on his face and many small, narrow cuts on his body, as if he'd been scratched by many sharp knives;

Ryan's arm was bent at a strange angle, and he was sweating from the pain;

The most serious was Ron, whom Hermione brought up—he was unconscious, his head covered in blood.

"Oh my goodness!"

Seeing everyone's terrible state, Padma was so startled she didn't know what to do, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

"I—I didn't bring any dittany!" she stammered in a panic.

"It's alright, I have some," Wade said, pulling several Potions from his bag and handing them to everyone. "—And some pain relief."

To be honest, he admired these children. Despite such severe injuries—missing hands and feet—not one of these eleven or twelve-year-olds cried, screamed, or rolled around on the floor. Many adults couldn't manage that.

—Perhaps magic granted them some innate tolerance for pain... or the ability to heal injuries?

Ryan swallowed the pain relief in one gulp, his face pale as he said, "Harry's still down there."

"What happened in there?" Padma asked, looking fearfully at the dark hole. "Did you run into... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"No," Hermione said, her hands unconsciously clasped together. She spoke nervously, "If Quirrell and Snape wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone, it should be at the final hurdle... The black flames blocked the way, and there was only enough potion for one person to pass safely through the flames... Harry chose to go in alone..."

Padma gasped, "Isn't he afraid of death?"

—Of course he was, but he still chose to face it.

The Book of Friends in Wade's hand suddenly began to heat up. He opened it to find a message from Mikey: It's okay now.

The word okay could have many interpretations, but at this moment, it meant only one thing—

Dumbledore was back.

"To the Hospital Wing first," Wade said calmly, closing the Book of Friends. "Even if it's just because you're injured, Madam Pomfrey will contact Dumbledore immediately."

That last sentence convinced everyone, and they rushed to the Hospital Wing as quickly as possible. Along the way, they encountered students with terrified expressions—they probably thought these young Wizards had been in a life-or-death brawl.

When they reached the Hospital Wing, they saw a tall, slender figure from a distance, with silver-white hair long enough to tuck into his belt.

—Dumbledore was hurrying towards the Hospital Wing, carrying a black-haired boy in his arms.

"Harry—" Hermione jumped off her broom and rushed over.

Harry Potter's eyes were tightly closed, his body covered in injuries. The lightning-shaped scar on his forehead was red and swollen as if freshly wounded, and his hands looked as though they had been scalded by boiling water.

The girls' tears immediately fell.

Wade looked at Dumbledore—

The greatest white Wizard wasn't calm and gentle as usual, or even a little childishly eccentric... His face showed obvious worry.

But beyond the worry, there was something else... an emotion as deep as the ocean

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