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Professor McGonagall had taught students for many years and had seen countless geniuses, as well as the outstanding performances of certain students. But the terrifying power of that thunder and fire intertwining in the distance just now... was all of this really the combat strength a third-year student should possess?
She felt that her teaching experience and her understanding of "student ability" seemed so pale, even somewhat "out of place," in front of Lynn.
However, worry instantly overrode shock. No matter how special this child was, he had just gone through a dangerous battle! Was he injured? Had he been eroded by the Dark Arts?
"Minerva..." Dumbledore seemed to want to say something, but Professor McGonagall had already rushed out. She arrived by Lynn's side almost instantly.
"Don't move!" Professor McGonagall's voice was stern.
Without allowing any argument, she grabbed Lynn's arm with such force that even Lynn was stunned for a moment. Her other hand had already drawn her wand, and she began a rapid full-body examination of Lynn from head to toe.
"Professor, I..." Lynn tried to explain that he was in good condition and there was nothing wrong.
"Be quiet!" Professor McGonagall interrupted him sternly, her brow furrowed as she failed to find anything wrong.
Professor McGonagall looked up, her eyes sharp as they met Lynn's, and her voice rose unconsciously.
"This is too dangerous! Mr. Lynn! Facing such a dangerous thing alone... do you have any idea what the consequences could be if even the slightest thing went wrong?! I'm taking you to the School Infirmary this instant to have Poppy give you a comprehensive check-up."
Lynn: "..."
He opened his mouth and cast a pleading look toward Dumbledore, his eyes saying, "Headmaster, please say something!"
Dumbledore met Lynn's gaze, then looked at the determined expression on Professor McGonagall's face. He pondered for a moment and then shook his head at Lynn.
With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, the massive protective shield enveloping Hogwarts Castle dissipated as quickly as a receding tide, revealing the Castle's original quiet silhouette.
The Stone Sentinels also seemed to receive a command, returning to their original positions and turning back into silent statues once more.
"Minerva's concern is not without reason. Lynn, you did exceptionally well tonight, far exceeding anyone's expectations. But a post-battle check-up is a necessary procedure, not only for your health but also to ensure no hidden dangers remain. Listen to Professor McGonagall and go let Poppy examine you properly; that way, we can all rest easy."
Lynn: "..."
...In the Castle corridors leading to the School Infirmary, the usual tranquility was gone.
The deafening explosion from earlier, the soaring firelight, the giant protective shield that had suddenly appeared and disappeared, and the Professor's curfew had long since alerted all the students remaining at school.
As the restriction was lifted, many students poked their heads out from various corners and porches upon hearing footsteps.
Thus, they witnessed such a scene: Professor McGonagall, tightly gripping Lynn's arm, walking past with a serious expression.
"Look! It's Lynn!"
"Professor McGonagall is holding onto him... what did he do?"
"It definitely has to do with the explosion and firelight outside just now! I saw it—a huge fire, and thunder!"
"Merlin, he couldn't have..."
Whispers spread through the corridor like a plague. The students' eyes widened, filled with curiosity and speculation, and thus various outrageous conjectures began to breed.
Soon, through the students' "genius" mental gymnastics and word-of-mouth, a shocking rumor began to fly everywhere:
"Have you heard? Lynn from Hufflepuff set a huge fire outside the Castle, trying to burn down Hogwarts!"
"More than that! He even brought accomplices. Professor McGonagall was so alarmed she activated the Castle's defensive magic!"
"He was caught red-handed by Professor McGonagall and is being escorted to the dungeons right now."
"Setting fire to Hogwarts! Is he crazy? Will he be expelled?"
Lynn couldn't hear these increasingly exaggerated discussions for the time being. He had already been "escorted" to the entrance of the School Infirmary by Professor McGonagall.
"Poppy, give this child a comprehensive examination! He just faced at least three powerful alchemical constructs alone, used high-intensity offensive spells, and may have come into contact with the dark arts."
Upon hearing this, Madam Pomfrey immediately put down what she was doing and walked over quickly. She scanned Lynn from top to bottom and then nodded to Professor McGonagall.
"Leave him to me, Minerva."
Only then did Professor McGonagall slightly loosen her grip, but she still urged Lynn worriedly,
"Cooperate well with Madam Pomfrey, Lynn. Stay here tonight; you aren't allowed to go anywhere."
She then looked at Madam Pomfrey. "If there's any situation, notify me or Headmaster Dumbledore at any time."
After receiving an affirmative reply from Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall gave Lynn one last look before turning and walking quickly out of the School Infirmary. Clearly, she still had to handle the pacification work after the Castle's defenses were deactivated.
Next, Lynn underwent an extremely "detailed" examination. Madam Pomfrey used no fewer than ten types of diagnostic spells, ranging from blood to soul, and from bones and muscles to mental fatigue.
Lynn felt like a rare specimen being studied.
After a long while of fussing, Madam Pomfrey finally put away her wand, and the serious expression on her face softened a bit. She walked to her desk, recording as she spoke,
"Hmm... based on the current examination results, there are indeed no major problems with your body."
She paused, glanced at Lynn, and added,
"It's just that your mind seems a bit overexcited. This is not conducive to mental recovery and physical relaxation."
As she spoke, she walked to a cabinet filled with bottles and jars, took out a bottle of potion, and handed it to Lynn.
"Drink this Tranquility Potion. It will help calm your emotions, soothe your mind, and promote deep rest. Stay here for observation tonight; if there are no abnormalities tomorrow morning, you can go back."
Lynn took the crystal bottle, which felt cold to the touch. However, for some reason, as he stared at the slightly rippling liquid in the bottle, a sense of hair-raising dread suddenly crept up his spine.
Just as he was about to pull out the stopper, Madam Pomfrey had already finished packing her things and was walking toward the door with her clipboard.
Without looking back, she left a piece of medical advice: "Remember to dispose of the bottle after drinking; don't leave it in the ward. I really don't know what Snape..."
Madam Pomfrey's voice gradually faded into the distance.
Pop!
With a soft sound, Lynn still pulled out the stopper.
In an instant—
A highly impactful odor suddenly erupted from the bottle's mouth!
That smell was like surströmming exposed to the midsummer sun for three days, mixed with fermented swamp silt, and then infused with a little essence of sulfur and expired milk. It instantly filled the entire ward area!
"Blegh—!!!"
Caught off guard, Lynn was hit full-on by this "fragrance." His stomach churned, and his vision even went dark for a moment.
His hand shook, and he almost threw the bottle away.
Damn Snape, who taught him this potion brewing method!
Wait... it seemed to be himself. Then it's fine.
With a pinch of Fiendfyre, Lynn burned the potion along with the bottle to nothingness, leaving not even ash behind.
Suddenly, Lynn heard a familiar voice coming from the adjacent ward:
"Gag—cough cough! Shit! Dammit! Why does this hellish potion still taste like this?! Blegh—"
It was Professor Lupin!
Lynn was stunned. Why was Professor Lupin back in the School Infirmary again?
He went to the adjacent ward and opened the door, only to see Professor Lupin's limbs and chest wrapped tightly in bandages. He was currently lying on the hospital bed, dry-heaving every now and then.