Chapter 68. Visit
Lynn's heart was in turmoil, but his outward expression remained unchanged. He didn't care whether it worked or not; without further ado, he immediately bestowed upon him the title of "newly enrolled rookie."
"I don't think I resemble anyone, Professor. I am who I am. Even if by coincidence I share similarities with someone, I will have my own direction and the right path." Lynn calmly organized his words; he had to defend himself to prevent Dumbledore from thinking in that direction.
The old bee, after nearly scaring Lynn into thinking he had ascended to heaven, nodded in agreement.
"Yes, you have your own path. From your risking your life to find Adrian in the Forbidden Forest, and from making many friends from different houses at Hogwarts, these are the differences between you and him."
In just one minute, Lynn's emotions had been on a rollercoaster. He looked at the old man before him, seething with anger, yet dared not show it.
"Alright, Bellok, if you want to know anything more about Kira, it will contact you after you leave Hogwarts at the end of this term. Now let's talk about something else." He smiled and winked at Lynn.
"Do you have any other plans for today?"
Lynn didn't know what this cunning old bee was up to, so he hesitated and shook his head.
"I have nothing else to do today, Professor."
Hearing this, Dumbledore stood up from his chair.
"That's perfect. Since you're free, come with me to St. Mungo's Hospital to visit Adrian."
Lynn's face immediately lit up with surprise.
"Professor Fawkes is awake?"
"He woke up sometime last night. The healers at the hospital say he's recovering quite well. Let's go, let's go now."
He waved and summoned Fawkes the Phoenix, letting it land on his shoulder. At the same time, he grabbed Lynn's arm and warned,
"This should be your first time experiencing Apparition. You'll definitely feel some discomfort after landing. Be careful not to throw up."
Lynn nodded hurriedly, promising he wouldn't be so embarrassing.
But then he realized he'd made a premature promise.
Fawkes the Phoenix, along with Dumbledore, disappeared from the Headmaster's office. For a moment, Lynn felt like he'd been shoved into a washing machine, his entire body twisting and spinning wildly in an extremely confined space!
It felt like only a second had passed, yet also like an eternity. In a daze, his feet were once again on solid ground.
"Ugh!"
Lynn grabbed a trash can and vomited violently.
Dumbledore seemed to have anticipated his urge to vomit; he landed right next to a trash can and shrugged.
"I told you to take it easy."
Lynn quickly vomited everything in his stomach. His legs trembled, and his face was pale. He leaned against the wall to straighten up, wiped his mouth, and forced himself to speak.
"I'm fine, Professor."
He looked up and surveyed his unfamiliar surroundings.
They were in a small square, facing a Gothic building that looked about half as old as Dumbledore, its exterior dilapidated.
A sign for Purge and Dowse was still nailed to the glass window on the front of the building, but it was rickety and seemed unlikely to survive much longer. A
"Closed for Renovation" sign hung on the door, but Dumbledore ignored it and led Lynn to the window next to the door.
Behind the glass window was a crudely made doll, extremely ugly, not at all cute. If any toy company stocked this, it would probably never sell.
"We've come here to visit a patient named Adrian Fawkes," Dumbledore said, bowing to the ugly doll.
The doll nodded slightly in a human-like manner, then waved its sewn-on hand, gesturing for them to enter.
Dumbledore took Lynn's arm and led him through the glass display case, much like passing through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
The surrounding scenery instantly changed, a cacophony of noise suddenly filling Lynn's ears, the air thick with a smell resembling disinfectant.
They found themselves in a large hall, filled with many people, almost all wizards, most of them strangely dressed.
Some had a cactus-like plant growing from their heads.
A dog with a human head on its body trotted behind a wizard in a green robe, constantly asking, "How many days until it turns back? I can't wait to try again…"
Others had empty sleeves, as if they were missing arms, but upon closer inspection, it turned out their arms were leading the way.
Lynn stared in amazement at the various wizards who resembled strange creatures, inwardly marveling at their antics.
One wizard, his neck twisted 180 degrees, walking forward but looking back, noticed Lynn's gaze and glared at him fiercely.
"You ignorant brat! What are you looking at?"
Lynn, confident in Dumbledore's presence, wasn't intimidated and made a face at him.
The wizard glanced at Dumbledore, clearly intimidated, and snorted before leaving.
Dumbledore patted Lynn on the shoulder, gesturing for him to follow.
They arrived at a table in the reception area marked "Inquiry Desk," the back of which was covered in parchment. Dumbledore quickly found the information he needed.
"Second floor, Biological Injury Department, Ben Hadley's ward. Let's go, Berlock, I've found his ward."
They went up to the second floor together and stopped in front of a ward.
A sign hung on the door that read, "Out of danger, severe penetrating wound."
Dumbledore knocked on the door, and soon Professor Fawkes' voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Dumbledore pushed open the door and left, Lynn following behind him.
Professor Fawkes was leaning against the bed reading a spellbook. Upon seeing who it was, he immediately smiled happily.
"Albus, and Lynn, thank you for coming all this way to visit me."
Dumbledore had somehow produced a carnation, which he placed beside Professor Fawkes' bed.
"I wish you a speedy recovery, Adrian."
Professor Fawkes seemed to be recovering well, and he said with a smile.
"Of course I will. I feel great now that I've avenged myself."
He then turned his gaze to Lynn.
"And you, Lynn? Have you neglected your spell practice while I was away from Hogwarts?"
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(End of Chapter)