104
Chapter 104: Return to the Chamber
Taking in so many wounded, Madam Pomfrey initially feared Hogwarts was under attack by a dark wizard army. Fortunately, the injuries, despite their severity, were swiftly addressed by her expertise.
Harry Potter, however, remained unconscious. After a discussion with Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey allocated a separate ward for Harry's care.
Wade unpacked some provisions and shared them with everyone—hunger gnawed at them so intensely it seemed they could eat their own chests. Amid devouring their food, the young wizards recounted to Wade what had transpired beneath the trapdoor.
To safeguard the Philosopher's Stone, the professors had set up various defenses. The first involved a Devil's Snare under the trapdoor to break their fall. Unfortunately, Neville landed poorly and fractured his leg on the first level, awaiting rescue nearby.
Next was the challenge of the flying keys. Harry, showcasing his seeker skills, managed to capture the correct key, while Theo suffered bruises protecting others.
They then faced a perilous game of wizard's chess. Ron, accompanying Harry, won the match but was struck unconscious by a chess piece. He remains in that state.
Following that was a confrontation with a gigantic creature, larger and fiercer than the one encountered on Halloween. The young wizards fought valiantly, resulting in injuries. Ryan broke his arm, and others sustained various wounds.
"Were we up against a troll?" Wade asked, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah, a foul creature," Theo confirmed with a sigh. "Can't believe you faced off against one of those without a scratch half a year ago!"
"If the trolls were set up by Quirrell, the one on Halloween was likely released by him to cause chaos," Michael added. "He even feigned terror and fainted at the time!"
Wade frowned but said nothing further.
—The original trio had not faced the troll.
The Butterfly Effect? Still...
"In the final level, we were trapped by flames. Professor Snape's potion allowed forward passage, another backward, with the remainder being poison and nettle wine."
Hermione's voice trembled slightly as she continued, "I solved Snape's puzzle. Harry proceeded forward, while the rest of us each drank a potion and intended to retreat with Ron and Neville... you know the rest."
Though her tone remained composed and logical, Hermione tightly clasped her fingers, her hair seemingly on end, body taut as a drawn bowstring.
"Hermione!" Padma suddenly leaned over, embracing her friend. "Don't blame yourself... Harry chose to confront that person—it's not your fault... and he will recover, won't he?"
Gently prying away Padma's grip, Hermione revealed scratches on her hand, likely self-inflicted during her turmoil.
"You don't understand, Padma," Hermione confessed, leaning into her friend's shoulder, tears streaming freely.
"It's not just worry for our unconscious friend... but the anguish and fear of watching him face death..."
Observing the boys around her—though tearless—Wade noticed a subtle change in their demeanor. It was as though a quiet transformation had taken place within each of them...
Suddenly, a commotion at the door interrupted—
"No visitors until Potter awakens," Madam Pomfrey asserted sternly.
"Ma'am, we wish to visit Theo and Ryan—we're from Hufflepuff House," a voice pleaded.
"...Alright, but quietly," Madam Pomfrey relented.
A bustling group entered—these students, likely having spotted Theo and the others on broomsticks with injuries, sought updates.
With the wounded now surrounded by "visitors," Michael and Wade exchanged a knowing glance—apparently, being unscathed meant they were considered spectators, attracting little attention.
Thus, the two slipped out of the infirmary unnoticed.
"I want to revisit the Chamber," Michael sighed as they neared the door. "With Harry now out, the flames blocking the way may have dissipated... I want to see what lies in the final Chamber."
"Let's go together," Wade agreed.
"Absolutely," Michael chuckled. "You must be curious too—how Harry Potter once again turned danger into victory?"
In truth, Wade harbored no curiosity.
He simply... felt compelled to see.
The level beneath the trapdoor lay in ruins. Riding brooms, they navigated through stone corridors and brightly lit chambers until reaching the final room.
It was a spacious chamber with a vaulted ceiling, stone pillars rising from the floor, and lingering flames dancing around them.
In the room stood a massive mirror. Its ornate golden frame bore engraved words, supported by clawed feet.
"Look, Wade."
Michael crouched suddenly, prodding a wizard's robe with his wand beside the steps. "If I recall correctly, this belonged to Professor Quirrell—look, even his scarf—"
His words halted abruptly, eyes widening in horror as he stepped back.
Meanwhile, Wade stepped forward, conjuring a cylindrical bottle to collect some dust from the ground.
"Wade!" Michael's voice quavered. "Do you know what that is?"
"Remains of Professor Quirrell—and the vessel of You Know Who."
Wade capped the bottle, gazing at the ash-gray dust within. "Could prove useful."
Suddenly, eerie whispers filled the air—
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
"Disturb the dead, and the living shall perish... the nameless dead receive no reward..."
"Wade Gray... Michael Corner... do you seek eternal rest?"
Michael's limbs turned weak, goosebumps prickling his skin. Clutching Wade's arm, he stammered, "W-Wade... you... you must discard those... quickly..."
Wade shivered momentarily, then realized something—
"Weasley?"
Wade murmured softly.