Inside the ward, Emily was just standing at the doorway, gazing at Link.
Clearly, she had rushed over with a heart full of anticipation, there was even a layer of fine sweat still lingering on her forehead.
But when she truly saw Link sitting on the hospital bed smiling at her, she was suddenly at a loss for words.
The two of them just stared at each other like that, in the ward, saying nothing.
They could remain silent, but a little guy couldn't hold back anymore.
Emily's school uniform collar gave a sudden twitch, and before long, the little head of Yoyo poked out from inside.
"Gyaa!"
Yoyo shot out instantly, spread its wings, covered Link's head, and began rubbing against him forcefully.
While rubbing, it kept letting out sounds like "ying ying ying," as if it was crying.
Seeing this, Link hurriedly reached out to pat and comfort it, and finally managed to pull Yoyo off.
"Sss sss sss!?~ (Who is this guy!?)"
Arkam also slithered down from Link's arm, staring at Yoyo with an unfriendly expression.
Hearing that, Link had just opened his mouth, intending to explain, when Yoyo once again spread its wings, bared its tiny fangs, and started letting out "ga ga ga" threatening sounds at Arkam.
Yoyo obviously recognized that the little snake before it was the basilisk from earlier, but it still didn't show a shred of fear.
It was a high-sensitivity, high-offense assassin. It could even bite through a fire dragon's skull, let alone a mere basilisk.
Arkam, seeing this, also bared its venomous fangs in anger. The snake and the beast began exchanging "sss sss sss" and "ga ga ga" noises back and forth.
Looking at these two little guys full of jealousy, Link's lips curled into a faint smile.
He grabbed one with each hand and pulled them apart. Then, speaking separately in Parseltongue and normal language, he said,
"You two are companions, okay? No fighting."
Hearing that, Arkam flicked its tongue, glared twice at Yoyo, who was still hooking onto Link's collar with its little claws, and then slithered back into Link's blanket.
As for Yoyo, seeing this, also turned back into a shelled form and hung around Link's neck.
Only then did Link redirect his gaze to Emily.
At this moment, her head was still lowered, like a schoolgirl who had done something wrong, standing at the door.
"Emily, come here." Link said softly. Only then did she slowly shuffle forward to the bedside. She first shyly gave Link a glance, then quickly looked down again, reaching out to hold Link's hand.
Seeing this, Link raised an eyebrow and deliberately put on a stern expression,
"Why are you holding my hand?"
"Be… because when I was little and sick, my mom did this,"
Emily lowered her head even more, "She said… doing this will help people get better."
"But Dumbledore said my injuries have already been healed by Madam Pomfrey."
"Ah! R… really?"
Hearing that, Emily blushed and flinched, quickly trying to pull her hand back, but as soon as she moved, Link instead grasped her hand in return.
Emily's hand was a little cold, and slightly damp. It was clear she was nervous.
Link sighed and said, "Don't you have anything you want to say to me?"
"I-I'm sorry." Emily's body trembled a little, and then came a voice like a mosquito's hum.
"I didn't do all that just to get you to say sorry. You've done so much for me in the past, I've seen it all. But from now on, you don't need to anymore."
Link rubbed Emily's small hand. He could feel her body tremble again upon hearing that. "Didn't you say before that I was your sun? Then from now on, I'll be the one to protect you. I'll always stay by your side, be your sun, and help you chase away that annoying moon."
Tears began to fall from Emily's eyes, landing on her black school robe and spreading into small, faint wet patches.
She kept crying silently like that with her head down, and after a long while, finally lifted her head, revealing a radiant smile through the tears.
"Mm!"
Seeing that, Link smiled too. The two of them gazed at each other for a long while.
Then Link suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, when did you watch March Comes in Like a Lion?"
"March Comes in Like a Lion? What's that?"
"Eh? You've never watched it?" Link asked in surprise, because Emily's line about the sun clearly came from March Comes in Like a Lion.
But Link soon tossed the surprise aside and continued with a grin, "It's okay if you haven't, I'll tell you the story!"
Emily sniffled, and the smile on her face became even brighter. She nodded and made an adorable sound, "Mm!"
———
Two hours later, Emily was lying on Link's bed, asleep, with a happy smile still on her face.
And after telling her the general story of March Comes in Like a Lion, Link finally left the infirmary and headed toward the Headmaster's Office.
By now, it had been nearly 20 hours since Link had passed out, and Hogwarts had once again welcomed the night.
But unlike the usual quiet, Hogwarts Castle still had some signs of life inside it now.
Many Aurors dressed in long coats like ordinary passersby were still patrolling within the castle.
Thanks to the Hyper-Sense Charm, Link could clearly sense the numerous glittering magical reactions hidden beneath their wide cloaks.
Clearly, they weren't as harmless as they looked.
They all seemed to recognize Link. Seeing him walking alone through the castle, they didn't question him.
And Link also showed no surprise at their presence.
From the earlier conversation with Emily, he had already learned most of what had happened after that night.
Turns out, not long after Link fell unconscious, Dumbledore and the Aurors had arrived.
They extinguished the fire in the Forbidden Forest, sealed off the entire battlefield area, and brought Link and the others back to Hogwarts.
Arkam was secretly hidden away by Dumbledore during this process.
As for the blame for the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, according to Emily, it seemed to have been once again placed on the Eight-Eyed Giant Spiders.
Those unlucky creatures were first wiped out by Basilisk Arkam and Tom Riddle, then scorched by Link with fire, and now, the Aurors were still hunting them in the Forbidden Forest.
Link guessed that Hagrid must be very sad right now.
Because from now on, there would no longer be such a thing as Eight-Eyed Giant Spiders in the Forbidden Forest.
As for the Aurors currently stationed at Hogwarts, they were here to maintain law and order in Hogwarts.
Thanks to them, Hogwarts was now fully under military-style control, and the students could finally return to their dormitories to sleep.
After briefly sizing up these elite combat wizards from the Ministry of Magic, Link continued walking and arrived at the entrance to the Headmaster's Office.
The monster gargoyle began to sing out in a melodic tone. But before it could finish the phrase, Link interrupted it expressionlessly, "Honey-fried chicken."
"Ugh… you annoying little brat!"
The monster statue grumbled while jumping aside, revealing the round arched doorway behind it.
Link walked straight in and entered the office.
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