"What did you say?"
Dumbledore let out a sudden cry of shock when he heard it, looking extraordinarily astonished.
But when Bagman really repeated it again as told, Dumbledore's expression completely changed.
He flicked his wand, and Bagman was once more bound up. At the same time, he grabbed Link and quickly walked out of the cell, speaking solemnly, "Link, you should first return to Madam Pomfrey and rest in recovery. As for that Rebles, I will send people to investigate."
"I'll also continue to follow up on Rebles," Link said, frowning. "But what troubles me even more is, what exactly made you lose composure like this?"
Dumbledore clearly didn't want to answer this question. He shook his head, only repeating once again that Link should return to recuperate, then hurriedly left the Room of Requirement.
This left Link rather baffled.
It was just a few Galleons with the Black family's crest on them.
This kind of act, placing a family's exclusive magical mark on Galleons, not only prevented theft, but also served as a way to display one's identity to those in the know, a chance to show off.
Because of that, almost every great wizarding family knew this technique, and the act itself was permitted and registered with Gringotts.
'For Dumbledore to get so worked up… could it be that he thought Sirius Black was connected with that mysterious organization?'
This idea flashed across Link's mind, but he quickly discarded it.
No matter what, that was impossible.
Unless Sirius Black had been placed under the Imperius Curse, there was absolutely no way he could betray Dumbledore. Or more accurately, betray Harry.
Most importantly, ever since Sirius's closest kin had died, the Black family had fallen into a state of near extinction. All kinds of factions, like sharks smelling blood, had rushed in and carved away large chunks of the Black family's assets.
So, it was perfectly normal for some "Black Galleons" to still be in circulation on the market.
Link's frown only deepened. Maybe because he lacked key information, no matter how he turned it over in his head, he couldn't figure out what Dumbledore was trying to do.
Just then, Filch came close, softly calling, "Link?"
"Mm? What is it?"
Hearing Link's response, Filch obviously breathed a sigh of relief.
But then he put on a serious look and said, "I already heard from the others, you were hurt badly! So now it's best if you do as Dumbledore said and go see Madam Pomfrey for rest."
"Oh! Thank you." Link smiled warmly, sensing Filch's sincerity.
"But I don't think my condition is so severe just yet. The rest can wait a while. As for now, there are still a few questions I'd like to ask Bagman first, if I may?"
Hearing this, Filch shook his head, then smiled and pointed behind Link toward the dungeon entrance, "I knew you wouldn't listen to me. Luckily, I brought in some outside help."
Link tilted his head in confusion, then turned, and saw that Emily had appeared in the Room of Requirement at some point. She was now walking toward him with a cold expression.
"Uh, Emily, I…"
Link looked a little flustered, but before he could explain, Emily had already taken hold of him. Her movements were careful, but her attitude was firm, supporting him toward the exit.
As they walked, she forced a smile and thanked Filch.
The two of them slowly left the Room of Requirement. Only then did Link notice that the previously empty eighth-floor corridor was now packed tight with Mrs. Flamel, Cedric, and many other Hufflepuffs.
When they saw Link, the crowd erupted in a loud cheer. Only after Cedric's urging and Emily's cold glare did they quiet down again.
But their passion didn't fade. Every gaze fixed on Link was full of light.
Everyone had seen Link's performance in the Triwizard Tournament with their own eyes. Not only had he seized the championship in an overwhelming, unmatched manner, he had also endured the attack of dark wizards afterward, saving Harry Potter and Snape.
He was nothing less than a hero.
"Thank you all for your concern, but really, I'm not badly hurt, you don't have to..."
Link greeted them with a smile, but halfway through his words, he faltered. Emily's grip on his arm was tightening more and more.
Just then, Mrs. Flamel came smiling up, touching the back of Link's head with relief, "Alright, child, no need for words now. First go to Madam Pomfrey for a checkup, she's been waiting for you for quite some time."
The moment she spoke, Cedric and the others reacted, chiming in to persuade Link.
Surrounded like that, Link was all but half-forced into the hospital wing, onto the bed that had already been prepared for him.
Watching Madam Pomfrey busily feed him potions, massage, cast spells… finally even tucking him in like a small child, Link's eyes brimmed with helplessness.
He knew his condition perfectly well. His internal injuries were troublesome, yes, but not nearly bad enough to warrant all this fuss.
After all, the potions he'd brewed himself, with extinct recipes and top-grade materials, were extremely effective.
What exasperated Link even more was that once word spread that he was back in the hospital wing for treatment, more and more people came to visit him.
Whenever Madam Pomfrey was busy and not watching, they would pack his entire ward full.
Luckily, they knew where they were and stayed restrained, not making too much noise.
With no choice, Link kept greeting them one by one. Then the crowd suddenly stirred.
A lean, middle-aged man entered with three youngsters squeezed in close.
"Harry?!"
Seeing that pale, frail face in the middle, Link gasped. "You're awake?"
"Yes. Madam Pomfrey's skill is truly superb. And honestly, I barely got hurt." Harry gave a wry smile, nodding, then, looking rather emotional, said, "I came especially to thank you. And also, about what happened in the Tournament, I think we really need to, ah!"
Harry's words cut off mid-sentence as Hermione jabbed him hard.
Only now did Link notice how disheveled Hermione looked.
Her usually soft, tidy hair was messier than ever, her face swollen, her eyes red and puffy, clearly from crying.
Compared with Harry, her way of showing gratitude was far more direct.
Ignoring Emily's furious glare, she leaned in and hugged Link tightly.
"Thank you. Thank you for bringing Harry back!"
She whispered hoarsely in his ear.
Link's desire to survive kicked in instantly. He gave her only a light, loose hug without actually touching her with his hands, shaking his head, "No need for thanks, it was nothing at all."
Hermione thought he was just being modest, and cried harder.
But only Link knew the truth, saving Harry had really been nothing to him.
After all, Voldemort's main target was him, not Harry.
After that, Ron, and even Sirius Black, who had always disliked Link, came up in turn to thank him.
Ron acted like any other Hufflepuff fanatic, while Sirius… looked so awkward that Link almost felt embarrassed for him.
Just then, Madam Pomfrey finally returned.
The moment she saw the crowd crammed into Link's ward, her hair nearly stood on end in fury. She roared, "The patient needs rest! All unrelated people, out! Immediately! Now!"
She even waved her wand as she spoke.
The room descended into chaos as everyone was driven out, even Sirius, long graduated, got a sharp smack on the head from Madam Pomfrey, with the scolding, "You're a grown man, yet still as thoughtless as a child!"
Link was secretly delighted.
As for Emily and Mrs. Flamel, clearly Madam Pomfrey didn't consider them "unrelated people."
Once the room quieted again, Link suddenly remembered something and asked, "How's Professor Snape? His injuries were about the same as Harry's, he should be awake by now, right?"
"Professor Snape is awake, yes," Emily said, "and Madam Pomfrey said his injuries aren't serious, actually quite mild, but…"
She trailed off awkwardly, lowering her head.
She thought it unreasonable that Snape, perfectly fine, hadn't come to see Link, especially when so many others had.
Mrs. Flamel, however, covered her mouth and laughed.
Link laughed even more openly.
He knew Snape too well.
For him, last night's failure, not saving Link and Harry, but instead being saved by Link, was a humiliation.
Right now, Snape was probably curled up in a corner, gnawing his hand in shame.
Picturing it, Link laughed harder.
But then his eyes suddenly met Emily's faintly reproachful gaze.
His laughter cut off instantly. He pushed himself up and smiled, opening his arms to her.
For a moment Emily froze, but soon her eyes reddened again and she threw herself into his embrace.
This time Link held her tightly, feeling her trembling body in his arms, and he sighed softly in his heart, "I'm sorry for worrying you."
Emily didn't reply, only hugged his arm tighter.
Only this way could she ease the lingering fear in her heart.
Watching them, Mrs. Flamel's eyes also reddened with emotion.
But she knew she didn't belong in this scene.
Silently, she gestured to Link, "Take care of Emily", and only after his nod did she quietly leave the ward.
"Whew."
Out in the hall, Mrs. Flamel let out a long breath, then quickly walked toward the entrance hall.
Though she hated to leave Link, she had other matters to attend to and had to depart Hogwarts soon.
The corridor was dim, lit only by scattered torches. The flickering shadows cast her expressionless face into something dark and angry.
At some point, two figures, one tall, one short, had silently appeared behind her, the German old wizard, and Krell.
Without turning her head, Mrs. Flamel said coldly, "I'm very disappointed in you."
Krell knew she meant him. He shrugged indifferently,
"But in the end, it worked out, didn't it?"
"You know how badly he was hurt?" Mrs. Flamel's voice suddenly rose, though her steps never faltered. "You nearly got him killed!"
"He's grown up now. He's no longer the boy who needed to hide behind you! And for a true man, scars are their greatest medals!" Krell's face twisted fearsomely as he jabbed at his own hideous blind eye.
"Besides, the true master of the Flamel family has never been you, but Link! You have no right to judge my actions!"
"Heh."
A mocking laugh, thick with scorn, came from the tall German wizard at their side.
This instantly enraged Krell. He whipped out a matte-black dagger and waved it toward the German wizard, "If you dare make that disgusting laugh again, I'll slit your throat! And remember, boy, Link's surname is Flamel!"
The German wizard's expression hardened. Clearly wary of Krell, he didn't laugh again, but instead said coldly,
"So what? We can give him far more."
At that, Krell bared his sharp teeth in a gruesome grin, threatening, "Go ahead and try."
"We will."
"I'll be watching."
The brief clash of words ended there.
Mrs. Flamel had not said another word through the whole exchange.
She neither blamed Krell for throwing Link into danger, nor praised the Germans for their sacrifice.
She simply stood there, staring at Krell and the German.
Her gaze was like one watching two stray dogs snapping at each other.
———
At the same time, in a vast, dimly lit conference hall, filled with a sinister atmosphere, another quarrel was raging.
Lord Voldemort, dressed in deep green silk robes, was free again.
His expression vicious, he paced back and forth across the floor. Suddenly, as if unable to hold back any longer, he strode forward and flung a solid wooden chair with all his strength.
"Just a little more! Damn it, I was so close to success!"
His hoarse, icy voice echoed through the chamber.
The chair he'd thrown was struck midair by a flash of green light, vanishing instantly into nothing.
"Ha! Powerless rage!"
At the far southeast end of the table, a mysterious wizard cloaked in black sneered.
As he spoke, he blew lightly on the tip of his wand.
Clearly, that Killing Curse just now had been his doing.
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