"Ding-a-ling…"
The bells and keys clinked together, a clear, pleasant sound.
But for Mabel, hearing that sound meant someone else was about to be taken away.
She wasn't the oldest child in the dungeon, but she had been there the longest.
Because she possessed magical abilities, she was treated as a valuable resource the moment she arrived at this place. The kind of experiments that severely damaged the body weren't used on her.
It was only later, when more children with magical abilities appeared, that Mabel's value decreased, and the experiments she endured became increasingly cruel.
But even so, she never submitted to the organization.
Mabel had great talent. If it weren't for her refusal to join the organization, preferring death, and her intense hatred for them even after losing all her memories, to the point of killing an important figure, she wouldn't have become a research subject.
During her years in the dungeon, Mabel saw countless children thrown in. They would often go from crying hysterically to realizing their situation within days, becoming docile and learning to obey.
The children always hoped that if they behaved well enough, they could leave this place—go home.
They also constantly imagined that their parents and the police would rescue them soon.
It was because they held onto hope that they endured.
But Mabel watched with cold eyes, knowing that day would never come.
Once, a researcher accidentally got his arm bitten by her. The man, enraged, dragged her by her hair from the third floor all the way to the fifth floor.
He dragged her to that hellish place.
The researcher pointed to a Diffindo-ed corpse, sneering at her, "See, my dear Mabel?"
"If you didn't have some research value, this would be your end!"
"Two underage wizards will be sent over next month, and then you won't be the only one with magic! How long do you think your special status will last?"
"Don't be so arrogant, Mabel! When you fall into my hands, I'll peel your skin off little by little… How about turning it into a pair of leather shoes? Your thick skin is perfect for shoe soles."
Mabel barely heard what he said; her ears were buzzing, and her scalp hurt as if it had detached from her skull.
She was forced to hold her head high, unable even to close her eyes, staring blankly at the corpse.
Even though only a Diffindo-ed remains were left, Mabel recognized the person by the familiar curly hair—
It was the only person she considered a friend.
Mabel couldn't control herself and vomited violently, as if she were throwing up her very heart.
"Ding-a-ling…"
Oh, right. The researcher who wanted to skin her alive was the man who liked to hang bells on himself.
Just hearing that sound made Mabel tense and tremble all over, instinctively feeling fear and loathing.
She slowly turned her head, looking in the direction of the sound.
The researcher came stumbling in, carrying a box. His mask was gone, and there was a large bloodstain on his chest.
He saw Mabel and was instantly startled, "Mabel, you actually dared to escape!"
He quickly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Mabel. Then, he seemed to understand, "Right, the attackers are devils like you. They let you out, didn't they?"
Looking at the girl trembling on the ground, and the very noticeable collar around her neck, the researcher felt he understood everything.
The collar existed to restrict a wizard's magical abilities.
Some young wizards, even without learning spells, would suddenly erupt with powerful magic, causing severe damage to the laboratory.
So later, if their magic fluctuations exceeded a certain threshold, the collar would activate on its own, restraining the wizard from a magical outburst.
This "restraint" method was, naturally, extremely painful.
Presumably, the wizards who attacked the base originally intended to rescue all the young wizards here, but during the battle, the collar on Mabel's neck was activated. She became a burden and was abandoned, left alone to die.
The researcher quickly looked around, seeing no one, and immediately relaxed.
He walked up to Mabel, grabbed her by the collar, pulled her up from the ground, pushed her in front of him, and fiercely said:
"Get up, witch! Don't lie on the ground playing dead, I know you can still move!"
"Hailey…" Mabel asked weakly, "Where's Hailey? You took her away… Where is she?"
"Hailey?" The researcher sneered, "That girl died long ago! Her heart was removed ten minutes ago! You ask where she is? She's probably in the meat grinder! Stop dawdling! If you don't want to end up like her, walk in front of me!"
The researcher yelled, poking Mabel's head a few times with his gun.
He figured that if they encountered an attack later, Mabel could serve as his shield.
If the opponents were wizards, she would also be a useful hostage.
If he could successfully escape with Mabel, then this young wizard would be a "valuable asset" he personally salvaged—
The non-magical children on the island, as well as the buildings, instruments, or soldiers, meant nothing to the higher-ups. But these wizards, even as experimental subjects, were still highly valued.
Given that he reduced losses for the organization, the higher-ups might even transfer him to a base with better benefits.
As for the responsibility for the base's collapse, Zeke and Veronica would naturally bear it. What did it have to do with him, a bookworm who only knew how to research?
The man with the bell-collar was calculating his odds. Seeing Mabel still in a daze, he didn't hesitate to kick her.
"Move it! Do you want to die?"
Mabel was treated so roughly, but for some unknown reason, her body, which had been aching so much she couldn't stand, suddenly felt much lighter, as if some barrier had shattered.
She heard her own ragged breathing, the sound of blood flowing through her body, and even, it seemed, the surging, rising sound of magic.
"Crack!"
She heard a faint sound... The sound came from very close by...
It came from the collar around her neck.
Mabel reached up and grasped the collar, only then realizing it had already completely split in two at some point, barely holding its shape.
The researcher saw her motionless and suddenly felt a pang of panic, which was quickly replaced by an even greater surge of anger!
Attacking adult wizards at the base was one thing, but how dare this little guinea pig, barely clinging to life under his watch, defy him?
His first instinct was to teach her a profound lesson, so he unhesitatingly pulled out his oddly shaped gun.
"Bang!"
A blue beam of light appeared to hit Mabel... but it seemed to pass right through her... striking the conveyor belt's connecting axle instead.
The researcher stared at Mabel in astonishment, unable to understand why this "clipping phenomenon" was happening to a living person.
Black smoke billowed from the girl's body. She turned her head, her eyes completely white. The spot where the gun should have hit her diffused like smoke, transforming into tendrils of black tentacles.
The researcher was terrified.
He gasped, his mouth wide open in horror, his heart pounding in fear. When the black tentacles wrapped around him, he let out a piercing shriek!
...
Wade was examining the small girl on the bed.
He couldn't understand why a child who appeared to have bled dry and had her internal organs removed was still alive.
This wasn't a cause for relief; rather, it was unsettling.
Wade approached, gently flicked his wand, and cast several diagnostic spells.
Due to his concerns about the future, he had learned all sorts of magic, including healing spells and diagnostic charms, which he was particularly skilled at.
A moment later, Wade lowered his wand, a look of surprise on his face.
She had indeed been disemboweled, but her internal organs were still there.
To be precise, her heart and kidneys seemed to have been removed, only to be reinserted very quickly.
Only magic could put removed organs back in place as safely and easily as plugging in a USB drive.
Although this girl had no magical ability, her body's organs had all experienced magic.
The reason she hadn't bled to death, despite blood pooling on the floor, was that she had drunk a high-quality Blood-Replenishing Potion.
The reason for her unconsciousness was the Draught of Living Death.
Could it be Dumbledore?
Wade wondered, then quickly shook his head.
The explosions and roars outside hadn't stopped. When he flew up earlier, Wade had seen several machines fly into the air, collide head-on, and then crash down, scattering parts everywhere.
Dumbledore wouldn't have the time or availability to save this girl.
Time...
Wade gradually understood.
It was him.
He had saved this child himself.
But why?
Too many people had died on this island. While this girl was indeed a sad case, why would he risk using a Time-Turner outside school?
He had promised he would only use the Time-Turner for his studies.
Although Wade didn't always stick to that promise, those instances were always within or near Hogwarts.
Reversing time outside Hogwarts could easily be detected by the Ministry of Magic, leading to him losing his Time-Turner privileges and possibly being punished for violating regulations.
Just then, he suddenly heard a scream.
Wade glanced at the unconscious girl on the bed, poured a bottle of healing potion on her wound, and then ran in the direction of the scream.
As he rushed out the door, he happened to see a man being dragged into the air by a strange black substance, then violently torn apart.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Wade's pupils sharply contracted!
That black, seemingly magical substance immediately brought a name to his mind—
An Obscurus!
When wizards suppress their magical abilities too much, or endure physical and psychological abuse, a dark force called an Obscurus brews within their magic.
This thing is uncontrollable, extremely destructive, and even constantly burns the host's soul.
But this thing... in the movies, only members of Dumbledore's family have spawned it... one was Dumbledore's sister, Ariana, and the other was his nephew, Credence.
Wade never imagined he'd see this in an ordinary girl.
But then, considering the conditions for an Obscurus to form—suppressed magic, physical and psychological abuse...
Isn't that what Mabel experiences every day?
It's not just Mabel; every young wizard here is enduring this suffering... they are all potential hosts for an Obscurus...
No wonder Dumbledore said before: "This will have very terrible consequences."
It seems terrible consequences have already manifested; it's just unclear if the situation will worsen.
No sooner said than done.
In the few seconds Wade was thinking, the Obscurus had already crushed the man. Then, it rampaged destructively throughout the building: conveyor belts were torn apart, machines twisted or flattened, walls suddenly bulged then violently cracked, and bricks flew everywhere.
A terrifying and chaotic magical power filled the entire space. Wade found it difficult even to breathe, let alone stop or counterattack.
The Obscurus was as fast as lightning. He quickly cast an Shield Charm and an Impediment Jinx around himself, barely ensuring he wouldn't be instantly killed by the thing.
This was the power Grindelwald once coveted...
Even if the host was just a little girl whose magic wasn't yet mature, it still possessed such terrifying power.
After a long time, Wade once again felt his own insignificance.
Wade didn't know if Mabel still had her consciousness. The Obscurus didn't attack Wade, who was close by. Instead, after a destructive rampage, it plunged through the floor and flew downstairs.
Wade heard the continuous sounds of instruments and structures being destroyed, and the entire building swayed precariously.
Presumably, the Obscurus was destroying the laboratory downstairs that had caused Mabel so much suffering... So, was the dungeon next? The children were still there!
Wade's pant leg tightened slightly. He looked down and saw the two small Magic Golems he had left behind earlier.
"Sorry," one golem whispered. "We didn't complete our mission."
"We couldn't protect her because her magic was too terrifying; we couldn't move..." the other golem explained.
Then, the two little guys hung their heads as if in shame.
"It's not your fault... I can't do anything about the Obscurus either."
Wade shook his head with a bitter smile and sent them to Hailey's bedside.
"This time, protect her instead. I need to leave for a bit."
"Okay," the two small Magic Golems replied in unison, then sat obediently beside Hailey, watching their master push the door open and leave.
A second later, they saw someone climb in through the window. The two little guys' eyes widened in surprise, and their small mouths formed perfect O's.
Wade smiled, raising a finger to signal them not to shout, then walked to the bed and re-examined Hailey's wounds.
He sighed.
"The healing speed is too slow... My potion skills are still so far behind Professor Snape's..."
With that, he pulled the stopper from a crystal vial and poured a fresh potion onto the wound.
The wound healed at a visible rate.
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