On the first day after the Christmas holiday ended, Sterling peacefully enjoyed the last bit of tranquillity in his bed.
But even this small wish probably couldn't be fulfilled.
"Knock knock knock!"
Sterling rolled up his pillow to cover his ears, but the loose feather filling couldn't block the persistent knocking.
"Terry, if you don't stop, I'm going to cast spells!"
Looking at the alarm clock, Sterling's threat was quite justified. 6:30 AM! Merlin's beard, besides those endlessly energetic Quidditch teams, had anyone seen Hogwarts before eight o'clock?
"It's urgent, Sterling! About Harry, something seems wrong with him! Ron woke us all up early this morning, but we couldn't contact you!"
Sterling looked up at the communication badge on his nightstand, which was wrapped in a shimmering bubble.
This was an object-targeted Muffliato, equivalent to a silencing barrier. The moment Sterling popped it, the badge emitted a buzzing noise, with corner "7" glowing red.
Sterling connected Ron's call while changing from pyjamas to wizard robes.
"Sterling, this is bad! Harry seems unable to wake up! I hit him, but there's no response at all..."
"Ron, calm down first. I'll be right there."
Ron's voice trembled, accompanied by faint hitting sounds.
This... he wasn't trying "physical awakening" the whole time, was he?
Sterling opened the door and exchanged glances with Terry, both sighing.
Ron hadn't thought of the most appropriate handling method.
"Terry, should you find Madam Pomfrey, or should I?"
"I'll go. You hurry to the Gryffindor common room to check on Harry. I don't have your magical level. You might notice something."
"Professor McGonagall... forget it, Ron definitely wouldn't think to send someone with a message."
When students at school show abnormalities, they should naturally first seek professors or medical staff.
Ron trusted Sterling too much, causing him to overlook Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey.
Sterling and Terry separated after leaving the Ravenclaw common room. He cast out magic power, transforming it into a white cat the moment it hit the ground, nimbly rolling and running toward Professor McGonagall's office.
Who knew if Professor McGonagall had come to Hogwarts so early... after all, rumours said she had a house in nearby Hogsmeade village.
So Sterling similarly created a small sparrow to knock on the headmaster's office door.
As for himself, he ran toward the Gryffindor common room, taking three steps in two. Fortunately, he'd figured out Hogwarts' general routes when school started. If it were Neville, who was still somewhat confused about the castle layout, who knows when he'd get from the Ravenclaw to the Gryffindor common room?
"Buzz buzz..." The badge lit up again, this time not "7" but "3".
"Sterling, I just checked Harry's condition... I think Harry's completely unconscious now, and his external senses have become very... no, completely unresponsive. I just tried bringing flames near his skin. No reaction whatsoever."
"I'm flipping through books now... Thank heavens I bought several medical charm books in Diagon Alley, but I haven't found any situation matching these symptoms yet. Neville's waiting for you at the Gryffindor common room entrance."
Hermione spoke extremely rapidly, barely breathing during those two long sentences.
But this gave Sterling some reassurance. Ravenclaw's most reliable witch was already with Harry.
Rounding another staircase, the Fat Lady's portrait glared at Neville with arms akimbo, constantly scolding him for "interrupting her beauty sleep".
Neville ignored her, staring straight at the corner. Seeing Sterling, he eagerly grabbed Sterling's hand and gave the password before the still-angry Fat Lady.
"Sterling, Harry was wrong after returning from night roaming last night... He seemed drowsy then, waking Seamus and me... then this morning he wouldn't wake up..."
Passing through the forcibly opened Fat Lady portrait, she puffed her cheeks, saying she'd tell Gryffindor upperclassmen that Neville brought students from other houses into the common room.
But neither Neville nor Sterling paid attention. Neville continued describing Harry's condition to Sterling.
"When Ron got up to use the bathroom, he stepped on Scabbers and fell on Harry's bed, pressing Harry down hard. We all woke up, but Harry still didn't move at all... We knew something was wrong. Initially we thought Ron had knocked him out, but after a long time he still didn't wake up... Then Ron tried many methods but couldn't wake Harry!"
Their dormitory wasn't far from the common room entrance. Just reaching the door, Ron eagerly opened it and dragged them both inside.
"Sterling! I still haven't found symptoms matching Harry's condition. Many similar ones, but not a single case of someone not waking up even after energy potions... Maybe the books I bought were too basic?"
Hermione rapidly flipped through books at a speed that made Sterling wonder if she could see clearly.
"Let me look... I know some analytical magic. Don't know if I can analyse his condition."
Before Sterling reached the bed, he frowned.
He sensed the white cat heading to Professor McGonagall's office had returned to magic power, meaning McGonagall wasn't found. Otherwise it should have further transformed into a note requesting McGonagall to check on Harry.
The sparrow seeking Dumbledore hadn't responded yet; it probably hadn't arrived.
As for Terry's side... couldn't expect too much.
Even Professor McGonagall, whom Sterling remembered as most diligent, wasn't at Hogwarts at this hour. Sterling held pessimistic expectations for Madam Pomfrey.
Sigh... If nothing worked, they'd have to wait until after seven, when professors would probably arrive at Hogwarts.
Sterling sat in the chair beside Harry's bed, raising his hand to scatter starlight.
"Scholar of Stars" immediately began analysing Harry's condition. Sterling estimated it wouldn't take much time.
During the wait, he couldn't just do nothing. Sterling recalled forensic identification procedures he'd once learnt about, trying to pull open Harry's eyelids.
"Ah!" Hermione's scream echoed in the dormitory.
She'd only wanted to see how Sterling was examining Harry, not expecting such a... disturbing scene.
Sterling's face also darkened. He quickly opened Harry's other eye, his tone heavy.
"Ron, where did you and Harry go night roaming last night?"
Ron sensed his unusual tone and immediately answered.
"We looked at that magic mirror again... But we've been there many times during the Christmas holiday. It shouldn't be related to that mirror, right?"
Ron understood Sterling's implication but didn't think the mirror was some Dark magical artefact. Besides, hadn't Sterling confirmed it was harmless?
"Perhaps... I think this has exceeded our capabilities."
Sterling gestured for Ron to come closer, then showed him Harry's eyes...
It was a pure white eyeball. The beautiful green had departed from Harry's body.