Chapter 218 Conversation in the Closed Ward

After filling in the information and registering, Meliam went through the hospitalization procedures for Lockhart and prepared to place him in a closed ward.

Loren and Ms. Pomfrey followed the female therapist, intending to visit the ward and understand the treatment plan before returning to Hogwarts. One would report to Dumbledore and the other to Vice Principal McGonagall.

Meliam led the three of them to the door of Janus Sitch's ward, pointed at the door with her wand, and said "Open the Alaho Hole", and the door opened in response.

"He doesn't know who he is, and he doesn't remember how to come back when he goes out. This is too dangerous for him. So we have to place him in a closed ward to prevent him from running out." Meliam explained with worry.

She held Lockhart's arm tightly and entered the ward. She placed him on a bed against the wall in the room, leaving a pen and paper for him to practice signing quietly beside the bed.

Holding the record book in her hand, she explained the follow-up treatment plan to the two of them: "His soul and memory are like oatmeal just out of the pot, a messy mess. The problem of soul and consciousness is very difficult. We We can only rely on intensive treatment and luck to help him regain some consciousness."

"Don't worry even if he can't recover. Someone will take good care of him. The generous Mr. Lucius Malfoy recently donated a large amount of money to the hospital." Melia squinted her eyes and smiled warmly.

Loren was silent and listened quietly to the therapist's arrangements. Ms. Pomfrey was memorizing some key points. She wanted to report to Professor McGonagall when she went back.

There were other patients living in the ward, a wizard with a sallow complexion and a sad face, a witch with a hairy face...

As well as the two innermost beds, there is a wizard with a swollen body and dull eyes, and a witch wearing pajamas with a thin and haggard face. Her eyes are particularly big, her hair is mottled and withered white, and her hands Clutching inside was a piece of Chui Bao Super Bubble Gum wrapping paper.

There was a dull knock on the door outside the ward, and Meliam suddenly remembered something. She quickly glanced at the calendar on the wall and exclaimed: "Oh, I almost forgot, Mrs. Longbottom is here to visit today. day!"

Madam Pomfrey sighed slightly at the name.

"Here you go, wait a minute!" Meliam greeted and hurriedly opened the door to the ward.

Loren had a vague guess in her mind. She followed the female therapist's movements and looked toward the door, and saw two people walking in from the door.

An old witch who looked a little scary was wearing a green robe. Different from the healer's green robe, this one was more brilliant in color and the patterns on it were more luxurious. The old witch was clad in moth-eaten fox fur, and her pointed hat was decorated with stuffed vultures.

Behind her was a little boy with reserved movements - Neville.

At the door, Neville's grandmother was communicating with the therapist about the recent situation of Neville's parents.

Neville obviously noticed a few more people in the ward. His eyes first stayed on Lockhart for a long time, then looked at Madam Pomfrey, and finally looked at Loren with a meaningful expression.

The footsteps gradually approached. After Neville whispered hello to Madam Pomfrey, he looked complicated and greeted Loren in a dazed voice: "Loren, I didn't expect to see you here."

He paused and couldn't help but complain: "So just like Seamus said, you couldn't wait to take action right after the holiday, and even sent Lockhart directly to St. Mungo's Hospital?"

Um! ?

What do you think we are like dark wizards?

"What are you talking about!" Loren retorted without confidence, but given the facts, his rebuttal was weak.

He muttered: "We solved the basilisk and found out the heir to the Chamber of Secrets. Lockhart just..."

Neville didn't hear the rest of the words clearly, but he nodded clearly: "Poor Seamus, he really missed it."

The patient's condition is very stable. Just like in the past ten years, there is no good news and no bad news. It can be said in just a few sentences. Madam Longbottom came closer, greeted Madam Pomfrey, and then turned her attention to Loren.

Neville's grandmother obviously heard their conversation and said kindly: "Is he your friend, little Neville?"

Neville had never understood Ron so well when he was called this name in front of his roommates. He had been called "Baby Ronny" by his brothers countless times in public.

Neville's round face suddenly turned red. He didn't dare to look at Loren. He wished he could use some magic right away and appear anywhere in the world, just not here.

"Loren, Loren..." His grandma read it twice and stretched out a withered, eagle-claw-like hand for him to shake, "Yes, yes, Neville told me about you. It was you who taught me His method of freezing pears helped him overcome many difficulties, isn't it, you are a good boy."

"Hello, Mrs. Longbottom, Neville always thinks of you in front of us. In school, he often says he misses his grandma." Loren shook hands politely and complimented Neville a few times.

But this sentence did not sound like a compliment to Mrs. Longbottom. She looked down at Neville along her pointed nose with stern eyes and said harshly: "You are really worthless. You should concentrate on studying in school. What do you think of me!" I have to say, you don’t have your father’s talent and you don’t have much talent.”

Neville opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. His blushing face gradually lost its color and turned pale.

Loren's eyebrows knitted together as he heard this. No wonder Neville lacked self-confidence and was always submissive. With this kind of parents and this kind of educational environment, no one would be able to be autistic.

Seeing that his grandma was still scolding Neville, Loren retorted: "Mrs. Longbottom, Neville is not lacking in talent. He has his own unique talents. In fact, he performed very well last semester."

"His grades in Herbology have always been good. After getting a new wand, Charms and Transfiguration have also made rapid progress. He passed the selection exam and entered Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club. In the dueling course, he performed very well. Out of extraordinary ability.”

Loren turned to look at Neville, who had been looking down at the floor and shoes, and raised his voice, "Didn't you tell your grandma?"

Neville was a little at a loss and froze on the spot, not knowing what to say.

"Really, oh, I mean, he never showed any signs." Mrs. Longbottom was pleasantly surprised, but she couldn't quite believe it. The terrifying vulture specimen on her hat kept shaking.

"I...I..." Neville had never encountered such a scene before, and he stammered and was speechless.

Seeing this, Loren glared at him angrily and turned to argue with Mrs. Longbottom: "As early as the first year, Neville could beat Slytherin's Vincent Crabbe by himself. Mrs. Longbottom, if you are well-informed, you should know that that person is a little dark wizard who has been taken into custody by the Ministry of Magic. At this year's duel club event, he dared to take action against the python summoned by the little dark wizard and protected it. Other students. It can be said that he is the bravest one."

Joy overflowed from every part of Mrs. Longbottom's body, but she tried hard to restrain herself from completely believing Loren's words. She turned her gaze to Madam Pomfrey aside, trying to seek confirmation from the resident therapist at Hogwarts.

Madam Pomfrey nodded.

She was very familiar with Neville. Among the second-year wizards, Neville was the one who went to the school doctor's office most frequently. Not to mention the accidents in the Potions class, just falling down the stairs, being teased by various plants in the Herbology class, and being too close to Seamus in the Charms class. These accidents meant that Neville had to meet Madam Pomfrey almost every week.

She was very fond of this little boy, and Ms. Pomfrey added: "He is also very talented in the field of therapist."

Isn't that right? A long-term illness can lead to a cure...

"Oh - the blessings of our ancestors!" Mrs. Longbottom was so excited that she almost fainted. She held on to the bed frame and staggered towards the two innermost beds, mumbling incoherently, " I have to tell them the news, I have to tell them the news..."

"Grandma!" Neville called, and followed her to help her go inside.

Madam Pomfrey sighed softly.

Loren thought for a moment and followed him. He was also curious about the status of Neville's parents.

When Mrs. Longbottom actually walked to the two hospital beds and looked at her swollen son and her daughter-in-law with white hair and thin face, she couldn't say anything.

She was too old, and the violent fluctuations in her mood put a greater burden on her body than usual. Mrs. Longbottom found a seat beside the bed and sat down, breathing hard, with a smile that was half happy and sad at the corner of her mouth. .

His mother's bulging eyes lit up when she saw Neville. She didn't seem to want to speak, or was unable to speak, but she timidly gestured towards Neville.

"Another one?" Mrs. Longbottom said tiredly, "Very well, Alice, very well - Neville, take it, whatever it is..."

Neville was very familiar with this action. He stretched out his hand and opened his palm in front of Alice. His mother gently placed a piece of Super Bubble Gum wrapper in his palm and closed his palm happily.

Then he hummed an unknown song from his mouth and slowly lay back on the bed with a smile on his lips. It seems that this simple action can bring satisfaction and happiness to her who lacks consciousness.

His father sat cross-legged on the bed, looking at the group of them, seeming to have taken in everything just now, laughing silly, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, onto the saliva towel pinned to his chest.

Loren observed the situation of the two of them. As adult wizards, their magic power was very weak. Not even Neville could keep up with it, and it was even weaker than Lockhart.

Probably not using magic for a long time, coupled with a twisted soul and a weak body, caused the magic power in the body to continue to weaken.

However, there were no traces of other magic on them, which meant that it was not jinxes and curses that continued to work on them.

There was a look of interest in Loren's eyes... From this point of view, without the interference of a long-lasting curse, if the magic is re-cast to splice their twisted souls and broken consciousness, there is still a possibility of healing.

Mrs. Longbottom on the side regained her breath: "You should be proud, Neville, proud! You should be proud!"

"I know," Neville said shortly.

She stretched out her neck proudly, like a proud swan or a proud old crow, and declared to Loren and others in a proud tone: "My son and daughter-in-law were tortured crazy by the mysterious man! "

After saying this, she began to pant again. Neville held the candy wrapper tightly with one hand and gently stroked his grandma's back with the other to help her straighten her breathing.

"Can you tell me their specific situation?" Loren asked gently.

Neville looked at Loren and then at Madam Pomfrey, his eyes evasive, obviously not wanting to untie the scar again.

"Neville! They didn't sacrifice their health and sanity just to make their only son ashamed of them!" Mrs. Longbottom said sternly, a little angry.

Neville took a deep breath, and a sense of powerlessness made him look up at the ceiling.

Mrs. Longbottom urged loudly: "Say it! Speak it proudly!"

Loren already regretted asking the question. He opened his mouth to ignore it, but Madam Pomfrey stopped him by pressing his shoulder.

Neville's eyes dimmed and he spoke with difficulty: "My parents are Aurors, both of them."

"They are very talented. Both of them are very respected in the magical world!" Mrs. Longbottom added.

Neville continued: "They have escaped from Voldemort's clutches three times..."

Mrs. Longbottom's breathing became more rapid when she heard Voldemort's name...even she didn't dare to say that name directly.

"After the fall of Voldemort, they were captured by the Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange——" Neville's expression was painful, but he gritted his teeth and continued to tell, "Bellatrix was right They used the Cruciatus Curse, which affected their souls and drove them mad, never to regain consciousness."

At this point, Mrs. Longbottom smiled with satisfaction. She finally recognized Neville's changes and believed that he could inherit Longbottom's glory.

So is it the Cruciatus Curse... Loren looked at the smile on the old witch's face and insisted that there was a big problem with Neville's family environment.

After bidding farewell to the Longbottom family, Madam Pomfrey took Laurent out of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries and embarked on their return journey.

"Madam Pomfrey."

"Um?"

"Does the Cruciatus Curse directly affect the soul?"

"In fact, the mainstream view in the academic community is that the three unforgivable curses all directly affect the soul, which is one of the reasons why they are rated as unforgivable."

…

Half an hour later, Loren sat at the desk in the principal's office and reported Lockhart's situation to Dumbledore, but the main content of the report was about Neville's parents.

"Principal Dumbledore, do you remember that I have a mirror that can reflect people's hearts and penetrate deep into their consciousness. If I can use it to create the deeply broken consciousness of Neville's parents and piece them together, is it possible to heal them? "

The silverware on the table was puffing out white smoke, Fox was dozing on the perch, and most of the portraits of the old headmasters on the wall were also dozing, except for Headmistress Delise Derwent, who once served as St. Mungo's Headmaster. therapist.

Principal Derwent shouted excitedly in the picture frame: "What a genius idea! In the past, we were helpless about the injuries to the soul, because the soul is too mysterious and ethereal, and we don't know where to start!"

"If the soul is projected out and created into an illusion that can be seen and contacted, the repair of the illusion can repair the damage to the patient's soul!" She, who had always been steady, almost cheered regardless of the image, but soon frowned again, He seemed to have a headache, "I just don't know what the projection of consciousness will look like. If the self-protection in it materializes, it may cause harm to the person who enters the illusion. You must know that it is also damage at the soul level..."

The steam smoke from the silverware swayed in front of Dumbledore's eyes. He leaned on the desk and looked at Loren with a smile, feeling extremely satisfied.

His original intention was to let Loren realize something through Lockhart's tragic situation, and stay away from the path of spying on people's hearts and manipulating them. Although Loren seems to have no regrets about Lockhart, he has other surprising gains.

With such beauty in his heart, Dumbledore believed that Loren and Tom were fundamentally different.

The old principal brushed aside his somewhat obstructive beard and generously took out a box of cockroaches from the drawer: "Principal Derwent's concerns are reasonable. I will discuss this matter with some scholars who study the soul."

Why does it feel like this person is suddenly happy?

Loren glanced at Dumbledore with confusion, but his attention was quickly attracted by the pile of cockroaches. It was not until his cheeks were bulging that Loren remembered: "By the way, there is one more thing. Voldemort last night Have looked for me..."

He told the intelligence about Voldemort's plan to lure people from Azkaban, concealing only some trivial details.

Dumbledore's blue eyes reflected the white mist, hazy. With his wisdom and experience, he could easily detect that part of the content was missing.

But he was very reassured that as long as Loren's heart was still bright, having a little secret was not a big deal.

"Well, if he wants to save it, let him save it." Dumbledore said leisurely.

"Um?"

"After all, I'm not an official of the Ministry of Magic. I can't stop him, can I?" Dumbledore spoke like a naughty child.

So Loren understood that this old silver coin wanted to use his trick...

The two people's minds slowly focused on the last few pieces of cockroaches. They chewed faster in their mouths while staring at each other, for fear that the other person would eat one more piece than themselves. He also talks from time to time to divert the other person's attention and slow down the other person's ability to destroy the candies.

The little wizard asked hastily: "Well - are the distinctive characteristics of those famous wizards really related to magic? I mean, is the love you have always admired really magical?"

The old wizard raised his eyebrows, hurriedly swallowed the candy in his mouth and stuffed another piece: "Of course, the love in the heart is the most powerful magic power."

…

The snow outside the window was falling non-stop, as if it was burying the whole world in pure white.

In 1992, it came to an end amidst the swirling snowflakes.