Hogwarts Outsider Chapter 171: St. Mungo’s Christmas
The wards of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Wounds are now in a festive mood.
Holly hung on the doorway, and beautiful Christmas trees, capped with enchanted snow, shone in every corner, each tipped with a twinkling gold star...
Matthew Wakefield has been here for a week.
Strictly speaking, Matthew wasn't injured at all, just a little bit out of strength...
Under normal circumstances, he only needs to go to the school hospital for a day or two, and Madam Pomfrey, the school doctor, can completely cure him...
However, because of an "accident" at Hogwarts, Matthew couldn't stay there anymore... He had to be sent to St. Mungo's, where he was slowly diagnosed by the therapists in green robes.
"We must conduct the most comprehensive and systematic testing..." said the blond therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment, "to avoid any problems... So I suggest you stay here for observation for a while In two weeks...Professor Rozier told me!"
Therefore, it is estimated that he will spend this year's Christmas here.
This is actually nothing. After all, after the "fall" of Hogwarts, I was already in a state of "homeless". Where would I spend Christmas?
The feeling of enjoying "public medical care" is actually quite good, but it is a bit of a waste of public medical resources.
……
Matthew was walking in the corridor a little carelessly——
Along the hallway are portraits of famous therapists, and crystal bubbles filled with candles float from the ceiling like giant soap bubbles.
At each doorway, there are wizards in green robes coming in and out (green robes are the standard clothing for St. Mungo's healers).
He saw a row of wizards and wizards sitting on rickety wooden chairs, some normal-looking, reading outdated copies of The Quibbler; others horribly deformed, with elephant trunks, Or a pig tail, or an extra hand on the chest...
The room is also not much quieter than the corridor, because there are many patients making very strange noises.
When Matthew passed by a ward, he found a sweaty witch in the middle of the front row fanning a copy of the "Daily Prophet", making a high-pitched siren and breathing steam; In another ward a young wizard danced in a strange way. The quick step dance, he danced two feet in turn, as if standing on hot coals...
Everything is very strange.
If you are a newcomer to St. Mungo's, you may find it very interesting;
Matthew walked through a series of double doors and saw a rickety staircase with a grim portrait of the therapist on the wall.
While climbing the stairs, the therapists yelled at him...
"Wraith Haunted!" A therapist yelled, and he chased Matthew for a full six frames, pushing the people in those words aside.
"Oh?" Matthew stopped, blinked, and asked back, "What is that?"
"A female ghost full of resentment is attached to you..." The ugly therapist said mysteriously: "The only way is to take a toad's liver and stick it to the throat, and when you are naked, stand in front of you." Only in the eyes of the barrel eel can she be expelled..."
Matthew is very interested in this, and he is just about to ask something else——
"Don't believe the nonsense of these portraits, child!" An amiable therapist with a filigree garland on her head walked over quickly, and she waved a feather duster viciously at the portraits, "Go away, don't Spread rumors to patients again!"
The healers in those portraits fled.
The witch turned around and smiled at Matthew: "Don't believe their words, these bad guys were neurotic when they were alive, and their portraits after death are restless...My dear, where do you want to go? ?”
"I want to go to the roof to breathe fresh air..." Matthew replied honestly.
"Then come with me, I'll take you there..." the female therapist said very kindly.
Following the other party, Matthew went through several double doors and walked up several stairs.
"Is there anything else I can help you with, dear?" the female therapist asked gently.
"No need, ma'am..." Matthew shook his head hastily.
……
When I came to the top of the building, I could finally smell the fresh air.
To be honest, the smell and the noisy environment in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magic and Magic are too tortured.
Although the roof is a little cold, but now I can only bear it.
Matthew took out a folded copy of the "Daily Prophet" from his pocket, and under the winter sun, he began to "shiver" and read the newspaper——
The news of the centaur riots was not concealed, just as Matthew expected... After all, so many Hogwarts students were forced to evacuate, it would be too difficult to conceal this situation.
It's just that the "Daily Prophet" said something vague about the "fall" of Hogwarts.
On the whole, newspapers don't have much valuable content.
Matthew is actually very curious about the truth about the centaur riot...
In all fairness, even if all the centaurs in the entire Forbidden Forest came out - this is impossible, Matthew believes that only a small group of radical centaurs participated in this riot, and most of the centaurs are not so stupid... Hogwarts will not be reduced to the point of abandoning school and fleeing.
Hogwarts has experienced teachers, powerful protective magic, and even the Ministry of Magic's help at this stage. There are some Aurors and dementors resident...
In addition, the castle of Hogwarts was originally prepared for war, and it was a fortress in itself. The complex staircase and countless secret passages leading to the outside of the castle are enough to prove this point.
Under such circumstances, it was hard for Matthew to imagine that Hogwarts would be completely defeated because of the riots of a small group of centaurs.
So, is there any conspiracy here?
What role did Gellert Grindelwald play in this centaur riot?
In addition, Matthew was very puzzled by the Order of the Phoenix instigating the centaurs to riot...
The Order of the Phoenix has been in contact with the centaurs for a year, and it has been heard more than a year ago... At that time, Professor Kettleburn bluntly stated in front of the centaurs that the centaurs and the half-blood giant Rubeus Hagrid I've been in touch...
But this kind of "riot" that is completely mindless and will not produce any value is not at all like the style of the Order of the Phoenix... If they really only have this ability, why did they secretly fight against Grindelwald? What about fifty years?
Breathing fresh air, Matthew's brain gradually became clearer.
It's a pity that he has too little information about these things, and he still can't guess clearly...
A gust of cold wind suddenly blows——
Matthew couldn't help shivering.
The weather is too cold. In such a cold winter, it is really impossible to stay outside for too long.
Trembling, Matthew folded the "Daily Prophet", put it back in his pocket, and began to return along the original path.
……
The hospital is naturally much warmer, but it has to face the noisy voices and various pungent smells.
When passing by the previous staircase again, Matthew deliberately took another look at the portrait wall, and looked at the portraits of the hideous therapists hanging on the wall——
It's just that this time, he didn't find the ugly therapist who said he was "haunted by spirits".
The rest of the healers saw that they were being noticed and swarmed over.
They yelled, diagnosed Matthew with many strange diseases, and came up with all kinds of terrible treatments.
Matthew ignored them and continued walking towards his ward.
When Matthew passed a small and dimly lit ward, he was almost taken aback by an oblique portrait of a sinister wizard, which read: Urquhart Lahalo (1612-1697), Inventor of the Gut Out Curse.
The Gut Opening Curse... doesn't sound like an interesting spell.
Matthew glanced into the ward by the way——
There are three beds inside.
A pale man was lying in a corner, his eyes were fixed on the ceiling, and he looked completely hopeless.
A young woman is bleeding from her wrist, and several therapists are trying to stop her bleeding...
There is one more bunk available.
This ward is a bit scary, and Matthew hastily quickened his pace.
But before walking too far, Matthew suddenly saw a slightly familiar figure in front——
"Professor Snape?" Matthew exclaimed.
Thin face, slightly long nose, and slightly pale complexion.
It was indeed the "Severus Snape" that Matthew was familiar with. He turned around, slightly startled.
"Wakefield..." he said softly, his words seemed a little awkward, "Oh, nice to meet you..."
"Why are you here?" Matthew asked curiously.
"I just came to visit a friend, um..." Professor "Snape" said absent-mindedly, "By the way, how is your health...I heard Professor Rozier talk about your health Things, you seem to be seriously injured..."
"No, it's not heavy at all," Matthew replied calmly, "I feel like I can be discharged from the hospital at any time..."
"Okay..." Professor "Snape" looked a little guilty.
"How is Hogwarts now?" Matthew asked with some concern.
Although this "Severus Snape" behaved a little abnormally, he still wanted to get news related to Hogwarts from the other party.
"Don't worry...Hogwarts is fine...you can go back after Christmas vacation..." "Severus Snape" said casually.
Soon, he found an excuse and left in a hurry.
……
A few minutes later, Matthew Wakefield returned to his hospital bed.
Still recalling the strange behavior of "Severus Snape" in his mind... He looked like a thief who was caught stealing things, he was very guilty and nervous... Of course , a Hogwarts professor is naturally impossible to be a thief, this is just a hypothesis.
The blond therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment came over suddenly, and she asked loudly, "Is Matthew Wakefield in?"
"Yes!" Matthew quickly raised his hand.
"Someone is here to see you!" The therapist pointed to the door.
Matthew was a little confused, was it Hermione... or Neville... The two of them left St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Injuries after Matthew woke up. Hermione now lives in Diagon Alley, and Neville has gone home.
At this moment, a bald old man as fat as a big elephant swaggered in——
"Oh, Matthew, my boy!" he said eagerly, "I've come to see you!"
"Professor Slughorn!" Matthew tried to get up from the hospital bed.
"You don't have to do this, kid...you have a good rest!" Slughorn held him down and shook his head at Matthew.
"Okay..." Matthew had to obey.
"Look at what good things I brought you..." Professor Slughorn said enthusiastically, "Look, this is fresh pineapple preserves, mead with two broomsticks, and syrup Pies...I know, you can't eat these delicious things in St. Mungo..."
"Patients can't eat too sweet or too stimulating things..." The blond therapist on the side said coldly.
Slughorn froze in embarrassment, and put the big bag on the bedside.
"Okay... When you recover..."
"I've almost recovered, Professor." Matthew said hastily.
"Still under observation..." the blond therapist on the side corrected.
She seemed to have something else to do, so she quickly turned around and left to get busy, which made Matthew heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank you very much for your concern~IndoMTL.com~Professor Slughorn!" He quickly became serious and apologized to his dean.
"It's a matter of course, after all, you are my students!" Slughorn said with a smile, and then he began to exhort kindly, "Remember to follow the doctor's advice and recover soon..."
The teacher and the student exchanged a few words like this.
They soon talked about Hogwarts—
"How is Hogwarts now, Professor?" Matthew blinked and asked.
"Hey!" Horace Slughorn sighed, "Hogwarts is still in the hands of those centaurs, not only the castle, but the entire campus has been occupied by them... I know when I can go back..."
Matthew was stunned for a moment. This seemed to be somewhat different from what the previous "Snape" professor said.
"Fortunately, the centaurs still follow their tradition...Draco and the others were released..." Slughorn shook his head, "Poor Draco, poor boy... ...He stayed in the centaur tribe for a few days, and he almost lost his human form..."
"Draco was also sent to St. Mungo's?" Matthew was suddenly a little curious.
"No, he wasn't hurt, so he went home to rest," Slughorn said.
"Visiting hours are over!" Just then, the blond therapist reappeared.
"Rest well, Matthew!" said Slughorn at last.
"Thank you, Professor!"