The bed in the school infirmary wasn't very large, but for a wizard like Vid, size wasn't an issue at all.
His magic wand lay by the pillow, and Vid effortlessly expanded the bed, enough for five or six people to lie on it. When the three of them woke up, it was already daylight.
Madam Pomfrey came over with a magic potion, frowned, watched Vid drink it, and after checking, gestured that he could leave.
The three of them barely dared to breathe, and only after Madam Pomfrey left did Leian say softly, "Madam Pomfrey seemed angry."
"Of course! She hates students who don't take care of themselves," Theo also said in surprise, "I'm surprised she didn't scold you."
"Maybe because I'm a patient?" Vid said casually.
Actually, he knew it was because Professor Snape often had him bring the magic potions he practiced brewing, so Madam Pomfrey somewhat went easy on him.
At least she didn't scold him harshly in front of everyone, and compared to the treatment of others, Vid actually felt a bit moved.
The three of them tidied up the hospital bed, took their belongings, and when Vid pulled open the curtain with a "swish," many pairs of eyes turned towards them.
Vid now completely understood Theo and Leian's desire to stay by his side.
There were about ten hospital beds in the ward, mostly Slytherins, and those who were in class with him yesterday. Vid even spotted Goyle, whom he had stepped on.
In the magic world, injuries from spells recover much more slowly than physical wounds. So this morning Vid could be discharged, but many students still had to stay for another two days.
They silently stared at the culprit... or at least one of the culprits, but no one attacked them.
Despite being accidentally injured, most of the Slytherins felt a greater sense of recognition towards Vid.
He wasn't pure-blooded… not even half-blood… so what?
The Slytherins in the same grade combined were not a match for him.
The only reasonable reaction they could give was not to speak to him.
As the three of them cautiously walked out of the infirmary, Michael was just outside the door, secretly peeking in.
"Why are you like this?" Leian asked curiously.
"I'm worried Madam Pomfrey might see me. We got a good scolding from her yesterday."
Michael glanced cautiously inside again, also noticing the expressions of those Slytherins. He snickered and said:
"Vid, don't you think... even though they seem cold as ice now, almost all Slytherins would like to be your friend if you reach out."
"Forget it," Vid said, "Did you see Dumbledore this morning?"
"No," Michael replied, "but I guess he should still be in the school—I saw an owl carrying a package flying out of the Headmaster's Office window this morning."
Theo asked, "Vid, do you have Dumbledore's Friendship Book?"
"I do, but I want to talk to him in person," Vid said.
Even face-to-face conversations were hard to read into Dumbledore's mind, but at least he could pick up on his expressions and body language. Through parchment, nothing could be discerned.
Dumbledore didn't appear at the breakfast table, but when Vid sent him a message inquiry, Dumbledore quickly replied:
[I can meet at two o'clock this afternoon, I remember you shouldn't have any classes at that time—oh, and the password is strawberry ice cream.]
So this morning's Spell Class felt quite long for Vid.
Professor Flitwick seemed to have heard about what happened in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, and he spent half the class telling stories of his duels when he was young and some dueling tips.
"Move quickly, children! Don't stand there like trolls, waiting foolishly for the enemy to hit you!"
Professor Flitwick waved his magic wand vigorously, shouting. He even demonstrated in public, letting a few students attack him together, yet apart from defending, he easily dodged all spells.
Of course, everyone agreed that Professor Flitwick's agility had a lot to do with his small stature. They firmly refused to admit they were like trolls or orangutans as the professor called them.
"Alright, alright, let's take a break."
A few minutes later, Professor Flitwick said breathlessly.
When the students all stopped, he said, "Remember, not getting hit by the opponent's spell is more important than knocking them down! No matter who you're fighting, don't rush for the victory, your safety is always the most important!"
Then he gave a few examples, like a careless wizard getting hit by a Tarantallegra Charm during a fight, dancing crazily while losing his chance to retaliate, being easily subdued by Professor Flitwick.
Neville raised his hand and asked, "But… what if you don't know the Iron Armor Spell, how can you resist the opponent's spell?"
"Many ways. But the simplest and quickest method is to counter it with another spell."
Professor Flitwick said, "Spells have an invisible attraction. If two people simultaneously cast spells at each other, there's a good chance they'll collide, deviating from their original path or even rebounding."
"This is explained in detail in Chapter 3 of "Magic Spell Theory", so let's make this the topic of today's assignment, write a fifteen-inch essay."
"Oh, no…"
It was evidently a spur-of-the-moment idea, and the classroom was immediately filled with groans.
When the students all started practicing in pairs, Professor Flitwick came to Vid.
"Vid, did you remember what I just said?"
The short-statured professor asked seriously for once.
"Yes, Professor," Vid said with a slight bow, "My own safety is the most important, I shouldn't have impulsively continued to challenge Professor Abigail."
Professor Flitwick nodded and smiled reassuringly.
"Being impulsive now and then is not a bad thing, after all, you're only in your teens."
Once Vid confessed, he began to make excuses for his student. Then Flitwick added, "But remember, it's important to stop when needed, and there's no shame in running away."
"Yes."
"Even if someone calls you a coward or a chicken, know this: the person who blindly rushes into their death is the fool. If you can outwit your opponent, why would you need to bash them with your head to prove bravery?"
He winked, and Vid couldn't help but smile.
No one knew who told Professor Flitwick about what Professor Abigail said... He probably thought Vid couldn't stand the provocation, which led to actions out of character for him.
It's no wonder that at breakfast this morning, several professors at the teachers' table looked glum—did Professor Abigail, thoroughly enjoying her meal, realize the dissatisfaction of the others?