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Chapter 160 — I'm Going to the Hospital Wing!!
"Sit."
Professor McGonagall's voice snapped the air like a whip.
Her expression had returned to its usual strict sharpness, and Harry and Ron dropped into the chairs immediately.
She raised her wand.
Harry and Ron's hearts shot into their throats.
They knew McGonagall wasn't the type to hex students…
But they'd caused so much trouble this time that anything felt possible.
Maybe it was a punishment spell.
Maybe this spell required them to stay seated.
Whatever it was, they both curled up in their chairs, silently swearing that no matter what she did, they were not leaving Hogwarts.
Thankfully, McGonagall only lit the fireplace.
A burst of flames filled the grate, warming the room.
"Explain," she said coldly.
Harry hurried through the whole story in one breath, barely stopping for air.
"So," Professor McGonagall said once he finished, "why didn't you simply send a letter with your owl?"
Harry and Ron stared at their shoes.
They were stuttering, unable to answer.
Mostly because Snape had asked the same thing… and because now that they were thinking about it properly, the answer was embarrassingly obvious.
But in the moment, their panicked brains had decided there was only one solution: drive a flying car.
A knock—no, a bang bang bang—hit the door.
Dumbledore entered, face more serious than usual.
Snape stepped in behind him, looking far too pleased.
Harry's stomach dropped.
Dumbledore being here meant something official.
Something big.
Probably expulsion.
Suddenly, being smacked by the Whomping Willow felt nostalgic.
"Why did you do this?" Dumbledore asked quietly after a long pause.
"We—"
Before they could explain again, Snape cut them off sharply.
"The reason they did it," Snape said coolly, "is to make a spectacle. I heard them saying tomorrow's Daily Prophet headline would be about them again. Of course Potter wouldn't waste such a chance to show off."
"WE DIDN'T THINK THAT!" Harry snapped, anger flaring.
Snape had deliberately stayed quiet earlier—not because he respected McGonagall's authority, but because he'd been waiting to slander them in front of Dumbledore.
"You two think far too much of yourselves," Snape sneered.
Harry was almost certain that if Dumbledore and McGonagall weren't present, Snape would've tried to strangle him.
"Oh, Severus," McGonagall sighed, "don't be so harsh. They are still children. They deserve a chance."
"So we're not exp—expelled?" Ron asked, eyes round as saucers.
Dumbledore nodded.
Both boys sagged with relief.
Harry noticed Snape's expression tighten with irritation—almost disappointment.
Clearly, Snape had been looking forward to tossing them out.
"That said," Dumbledore continued, "I will be writing to your families. And this is your only warning."
Harry and Ron cheered despite themselves.
"Dumbledore," Snape interjected, "they also damaged a very valuable Whomping Willow."
"Oh, Severus," Dumbledore said mildly, "Minerva will handle the rest. They are her students after all."
Snape muttered something like a swallowed curse as Dumbledore gently steered him away.
He cast Harry one last poisonous look before disappearing down the corridor.
Harry didn't care.
He was just grateful he wasn't being thrown out.
"Write to the Dursleys?" he muttered. "I'm not scared of that."
"Weasley," McGonagall said, turning to Ron, "go to the hospital wing and have that eye looked at."
She pointed to the dried blood near his brow.
"I'm not going!" Ron said quickly.
"I want to see my sister's sorting!"
"It's already over. Your sister is in Gryffindor," McGonagall replied without expression.
Ron whooped.
Harry ignored him. His voice shook with urgency.
"Professor… I want to go to the hospital wing. I need to see Darren."
Even after hearing that Darren was stable, dread still gnawed at him.
"No," McGonagall said firmly. "Madam Pomfrey is furious tonight. Don't even think about sneaking in. There are already dozens of students trying."
Her voice softened—just barely.
"You don't need to worry so much, Potter. As long as you're safe, Darren will recover quickly. You know he worries about you the most."
Harry's throat tightened.
"Of course," she added sharply, "don't ever pull a stunt like this again. I have no desire to expel a brave—if reckless—student and lose another who is excellent in both character and academics."
Harry nodded so fast his glasses nearly fell off.
McGonagall exhaled, then said, "Because of your actions, Gryffindor will lose fifty—"
"But Professor, school hasn't even officially begun yet! Doesn't that mean—"
McGonagall hesitated. Her lips twitched—not quite a smile, but looser.
"…Fine. No point deduction. But detention will still stand."
Harry and Ron looked noticeably lighter.
Though Harry still wished more than anything that he could run straight to Darren.
"For now," McGonagall said, "stay here. When you finish eating, go straight to bed. If you wander again… I will deduct points from Gryffindor."
She tapped the table.
A plate of sandwiches and a jug of pumpkin juice materialized.
Then she swept out, flinging open Snape's office door with more force than necessary.
Ron sighed dramatically.
"What a disaster…"
He grabbed a sandwich and stuffed half into his mouth.
"Who would believe we'd run into so much in one day? All because of that stupid platform!"
"Yeah," Harry muttered. "Why wouldn't it let us through…?"
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