Amidst the panic of everyone in London, the city's shaking ceased.
People's hearts, which had been in their throats, slowly began to settle, yet before they could breathe a sigh of relief, a series of violent explosions erupted from beneath the entire city of London.
Rumble!
Beneath the ancient city, soil and rock disintegrated inch by inch as Amanda's explosively growing magic was vented in the form of a Levitation Charm.
Under her influence, London was nearly being uprooted.
The speed at which items in the ward rotated around Amanda was so fast that it generated a suction force.
The three Professors had to use the Shield Charm with all their might to barely block it, preventing that suction from pulling themselves or even the medical staff behind them toward her.
Lying on the hospital bed, Amanda's face bore an unprecedented expression of anger and ferocity, which actually added a touch of life to her appearance.
Just as the sounds coming from beneath London grew more intense, ripples of gentle and peaceful magical fluctuations arrived from the distant sky.
Finally, they brushed over Amanda, and the soft magical ripples flowed continuously through her body.
Amanda's wildly surging magic finally stabilized gradually, and the speed of the items spinning in the ward also slowed down.
London, which had been on the verge of being uprooted, "sank" back into the ground once more.
The images in her mind were deeply etched into her memory, and those voices were instinctively and firmly imprinted into Amanda's brain.
A few clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes, her clenched hands relaxed, and Amanda's struggling, twisting body returned to a state of calm.
The blinding light finally vanished, and Professor McGonagall and the others reopened their eyes, only to be met with the sight of a ward that was nearly destroyed.
Only Amanda still lay peacefully on the bed, spotless, her face as expressionless as ever.
It was as if nothing had happened just now.
"Is... is it over?" the nurse asked tremulously, her gaze toward Amanda on the bed now filled with awe.
This magic intensity... is she really just a Young Wizard?
"It's over," Professor McGonagall nodded, tucking her wand back into her robe pocket.
She walked to the bedside and reached out to press against Amanda's brow; she had seen the child frowning just a moment ago, but now there was no need for her to help smooth it out.
"Her body is fine; to be precise," a doctor said, using a professional diagnostic spell on Amanda and looking at her with a complex expression, "the explosive growth of magic just now caused more than half of the effects from the Crucio to vanish."
"She should be fine after a good week of rest."
"That's good," Professor Flitwick breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at the doctor. "Please calculate the hospital's losses; I will pay for them at cost."
Under the support of Amanda's explosively growing magic earlier, the items in the ward had endured magic far beyond their own limits.
Therefore, at the very moment Amanda's magic stabilized, those items all turned into dust and scattered on the floor.
Even a Mending Charm couldn't save them.
Hearing Professor Flitwick's words, the doctor quickly raised his hands and waved them vigorously. "No need to trouble yourself, Professor Flitwick. This is all normal medical wear and tear."
Normal medical wear and tear? Professor Snape's brow twitched violently; even if they weren't professional healers from St Mungos, they knew this explanation was a bit too far-fetched.
However... the three Professors glanced at each other and said nothing more.
Since they said no compensation was needed, there was no point in pressing the matter.
The Wizarding World didn't have a large population, so Young Wizards were universally recognized as darlings that needed the collective protection of the Wizarding World.
Most people would show kindness; this time, let that child Amanda enjoy the goodwill from everyone in the Wizarding World.
Having endured six Crucio curses plus an explosive growth of magic, Amanda undoubtedly needed a good rest.
The nurse hurried out of the ward and, under the curious and uncertain gazes of her colleagues outside, grabbed a bottle of draught of living death and ran back.
As for what exactly happened in the ward, she wouldn't say, and her colleagues wouldn't ask, no matter how curious they were.
Gently pouring the draught of living death into Amanda's mouth, the nurse thoughtfully tucked her in.
"She can sleep soundly for eight hours now. She'll be much better when she wakes up."
"Perhaps not," Professor McGonagall shook her head, looking at Amanda on the bed with heartache.
She was clearly remembering when Pomona had given Amanda the draught of living death in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, and Amanda had kept waking up and falling back asleep.
They hadn't known why then, but thinking about it now, they understood.
It was likely because the daily routine Amanda had been raised with by her parents was at work.
One could only imagine how firm her will must be to have a routine that could resist the effects of a Potion.
Although they didn't understand what Professor McGonagall meant by "perhaps not," the doctors and nurses still left the ward.
Firstly, because they had indeed done all they could, and secondly, because they really did need to go back to their shifts.
After the medical staff left, Professor McGonagall sat by Amanda's bed, while Professor Flitwick sat in a nearby chair.
Professor McGonagall turned to look at Professor Snape. "Severus, you should head back first; you can also deal with the Basilisk."
"Indeed," Professor Flitwick nodded in agreement. "Are those not rare Potion ingredients?"
Professor Snape nodded in silence and turned to leave.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick continued to keep watch over Amanda in the ward.
An hour later, the nurse returned on schedule; she needed to confirm if this young girl named Amanda would truly wake up despite the effects of the draught of living death.
If so, they would also need to try and find a treatment for her.
As soon as the hour mark hit, Amanda's brain involuntarily began to function; her eyelids flickered slightly, and then she opened her eyes with some effort.
In her hazy vision, Amanda recognized Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. She wanted to voice a greeting, but with her physical exhaustion combined with the effects of the draught of living death, she couldn't even open her mouth now.
She felt she simply must close her eyes and sleep.
"It's alright, no need to speak, go back to sleep." Professor McGonagall comfortingly stroked Amanda's forehead. Amanda gave an almost imperceptible nod and then closed her eyes again.
The nurse watching from the side looked incredulous; someone could actually wake up after drinking the draught of living death before completing eight hours of sleep.
This was... this was simply unbelievable.
Catching the nurse's expression out of the corner of his eye, Professor Flitwick explained gently, "Amanda's previous routine wasn't very healthy. This is a habit she developed, which is why she can wake up even after taking the draught of living death."
The nurse nodded upon hearing this, but her expression was very serious. "I understand, Professor Flitwick, but you must also take note: being able to wake up after the draught of living death means this child Amanda's sleep quality is certainly very poor."
"This will seriously affect a Young Wizard's development and growth."
"Alright, thank you. We will do our best to find a solution," Professor Flitwick promised. After confirming there were no issues, the nurse left the ward.
Professor McGonagall looked at Amanda and sighed, gently holding her hand. "Filius, once Miss Granger wakes up, let her move into Ravenclaw."
With Hermione by her side, perhaps Amanda could sleep more peacefully and soundly.
"Alright." Professor Flitwick agreed without hesitation. In Amanda's current situation, it was worth them making an exception for her.
The two Professors sat and kept watch over Amanda until the next morning.
When the sun rose, Amanda, who had cyclically woken up seven times, finally slept past the eight-hour duration of the draught of living death and slowly opened her eyes.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the two Professors by her bed.
"Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, good morning. Thank you for staying with me all night. I have caused you trouble and made you worry. I am sorry."
Amanda spoke mechanically, her raspy voice uttering programmed words.
Professor McGonagall's expression was serious as she reached out to prop up Amanda's pillow so she could lean against the bed. "There is no need to be so polite with your Professors, Miss Amanda. Furthermore, you did not trouble us. Taking care of our students and worrying about them is our duty; it is what we should do."
Professor Flitwick was equally solemn beside her. "Minerva is right, Miss Amanda. What you need to reflect on is that you really should not have used... used the Crucio on yourself."
"Merlin's beard, the Crucio, and more than once! Child, what were you thinking?"
His serious expression didn't last long before Professor Flitwick couldn't help but show his heartache for Amanda.
"My skills were lacking. I failed to kill the Basilisk while protecting myself and Ginny, causing Hermione to be Petrified by it. This was my fault; I should be punished," Amanda replied as if it were a matter of course.
"How could you think that?" Professor McGonagall crossed her arms and looked at Amanda. "Never mind that you are only a second-year Young Wizard."
"Even we would not be certain we could kill a Basilisk alone, especially while protecting another person."
"That you were able to protect your classmate from the Basilisk is something you should be proud of. Don't hold yourself to such high standards."
Amanda nodded with a blank gaze, while deep within her, a concept was being completely shaken.
When you have the chance to prevent or improve something but lack the corresponding ability, then the resulting negative consequences are all because you didn't put in enough effort beforehand.
Regardless of whether others could or should have made it better, you shouldn't consider that; you only need to reflect on yourself.
Why can't other people's responsibilities also be your responsibility?
Courageously taking responsibility... but is this truly courageously taking responsibility?
Amanda's mind began to race at high speed. After breaking away from her established way of thinking, she quickly discovered the flaws in the principles she used to follow.
Just as Professor McGonagall said, this was shirked responsibility.
It was letting others hold him to high standards and strict requirements to reduce his own pressure.
"This matter," Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and looked at Amanda, "I will tell Miss Granger everything once she wakes up. I think she, as a... peer, will be better able to counsel you."
Amanda's expression didn't change, but her eyes lowered slightly. "Alright, thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she saw Amanda's seemingly "wilted" state. It looked like Miss Amanda would be completely under Miss Granger's thumb in the future.
Thinking of this, she looked at Professor Flitwick beside her. Professor Flitwick looked full of sighs, and upon closer inspection, there was even a hint of regret in his expression.
The "wilted" state didn't last two seconds before Amanda looked up at Professor McGonagall, her voice devoid of any change in tone.
"Professor McGonagall, I want to learn the Animagus transformation. I request that you teach me."
The images that had flashed by like fragments earlier were now etched into her brain.
When she had been soothed by that gentle magical fluctuation, a voice had once told her:
"Relax, relax child, all of this has yet to happen, and there is still hope for everything."
Coupled with the situations Hermione and everyone at Hogwarts encountered becoming more dangerous year by year, she could hardly calculate what they would face next using data.
Therefore, she now had only one thought in her mind: power. Aside from the Dark Arts, regardless of what field of magic it was, she had to master the most advanced parts to gain sufficient power.
Professor McGonagall was stunned for a moment and looked at Amanda hesitantly. "Miss Amanda, I have no doubt about your abilities, but the Animagus transformation is not only difficult, it is also extremely dangerous. You are still a bit too young."
"I request that you teach me, Professor McGonagall," Amanda continued in an indifferent tone.
"Please, Professor McGonagall."
Seeing that Amanda would keep speaking if she didn't agree, Professor McGonagall felt a wave of distress.
This child always spoke to her so... so humbly, it really made her feel uneasy.
Professors should be respected, but they were also beings equal to their students, not superior.
"Alright, alright, say no more, I will teach you."
Professor McGonagall nodded helplessly and also gave Professor Flitwick a reassuring look.
"I will ensure Miss Amanda's safety."
Professor Flitwick looked at this second-greatest Transfiguration master of their time, then at Amanda, and finally signaled his agreement.
"Very well, learn if you wish, Miss Amanda, but you must promise to ensure your own safety."
"Of course, Professor Flitwick. Thank you, and thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Amanda made her promise in a stiff tone, still as formal as ever.
"Besides that, you must also promise me," Professor McGonagall looked down at Amanda, "do not try it on your own when I am not present. Do not be impatient; you must follow my instructions during practice."
"This magic is truly dangerous, as quite a few Wizards have met with peril because of it."
"I will not practice privately and will absolutely follow instructions. Please rest assured, Professor McGonagall."
Amanda's face didn't change in the slightest as she nodded obediently.
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