Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 231: Stars

The entrance to the school hospital was overrun with little wizards, and the gate, unable to withstand the pressure, creaked open.

Mrs. Pomfrey's expression was not good:

"You've come seven times in three days—do you think this is a dining hall?!"

Lady Pomfrey was certainly a kind witch, but she was also quite stern.

The young wizards shuddered and had no choice but to go along with the mistake, forcing themselves to say:
"We heard that Harry... and Professor Quirrell have woken up."

"Of course, if I'm disturbed seven times in three days, I'll wake up quickly too—"

Mrs. Pomfrey's words were laced with anger.

Finally, Sheehan and the others were called in by Headmaster Dumbledore, who was still talking to Harry. They saw Harry looking at them with that strange, dazed expression, as if he had just learned that Professor Snape wasn't Voldemort's henchman and that Voldemort was in the Forbidden Forest.

"Harry——"

Ron and Hermione called out in trembling voices, and the others gathered around Harry. Headmaster Dumbledore made way for them, gave Sheehan a meaningful look for a moment, and then walked out of the hospital.

Just as they were showing concern for Harry, Sheehan turned his head and glanced at Professor Quirrell on another hospital bed.

His face was pale, his lips bloodless, and when he noticed Sheen's gaze, he struggled to sit up.

"Are you alright, Professor?"

So Sheen quickly walked over.

"Of course, of course, Mr. Green, it hasn't been this good in a year..."

Professor Quirrell's voice did not stutter.

"go out--!"

Mrs. Pomfrey came to kick them out, and Sheehan and the others were quickly expelled from the school hospital.

The corridor was noisy, a stark contrast to the quiet, pristine hospital room. After inquiring about Harry's condition, the young wizards breathed a sigh of relief and returned to Hope Lodge.

As darkness fell, a black cat quietly slipped into the ward.

"Professor Quirrell."

In the evening, a young wizard dressed in a black robe appeared beside the private, curtained hospital bed.

Sheen hesitated, unsure how to explain this to the professor, so he casually cast a whisper spell. Turning his head, he saw that Professor Quirrell looked somewhat dazed.

The night at the school hospital is blue, with light streaming through the arched windows and illuminating the vases placed in front of each patient's bed.

Harry's area was filled with bottles and jars, various gift boxes and candies, while Professor Quirrell's area only had a book that Sheehan had sent.

It's quiet here. The daytime hustle and bustle has ended, and even the noisy Gryffindor student who broke his wrist during Quidditch practice is now sound asleep.

“I think I’m about to leave Hogwarts. Would you… like to hear some stories?” Professor Quirrell suddenly asked in a low, extremely humble tone.

"I am glad to."

Sheen said.

Professor Quirrell pursed his lips tightly as he saw the moonlight falling on the young wizard's face. He had wanted to bury his face in his hands and cry countless times.

"You know, my student days were a tragedy of unfulfilled desires. I was insecure and sensitive, and it's the easiest time for a person to fall into darkness. I achieved some success, but it didn't satisfy me or fill my desires. Under the temptation of dark forces, it's hard for a person to control themselves."

Professor Quirrell's voice carried a deep sense of struggle.
"The world under such a person is shrouded in darkness. I deceived myself into believing that the mysterious man would help me gain honor, but sir, the truth is a cruel thing. So cruel that one would rather be numb than accept it."

He covered his face tightly with his hands. Sheen didn't know if his pain was caused by damage to his soul and life, or by a wound that had been torn open in his spirit.

"Mr. Green, please allow me to describe the world at that time. It was a gray and white world, devoid of any color. At that crucial moment, I saw a star constantly twinkling. That star, named Uranus, suddenly appeared in the moonlight, making me seem to sense something."

The colorful cookies made me realize the possibility of escaping this world. I knew it was my only chance. But when I finally mustered all my courage and stood at the principal's office door... I hope you never know the despair I felt.

Despair is not the end; there is always some light in the world. The biscuit in the corner gave me courage again—Quirok, what a small, hateful, and pitiful wizard he is; how could anyone risk their life to save such a person?
Therefore, when I saw you, I suddenly realized that I had already made up my mind long ago. The moment I decided to die, I felt true liberation. To live a life of deception, pretense, lies, fear, panic, and powerlessness... Mr. Green, such days are not worth living; I would rather die for you.

The school hospital remained quiet, and Sheen was so silent that he seemed somewhat at a loss.

"This story should have ended in contempt and hatred, a wizard blinded by greed, a cowardly and selfish wizard, a wizard utterly foolish... Now he has come to his senses, and he knows that perhaps there is only one right thing in this world, Mr. Green. That is to fight against the darkness to the end, and to go for your will."

Quirrell lowered his head deeply, placing his left hand on his chest. He knew what he was saying, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

There were no solemn oaths taken inside the school hospital, only a buried determination.

Sheen stood in the moonlight, watching the light shine through Professor Quirrell's body onto the school hospital, revealing a blurry silhouette.

……

Back at Hope Hut, Sheen remained silent for an unknown amount of time until the curfew bell rang, and a photograph in his hand gleamed faintly.

This is a unique photograph, originally a Christmas chapel group photo taken by Justin, now seemingly imbued with some magical touch.

When other wizards looked at the photograph, there was nothing unusual about it, but when Sheen stared at it, some of the once vibrant figures lost their color.

Headmaster Dumbledore's grey eyes still held a kind expression, while Professor Snape's grey robes remained imposing.

Every now and then, some gray-white figures would appear. No one knew what this meant, nor what the purpose of casting this spell was.

Only Sheen watched as Professor Quirrell's ashen body suddenly regained its color, and the professor in the photograph even transformed into a squirrel and darted out of the photograph.

The squirrel scurried around Hope House, sometimes in front of the extinguished fireplace, sometimes staring blankly at strange photographs.

Sheen's gaze remained calm. As he pushed open the door, the pair of green eyes in the enchanted mirror followed him like a shadow.

There were no dark clouds, no torrential rain pounding against the windows, and Jupiter and Uranus were exceptionally bright tonight.

(End of this chapter)