After Link had stabilized all the injured to the bare minimum level where they could withstand Apparition, he pulled from his robes the special key originally prepared as a retreat measure, and transported everyone to the Flamel family stronghold on the outskirts of Hogwarts.
"Oh! My young master! You finally came back!"
Almost the moment Link had just found his footing, Krell came trotting over on his short legs and supported him.
Not only that, he kept running his rough, calloused hands over Link's body, checking his injuries.
Meanwhile, the other Flamel family hunters had all pulled out medical kits and were busy examining the condition of the five wounded.
"Young master, your situation isn't good. I suggest you go immediately to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to receive treatment. Otherwise, you may be left with some very regrettable aftereffects."
Link nodded to show he understood, but his gaze remained fixed on the five other injured.
"What about their situation?" Link asked, motioning with his chin.
"Those two unknown wizards are still hanging on," Krell said hesitantly. "But our three brothers might actually be worse off than you."
"Then can they also be treated at St. Mungo's?"
At that, Krell fell silent.
Seeing this, Link's expression dimmed.
St. Mungo's was a large hospital completely under the control of the British Ministry of Magic. For students like Link and Harry, who had Dumbledore's backing, going there was no problem.
But those three hunters were hardened veterans of illegal magical creature poaching, their criminal records were longer than they were tall.
For people like them to seek treatment at St. Mungo's would be the same as a wanted criminal going straight to the traffic police to report his own accident.
It was suicide.
Seeing Link's sorrow, Krell's face hardened. He glared at the three hunters and said coldly, "This is their fate. Our Flamel family already paid them their life-money."
At those words, the three injured who had still been groaning and crying suddenly went quiet. The faint flicker of hope in their eyes was extinguished.
A heavy, mournful atmosphere spread among everyone present. Even the uninjured hunters were affected, lowering their heads.
Yes, the Flamel family had already bought their lives.
And since they had taken the money, there was no room for complaint.
But Link didn't think so.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and snapped angrily, "Bullshit! How can a life be measured in Galleons?"
He turned his head toward Hogwarts, gritted his teeth, and said, "We'll go to Hogwarts! The school nurse there is no worse than a chief healer at St. Mungo's. She can definitely treat you!"
The hunters suddenly lifted their heads, staring at Link in disbelief.
One young hunter, looking barely in his twenties, stammered, "But… Dumbledore warned us, that if we so much as step foot on Hogwarts grounds, he'll send us straight to Azkaban."
"He dares?!" Link's voice rose sharply.
"Listen to me! This time, Dumbledore owes me a debt bigger than the sky! If he dares say no to such a small thing as healing you, I'll tear his castle down brick by brick! Now move!"
As soon as he finished, Link, limping, took the lead toward Hogwarts.
The hunters were stunned for a moment. But after Link had gone quite a distance ahead, a great cheer broke out among them. They all ran to catch up, surrounding him as they headed toward the castle.
Krell did not rush forward like the others. He lingered behind, watching Link with a face full of pride.
"What a good child, isn't he?"
The tall German wizard suddenly appeared at his side, sighing with emotion.
That jolted Krell out of his mood.
He fixed his one gleaming, fierce eye on the German wizard and glared for a long while before snorting coldly and following the others.
He didn't have time to waste words with German scum. Little Link was injured, he couldn't walk far, and someone had to take care of him.
———
At the same time, with the battle between Dumbledore and the mysterious hooded figure ending, the atmosphere inside Hogwarts eased somewhat.
But the situation was still dire.
All the students had already been herded together, over a thousand people crammed into the Great Hall.
Professors like McGonagall and Flitwick were probably the only ones with the privilege to leave the hall.
Of course, at this point, not even the most mischievous Gryffindors would question that privilege. The professors were risking their lives outside, patrolling and channeling magic to maintain the shaky wards protecting the castle.
And as Hogwarts' only school nurse, Madam Pomfrey was working herself ragged.
The number of students who'd been hurt while failing to retreat in time was enormous, and she had to remain completely focused every moment.
To keep up with the workload, she had even bent the rules, calling on some senior students who were skilled in healing magic, herbology, and potions, and who planned to become healers after graduation, to help treat less serious injuries.
Unlike the others, these volunteers looked almost excited, full of energy, even competing with each other. This was a rare chance to get "clinical experience," and it would be invaluable on their résumés.
Unfortunately, their skills were still shaky.
It even happened more than once that someone treated a simple fracture by removing the entire broken bone, turning a minor injury into a major one.
Because of their efforts, the hall was filled with a cacophony of howls, curses, sobs, and complaints, a dreadful noise that made you want to stab your own ears deaf.
The only slightly quieter place was the small chamber at the back of the hall.
This was where Hogwarts had settled the champions, their families, and other important guests.
Krum and Fleur's families were there.
Not long ago they had been furious, complaining to Dumbledore that their children had been unfairly eliminated by someone who looked suspiciously like Link, accusing the tournament of cheating.
Now, however, they were clutching their children tight, faces full of relief.
Professor McGonagall had told them that the Death Eaters' main targets were the Triwizard champions.
Knowing their children's actual abilities, they realized that against such enemies, their kids would have had no chance to survive.
By that logic, Link and Harry, who were still on the field, were basically doomed.
Sirius and Emily clearly thought the same.
Sirius had already been stunned and tied up by Professor Moody, after trying to break out and rescue Harry single-handedly.
Emily was curled in Mrs. Flamel's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Aunt Leonie… Link... Link he…"
Mrs. Flamel's face was full of pity as she stroked Emily's hair, softly comforting her, "Don't worry, little Emily, Link will definitely come back."
Then she smiled helplessly.
She had already said this countless times, though Emily clearly didn't believe it.
But only she herself knew that her words weren't just comfort, they were truth.
She firmly believed that the old wizards she had paid such a heavy price to bring here would make sure Link returned safely, even if it cost them their lives.
Emily kept crying, and Mrs. Flamel didn't try to stop her. She knew from experience that Emily was simply terrified that Link might be hurt.
What she needed now was release.
Sometimes, crying it out was the best thing.
But this scene was too much for Fleur and Gabrielle to bear.
Their eyes were also red from crying, yet they pulled away from their parents' arms and came to Emily's side to comfort her.
"Sister, don't cry," Gabrielle said timidly. "Brother Link is a Phantom Knight, he can definitely defeat the demons."
Her small, frightened voice actually eased Emily's emotions a little.
Emily forced a thin smile and reached out with her tear-wet hand to stroke Gabrielle's chubby cheek.
Fleur sighed and added, "You should have faith in him. He's the strongest of our generation, his strength isn't less than a professor's. A few dark wizards are nothing to him."
At those words, Emily suddenly froze.
Her eyes locked on Fleur, her forced smile twisting into something grim and fierce.
"Do you know who he's facing this time? Do you know the real purpose behind him entering the Tournament?" Emily ground out through clenched teeth. "You don't know anything. You know nothing at all, and yet you dare spout nonsense to me here?!"
Gabrielle was so frightened by Emily's ferocity that she shrank back, while Fleur looked flustered and at a loss.
Overwhelmed by anger and old resentment, Emily nearly lunged at Fleur to fight her, until Mrs. Flamel restrained her. Fleur and Gabrielle were also pulled back by their parents.
The sudden outburst made the room's atmosphere razor-sharp with tension.
And just then, the roar of noise from the Great Hall outside abruptly cut off, only to be replaced by even louder cheers and screams.
Faintly, people could hear Dumbledore's name being shouted.
Krum and the others hesitated about whether to go see.
But before they could, Emily shot out like a shadow.
Dumbledore had indeed returned to the Hall, though his face was hard to read.
There was anger at failing to capture the mysterious hooded man, and grief at the carnage in the Hall.
But his appearance was like a shot of adrenaline to the crowd.
Those who had been sunk in fear now cheered wildly, surging toward him with frantic questions about what had happened outside.
Surrounded by the noise, Dumbledore's brows furrowed. This time he had no patience. Raising his wand, he sent a deafening roar rolling through the Hall, "Silence!"
The crowd fell instantly quiet, clutching their ears in pain, staring at him in confusion.
The only exception was Emily.
Though her ears ached and rang from the spell, she stubbornly forced her way through the throng toward him.
Moved, Dumbledore stretched out his hands as if parting a curtain, and the people in front of Emily stepped aside, opening a path for her.
She took a deep breath, eyes red with worry and fury.
She knew a little of Link's cooperation with Dumbledore. Link had told her that if anything happened, Dumbledore would immediately come to his aid.
But now, after such a disaster, Dumbledore had returned alone.
She could already guess what that meant.
Holding back her rage, she asked coldly, "Where is Link?"
Dumbledore frowned and answered, "I came back to check on all of you. As for Link, he..."
"Go bring him back safely! Right now!" Emily cut him off sharply. "You promised him!"
Her words shocked everyone.
Many even scolded her for being rude.
The whole Hall seethed with agitation. But in truth, what people feared was not Emily's insolence, but that Dumbledore leaving would strip them of protection.
Even so, Emily stood firm, her eyes locked on him.
Perhaps swayed by her determination, perhaps touched by it, Dumbledore simply nodded, "I'll go now."
A burst of fire suddenly exploded above the crowd.
Amid screams, the flames coalesced into a great, beautiful scarlet bird that gently landed on Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll bring Link back, dead or alive!" Dumbledore declared firmly, raising his hand to command Fawkes to transport him.
But at that moment, the Great Hall doors burst open with a resounding kick.
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