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Winter's warm sun streamed into the Headmaster's circular office, casting a long patch of light on the floor. Fawkes stood on his perch, head tilted as he observed Anthony and Snape at the desk.
"I must thank you, Henry," Dumbledore said seriously. "Madam Pomfrey just sent word that Mr. Longbottom is out of danger."
Anthony said bluntly, "This isn't a matter of being 'out of danger.' I demand these students be punished until their brains—stuffed with arrogance and ignorance—suddenly realize other people are also alive."
Snape snorted coldly. "One hundred sixty points, Professor Anthony. I dare say that's the most points deducted since term began."
"What are you saying, Snape?" Anthony asked incredulously. "Longbottom nearly died! That boy who acted, and that group—they just stood on the ice watching!"
The portraits of former Headmasters on the walls, pretending to sleep, opened their eyes one after another, watching them.
Snape nodded calmly. "Yes, I understand." He waved his hand impatiently when the portraits made sounds, as if shooing away a fly.
Dumbledore said gravely, "I'm afraid we must notify Mr. Malfoy, Severus. Such a serious incident is extremely rare, especially when they're only first-years."
He raised a hand, stopping Snape from interrupting. "I also hope you'll arrange detention and have a good talk with these students. Henry is right—they understand too little about the preciousness of life, yet wield too much magic."
"Detention?" Snape repeated.
The Headmaster's office door suddenly opened again. Professor McGonagall entered swiftly, face ashen, fury blazing in her eyes. Anthony had never seen her this angry.
"Detention?" she asked stiffly. "I thought suspension at minimum."
Snape said softly, "No need to worry. I even need to consider whether to actually arrange detention. Some people—in fact, several Board members—have already contacted me. They're all willing to further support Hogwarts's educational mission and believe the school is students' strongest backing."
"You can't..." Anthony turned sharply to Dumbledore. "Headmaster! I recommend expulsion! At least—at least the ringleader..."
"Malfoy will be happy to add a few more piles of Galleons, I dare say his family has too many," Snape interrupted with a sneer. "Besides, Dumbledore, they're still children." He deliberately emphasized each syllable of that sentence.
The silver instrument's calming hum suddenly stopped. The Headmaster's office fell silent. Fawkes shifted position, the perch emitting a very soft creak.
Dumbledore sighed. "Severus..."
"Or have children's futures and souls suddenly become unimportant?" Snape asked. "Longbottom nearly died, yes, but wasn't he also saved? Isn't that right, Minerva?"
Professor McGonagall glared at Snape. Snape stared back unflinchingly.
Somehow, Professor McGonagall's chest heaved violently several times, and she was actually the first to look away.
"Those children didn't save him, Severus. They just stood there," Dumbledore said calmly. "They haven't realized they did anything wrong."
Anthony frowned, standing beside them. Their manner suggested they weren't really arguing about Malfoy's fate.
He interjected, "Excuse me, I'd like to ask—how is Mr. Longbottom now?"
"Oh, he was still in the hospital wing when I left," Professor McGonagall turned to him, her stern face relaxing slightly. "A bit weak, but nothing serious. Mainly just frightened."
Nothing serious, Anthony repeated mentally. Magical world medicine was truly shocking.
Overall, it followed the principle that as long as someone had a breath left, no matter what accident occurred, they could survive. Wizarding medicine was like a strong safety rope, yanking all adventurers who'd strayed into death's forbidden zone back out.
With such medical assurance, no wonder they didn't consider "nearly died" a serious matter.
The matter ended with Snape giving all participants a month of detention. Anthony wasn't satisfied with this outcome, but Dumbledore agreed, and Neville Longbottom's Head of House didn't protest further, so he could only accept the result with a frown.
"Have a good talk with them, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. "We don't need more tragedies."
When Anthony entered his office and saw the mess everywhere, he realized his cat had returned on its own.
Its fur was soaked through, its temper terrible—it had pushed all his ceramic teacups to the floor. Anthony made the fire blaze brightly and sat cross-legged before the fireplace holding the cat. "I'm sorry."
It was his summoned creature. At the time, his mind had been full of saving someone—that strong desire had undoubtedly affected it.
He stroked the cat, transforming it to its skeletal cat form, easily drying it. Its ginger fur once again looked soft and dry.
But even though the wet fur no longer clung to its body, it still lay listlessly on his lap.
Anthony asked it, "Do you want to see the boy?"
The cat moved its ears.
So Anthony carried the cat to the hospital wing to see Neville. Madam Pomfrey initially didn't agree to let him in. After he promised to be quiet, she firmly refused to let the cat into the hospital.
"Let it in, Madam," Neville said from his bed, pleading. "It saved me."
Madam Pomfrey sighed, scrutinized the cat for a while, and nodded. "Hold it tight, Professor Anthony. Don't let it jump anywhere in the hospital. Also, only half an hour. The patient needs rest."
"Thank you, Professor Anthony," Neville said quietly. "And thank you, um..." He looked at Anthony helplessly.
"I haven't given it a name," Anthony shook his head. "Thank Madam Pomfrey and yourself. You had a very strong will to survive—you saved yourself."
Neville weakly showed a small smile. Then Professor McGonagall walked in.
She nodded at Anthony and turned to Neville. "Mr. Longbottom, regarding how this matter was handled... we're all extremely angry about what happened to you. Professor Anthony deducted one hundred sixty points from Slytherin. Everyone involved in this incident has been given a month's detention. Additionally, they'll receive suspension warnings. The school has sent owls to your parents..."
"Oh no," Neville murmured.
"...Your grandmother replied that she'll come to Hogwarts as soon as possible." Professor McGonagall paused for several seconds, then said softly with a complex expression, "Merlin, Neville. Merlin."
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