Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 27 Professor Quirrell Falls Ill

The next day, Professor Quirrell fell ill.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Hogwarts.

Even Defense Against the Dark Arts classes for all grades have been postponed.

It is said that Professor Quirrell is very ill and may need to find a replacement for the first half of the semester.

There are many different versions of Professor Quirrell's illness circulating among the young wizards, the most talked about of which is related to Ryan's unexcused absences from school.

Some young wizards confidently asserted that this was because after Ryan gave Professor Quirrell a hard time, Professor Quirrell became so ashamed and angry that he fell ill and never recovered.

Some young wizards say that it was because Dumbledore punished Lane for skipping class without cause by sending him to Professor Quirrell for detention, which made Lane vengeful and cast a curse on Professor Quirrell.

In particular, a young wizard named Ron showed a note he found outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which clearly stated that Dumbledore wanted Ryan to be put in solitary confinement with Professor Quirrell.

Of course, Ron was scolded by his three older brothers that day for "spreading rumors without cause".

Gryffindor Common Room.

"Oh, Merlin!" Ron complained to Harry, "I think Percy and the others secretly wish Lane Welsh was their real brother! They'll only scold me if I say anything!"

"But I already have the evidence!" He grabbed his hair, looking agitated, with a note on the table in front of him.

Harry looked at Ron and said cautiously, "But a certificate of solitary confinement doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, Harry! Lane Welsh missed Professor Quirrell's class, and Professor Quirrell didn't go to dinner that night; Lane Welsh was also punished by being put in time-out by Professor Quirrell, and Professor Quirrell fell seriously ill the next day!"

Ron jerked his head up, glared at Harry, and shouted, "Isn't that enough to prove it?!"

Harry felt that Ron's emotions had become quite volatile after the spots in the Adventurers' Club were decided, and he often did things that were not very reasonable.

For example, right now, in Harry's opinion, Ryan was just unlucky to have fallen ill at the same time as Professor Quirrell and was unfairly subjected to such malicious speculation.

What he couldn't understand even more was why more junior wizards were willing to believe Ron's version of events instead of listening to the announcements and statements issued by the Academy.

While the lion cubs were excitedly discussing what kind of evil curse Ryan Welsh had used to injure Professor Quirrell so severely.

A voice broke the harmonious atmosphere among Seamus, Ron, and the others: "Some people have three older brothers who are still in school, and their friends from school have also joined the Adventurers' Club, but he hasn't."

Beneath her brown, messy hair, the little witch's face was stern, her head held high, her expression full of disdain for those who maliciously slandered her behind her back.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Ron slammed his fist on the table and stood up. In an instant, his face turned bright red, whether from excitement or anger, it was hard to tell. He grabbed the note on the table and waved it around: "This is the evidence!"

Hermione snorted through her nose, rolled her eyes slightly, and walked straight past Ron without even looking at him. "Do you think your insight is stronger than the professors'? Or that you're more skilled in magic than Mr. Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of this century?"

As she reached the exit of the common room, she paused. "You're just venting your frustration at losing! You really should be a Slytherin!"

In the eyes of the young girl who had just entered the wizarding world, the past few days of avoiding Slytherin made her think that saying a wizard belonged to Slytherin was the most vicious curse in the world.

The fat lady spun around and opened the doorway. She stepped out, followed by Ron's broken-down roar.

She vaguely heard some words.

"No wonder nobody likes her!"

"Nobody wants to be her friend!"

"Does she really think she's so great? I think we should just call her Miss Know-It-All from now on."

It sounded like Harry was trying to calm him down... Hermione seemed to hear Harry's voice too, and Harry seemed to be trying his best to quiet Ron down.

Hermione fiddled with her armband, even finding Ron's roar somewhat pleasant.

She thought: I don't need the approval of my peers, nor the support of mediocre people, because those who approve of me and are willing to be my friends are the most outstanding geniuses at Hogwarts.

These past few days, amidst the strange and envious glances of the other young wizards, the little witch, who had been going her own way, laughed.

Miss Hermione Granger

I imagine many people will not understand, accept, or approve of your actions. They will question you, think you are showing off, and they will unite to isolate you until you are willing to give up your sharp edges. This is normal, because few young people can accept their own mediocrity and the brilliance of others.

I saw these qualities in your answers; it shows you have a heart that pursues knowledge and wisdom. I believe we will be like-minded companions, and we will be friends forever.

I cordially invite you to join the Adventurers' Club and explore the limits of magic alongside the most outstanding figures in all of Hogwarts. I believe this is the place for you.

Looking forward to our first meeting on Friday afternoon.

Your friend, Lane Welsh]

She carefully put the letter away and placed it at the very bottom of her luggage.

Especially after seeing that Harry had received the invitation, she completely forgot about what had happened in the past few days.

..............

"Headmaster, I found Professor Quirrell at the castle entrance. He was seriously injured, so badly that his magical energy was threatened; and his body was like a ball of yarn that had been scratched by a cat, a complete mess, a real mess. It's a miracle he's still alive. I don't even dare let St. Mungo's people take over." Madam Pomfrey blocked the doorway of the infirmary, coldly staring at the Hogwarts headmaster.

She said, "Professor Quirrell needs rest right now! You can't come in."

She then glanced at Flitwick and Lane behind Dumbledore: "Including you too!"

Under her gaze, Lane hid behind Dumbledore like a quail, showing great awe for Madam Pomfrey.

Because getting injured is commonplace during outdoor adventures and magical experiments, sometimes leaving one half-dead.

At this point, Ryan would take drugs to maintain his condition, and then immediately run to the school infirmary to receive treatment from Mrs. Pomfrey.

Although Mrs. Pomfrey nagged at me every time, the treatment was very effective; at least those who received the treatment all said it was good.

"Bobby, I think we need ten minutes." Dumbledore could only try to negotiate with her.

"I have a responsibility to my patients!"

"Five minutes, just five minutes!" Dumbledore stretched out a hand, a gesture he rarely made.

"No, whatever it is, you can wait until Professor Quirrell is out of danger before you talk about it!"

Dumbledore retracted two fingers: "Three minutes, just three minutes. We really need to say a few words!"

Madam Pomfrey looked at the three men. Lane's face was thoughtful, Flitwick's was worried, and Dumbledore's... expressionless. She sighed, took a step back, and said, "Remember, you only have three minutes!"

"Thank you very much, Bobby." Dumbledore nodded in thanks.

"No, Dumbledore," she said. "I don't know what you're doing, or what you're trying to do, but a professor is so badly injured... I don't think you should involve little Ryan in your actions."

Ryan chuckled awkwardly; he really couldn't argue with Mrs. Pomfrey.

Flitwick didn't reply; since Mrs. Pomfrey hadn't called him, he lowered his head and walked into the ward.

Dumbledore was not in a position to argue, so he could only nod repeatedly. At this moment, he could not argue with a true healer, especially since the true healer was in the right.

Lady Pomfrey sighed again, knowing that these three excellent wizards would not abandon their mission because of danger.

Hospital bed.

Quirinus Quirrell was on the verge of death, leaving Dumbledore and his two companions feeling utterly hopeless.

Ryan noticed that Quirinas Quillo was no longer wearing that thick, smelly headscarf.

"Principal..., you... have arrived..." Quirrell tried to prop himself up, but he couldn't muster any strength, and his arms slammed helplessly against the bed.

Dumbledore, Flitwick, and Lane remained silent, observing him intently.

Quirrell took a breath, held his strength, and said, "Headmaster...I...I have...something..."

"I need to...confess...to you..."