Soon, everything became crystal clear.
After Dumbledore cast several auxiliary spells, Madam Pomfrey finally broke free from the Imperius Curse completely. What she revealed left everyone present deeply shaken.
"I was placed under the Imperius Curse shortly after term began," Madam Pomfrey said, clutching a cup of hot tea with trembling hands.
"Someone called my name from behind, and when I turned around, everything became hazy. My mind went completely blank, and I felt strangely euphoric, almost blissful. Then a voice appeared in my head—it told me to return to the Hospital Wing. So I did exactly as it commanded, walked back to the infirmary, closed the door, and he hid somewhere nearby."
"Just then, a Hufflepuff girl came in—poor child had acne and tried to use magic to fix it herself, but ended up covered in black spots instead... But that person was controlling me with the Imperius Curse. I couldn't help her. I could only follow his instructions and tell her to go home and rest..."
Orli suddenly remembered that Hufflepuff girl from the beginning of term. Ernie Macmillan had even considered asking Snape for help, but in the end, she'd brewed the potion for the girl herself. She'd never imagined Madam Pomfrey had been under the Imperius Curse at that very moment!
"After that... I drifted in and out of consciousness... That person would return frequently to check the curse's effectiveness... right up until Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived at the school..."
Madam Pomfrey shivered slightly.
"That night, a voice told me to go to the Entrance Hall... So I crept downstairs... and put Harry Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire..."
Orli felt Snape's fingers tighten beside her.
"And after that, Poppy?" Dumbledore's voice was gentle yet commanding, giving Madam Pomfrey the strength to continue.
"I was in a constant daze after that... I remember the Weasley twins coming in—they'd grown white hair and long beards... My mind kept forgetting things... I didn't know how to remove the beards properly, so I just turned all the hair on their heads red again and sent them away..."
"Later, he told me to wait... to find a way to obtain Harry Potter's blood... He said the first task involved a dragon, that someone was bound to get injured... but Harry Potter didn't. He used a broomstick and potions... The dragon never even touched him. Only Cedric Diggory was seriously hurt..."
"So that person was furious... and he made me furious too... I treated Diggory's wounds roughly—the poor boy was in agony... Merlin's beard, what have I done..."
Madam Pomfrey covered her face with her hands and let out quiet sobs. Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on her shoulder until she calmed enough to continue.
"There were brief moments when I regained my senses. I begged him—I didn't want to do it anymore, pleaded with him to leave me alone. But he said I was the person most likely to access Harry Potter's blood, that he had to obtain it, or his master would kill him..."
"Did you see what he looked like? Is he someone from the school?" Snape asked in a low, dangerous voice.
"No, Severus, I never saw him... Every time he appeared before me, he wore black robes and a mask... His voice was disguised too—I'd never heard it before..."
Madam Pomfrey trembled as she spoke.
"I tried to resist him, but I couldn't. I'm not skilled in combat, only in healing... and this entire year, I've ruined everything..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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