"Harry, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Sean. I'm really sorry I couldn't help when you were fighting Tom Riddle."
Hearing Harry's words, Sean shook his head. He had never blamed Harry from beginning to end. With Harry's current strength, there was no way he could participate in the battle between himself and Tom. If he had joined in, it might have even disrupted Sean's fighting rhythm.
Harry in his first and second years, having not encountered good teachers, hadn't received proper instruction in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which he was best at, so naturally his abilities weren't outstanding. But in third year—next year—Harry would meet Lupin, a quite competent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and Harry's strength would improve considerably then.
"Harry, how are Hermione and Ron doing?"
When Sean mentioned Hermione and Ron, Harry immediately brightened up and answered, "Professor Sprout has already cultivated the Mandrakes and started making the potion. They just need to wait two more days, and they'll recover."
"What about... the diary?"
Speaking of the diary, a hint of schadenfreude appeared on Harry's face. He looked at Sean and said, "I returned that diary to Mr. Malfoy, and I also slipped a sock inside it, freeing the Malfoy family's house-elf, Dobby. It's a pity you didn't see his expression at the time—it was quite interesting."
Looking at Harry, Sean nodded slightly. It seemed some things hadn't changed—Harry had still given Malfoy a lesson, though not a major one. For the Malfoy family, losing a house-elf wasn't really a loss at all. This lesson was mainly an affront to their dignity.
Sean and Harry chatted for a while longer. Soon Blaise, Andy, and Jansen learned that Sean had awakened and rushed over. When Harry saw Sean's Slytherin friends arrive, he immediately took his leave. Just as Blaise and the others couldn't stand Harry, Harry as a Gryffindor also couldn't stand them. They weren't the same type of people—there was no need to force themselves together.
After Harry left, Sean first looked at Jansen and asked, "Jansen, Grandfather didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
As his attendant, Jansen actually had the responsibility to protect Sean. But this time when Sean caused such a big incident, Jansen had no involvement at all. Naturally, Sean was worried that Gavin might give Jansen trouble.
Jansen looked at Sean, a hint of shame showing on his face. He shook his head and said, "Lord Gavin didn't give me any trouble. He just had someone tell me that since I'm already your attendant, I should naturally follow your orders, and he wouldn't interfere with me.
But even if Lord Gavin didn't say anything, I can't get past my own conscience. I should have stood in front of you, but I was absent the whole time. I won't let this happen again in the future."
Looking at Jansen, Sean immediately waved his hand and said, "That's not necessary. There really isn't much danger inside Hogwarts, you..."
Before he could finish, Sean saw the strange expressions on Blaise and Andy's faces. Sean realized something, coughed lightly, and continued, "Of course, these two years might be somewhat special, but Hogwarts generally doesn't have major problems. Besides, we're in different years, so many things aren't convenient anyway. You don't need to feel guilty or anything else—just do as I say."
Next, Sean asked Andy about his business.
With the full support of Sean and Blaise, Andy had gradually beaten Dorian into the ground. Dorian's side had recruited so many Hogwarts students capable of brewing potions by relying on a money offensive. Under normal circumstances, Andy should have been unable to hold out long ago under Dorian's fierce assault.
But with Sean's potions and Blaise's financial support, as time dragged on, Dorian's side began to experience financial problems. With just a little more effort, Dorian would be completely defeated.
Learning this news, Sean congratulated Andy, then looked at Blaise. His intuition told him that Blaise had encountered some problem.
Sure enough...
"Sean, I broke up."
Looking at Blaise, Sean was silent for a moment, then asked, "And then? Besides breaking up, don't you have anything else you want to tell me?"
"Isn't this enough? I broke up!"
"Mm, I'm sorry to hear that." Turning to look at Andy, Sean said without any reluctance, "How about we talk more about your business?"
"Hey! Sean, you're so mean!"
"Andy, about your business..."
Before he could finish, Sean, Andy, and Jansen all started laughing, leaving only Blaise standing to the side looking dejected.
Sean packed his things.
Until Sean was discharged from the hospital, he never received any inquiry from Dumbledore. Sean didn't mind this—he didn't like face-to-face conversations with Dumbledore anyway. That feeling of potentially being seen through at any moment made Sean very uncomfortable. Thinking of this, Sean felt he should also put Occlumency on his agenda.
Bidding farewell to Madam Pomfrey at the hospital wing, Sean pushed open the door and walked out, immediately seeing Snape standing at the entrance. Sean walked forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Professor, did you come to pick me up?"
Hearing Sean's words, a contemptuous sneer appeared on Snape's face as he directly spewed venom: "Sean Bulstrode, if you could empty that brain of yours that loves to overthink and focus on writing papers, you would probably have finished all three Golden Cauldron papers you promised me!
If it weren't for the unfinished papers you still have, even if you lay in the hospital wing for a year, I wouldn't come here to see you. After you go back, don't bother with all those messy distractions. Exercise that troll-like brain of yours and write those papers properly for me."
Having been sprayed with venom, Sean rubbed his head and keenly caught some implications in Snape's words. He asked, "Professor, has something happened within Slytherin? And is it directed at me?"
Snape looked at Sean, his cold eyes still showing no emotion, and said to Sean, "The news of you killing the Basilisk has spread through others' mouths. Be careful when you go back, and don't let these trivial matters delay your papers. I want to see them before this semester ends."