That being said, Wade couldn't just wait around. While it was unlikely the young wizards who went through the traps would die, injuries were unavoidable.
So much time had passed; he wondered which challenge they had reached.
"I'll go check," Wade told Padma. "It's almost curfew, so you should head back to the common room first. If I find anything, I'll let you know on the Book of Friends."
Padma, however, grabbed his sleeve and shook her head vigorously.
"Padma?"
"Michael told me the same thing..." the girl choked out. "I don't want to wait anymore... Waiting is harder than anything else. I'd rather face the Dark—the Dark Lord with you all..."
Wade was silent for a moment, then sighed. "...Alright, then follow behind me."
Padma nodded, trailing closely behind Wade as they headed towards the fourth-floor entrance.
"Meow!"
Mrs. Norris suddenly let out a sharp cry, arching her back and blocking their way.
Wade glanced out of the corner of his eye; the dried fish remained untouched on the ground.
"Sorry, we have to get through."
As the two walked forward, Mrs. Norris first bared her teeth and retreated two steps, then her eyes darted, and she quickly scurried downstairs.
"Stupefy!"
Wade waved his wand, and a red flash hit the gray cat's back. She fell with a thud, her body sliding to the side of the corridor.
"Excellent—she definitely wanted to notify Filch!" Padma couldn't help but exclaim. "How can there be such an annoying cat!"
"In her owner's eyes, she's the most loyal and dutiful cat."
Wade said, pushing open the half-open wooden door. Padma gasped as she saw the scene inside.
A grotesque, terrifying three-headed dog was gnawing at a harp. Hearing the sound, it immediately looked at the two of them, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
Padma's lips trembled as she stammered, "Harry said... it falls asleep... if it hears music... C-can I sing to it?"
But in her panic, she couldn't remember any songs she knew.
"Music, huh?"
Wade tossed a small ball onto the ground. It rolled along, and halfway through, a pleasant piano melody began to play.
"What is that?" Padma asked blankly.
"Für Elise, a classic by Beethoven," Wade replied.
"No—I mean, what is this little ball?"
Padma asked, looking at the small ball that not only played music but also spun and emitted colorful lights.
"A music player—the magical version."
"—Your new invention?"
"Not really," Wade said. "It's a Muggle invention; I just made a small modification."
Since he knew there was a three-headed dog in the Chamber of Secrets, Wade naturally chose to be prepared.
From the moment the first note sounded, the originally ferocious three-headed dog began to grow drowsy. Soon, it collapsed onto the floor, sound asleep, its six nostrils puffing out hot, stinky breath. Its massive body occupied most of their view.
Padma bravely mustered up the courage to search around the three-headed dog.
"I... I heard there should be a trapdoor here... on the ground..."
Both looked at the three-headed dog at the same time.
"Looks like it's lying on top of it."
Wade cast the Levitation Charm, and the three-headed dog was moved aside, continuing to lie there. A trapdoor was indeed revealed on the ground. Wade grabbed the handle and opened the door, immediately hearing familiar voices—
"Great, someone finally came!" Neville's relieved voice called out. "Who's up there?"
"Wands out, Neville!" Michael warned in a low voice. "It might be their accomplice!"
Padma heard their voices, knowing they were alright. She lay over the trapdoor, crying and laughing, saying, "Michael, are you all okay?"
"Padma!" several voices cried out in surprise.
"Wade's here too, we're together!" Padma told the people below.
Afterward, several figures, riding their brooms, flew up through the trapdoor one by one—
Michael was carrying Neville—Neville's leg was broken and still bleeding.
"Good thing you came—the three-headed dog blocked the trapdoor, and we tried everything but couldn't get out," Michael explained.
Theo had a large bruise on his face and many small, narrow cuts on his body, as if he had been scratched by many sharp knives.
Ryan's arm was bent at an odd angle, and he was sweating profusely from the pain.
The most seriously injured was Ron, whom Hermione brought up—he was unconscious, his head covered in blood.
"Oh my goodness!"
Seeing their terrible condition, Padma was so stunned she didn't know what to do, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"I-I didn't bring any Dittany essence!" she said in a panic.
"It's alright, I have some," Wade said, pulling out several bottles of potions from his bag and handing them to the others. "—And pain relievers."
Truth be told, he admired these children. Despite such serious injuries—broken limbs—not one of these eleven or twelve-year-olds cried or screamed or thrashed on the ground. Many adults couldn't manage that.
—Perhaps magic granted them some inherent ability to endure pain... or to heal injuries?
Ryan gulped down the pain reliever, his face pale, and said, "Harry's still down there."
"What happened in there?" Padma looked fearfully at the dark hole. "Did you meet... that person?"
"No," Hermione said, her hands unconsciously clasped. She spoke nervously, "If Quirrell and Snape wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone, they should be in the last challenge... Black flames blocked the way, and there was only enough potion for one person to pass safely... Harry chose to go alone..."
Padma gasped, "Isn't he afraid of dying?"
—Of course he was afraid, but he still chose to face it.
The Book of Friends in Wade's hand suddenly began to heat up. He opened it and saw a message from McGee: [It's okay now.]
The word "okay" could have many interpretations, but at this moment, it only meant one thing—
Dumbledore was back.
"Let's go to the hospital wing first," Wade said calmly, closing the Book of Friends. "Even if it's just because you're injured, Madam Pomfrey will immediately contact Dumbledore."
The last sentence convinced everyone. They rushed to the hospital wing as fast as they could, passing students along the way who looked horrified—they probably thought these young wizards had been in a deadly brawl.
When they reached the hospital wing, they saw a tall, slender figure in the distance, with silvery-white hair long enough to tuck into his belt.
—Dumbledore was hurrying towards the hospital wing, carrying a black-haired boy in his arms.
"Harry—" Hermione jumped off her broom and rushed over.
Harry Potter's eyes were tightly shut, and he was covered in wounds. His lightning-bolt scar on his forehead was red and swollen as if freshly injured, and his hands looked as though they had been scalded by boiling water.
The girls' tears immediately fell.
Wade looked at Dumbledore—
The greatest white wizard was not as calm and gentle as usual, nor was he showing any of his usual childish eccentricities... His face showed obvious worry.
But beyond the worry, there was something else... an emotion like the deep sea...