Harry and Ron, breathless, raced down the deserted corridors of Hogwarts. Each step echoed with a dull thud in the castle's nocturnal silence. Reaching Professor McGonagall's office, they began to knock desperately.
— Professor! Professor McGonagall!
The door to her private quarters was flung open, and McGonagall appeared in the doorway. Seeing their anxious faces, she immediately understood that something had happened in the forest. In a worried voice, she asked:
— What is it?
Harry, panting from the fast run, began to explain:
— Professor... out there... Viktor's in danger! There's someone in the forest... he's... he's fighting! Hagrid took Hermione to the hospital wing... and told us to get you!
Though she didn't grasp all the details of Harry's jumbled account, the main thing was clear: one of her students was in danger. That was enough. Giving them a sharp order to return to their dormitory, she strode quickly toward Dumbledore's office. On the way, her nightgown transfigured into her usual green robes and a pointed hat. Harry and Ron, though they didn't want to leave, didn't dare disobey McGonagall.
Walking down the corridor, she glanced out the window. Her heart sank: a monstrous glow was rising over the Forbidden Forest. Part of the forest was ablaze, and tongues of flame stretched toward the sky, painting the horizon a sinister orange. She quickened her pace, almost breaking into a run.
Dumbledore and McGonagall Apparated directly to the edge of the burned section of the forest. A true inferno lay before them. The air trembled with heat, and the crackle of the burning trees drowned out everything else. Without losing a second, Dumbledore raised his wand. A dazzling, shimmering beam burst from its tip, soaring high into the dark sky. Instantly, heavy clouds gathered above them, a deafening thunderclap boomed, lightning flashed, and a powerful downpour began.
Torrents of water crashed down on the forest, and the fire, hissing and releasing clouds of steam, began to die out rapidly. Soon, all that remained were smoldering embers and eerie black, charred tree skeletons. The air was filled with the acrid smell of smoke and wet earth. As soon as the last flames went out, the downpour stopped just as abruptly, and the clouds vanished as if they had never been there.
A chilling silence fell, broken only by the dripping of water from the scorched branches. They immediately began to search the smoking area for Viktor. A few minutes later, McGonagall's piercing cry broke the silence:
— Albus, he's over here!
Dumbledore hurried to McGonagall. She was sitting on the ground next to Viktor's body, which was almost invisible in the charred grass and covered in soot. As she tried to wipe away the soot to check for wounds, her hand trembled, and she quickly pulled it back. In a voice shaking with horror, she said:
— He's still alive, but his body is severely burned. This is terrible. Who could have done this to him?
Without waiting for Dumbledore's answer, McGonagall cast a spell to stabilize Viktor's condition and, carefully embracing him, Apparated with him.
Dumbledore remained in place and slowly began to look around. His gaze fell on a burned patch of ground from which he felt an ominous, cold aura. He immediately understood that the Avada Kedavra curse had hit there. Dumbledore's face darkened.
Meanwhile, in the hospital wing, Hermione lay on a bed. After the potion Madame Pomfrey gave her, the pain had lessened, but the girl was far from calm. She was very worried about Viktor, although she tried to comfort herself internally with the thought that he had managed to escape.
Suddenly, McGonagall appeared in the middle of the ward, carefully holding Viktor's body in her arms. She gently laid him on a cot, and Madame Pomfrey immediately rushed to him.
— Oh, Merlin, what happened to him? — the healer asked with concern.
McGonagall replied:
— Someone attacked him.
Madame Pomfrey, not wasting time on questions, quickly took potions and instruments from her magical bag, saying:
— We need to call Professor Snape! I don't have enough potions and salves.
McGonagall nodded and left the ward.
Hermione cautiously got up from her bed and quietly approached Viktor. Pomfrey had already cleaned his body with a spell, and Hermione saw with horror that it was badly burned.
— Will he be okay? — she asked quietly, her voice trembling.
Madame Pomfrey turned around.
— My dear, why are you not in bed? If you're feeling better, get out of here. I need to concentrate, — she said sternly.
— Can I stay? — Hermione asked, pleading.
But Madame Pomfrey shook her head.
— No, you'll only get in the way here.
Hearing these words, Hermione froze. She lowered her head and sadly walked toward the exit. Stopping, she cast one more glance at Viktor, her shoulders trembling, and hot tears streamed from her eyes.
When Viktor opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the familiar ceiling of the hospital wing. He exhaled.
— I blacked out again. This is starting to annoy me, — he muttered. Then, thinking about it, he added with a satisfied smile: — Well, at least I'm getting some sleep here.
The door creaked open, and Hermione appeared in the doorway. Seeing that he was awake, she let out a sigh of relief.
— Don't move, I'll go get Madame Pomfrey, — she said quickly and, without waiting for an answer, turned and ran away.
Viktor pouted, watching her leave. Then he adopted a thin, squeaky voice and began to mimic her:
— "Oh, Viktor, I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried about you, thank you for saving me!" — He turned to the door and shouted: — You're welcome, my dear Hermione, anytime!
At that moment, Daphne entered the ward. She had heard his last phrase and smiled slightly.
— She's not here. Should I go get her? — she asked.
Viktor looked at her.
— Never mind. Just tell me how long I've been here?
Daphne thought for a moment.
— I don't know when you got here, but it's six in the evening now.
Viktor made a surprised face and said sadly:
— Oh my god, did I miss classes? Now I'm going to fall behind everyone else in class!
Daphne sighed, looking at him as if he were an idiot.
— You know all the course material for the year ahead, maybe even for all five.
— Oh, right. Phew, that's good, — Viktor replied, relieved.
— What happened to you? — Daphne asked.
Viktor shrugged nonchalantly.
— Oh, you know, I tripped and fell badly.
She raised an eyebrow skeptically but didn't argue.
At that moment, the door opened, and Madame Pomfrey and Hermione entered the ward. Hermione, seeing Daphne, frowned slightly. Madame Pomfrey immediately approached Viktor.
— How are you feeling?
— To be honest, I'm a little sad and a little hurt, but overall, everything's fine, — Viktor replied with a slight smile.
Madame Pomfrey frowned.
— I'm asking about your physical condition.
Viktor laughed.
— Sorry, a habit from childhood. I forgot that doctors aren't only interested in your internal state. Everything is fine, nothing hurts, it seems.
Madame Pomfrey nodded, her gaze softening.
— You are very strong. I don't know a single wizard who would sleep peacefully while being treated for such severe wounds. Your body might itch for a while. That's because we grew you new skin overnight. Even your old scars are gone, — her voice was filled with bitterness. As a good healer, she had noticed his numerous scars under the charred skin and realized he had a difficult childhood.
Viktor's face filled with surprise. Seeing a mirror on the wall, he abruptly jumped to his feet, throwing the blanket off. Hermione shrieked and immediately turned away. Viktor walked up to the mirror, placed both hands on it, and said desperately:
— No... my scars... my sweet scars!
Daphne, who, like Hermione, had turned her back on him, said quietly:
— Viktor, you're naked.
Viktor looked down.
— Oh, why am I naked? — he asked with a tragic look.
— Your clothes burned, — Madame Pomfrey answered calmly.
Hermione couldn't take it anymore and yelled:
— Viktor, cover yourself!
He finally tore himself away from the mirror and, with a heavy sigh, walked to the cot, picked up the blanket, and wrapped it around himself. An awkward silence fell over the ward. Daphne broke it first.
— I think it's time for me to go. Get well soon.
Madame Pomfrey also turned.
— Rest and try not to make any more sudden movements; the wound on your stomach hasn't fully healed yet, — and she left after Daphne.
Viktor turned to Hermione, who stood with her head down, not daring to look up.
— Why the sad face? — he asked with a slight smile. — Are you upset by my naked body? Just so you know, I'm still growing!
Hermione whispered quietly, without raising her head:
— I'm sorry. If I had listened to you, you wouldn't have been hurt.
The smile disappeared from Viktor's face. He took a step toward her, his voice softening.
— Hermione, don't worry, it's not your fault. Well, maybe a little, — he smirked, but seeing Hermione tremble, he immediately became serious. — Hey, I'm kidding. Don't cry, I was just joking. — He walked over and carefully hugged her. — Think about it. I wouldn't have left you there anyway. And even if you hadn't gone, I would have saved Harry. Please, don't cry.
The door to the ward quietly opened, and Dumbledore appeared in the doorway.
— Oh, excuse me, I seem to have interrupted you, — he said softly, looking at the two teenagers embracing.
Hermione, blushing, immediately pushed Viktor away. From her push, the blanket holding onto him slipped to the floor, and Viktor appeared before Dumbledore in all his glory.
Dumbledore blinked, his gaze sliding over Viktor, but he maintained an imperturbable expression. Viktor, in turn, placed his hands on his hips and, proudly puffing out his chest, declared:
— Just so you know, it's not small! It's just cold in here.
Hermione couldn't handle it. She let out a muffled squeak, covered her face with her hands, and ran out of the ward.
Viktor exhaled, transfigured the blanket into pants, and put them on. He walked to the bed and sat down with his legs crossed.
— How can I help you? — he asked.
Dumbledore said:
— I came to check on your well-being. I'm sorry to have interrupted your moment with Miss Granger.
— It's nothing. I'm glad you came to check on me, — Viktor sighed sadly. — Yes, I was very badly wounded, I think I'm due for a couple of weeks off.
Dumbledore smiled.
— Yes, I heard you were badly burned, but you know, after checking the spot, I noticed something strange.
Viktor frowned:
— And what is that?
— The attacker, — Dumbledore replied, — would not have benefited from setting the forest on fire. After all, that would have attracted the attention of the teachers. That means someone else set the fire, and you were hurt because of them.
Viktor snorted and said discontentedly:
— So you two conspired and came to laugh at me? Yes, I burned myself. Happy now?
Dumbledore began to laugh. Viktor snorted, but then a cunning smile appeared on his face. And he asked cheerfully:
— Tell me, how is Professor Quirrell?
Dumbledore's smiling face instantly turned serious. The door to the ward slammed shut. He asked cautiously:
— What did you ask?
Viktor's smile widened, and he said:
— How is Professor Quirrell? — He deliberately emphasized his name.
Dumbledore looked at him for a long time, then sighed. He carefully sat on the neighboring bed and said:
— I didn't think he would reveal himself.
Viktor replied:
— And he didn't. I had my own ways of figuring it out.
Dumbledore asked:
— You're probably waiting for an explanation of why I allowed a Death Eater to get into the school?
Viktor laughed and replied:
— No, your business doesn't concern me. What annoys me is this: why did you allow students to go into the forest, knowing what he was doing there?
Dumbledore sighed:
— I didn't know. McGonagall sent them into the forest without telling me about it.
Viktor looked at him searchingly and realized that the headmaster wasn't lying.
— Yeah... that didn't turn out very well, — he said.
— I agree, — Dumbledore chuckled quietly. — She almost ruined my plan.
— And besides, — Viktor continued, — I never expected that stuttering man to be so strong.
Dumbledore smiled.
— He only pretends to be weak. He is one of Durmstrang's best graduates.
Viktor laughed.
— But you should have seen how I beat him up! Let's go see him!
— He's not here, — Dumbledore replied. — He took a month off, said he had problems at home. You'd better tell me what happened there.
Viktor jumped off the bed.
— Let's go to your office. We can talk over a game of chess.
— I don't think Madame Pomfrey will be happy that you left, — Dumbledore said.
Viktor waved his hand:
— It's no big deal.
Dumbledore stood up, and they went to his office together. Walking down the corridor, Viktor asked:
— Do you still have those sour candies?
Dumbledore shook his head:
— No, we ate them all.
Viktor sighed:
— A shame.
— But I was sent new chocolates in the form of live slugs. They are quite tasty.