Jon Hart had been staying in the Headmaster's Office for nearly two weeks.
Honestly, aside from being a bit noisy, life here was quite leisurely—reading books daily, practicing spells, and chatting with the various Headmasters and the stone gargoyle...
However, as the herbs in Jon's pocket gradually dwindled, Fawkes' visits to the Headmaster's Office became much less frequent. This couldn't help but make Jon sigh—the Phoenix has become a little too pragmatic lately... Fortunately, Fawkes hadn't left Jon starving or thirsty, though he couldn't enjoy fresh food every day like before.
Jon had already begun preparing to leave the Headmaster's Office. He had read through the most important collection of books in that bookcase, though he had mostly memorized the content without truly understanding it. At the same time, he had committed the Headmasters' advice and perspectives to heart.
All of this required time to comprehend and digest.
Besides, to the outside world, he was considered missing. A few weeks was manageable, but any longer might arouse suspicion from Umbridge or Malfoy.
What truly solidified Jon's resolve, however, was an event that occurred this morning—Headmistress Dilys Derwent had returned.
"The girl has been discharged," said the Hogwarts Headmistress, a Hufflepuff who had been the first to extend goodwill to Jon Hart, her expression gentle. "She regained consciousness several days ago. The healers at St. Mungo's kept her for two more days, and after confirming there were no complications, they released her... I expect she'll be back at school within the next few days."
"Thank you so very much, Headmistress Derwent!" Jon said earnestly.
Having interacted with them over this period, he knew full well that these headmasters and headmistresses loved to gossip endlessly with each other. So, even though most of them could freely travel to other portraits, they all remained in the Headmaster's Office...
Principal Derwent had stayed alone at St. Mungo's Magical Hospital for over two weeks to help him with this matter.
"It's nothing," Principal Derwent smiled kindly. "The girl's condition has been perfectly normal all this time. She'd merely been in a deep sleep, with no further issues..."
After expressing his gratitude once more, Jon began seriously considering leaving the Headmaster's Office. Leaving now, looking perfectly healthy, was out of the question—he needed to alter his appearance a bit!
...
"You're late, Potter." Severus Snape's voice was icy cold as Harry Potter closed the door to the Potions classroom.
He stood with his back to Harry, carefully extracting a strand of silver substance from his own thoughts and placing it into Dumbledore's Pensieve.
Harry pretended not to hear him.
"So..." Snape inquired coldly, "you've practiced?"
"Yes." Harry lied. A pang of regret flashed through him—he'd barely practiced Occlumency once in private recently... Snape would surely discover this if he performed Legilimency on him later.
"We'll find out soon enough..." Snape raised his wand.
But just then, the door to Snape's office burst open. Draco Malfoy strode in.
"Professor Snape, sir... I'm sorry... Oh?" Malfoy stared at Snape and Harry in shock.
"It's nothing, Draco." Snape lowered his wand. "Potter is catching up on some basic Potions knowledge."
"Oh, really??" Malfoy looked both surprised and pleased.
"Is there something you need?" Snape turned to Malfoy, his tone neutral.
"We found Christopher... He suddenly appeared at the gates of Hogwarts. He looked very weak, but his mind was still clear..." Malfoy hurriedly replied. "Crabbe and Goyle carried him to the hospital wing."
"How did he get there?" Snape inquired.
"I don't know, sir. He was barely strong enough to stand."
"Very well. Take me to see him..." Snape nodded, then turned back to glance at Harry. "Potter, we'll continue this lesson tomorrow evening."
He turned and strode out of the office, Malfoy following close behind.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
Seconds later, his gaze fell upon the silver-fuzz-like substance in the Pensieve—
"I wonder what Snape's memory is about?" Harry pondered silently, then found himself drawn closer.
...
Christopher Patrick lay in a Hospital Wing bed, having downed a large bottle of recovery potion given to him by Madam Pomfrey. He looked a little more stable... though his face remained deathly pale, and he looked painfully thin and weak.
Several members of the Investigative Task Force gathered around him, whispering among themselves.
Headmistress Umbridge and Professor Snape arrived almost simultaneously.
"Professor Umbridge..." Jon said in an extremely weak voice, reaching out as if preparing to climb out of bed.
"No need to explain, Patrick!" Umbridge cut in hastily. "The two Weasley from Gryffindor told me before leaving campus that they'd locked you in the Vanishing Cabinet on the second floor."
"Yes..." Jon nodded, then continued, "I went looking for them that day but found only one. I was attacked by the other... When I woke up, I found myself in a sealed space."
"Good heavens... How did you manage to survive in there so long?" Pansy Parkinson covered her mouth nervously.
Jon gave a weak smile, then raised his wand and gave it a light flick... A rather unappetizing-looking loaf of bread slowly materialized at the tip of his wand...
"Transfiguration?" Montague, a sixth-year, bellowed with his usual loud voice. "Aren't there some rules about Transfiguration not being allowed on food?"
"When you're starving, who cares about Gamp's Law…" Jon shook his head.
"Then how did you get out?" Snape asked sternly.
"Apparition..." Jon's mouth twitched slightly as he spoke.
"But you're only in fourth year! Apparition isn't a sixth-year spell..." Malfoy asked incredulously.
"I understand the principle behind it. Luckily, it worked on my first try," Jon replied. "I was truly at my wits' end in there. When I thought I heard Professor Sprout's voice, I knew I was in Hogsmeade... so I gave it a shot..."
As Jon explained, Professor Snape's expression suddenly darkened—
"Patrick, get some rest... I need to return to my office." Snape said, frowning.