"Certainly, child," Professor Flitwick answered.
With that, Vid explained quietly the reason for his return to the school—
"About half an hour later, a child who suffered torment and abuse brought forth an Obscurus, causing devastation on the island. I actually came back because of her."
"Obscurus..."
The crowd's initially angry faces became more solemn.
"Poor child..."
Professor Flitwick murmured.
"Since you know it has happened, you cannot change it," Professor Snape said coldly.
"I know, but what I want to save is another child whose organs were taken away. Their emotional ties are deep. If she survives, maybe she can calm the Obscurial."
Vid said, "Moreover, I think the professors need to know what they will face upon reaching the island."
For a moment, no one spoke, each turning thoughts over in their own minds.
"Time is fast approaching."
Vid had set a spell to remind himself of the time. He took out the Golden Key and held it in his palm. Several professors formed a circle, each extending a finger to press on the key.
"If opinions diverge, we follow Severus's lead," Professor McGonagall said solemnly before departure, "In battle, the worst is everyone having their own ideas."
"Understood!"
The crowd, even those who did not like Snape, responded.
The heads of Slytherin and Gryffindor exchanged a glance, silently conveying entrustment and responsibility.
Professor Snape nodded slightly, then his gaze fell on the key, his eyes dark.
"Five, four, three..." Vid softly counted down, "Two..."
He glanced around, catching Professor McGonagall unconsciously clasping her hands, index and middle finger crossed in a prayer gesture.
"One!"
The strange pulling force appeared again, and Vid's hand adhered tightly to the key. In flight, Professor Flitwick occasionally bumped into him, and then he brushed against Professor Snape.
Yet, his eyes couldn't actually see the people beside him, only the streamline of dazzling lines.
Vid couldn't help but close his eyes.
Suddenly, they fell heavily onto the reef, the salty sea breeze assaulting them.
Professor Sprout was positioned closer to the edge, almost slipping off the rock, but Professor Snape timely reached out to pull her back.
"Thank you, Severus," Professor Sprout said.
"What's strange—what is this?" Madam Pomfrey pointed forward.
Vid instinctively looked down, expecting to see a swollen face soaked by seawater, but upon finding nothing, realized Madam Pomfrey was pointing at a pipe embedded in the cliffside, thicker than a leg.
At that moment, scalding water was gushing out, splashing into the sea, with steam billowing around.
"This seems to be...cooling water?"
Vid hesitated a moment, waved his Magic Wand, and checked the current time again, suddenly realizing—no wonder Dumbledore gave him twenty minutes.
When they re-arrived at the island, the strong magnetic field Vid previously experienced had just ended.
A little earlier, they might have been washed by the magnetic field upon landing, maybe even the Portkey's landing point would deviate, sending them into the ocean dozens of miles away.
Vid took a deep breath, realizing his oversight, secretly noting the lesson, then quickly introduced the island's terrain and laboratory location to the professors.
"Great, we should move," Professor Sprout said, "In case of any situation—"
"Adapting as it comes!" Professor Flitwick spun his Magic Wand beautifully, saying, "First, take Madam Pomfrey and Vid to their location."
"Don't treat me like some helpless girl!" Madam Pomfrey, holding her Magic Wand and carrying a suitcase, looked impressive. She said, "I can protect myself!"
"Start with Disillusionment."
Professor Snape said, ready to cast on Vid, when he saw Vid tapping his wand on his head and his body starting to vanish from the top down.
"Well-used spell," the Professor of Potions muttered, "It looks like Dumbledore really taught you quite a lot."
It sounded a bit sour.
Wisely, Vid didn't correct him—the Disillusionment Charm was actually taught by Lupin.
After everyone was Disillusioned, they mounted their Brooms and took to the skies. Vid, when rising, couldn't help but glance down.
Amidst the distant rocks, vaguely nestled a pale hand.
He withdrew his gaze, flew to the forefront.
—Vid had the best Broom performance and needed to lead the way.
Yet, the four professors subtly surrounded him, protecting him in the middle.
"Don't fly too fast, Vid," Professor Sprout called loudly from the side rear, "Remember there are enemies on the island now!"
So Vid slightly slowed his pace, the group whizzing through the air above the island.
Actually, they couldn't see each other now, since the Flying Broomsticks were invisible too. But Magic always directed them to one another's positions.
"Boom—boom—boom—"
Huge machines flew into the air, crashing and exploding, fires igniting in places.
Hundreds of fully armed soldiers rushed out of buildings, some carrying long rifles, running upwards toward high buildings.
"Sniper rifles!"
Professor Flitwick, experienced, immediately shrieked, "That kind of weapon shoots very far; even Dumbledore might get injured!"
"Pomona, Filius, you two deal with those guys!"
Snape shouted.
The two immediately turned their Brooms and dove downward.
Professor Flitwick aimed for the man with the sniper rifle, while Professor Sprout flew lower.
The soldiers on the ground heard the sound-whooshing overhead and looked up in confusion, only to see masses of glittering, very lovely powder falling from the sky.
Invisible, Professor Sprout swooped over soldiers, dropping a large bag of powder once more.
"Careful, it's toxic!"
A soldier yelled loudly, calling for everyone to quickly wear gas masks.
Actually, some clever ones had quickly donned masks seeing the powder, but the fine dust still managed to touch their skin.
One after another, they fell asleep, lying on the ground.
Professor Sprout felt a pang of shame for her leniency, then turned her Broom around and flew towards other soldiers.
Meanwhile, Professor Flitwick had flown behind the soldier adjusting the sniper rifle.
The black-clad soldier sensed a chill behind him, he shrugged his neck, unknowing, setting up the gun, leaning in to take a closer look—
The lens was pitch black as if he'd forgotten to open the sight cover.
A gleam of light shot from the front...
...
Vid didn't know what happened behind them.
The group flew straight to the laboratory, finding it heavily guarded with locked doors, seemingly unaffected by external disturbances.
"Alohomora!"
Professor Snape used the Confundus Charm to distract surrounding soldiers, pointed his wand at the alloy door. Chains inside clattered, then the door clicked open.
He reached out to push, surprisingly didn't open.
"Eh?"
Snape released his hand, thinking the door had some odd mechanism, then saw the door open outward—
As he pushed the door, someone inside was pushing it too.
Snape frowned, quickly stepping back two steps.
A voice came from the gradually opening door crack—
"...I'll take this, deal with the remaining one quickly."
The man with glasses showed no awareness, pulling a light blue box out while talking to someone beside him:
"Speed up the experiment on the third floor too, the situation above is to use slightly rougher methods, increase drug doses, just don't kill them."
The masked man laughed, saying, "That's perfect, start with Mabel, Logan's been fixated on her for a while."
The glasses man nodded indifferently, "As you wish; I only want results..."
Several Spell rays simultaneously struck, the two at the door immediately fainted.
Vid took the box, opened it, seeing the icy white mist pouring out, inside lay still seemingly fresh organs, appearing slightly quivering.
For a moment, his scalp tingled, nearly tossing the thing away.
"Go save them," Professor Snape said calmly.
Vid stabilized himself and voluntarily carried the box, entering the door with the professors.
There were few people inside, a Conveyor Belt slowly moving, someone in surgical attire stood with their back to the group, washing by the sink, the red water flowing into the basin.