They had some faint suspicions in their hearts, but none of them wanted to believe that possibility.
It wasn't until they watched the group walk into Lynn's Dormitory that they were forced to believe it.
"Is Lynn injured?"
"Is she sick?"
"How is that possible? Lynn was fine yesterday!"
"How is it impossible? Don't forget how many Slytherins pointed their wands at her yesterday."
"True. Who knows if those Slytherins used some Dark Arts or some curse in secret."
"They can't win openly, so they strike from the shadows, is that it?!"
The Little Eagles grew more and more indignant as they spoke, their emotions running so high they looked ready to charge straight into the snakes' nest.
Finally, it was a seventh-year, Senior Platt, who stepped forward to calm the Little Eagles down.
"Everyone calm down. I know you're all worried about Lynn, and so am I."
"But we don't know the truth yet, so we can't just suspect others. That's not right."
"Since the Professors are here, why don't we wait? When they come out, we can ask. Only then can we solve whatever the problem is, rather than acting on impulse."
With Platt's words, the Little Eagles present finally settled down.
Those with classes soon began packing their things to leave, while those without sat on the common room sofas, staring intently at the door to Lynn's Dormitory.
Inside Lynn's Dormitory, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey went straight for Lynn, who was being held by Hermione.
"Miss Lynn, are you alright?" Professor McGonagall looked at her with burning anxiety. Seeing that her complexion was rosy and she showed no ill signs, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Professor McGonagall. I'm sorry to have made you come all this way."
"Now is not the time for such things, good child." Madam Pomfrey stroked Lynn's head; her impression of this child was incredibly deep.
Overly tense nerves, a severely damaged stomach... she had truly never seen a child like this.
Last year she had finally managed to nurse her back to health, and now she heard the child was punishing and hurting herself.
It truly made her eyes sting as a healer.
"Let me see where you are hurt. Everyone here is a woman; it's alright."
After hearing Madam Pomfrey's words, Lynn looked up at Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and nodded. "Miss Lynn, you must let Madam Pomfrey see your injury."
"Okay, Professor McGonagall."
Lynn spoke mechanically, reaching out to unfasten her wizard robe and remove her school trousers and thermal leggings.
She felt no shame or embarrassment; after all, she was merely following the Professor's request.
As the wound on Lynn's left thigh was revealed, everyone present couldn't help but gasp.
A hideous, ten-centimeter-long wound was "crouched" on her thigh.
The wound was deep enough that although it wasn't bleeding, it still hadn't fully healed even now.
Right next to this wound was another faint scar, just as long, looking exactly like this one.
Madam Pomfrey's face flushed as she took a deep breath. With her sharp eyes and professional expertise, she could tell at a glance that there was a Blood-Stopping Charm on the child's wound.
Using a spell to prevent blood loss—the child was indeed clever and knowledgeable.
But... this was truly the wrong way to use it.
Drawing her wand, Madam Pomfrey tapped Lynn's thigh lightly. "Episkey."
The wound on Lynn's thigh slowly closed, eventually leaving only a faint mark.
"Miss Lynn, do you have any other injuries?" Professor McGonagall looked at Lynn with a solemn tone. Based on that wound alone, this matter was serious enough.
No, the mere fact that a student of Hogwarts was harming themselves was serious enough!
"No." Lynn shook her head honestly, but Madam Pomfrey still didn't trust it and cast three diagnostic spells on her in a row, only stopping when she was certain there were no other wounds.
"May I pull up my trousers now, Professor McGonagall?"
Lynn requested instructions from the only Professor present with a voice devoid of emotion.
Professor McGonagall felt a dull ache in her heart. Such a rigid child, asking for permission even for this—why had she never noticed before?
"Of course, child. Get dressed quickly, don't catch a cold."
Her voice softened, even trembling slightly, completely different from her usual stern demeanor.
However, the young witches present clearly had no mind to notice or be surprised by this.
They all looked at Lynn with reddened eyes. Hermione, in particular, pulled Lynn into a tight embrace as soon as she had finished tidying her clothes.
"It's my fault! It's all my fault! If only I had been more precise in my words, if only I had observed more carefully..."
Would you not have had the chance to punish yourself? Would I have discovered sooner that you were still doing it? Would you have... suffered a little less?
"It was I who made a mistake." Held in Hermione's arms and feeling her body sob, Lynn's vision also began to blur.
But her voice remained unchanged. Her brain only throbbed with a dull ache, as if she wanted to feel something, yet was also stopping herself from feeling it.
Looking at Lynn in Hermione's arms, Professor McGonagall spoke in her gentlest tone.
"Miss Lynn, would you mind telling us about your past? Your history."
She was certain that no student at Hogwarts would have taught Lynn to punish herself, nor would any Professor have taught her that.
So this could only have been learned from her past. Regardless of where she had learned it—whether from a teacher or a parent.
Facing such a rigid "good child" who was so cruel to herself.
Professor McGonagall only wanted to transfigure those who had taught her to be this way into slugs and ensure they never changed back.
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