In the Hospital Wing, Rove felt like he was about to grow mold.
> [Current Status: Confinement (Medical Edition)]
> [Time Remaining: 03:00:00]
> [Buff: Madam Pomfrey's Care (All stats recovery speed +200%, Movement Speed -100%)]
Although Madam Pomfrey's "Elven Secret Elixir" was incredibly effective, he was still forcibly ordered to stay in bed for three whole days. During these three days, his only entertainment was examining the mountain of gifts with Harry and listening to Ron (who had been knocked out by a chess piece but only suffered superficial injuries and was bounced into the ward by Hermione the next day) vividly describe the aftermath of that night.
"You should have seen Malfoy's face!" Ron sat on the edge of the bed, munching on a Licorice Wand he'd swiped from some upperclassman, waving his arms. "When Hermione ran to get Professor McGonagall, and then Dumbledore flew up from under the trapdoor carrying you, that git's face turned green! Greener than Neville's toad! He definitely thought you were dead!"
"I thought I was dead too." Rove leaned back on his pillow, fiddling with a freshly unwrapped Chocolate Frog card.
> [Item: Portrait of the White Wizard (Gandalf)]
> [Effect: Deterrence against Dark Creatures +1 (Holder's Sanity recovery speed slightly increased)]
> [Note: Although this is just a card, the old man on it seems to be winking at you, as if saying: "This is not the end, little Hobbit." ]
"But seriously, mate," Ron lowered his voice, looking at Rove with adoration, forgetting even to chew the Licorice Wand in his mouth. "Did you really guard against that black fire for half an hour? Hermione said you looked like... like a hero from one of those continental stories!"
"It's Middle-earth," Harry corrected from the side. "Though I don't know where that is—can't seem to find it on a map—but Rove always calls it that. It's his hometown, right?"
"Whatever it is." Ron shrugged. "Now the whole school is talking about your deeds. Some say you defeated a troll with a frying pan, some say you blocked Dark Magic with a frying pan, and some even say your frying pan is a Goblin-wrought artifact..."
Rove's mouth twitched. This is how rumors start.
"Actually, my legs just went soft, and I couldn't run," Rove tried to explain.
"Stop being modest!" Ron said loudly. "Fred and George even wanted to steal your frying pan to study it, to see if they could mass-produce it. I barely managed to talk them out of it."
Rove subconsciously reached under his pillow to confirm his [Refined Cast Iron Skillet +2] was still there.
Just then, there was a knock on the ward door.
A group of tall boys wearing yellow team robes walked in. The bright yellow looked dazzling in the white ward, like a bunch of vibrant sunflowers.
Leading them was a tall, handsome boy with a sunny smile that would make girls across the school scream.
Cedric Diggory.
> [NPC: Young Lord of Rohan / Elite Ranger]
> [Faction: Friendly (Hufflepuff)]
> [Level: Lv.15 (All-Rounder Warrior)]
> [Affinity: Respect]
Behind him followed other members of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, all strong and fit, looking like the Guards of the Citadel of Gondor.
"Hey, little hero." Cedric walked over with a smile, holding a large bouquet of flowers (which looked like they had been swiped from Professor Sprout's greenhouse, still smelling of fresh earth). "Heard you were getting discharged soon, so we came to see you on behalf of the team. By the way, Rove, I really miss your 'Shire Stew.' Madam Pomfrey's nutritional meals are torture; my taste buds are protesting."
Rove was somewhat flattered. Although he had spoken to Cedric during the Sorting, the guy was a Hufflepuff prefect and a popular figure in the house.
"Thanks... Cedric." Rove tried to sit up straight to show proper dignity. "When I get out, I'll borrow a fire in the kitchen. I'll make you guys a real 'Cair Paravel' feast."
"That would be brilliant." Cedric placed the flowers on the bedside table, which was already running out of space. "Even though you didn't get to play this semester, you really made Hufflepuff look good. Professor Sprout has been walking on air these past few days; even the Mandrakes in the greenhouse aren't screaming as loud."
He turned and said to the team members behind him: "See that? That's the spirit we're looking for. Loyalty, courage, and a little bit of... madness. Even if he's usually rambling, when it counts, he dares to draw his... er, frying pan."
The team members let out a burst of good-natured laughter. They all knew about Rove, the "Frying Pan Ranger" and his quirks, but it didn't diminish their fondness for this junior student one bit.
"Heard you took on You-Know-Who solo?" Cedric stopped smiling and looked at Rove seriously, concern in his eyes. "Though I reckon it's probably a rumor, whatever happened that night, you've got guts, Baggins. Like I said before, you're a true knight. Hufflepuff is proud of you."
Rove looked into Cedric's sincere eyes. In his System vision, the halo above Cedric's head was pure gold, representing [Lawful Good]. This was a true favored son of heaven, and a true friend.
"To protect the Badger's Den..." Rove subconsciously puffed out his chest, speaking in a bard-like tone, "Even if the Dark Lord descends, I'll flatten him with my frying pan. That is the duty... of a Fellowship member."
Cedric paused for a moment, then laughed heartily, patting Rove on the shoulder hard.
"Well said! 'Protect the Badger's Den'!" Cedric turned to his team. "Did you hear that? Next year's Quidditch Cup, we need that kind of spirit too! Whether the opponent is a Gryffindor lion or a Slytherin snake, we'll flatten them!"
"YEAH!!!" The team members cheered in unison, loud enough to almost lift the ceiling.
Madam Pomfrey stormed out of her office furiously: "Quiet! This is a hospital! Not a Quidditch pitch! Keep it up and I'll silence the lot of you!"
The Quidditch players scattered like birds instantly. Before leaving, Cedric winked at Rove and made a "see you later" gesture.
> [System Settlement: Reputation Increased]
> [Title Acquired: Light of Hufflepuff (Local)]
> [Effect: Within Hufflepuff House, Charisma +10, Trade Discount +20%, Acquired 'Prefect's Protection' Buff.]
> [Current Reputation Level: Friendly -> Worship (Hufflepuff Internal)]
After sending off the enthusiastic Quidditch team, the ward quieted down.
"Whoa," Ron looked envious, practically with hearts in his eyes. "Cedric Diggory came to see you personally! George and Fred say he's the best-looking guy at Hogwarts; even the female ghosts want to date him."
"He is quite handsome," Harry nodded, sounding a bit sour. "If only I were that tall."
Then he unwrapped a box of Chocolate Frogs in his hand, a consolation gift from Neville.
"Look who this is... oh, blimey." Harry gasped.
"Who is it?" Rove leaned in, his curiosity piqued.
"It's Morgan le Fay." Harry handed the card to Rove. "Famous Dark Witch, Merlin's enemy."
Rove took the card. The witch on it had a sinister face and malicious eyes, staring coldly at him.
> [Warning: Faint Dark Aura Detected]
> [Item: Fallen Witch's Cursed Card]
> [Suggestion: Destroy immediately, or use to level a table leg]
Suddenly, the Chocolate Frog that had been playing dead on the edge of the box moved. With a powerful kick of its hind legs, it leaped out of the box, aiming straight for Rove's nose.
Rove's pupils constricted sharply. Almost reflexively, he grabbed the frying pan from under his pillow. His movement was incredibly fast, leaving a black blur in the air.
WHACK!
The poor Chocolate Frog was smashed against the opposite wall, turning into a brown smudge.
Ron's jaw dropped, and the Licorice Wand in his hand fell to the floor.
Harry pushed up his slipping glasses, staring dumbfounded at the smudge on the wall, then at the frying pan in Rove's hand.
"Um..." Harry swallowed hard. "Rove, that was just... a frog made of chocolate. It wasn't poisonous, and it wouldn't bite."
Rove maintained his batting stance.
"Never let your guard down, Harry. In the world of Dark Magic, even a frog could be Sauron in disguise, or some transformed dark creature." Rove spouted nonsense with a straight face. "Besides, it tried to attack my nose. That is an unforgivable provocation."
Ron picked up his Licorice Wand, blew off the dust, and sighed from the bottom of his heart: "Mate, you are... so cool. I'm going to buy a frying pan too."
> [Achievement Unlocked: Frying Pan Master]
> [Proficiency: +5]
> [Evaluation: You have grasped the true meaning of 'Everything can be smacked'.]
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the three boys, making the chocolate smear on the wall glisten. It was the last afternoon before the end of term, filled with absurdity, laughter, and something called friendship!