Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore walked out of the Dormitory to find a Professor to ask for leave, while Hermione stayed behind to look after Amanda.
Reaching out to gently pull Amanda into her arms, Hermione lowered her head close to her ear.
"Whatever everyone asks you later, just tell them. Don't hide anything from us, okay?"
"I promise you are absolutely safe here. No one will scold you, and no one will punish you. Don't have any worries."
Hermione's voice was light and gentle, and her embrace was exceptionally soft and comfortable.
Amanda leaned against Hermione's chest and nodded expressionlessly. "Okay."
If Hermione and the others questioned her, she would certainly hide nothing, telling them everything she knew without reservation.
As Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore stepped out of the Dormitory and down the stairs into the common room, the anxious expressions on their faces were noticed by Penelope, who was sitting on a sofa reading a book and drinking tea.
Given that they shared a Dormitory with Amanda, seeing the anxiety on their faces made Penelope's heart skip a beat.
Casually closing her book and tossing it aside, Penelope caught up to Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore in a few quick strides.
The two hurried girls were already about to run out of the Ravenclaw Common Room door within seconds.
"Cho, Marietta Eckmore, what's wrong?"
Cho turned back, her face full of urgency as she spoke rapidly, "Amanda, it's Amanda. She has an injury on her leg—she punished herself. Hermione asked us to help her and Amanda ask the Professors for leave; she wants to have a good talk with her."
"We plan to take leave too," Marietta Eckmore added, nodding in agreement.
"She punished herself again?!" Penelope's pupils contracted sharply.
"Senior Penelope, you've seen Amanda punish herself before?" Cho froze for a moment, looking at Penelope.
Penelope nodded with a heavy expression. "Yes, and the situation was quite serious then. Come on, I'll go with you to find the Professors for leave."
But if they went to ask for leave... the Professors would likely follow them back.
The three girls ran to the Great Hall as fast as they could without stopping for a moment. They pushed open the heavy doors; breakfast at Hogwarts had only just begun.
Only about half the students were currently eating, but the Professors at the Staff Table were all present.
Penelope and the other two running into the Great Hall during breakfast wasn't particularly conspicuous, but when they ran straight for the Staff Table, it certainly was.
At that moment, the Little Eagles sitting at the Ravenclaw Table couldn't help but look up at them.
The combination of Penelope, Cho, and Marietta Eckmore easily made them think of Amanda.
So, had something happened to Amanda? The Little Eagles' expressions grew serious as they stared unblinkingly at the Staff Table.
"Professor Flitwick!"
Penelope led the way to the Staff Table, stopping in front of Professor Flitwick to catch her breath.
"Miss Penelope," Professor Flitwick nodded. "What is the matter? Why are you in such a hurry that you've run yourself out of breath?"
"Cho, Marietta Eckmore, Hermione, and I would like to ask you and Professor McGonagall for leave today."
Once Penelope caught her breath, she blurted out the reason for their visit in one go. Cho and Marietta Eckmore nodded vigorously behind her.
Hearing that students from her own house wanted leave as well, Professor McGonagall looked over with concern.
"Why do you all need leave? You don't look ill to me?"
Scanning the three children, Professor McGonagall spoke with uncertainty.
"We aren't sick, it's Amanda." Penelope instinctively lowered her voice. She didn't want anyone besides themselves and the Professors to know about Amanda punishing herself.
She didn't want Amanda to endure the strange looks of others; even if there was only a slight possibility, she couldn't take that risk.
"Because of some things, she punished herself, and it's not the first time she's done it. We feel we must talk to her."
Penelope bit her lower lip. Fearing the Professors wouldn't realize the gravity of the situation, she described the scene she had witnessed the last time Amanda punished herself.
"Last time, Amanda punished herself by slapping her own face until it was swollen, and... I saw blood on the corner of her mouth then."
Clatter! Screech... Penelope's fear that the Professors wouldn't realize the seriousness did not come to pass.
The moment they heard Amanda had punished herself, their hearts were already in their throats.
It was just that hearing such a thing for the first time was so shocking they couldn't react immediately; they needed a moment to process it before they could respond.
Then, suddenly hearing Penelope say Amanda had slapped herself until her face was swollen and her mouth was bleeding, they didn't need any more time to process.
Professor Flitwick knocked the cup and plate beside him straight to the floor, while Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout stood up abruptly, their chairs screeching harshly against the ground.
Headmaster Dumbledore's bright eyes fixed on the three girls, and his expression revealed a rare, undisguised worry.
As for Professor Snape, who sat on the other side, he quickly reached out to press down on the "restless" Lockhart, giving him a warning look.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Minerva, and Filius will handle this. You should just stay seated here for a while, Professor Lockhart."
Lockhart's expression stiffened for a moment. He nodded awkwardly and sat back in his seat, no longer attempting to get up.
Professor Snape looked at the three anxious girls with a profound gaze. Amanda was punishing herself?
He suddenly thought of the scenes where he had made things difficult for Amanda in class. A flicker appeared deep in his eyes before immediately returning to their usual depth. He looked down at the sausage on his plate.
"Where did she hurt herself this time?" Professor Flitwick had already jumped off his chair and was walking out anxiously.
Marietta Eckmore, who understood the situation better, quickly answered, "It should be her left leg, Professor Flitwick."
"Left leg..." Professor Flitwick frowned. Although Amanda was still young, she was a girl after all. If the injury was on her leg, it wouldn't be appropriate for a male Professor to go.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward quickly and nodded to him. "Since Miss Amanda's injury is on her leg this time, it's not suitable for you to go, Filius. I'll go instead. I believe my students for this period can join a Charms Class?"
"Of course," Professor Flitwick agreed solemnly. "I'll leave it to you, Minerva."
Professor McGonagall shook her head with a serious expression. "I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts; this is my duty. Moreover, Miss Amanda is a student I like very much."
For the same reason, it was also inappropriate for Headmaster Dumbledore to go.
As the Dean of Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout had an absolute fondness for a model student like Amanda—especially one who helped the Hufflepuffs learn Defense Against the Dark Arts.
She followed along without hesitation, but in the end, Professor McGonagall persuaded her to stay back.
If too many Professors went, Amanda might get nervous; it was enough for her to go. To treat Amanda's injuries, they also stopped by the Hospital Wing to call for Madam Pomfrey.
Racing all the way back to Ravenclaw Tower, Penelope answered the bronze knocker's question at her fastest speed ever, leading Cho, Marietta Eckmore, Professor McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey into the Ravenclaw Common Room.
The Little Eagles who were self-studying in the common room were stunned to see Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey enter.
Wasn't Professor McGonagall the Head of Gryffindor? Why would she come to Ravenclaw?
And why was Madam Pomfrey here? Was someone sick? Or injured?
They had actually seen Cho and Marietta Eckmore following behind Penelope.
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 Amanda's Dormitory that they were forced to believe it.
"Is Amanda injured?"
"Is she sick?"
"How is that possible? Amanda 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 Amanda, 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 Amanda's Dormitory.
Inside Amanda's Dormitory, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey went straight for Amanda, who was being held by Hermione.
"Miss Amanda, 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 Amanda'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, Amanda looked up at Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and nodded. "Miss Amanda, you must let Madam Pomfrey see your injury."
"Okay, Professor McGonagall."
Amanda 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 Amanda'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 Amanda's thigh lightly. "Episkey."
The wound on Amanda's thigh slowly closed, eventually leaving only a faint mark.
"Miss Amanda, do you have any other injuries?" Professor McGonagall looked at Amanda 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." Amanda 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?"
Amanda 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 Amanda with reddened eyes. Hermione, in particular, pulled Amanda 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, Amanda'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 Amanda in Hermione's arms, Professor McGonagall spoke in her gentlest tone.
"Miss Amanda, would you mind telling us about your past? Your history."
She was certain that no student at Hogwarts would have taught Amanda 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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