Allen and Professor McGonagall quickly exited the tunnel. After leaving the range of the Floating Willow, they retreated even further, moving far into the distance.
After canceling the Balloon Head spell ,they inhaled the fresh, cold air of the Forbidden Forest . The group couldn't help but take deep breaths, as if trying to expel the foul air they had breathed earlier.
This was especially true for Allen; he felt like a fish deprived of oxygen and finally returned to water, every cell in his body exposed to fresh air.
"Unbelievable! How did they get into such a mess? Why didn't they use the ' Scourgif ' spell? Why were they just lying there together?! How much did they eat beforehand?!" Hermione was truly struggling to comprehend the shocking scene she had just witnessed.
That unbelievable and sickening image flashed before their minds once again.
Allen felt he could barely control the urge to burn down that tunnel with Fiendfyre , cleansing it of all the filth .
After a long time , Harry went over to support Ron , while Professor Lupin supported Malfoy ; both of their wands had been taken back.
Both had been cleaned, but their faces were unhealthily pale, and they slumped lifelessly beside Professor Lupin and Harry .
Upon seeing them, Allen and the others involuntarily stepped back and covered their noses.
Ron and Draco were too weak to care. Even after stepping outside and breathing the fresh air, their previously numb noses could sense the foul smell emanating from their own bodies once again.
Being caught in such a nightmarish scene was truly embarrassing.
They didn't even dare look at the expressions on the others' faces. The smell on them absolutely disgusted them.
Although the sticky, hardened patches on their bodies had been cleaned off, they still felt dirty, intensely itchy, and extremely uncomfortable; it felt as if thousands of insects were crawling all over them.
Draco and Ron inwardly wondered: Why did something so terrible have to happen to them? Why did it have to be seen by so many people?
Professor Lupin suggested"I hope no one talks about what happened today."As a werewolf , he knew the pain of being ridiculed, and he didn't want his two students to experience the same; perhapshe didn't want them to have an even more miserable experience than his own, simply because of their werewolf status .
Allen nodded understandingly. Even if they didn't normally get along, he wouldn't turn someone else's embarrassing moment into a joke and spread it around.
"It's alright, you just need to go back and wash yourselves thoroughly." Kind Hermione , seeing their sad, pale faces , comforted them gently out of pity.
"At least two hours." Luna's cheerful voice floated through the air.
Professor McGonagall, however, didn't want to speak. Usually meticulous, McGonagallheld her breath, barely restraining herself from casting the' Aguamenti ' spell on the two students, Weasley and Malfoy, to straighten their disheveled appearances
And so the group quickly returned to the castle .
Malfoy and Weasley wishedthey could just go to the toilet and hide.
McGonagall and Lupin insisted on takingthem to the Hospital Wing for examination.
It was extremely rare for two wizards to find themselves in such a desperate situation !
"You can fix this, can't you?" Ron asked hopefully. "My stomach won't hurt anymore, right...?"
"Of course." Madam Pomfrey , though rarely, spoke briefly and concisely; she wore a mask.
"This is a potent potion that causes diarrhea if accidentally touched!" Madam Pomfrey's voice was slightly muffled beneath the mask. "Even skin contact causes this effect; you're lucky you didn't swallow it..."
At that moment, Harry and Ron looked at each other and tightly closed their mouths. They were both thinking of two people: the twin brothers of the Weasley family .
Harry had previously accidentallyseen the Twin Brothers secretly researching a powerful laxative, and so he had accepted the map from them as a friendly gift.
The twin brothers had poured the potion residue onto the roots of the Striking Willow tree , but they never expected to harm their own younger sibling in the process.
After drinking Madame Pomfrey's potion, the group went their separate ways.
Amidst the bewildered stares of the Young Wizards , Ron and Malfoy ,as if tortured, retreated back to their dormitory, grabbed their spare clothes, and then staggered straight to the bathroom.
Harry watched Ron's pale, somewhat neurotic expression with concernand gently comforted him: "It's alright, it's alright, it's all over."
Ron , in a rare display of extravagance, threw away all the clothes he wore; he had planned to buy himself a new suit with the allowance he had saved over the years, and only felt alive again after washing himself at least ten times.
While Ron took a shower, Harry , standing beside himto prevent any further accidentssuggested,"We should hurry to the Great Hall ; dinner time is almost over .
Although Harry himself had no appetite, it was clear that Ron needed to be fed.
Ron curled the corner of his mouth. He felt like it had been an eternity since his last meal, yet he had no appetite whatsoever.
The Great Hall was brightly lit. Allen and Luna had also arrived in the Great Hall, ready to eat .
Allen quickly took his seat, but was surprised to see the long table, usually laden with food, piled high with a jumble of glasses and plates.
Most of the young wizards leftthe Great Hall with extremely satisfied expressions.
Among the still relatively unspoiled foods, Allen selected a cold piece of chicken, a bread roll, a couple of pies, a plate or two, and a set of cutlery.
Just as he was running back to his place with these spoils, all the food, glasses, plates, and bowls on the table suddenly disappeared.
"It's alright, a clean dining environment is more comfortable anyway," Allen consoled himself.
Suddenly Allen noticed someone sitting next to him; it was Michael .
"You missed out on the flavors!" Michael sat down cheerfully on the other side of Allen.
Allen nodded; he had anticipated this when he saw the scene in the Great Hall .
" There were fragrant sausages from Arles, France , bright-shelled lobsters, pink-shelled mussels, sea urchins covered in spines like chestnuts, and all sorts of delicious snacks ..."
Michael listed the names of the dishes as if he were showing off, and he succeeded in doing so.
Allen's appetite suddenly vanished when he saw the cold chicken and dry bread on his plate.
A slight smile appeared on Luna's face . "Missing someone might be a good thing too," she said, comforting Allen with a rare gesture.
But Allen had already put down his cutlery.
Seeing this, Michael scratched his head, smiled mischievously, quickly rose to his feet, and left the Great Hall .
When Harry , Ron , and Draco arrived at the Great Hall ,the Long Table had been completely cleared; nothing was left, andonly a few people remained in the Great Hall .
"Great, now we can go back and rest." Ron breathed a sigh of relief. Sometimes, having friends worry too much could be a burden too.
Harry shrugged. Just as he was about to turn back, Ron suddenly stopped.
"Hey, Malfoy !" Ron suddenly called out to Malfoy .
Malfoy turned to look at Ron ;actuallysomething else he wanted to tell him .
"As for today—" Ron couldn't finish his sentence before he noticed the color drain from Malfoy's face .
" Weasley ! Don't tell anyone!" Malfoy , this time without beating around the bush, glared sharply at Ron .
Then Malfoy turned to Allen, his voice weak. "Allen, I beg you—"
"Of course, I already promised in the Forbidden Forest ." Allen, without waiting for Malfoy to finish, made a firm promise. He didn't even want to remember that earlier scene. "Neither of you ever mention it again."
The two sworn enemies this time nodded their heads at the same frequency and amplitude, displaying a surprising tacit understanding. Then, realizing what the other was doing , Ron and Malfoy turned their heads simultaneously as if wanting to separate, but ultimately bumped into each other.
They grumbled coldly and turned their heads to the side.
They both suspected the other of being their arch-enemy; whenever they met, it never ended well.