The wards of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Injuries are now filled with festive spirits.

Holly hung in the doorway, and a beautiful Christmas tree, covered with snow, sparkled in every corner, and each tree had a twinkling gold star at the top of its tip......

Matthew Wakefield has been here for a week now.

Strictly speaking, Matthew wasn't hurt at all, just a little bit out of strength......

Under normal circumstances, he would only need to go to the school hospital for a day or two, and the school doctor, Madam Pomfrey, would be able to cure him completely......

However, due to the "accident" at Hogwarts, Matthew could not stay there any longer...... He had to be sent to St. Mungo, where he was slowly diagnosed by the green-robed healers.

"We had to do the most comprehensive and systematic testing...... says the blonde therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment, "to avoid any problems...... So I suggest you stay here for another week or two...... Professor Rozier told me!"

So, it's time for him to spend Christmas here.

This is actually nothing, after all, after the "fall" of Hogwarts, he is actually in a state of "homelessness", where to spend Christmas.

The feeling of enjoying "publicly-funded medical care" is actually quite good, but it is a bit of a waste of public medical resources.

......

Matthew walked down the hallway a little nonchalantly—

On either side of the corridor are portraits of famous healers, and crystal bubbles filled with candles float on the ceiling, looking like giant soap bubbles.

At each doorway, wizards in green robes come and go (green robes are the standard attire for St. Mungo's healers).

He saw a row of witches and wizards sitting on rickety wooden chairs, some looking normal, reading an outdated copy of the Singing Tune, others with horrible deformities such as elephant trunks, or pig's tails, or an extra hand on their chests......

The room is also not much quieter than in the hallway, because there are many patients making very strange noises.

As Matthew passed by a hospital room, he spotted a sweaty witch in the middle of the front row fanning a copy of the Daily Prophet, constantly screeching and spitting steam, a scruffy witch in the corner who moved like a bell, and whose head shook horribly at each ring, and he had to grab his ears to hold it steady, and in another room, a young witch was doing a strange quickstep dance, and he took turns dancing on both feet, as if he were standing on hot coals......

Everything is very strange.

If you're a newcomer to St. Mungo, you might find it interesting, but over time, it's a very demanding life and you have nothing to do all day.

Matthew walked through the double doors and saw a rickety staircase with a portrait of a hideous healer hanging on the wall.

As he climbed the stairs, the therapists yelled at him......

"Haunted by ghosts!" shouted one of the healers, who chased after Matthew with six frames, pushing aside the people in those words.

"Oh?" Matthew stopped and blinked, and he asked rhetorically, "What's that?"

"A resentful female ghost, haunted by you......" said the ugly healer, mysteriously, "Only by taking the toad's liver and sticking it to her throat, and standing naked in the eyes of a bucket of eels, can she be expelled from ......"

Matthew was intrigued, and he was just about to ask something more—

"Don't believe the bullshit of these portraits, child!" said an amiable healer with a filigree garland on her head, who walked up quickly, waving a feather duster at the portraits viciously, "Get out of the way, and stop spreading rumors to the sick!"

The healers in the portraits fled.

The witch turned around and smiled at Matthew: "Don't take their word for it, these bad guys are nervous when they are alive, and their portraits are not restless after death...... Where do you want to go, my dear?"

"I want to go to the top of the building and get some fresh air...... "Matthew replied honestly.

"Then follow me, and I'll take you ......there," the therapist said very kindly.

Following the other party, Matthew broke through a few more double doors and walked up a few more stairs.

"Is there anything else you need my help with, dear?" asked the female therapist gently.

"No, ma'am......" Matthew quickly shook his head.

......

When I got to the rooftop, I could finally smell the fresh air.

To be honest, the smell in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magic and Magic, and the noisy environment, are too torturous.

Although the roof is a little cold, I can only endure it now.

Matthew took out a folded copy of the Daily Prophet from his pocket, and in the winter sun, he began to look at the newspaper with some "shivering"—

The news of the Centaur riot was not hidden, and it was just as Matthew had expected...... After all, so many Hogwarts students were forced to evacuate, and it would be too difficult to hide it.

It's just that the news about the "fall" of Hogwarts is somewhat vague in the Daily Prophet.

Overall, the newspaper doesn't have much valuable content.

Matthew was actually curious about the truth about the Centaur riots......

In all fairness, even if the entire Forbidden Forest were to pour out of the nest - this is impossible, Matthew believes that only a small number of radical centaurs participated in the riot, and most of the centaurs were not so stupid...... Hogwarts is not reduced to the point of abandoning the school and running away.

Hogwarts has experienced teachers, powerful protective magic, and even the help of the Ministry of Magic at this stage, with some Aurors and Dementors stationed there......

Plus the castle at Hogwarts, which was originally prepared for war, is a fortress in its own right. The intricate staircase, as well as the numerous secret passages leading to the outside of the castle, are proof of this.

Under these circumstances, it was hard for Matthew to imagine that Hogwarts would be defeated on all fronts because of a small number of centaur riots.

So, is there any conspiracy in this?

What role did Gellert Grindelwald play in this Centaur riot?

In addition, the Order of the Phoenix's act of instigating the Centaur riot also puzzled Matthew......

The Order of the Phoenix has been associated with the horses for a year, and has heard about it for more than a year...... At the time, Professor Kettleburn bluntly stated in front of the centaurs that the centaurs had been in contact with the half-breed giant Rubeus Hagrid......

But this kind of "riot", which is completely brainless and does not produce any value, is not at all like the style of the Order of the Phoenix...... If they really only have this ability, why have they secretly fought against Grindelwald for more than fifty years?

Breathing in the fresh air, Matthew's brain gradually became clearer.

It's a pity that there is too little information in his hands about these things, and he still can't guess clearly......

A cold wind suddenly blew through—

Matthew couldn't help but shudder.

The weather was too cold, and in such a cold winter, I really couldn't stay outside the house for too long.

Matthew shuddered, folded the Daily Prophet, put it back in his pocket, and began to return the way he came.

......

The hospital was naturally much warmer, but it had to deal with the loud sounds and all kinds of pungent smells.

As he passed the previous staircase again, Matthew took another look at the portrait wall, and looked at the portraits of the hideous-looking healers hanging on the wall—

Only this time, he didn't find the ugly healer who had previously called him "haunted by ghosts."

The rest of the therapists saw that someone had noticed them and flocked to them.

They shouted, diagnosed Matthew with many strange illnesses, and came up with all sorts of terrible cures.

Matthew ignored them and continued towards his room.

As Matthew passed by a small, dimly lit ward, he was almost startled by a sinister portrait of a wicked witch with the inscription: Urquhart Lajaro (1612-1697), inventor of the gut-wrenching spell.

Intestine Draining Spell...... Doesn't sound like a fun spell.

Matthew glanced into the hospital room by the way—

There are three beds inside.

A pale man lying in the corner, his eyes staring straight at the ceiling, looking like he was all lost.

A young woman with bleeding wrists as several therapists try to stop the bleeding......

There was also a bed that was empty.

The ward was a little scary, and Matthew hurried to speed up.

But he didn't go far, and in front of him, Matthew suddenly saw a slightly familiar back-

"Professor Snape?" exclaimed Matthew.

An emaciated face, a slightly elongated nose, and a slightly pale complexion.

It was indeed the "Severus Snape" that Matthew was familiar with, and he turned around, slightly startled.

"Wakefield......" he whispered, with a hint of embarrassment in his words, "Oh, nice to meet you......"

"Why are you here?" asked Matthew, curious.

"I'm just visiting a friend, well......" Professor Snape said absent-mindedly, "yes, how are you doing...... I've heard Professor Rozier talk about you, and you seem to be badly hurt......"

"No, it's not heavy at all," Matthew replied calmly, "I feel like I can be discharged at any time......"

"Okay......" Professor Snape looked a little weak-hearted.

"How's Hogwarts doing?" asked Matthew, with some concern.

Although the "Severus Snape" behaved a little unusually, he was still eager to hear about Hogwarts.

"Don't worry...... Hogwarts is okay...... You'll be back after the Christmas break......" Severus Snape said casually.

Soon, he made an excuse and left in a hurry.

......

A few minutes later, Matthew Wakefield returned to his hospital bed.

The strange behavior of "Severus Snape" was still in my mind...... He looked as if he had been caught stealing something, and he was very weak and nervous...... Of course, a Hogwarts professor can't be a thief, that's just a hypothesis.

The blonde therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment suddenly walked over and asked in a loud voice, "Is Matthew Wakefield there?"

"Here!" Matthew hurriedly raised his hand.

"Someone has come to visit you!" the therapist pointed to the door.

Matthew was a little confused, was it Hermione...... Or Neville...... The two of them left St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Injuries after Matthew woke up, Hermione now lives in Diagon Alley, and Neville has gone home.

At this moment, a bald old man who was as fat as a walrus swaggered in—

"Oh, Matthew, my child!" he said eagerly, "I have come to see you!"

"Professor Slughorn!" Matthew tried to get up from his hospital bed.

"No need to do that, kid...... Slughorn held him down and shook his head at Matthew.

"Okay......" Matthew had to give in.

"Look what good things I've brought you...... Professor Slughorn said enthusiastically, "Look, it's fresh pineapple compote, and mead with two brooms, and syrup pies...... I know you won't be able to eat these good things at St. Mungo......"

"Patients can't eat anything too sweet or too exciting...... said the blonde therapist next to him.

Slughorn was a little embarrassed, and placed the large bag of things on the head of the bed.

"Okay...... Wait until you're back ......."

"I'm almost recovered, Professor. Matthew said quickly.

"It's still under observation......," corrected the blonde therapist next to him.

She seemed to have something to do, and quickly turned around and left to get busy, much to Matthew's relief.

"Thank you so much for your concern, Professor Slughorn!" he quickly became serious and apologized to his dean.

"That's right, you're my student, after all!" Slughorn said with a smile, and then he began to tell him kindly, "Remember to follow the doctor's instructions and recover soon......

The two teachers and students exchanged a few words of greeting.

They soon talked about Hogwarts again—

"How's Hogwarts doing, Professor?" asked Matthew, blinking.

"Ah!" Horace Slughorn sighed, "Hogwarts is still in the hands of those centaurs, not just the castle, they have taken over the entire campus...... We don't know when we'll be able to go back......"

Matthew was stunned, this seemed to be a little different from what the previous "Snape" professor said.

"Luckily, the horses still follow their traditions...... Draco and the others were let back......" Slughorn shook his head, "Poor Draco, poor kid...... He'd been with the Centaur tribe for a few days, and he's barely human......"

"Draco has been sent to St. Mungo as well?" Matthew was a little curious.

"No, he wasn't hurt, so he went home to recuperate. Slughorn said.

"Visitation time is over!" Just then, the blonde therapist reappeared.

"Rest well, Matthew!" Slughorn finally said.

"Thank you, Professor!"