Chapter 171: St. Mungo's Christmas

The ward of St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Injuries is now filled with a festive atmosphere.
　　 Holly hangs at the door, and a beautiful Christmas tree with white snow is covered with magic. It shines in every corner of the house, and the tip of each Christmas tree bears a twinkling gold star...
　　Matthew Wickfield has been here for a week.
　　 Strictly speaking, Matthew was not injured at all, just a little bit of strength...
　　 Under normal circumstances, he only needs to go to the school hospital for a day or two, and the school doctor Mrs. Pomfrey can cure him completely...
　　 However, because of the "accident" that occurred at Hogwarts, Matthew couldn't stay there anymore... He had to be sent to St. Mungo to receive the diagnosis by the therapists in green robes.
"We must carry out the most comprehensive and systematic testing..." the blond therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment said, "Avoid any problems...so I suggest you stay here for one or two observations. Week...Professor Rozier told me!"
　　 So, I guess he will spend this Christmas here.
　　 This is actually nothing, after all, after the
fall
of Hogwarts, he was already in a state of
homelessness
. Where can I spend Christmas?
　　 The feeling of enjoying "public medical care" is actually pretty good, but it's a waste of public medical resources.
　　……
　　Matthew walked in the corridor a little carelessly
　　 On both sides of the corridor are portraits of famous therapists. Crystal bubbles filled with candles float on the ceiling, looking like huge soap bubbles.
　　 At each door, there are wizards in green robes coming in and out (green robes are the standard costumes of Saint Mungo therapists).
He saw a row of witches and wizards sitting on rickety wooden chairs. Some looked normal, reading the outdated "Singing the Devil"; others had terrible deformities, such as elephant noses or pig tails. , Or maybe there was an extra hand on my chest...
　　 The room is also not much quieter than the corridor, because many patients make very strange noises.
When Matthew passed by a ward, he found a sweaty witch in the middle of the front row, fanning a copy of the "Daily Prophet" vigorously, constantly making sharp whistle and spitting out steam; a scruffy wizard in the corner It rang like a bell, and his head shook horribly every time it rang, and he had to grab his ears to stabilize it; and in another ward, a young wizard was dancing with a strange fast pace Wu, he danced with two feet in turn, as if standing on a hot coal...
　　 Everything is very strange.
　　If you first come to St. Mungo, you might find this kind of fun; but if you stay for a long time, this kind of life will be very difficult and you will have nothing to do all day.
　　 Matthew walked through the double doors and saw a rickety staircase with a hideous portrait of a healer hung on the wall.
　　 When climbing the stairs, the therapists yelled at him...
　　 "Her resentful spirits!" a therapist shouted loudly. He chased Matthew with six frames and pushed the person in the picture aside.
　　 "Oh?" Matthew stopped and blinked, he asked back, "What is that?"
"A female ghost full of resentment, entangled with you..." the ugly healer said mysteriously: "Only the liver of a toad is attached to the throat, and when she is naked, she stands in a bucket of eels. In order to expel her..."
　　 Matthew was very interested in this, he was just about to ask something more—
"Don't believe the nonsense of these portraits, child!" An amiable therapist with a garland of gold and silver on her head walked quickly, waving her feather duster viciously at the portraits, "Get away, don't give the patient anymore. Walk rumors!"
　　 The therapists on the portraits fled.
　　 The witch turned around and smiled at Matthew: "Don't believe them, these bad guys were nervous before they were alive, and the portraits after death are not peaceful...Honey, where do you want to go?"
　　 "I want to go to the roof and get some fresh air..." Matthew answered honestly.
　　 "Come with me, I will take you over..." the female therapist said very kindly.
　　 Following the other person, Matthew passed through a few double doors and up a few stairs.
　　 "Is there anything else I can help, dear?" the female therapist asked gently.
　　 "No, ma'am..." Matthew shook his head quickly.
　　……
　　 came to the top of the building, and finally could smell the fresh air.
　　 Honestly, the smell and the noisy environment in St. Mungo’s Magic Hospital are too torturous.
　　 Although the roof is a little bit cold, but now I can only bear it.
　　 Matthew took out a folded "Daily Prophet" from his pocket. In the winter sun, he began to look at the newspaper with a little "trembling"
　　 The news of the horse riots was not concealed, which was the same as Matthew had expected... After all, so many Hogwarts students were forced to evacuate, and this situation is too difficult to conceal.
　　 It’s just that the news of Hogwarts’ "fall" is somewhat vague in the "Daily Prophet".
　　 Generally speaking, newspapers don’t have much valuable content.
　　Matthew is actually very curious about the truth about the horse riot...
In all fairness, even if the horses in the entire forbidden forest come out all over the place-it is impossible. Matthew believes that only a small number of radical horses participated in this riot, and most horses are not so stupid... Hogwar Ci will not fall to the point of abandoning school and fleeing.
　　 Hogwarts has experienced teachers and powerful protective magic. At this stage, there is even the assistance of the Ministry of Magic. There are some Aurors and Dementors...
　　 In addition, Hogwarts Castle was originally prepared for war, and it is a fortress in itself. The complicated stairs and countless secret passages leading to the outside of the castle are enough to prove this.
　　 In this case, it is difficult for Matthew to imagine that Hogwarts would be defeated in all respects because of the riot of a small group of horses.
　　 So, is there any conspiracy in it?
　　 What role did Gellert Grindelwald play in this horse riot?
　　 In addition, the Order of the Phoenix instigated horse riots, which also puzzled Matthew...
The Order of the Phoenix has been in contact with the horses for a year, and has heard about it more than a year ago... At that time, Professor Keitelburn bluntly said in front of the horses that the horses and the hybrid giant Rubeus Hager have been having contact……
But this kind of "riot", which is completely brainless and does not produce any value, is completely unlike the style of the Order of the Phoenix... If they really only have this ability, why have they secretly opposed Grindelwald for five full? How about more than ten years?
　　 Breathing in the fresh air, Matthew's brain gradually became clear.
　　 It's a pity that these things, he has too little information in his hands, and he still can't guess clearly...
　　 A blast of cold wind blew suddenly--
　　 Matthew couldn't help but shudder.
　　 The weather is too cold. In such a cold winter, I really can’t stay outside for too long.
　　 Matthew tremblingly folded the "Daily Prophet", retracted it into his pocket, and then began to return along the same path.
　　……
　　 The hospital is naturally much warmer, but it has to face the noisy sounds and various pungent smells.
　　 When passing the previous stairs again, Matthew deliberately glanced at the portrait wall again, and looked at the hideous therapist portraits on the wall
　　 Only this time, he didn't find the ugly healer who said he was "ridden with resentful spirits."
　　 The rest of the therapists saw someone notice them and flocked to them.
　　 They yelled, diagnosed Matthew with many strange diseases, and came up with all kinds of terrible treatments.
　　 Matthew ignored them and continued to walk towards his ward.
When Matthew passed a small and dim ward, he was almost startled by a portrait of an evil wizard on the slope, which read: Urquhart Rahalo (1612-1697), Intestinal Curse inventor.
　　 Intestinal spell... it doesn't sound like a funny spell.
　　 Matthew took a look in the ward--
There are three beds in 　　.
　　 A pale-faced man lying in the corner, his eyes were straight at the ceiling, looking ashamed.
　　 A young woman whose wrist is bleeding ceaselessly. Several therapists are trying to stop her bleeding...
　　 One more bed is empty.
　　 This ward is a bit scary, and Matthew hastened his pace quickly.
　　 But I didn’t go very far. In front of him, Matthew suddenly saw a slightly familiar figure from behind
　　 "Professor Snape?" Matthew exclaimed.
　　 Thin face, slightly longer nose, and slightly pale face.
　　 is indeed the "Severus Snape" that Matthew is familiar with, he turned around, slightly surprised.
　　 "Wickfield..." He said softly, his words seemed a little embarrassing, "Oh, it's nice to meet you..."
　　 "Why are you here?" Matthew asked curiously.
"I just came to visit a friend, um..." Professor "Snape" said absently, "By the way, how is your health... I heard Professor Rozier talk about you, you It seems that the injury is serious..."
　　 "No, it's not heavy at all," Matthew replied calmly, "I feel I can be discharged anytime..."
　　 "Well..." Professor "Snape" looked a little guilty.
　　 "How is Hogwarts now?" Matthew asked with some concern.
　　Although the "Severus Snape" behaved a little abnormally, he still wanted to hear about Hogwarts from the opponent.
　　 "Don't worry... Hogwarts is okay... You can go back after the Christmas holidays..." "Severus Snape" said casually.
　　 Soon, he made an excuse and left in a hurry.
　　……
　　 A few minutes later, Matthew Wickfield returned to his hospital bed.
He was still thinking about the strange behavior of "Severus Snape"... He looked like a thief who had been caught stealing things. He was very guilty and nervous... Of course, a thief. The professor at Hogwarts naturally cannot be a thief, this is just a hypothesis.
　　 The blond therapist in charge of Matthew's treatment suddenly came over and she asked loudly, "Is Matthew Wickfield there?"
　　 "Yes!" Matthew raised his hand quickly.
　　 "Someone came to see you!" The therapist pointed to the door.
Matthew is a little confused, is it Hermione... or Neville... The two of them left the St. Mungo Magical Injury Hospital after Matthew awoke. Hermione is now living in Diagon Alley, and Neville has returned. Go home.
　　 At this moment, a bald old man who was as fat as a sea elephant rushed in--
　　 "Oh, Matthew, my boy!" he said eagerly, "I have come to visit you!"
　　 "Professor Slughorn!" Matthew tried to get up from the hospital bed.
　　 "No need to do this, kid... you take a good rest!" Slughorn held him down and shook his head at Matthew.
　　 "Well..." Matthew had to submit.
"Look at what good things I brought you..." Professor Slughorn said enthusiastically, "Look, this is fresh pineapple compote, two broomsticks of mead, and syrup pie... …I know, you won’t be able to eat these delicious things in St. Mungo..."
　　 "Patients can't eat things that are too sweet or too exciting..." the blond therapist said coldly.
　　 Slughorn was taken aback in embarrassment, and put the big bag on the head of the bed.
　　 "Well...Wait for you to recover..."
　　 "I have almost recovered, Professor." Matthew said quickly.
　　 "Still under observation..." the blond therapist on the side corrected.
　　 She seemed to have something to do, and soon turned and left to go to work, which made Matthew couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
　　 "Thank you very much for your concern~EbookFREE.me~Professor Slughorn!" He quickly became serious and apologized to his dean.
　　 "This is a matter of course, after all, you are my students!" Slughorn said with a smile, and then he began to tell kindly, "Remember to follow the doctor's advice and get well soon..."
　　 The teachers and students exchanged a few words like this.
　　 They soon talked about Hogwarts again--
　　 "How is the situation at Hogwarts now, Professor?" Matthew asked, blinking.
"Hey!" Horace Slughorn sighed, "Hogwarts is still in the hands of the horsemen, not just the castle, but the entire campus is occupied by them... We don't know when To go back..."
　　 Matthew was stunned, which seemed to be a little different from what the previous "Snape" professor said.
"Fortunately, the horses still follow their tradition... Draco and the others have been released..." Slughorn shook his head. "Poor Draco, poor child... After staying there for a few days in the horse tribe, it became almost inhumane..."
　　 "Draco was also sent to Saint Mungo?" Matthew was suddenly curious.
　　 "No, he was not injured, so he went home to rest." Slughorn said.
　　 "Visiting time is over!" Just then, the blond therapist appeared again.
　　 "Get a good rest, Matthew!" Slughorn said finally.
　　 "Thank you, professor!"