Professor Snape nodded expressionlessly at Professor McGonagall and said, "Let's begin!"
At this, Professor McGonagall, who had been silent for a long time, pushed up her glasses and her gaze wandered back and forth among the six people.
"Now, who's going to explain to me what exactly happened?" Professor McGonagall said.
The six people lowered their heads, none daring to speak. Allen opened his mouth, feeling as if there was a large stone in his throat, unable to make a sound.
"Draco, you tell us what happened, don't be afraid!" Professor Snape said slowly and deliberately.
Malfoy recounted the whole incident evasively, but was quickly interrupted by Harry: "Malfoy, there are many witnesses!"
Malfoy had no choice but to adjust his narrative again, but still downplayed Allen's fall.
Ron finally couldn't hold back and loudly described what had happened. The more Professor McGonagall listened, the more serious she became, her eyes filled with lingering fear.
"Professor Snape, what do you think?" Professor McGonagall said sternly.
"I believe everything was caused by youthful impulsiveness. No one was seriously harmed in the whole incident, and Crabbe has already paid the price for his impulsiveness. I suggest Mr. Crabbe loses 20 points, Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Goyle each lose 10 points, and Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Phineas also each lose 10 points. How about that?" Professor Snape still spoke slowly and deliberately.
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips tightly together, which meant her mood was rapidly deteriorating.
"I don't think that's acceptable. Crabbe's behavior was too egregious, too dangerous! If it had been someone else on that out-of-control broom today, there would have been a real fatality. Hogwarts hasn't had a student death in fifty years!" Professor McGonagall said sternly, "So Crabbe must receive a serious punishment, a deduction of 100 points, and the remaining 5 people each lose 20 points!"
Professor Snape tried to speak, but was interrupted by Ron. It was his own fault for taking so long to speak, always so slow and deliberate.
"Professor! They are the real troublemakers, why are you deducting so many points from us?" Ron demanded loudly.
"Mr. Weasley, this is the final decision!" Professor McGonagall didn't even look at Snape.
Ron wanted to argue further, but after being glared at fiercely by Professor McGonagall, he mumbled, unable to speak.
Professor Snape snorted and walked out, glaring expressionlessly at Harry and Allen as he passed them, then left without a word, taking his house students with him.
Harry and Allen felt the relief of having survived a disaster. They thought they were going to be expelled today, but unexpectedly, they got through it. However, they dared not show it, because Professor McGonagall was still there.
"Now, hurry back to your dormitories to rest. I'll have dinner sent over." Professor McGonagall said to the three of them.
Allen and the other two felt a sense of relief and quickly thanked Professor McGonagall.
"Go back quickly! Don't bother me here anymore, seeing you makes me angry!" Professor McGonagall issued another dismissal.
...
When Allen lay down on his four-poster bed again, he felt a sense of unreality. So much had happened that day, it felt as long as a year.
Neville had already been sent back from the hospital and was now sound asleep. The brand new Remembrall was carefully placed on his bedside table, gleaming under the light.
"Allen, good night!" Harry's head poked out from his hangings.
"Allen, Harry, good night!" Ron also yawned and poked his head out from his hangings.
"Good night to you too!" Allen said to them with a smile.
The three looked at each other, each finding what they wanted in the other's eyes.
The three laughed happily, as if some invisible barrier had broken, and they became closer...
...
Allen was once again lying on his bed (mainly because he couldn't lie down), his mind quickly replaying everything that had happened today, from the initial panic of seeing wings, to the furious rage after being insulted, to fighting side-by-side in the sky, then to struggling for survival after falling from a great height, and finally, the triumphant return. Scene after scene flowed through his mind, eventually settling on the moment the three of them dived.
Allen adjusted his posture to lie more comfortably. The near-death experience today made him deeply realize the preciousness of life again. It was just that his last death was like Pigsy eating ginseng fruit—before he could even taste it, he was gone. It was nothing like the struggle for survival today, which was truly unforgettable.
But now he felt that something that was, to some extent, even more important than life itself, and this was the first time in this world.
"Is it friendship?" Allen buried his face in his pillow, muttering softly.
"Maybe there will be love later?" he added softly in his heart, but he instantly felt an ambiguity in that sentence, and shook his head, throwing the thought out of his mind.
Allen reached out and touched the slightly bothersome wings on his back, thinking that they would disappear once he fell asleep, and he didn't know when they would appear next. He actually began to feel a little reluctant.
He pulled out his wand and examined it carefully, pondering Dumbledore's words from that morning.
Should he continue to sleep with his wand tonight?
That had indeed been a problem before.
But today, with Dumbledore's guidance and having truly walked between life and death this afternoon, it was no longer a problem.
Allen's inner strength grew unprecedentedly. He decided to confront his inner fears.
He also remembered Dumbledore saying that his transfiguration would be influenced by his subconscious.
If he performed innate transfiguration while holding his wand, the effect of the transfiguration would be enhanced, likely causing a random part or organ of his body to transfigure. What would be good to turn into then?
He had to think about this carefully. Maybe if he thought about it enough, he would transform into what he wanted!
Allen's thoughts began to diverge, various knowledge from his previous life flashing through his mind.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Allen's head: What if my entire lower body is transfigured, for example, into the lower body of a fish? Is that a mermaid? Maybe it will turn into the lower body of a snake, which seems to make me a descendant of Nüwa? Perhaps Slytherin would like that.
Allen vigorously patted his head, trying to throw this thought away, but once a thought starts, it's not that easy to interrupt.
Allen then thought that if his lower body turned into a fish or a snake, wouldn't his 'thing' be gone? This was a terrifying problem!
Allen was already losing control of the situation in his brain at this point, and his mind continued to wander: What if it randomly turned into an animal?
All the strange knowledge Allen had seen on Bilibili and Zhihu in his previous life suddenly surged up: What's the use of randomly turning into an animal?
A voice in his head whispered: "!"
Another voice appeared: "!"
Allen was stunned by his own wild imagination and strange knowledge reserves! How did a perfectly good train of thought turn into this?
He quickly slammed on the mental brakes, wanting to clear his mind!
But it was too late, the speed was simply too fast!
Only one thought remained in his mind: What if it randomly turned into a pig?
Allen painfully covered his face: What did I do wrong? How did the situation escalate to this point?
He smiled bitterly, looking at the wand in his hand. This was a subjective world! And his ability would be influenced by his subconscious, and now his mind was full of pigs.
If he slept with his wand tonight, would he really transfigure into a pig tomorrow?
It seemed very possible!
Just a moment ago, his mind was filled with profound thoughts about life and friendship, now why was only 'pig' left?
Forget it!
He angrily threw his wand into the bedside drawer, pulled the covers over his head, and prepared to sleep.
Oh, crap!
With this 11-year-old body!
He really could turn into ashes!