Thomas noticed the change in Eileen's expression, but he didn't care; he was only concerned about Severus's condition now: "Sir, it's alright if Mum doesn't come, I'll take good care of my brother."
He looked directly into Moody's eyes, hoping he would see his sincerity.
But what Thomas didn't know was that the Wizarding World actually didn't have a comprehensive social welfare system or social worker organizations to help children in need.
If Moody were to forcibly take them away on charges of "Negligent Care of an Underage wizard," he would then have to find them a temporary foster family for a period of time.
However, the Ministry of Magic's funding for this was extremely limited, so such families were very rare.
Moreover, these two young wizards were also half-bloods, their identity placing them in a delicate position within the Wizarding World, as they didn't fully belong to Wizarding society.
If their Muggle father were to take this matter to the Muggle government, it would involve a series of extremely cumbersome administrative procedures.
The Ministry of Magic was eager to avoid such situations.
This action was very likely to result in a thankless task.
But looking at the young wizard who seemed to be entirely dependent on him, Moody finally made up his mind.
"Good boy."
Moody looked at Thomas encouragingly, pulling at the corners of his mouth, trying to offer a comforting smile.
This stern man clearly rarely smiled; Thomas shivered, honestly, the smile was a bit creepy.
"Prince, I think you've forgotten, I have the right to take these two young wizards."
In Eileen's disbelieving gaze, a parchment appeared out of thin air in front of Moody, and a quill flew out of Moody's jacket pocket, automatically beginning to write on the parchment as he spoke.
"I hereby officially inform you that you are temporarily stripped of guardianship over these two young wizards for one month due to long-term negligent care of underage wizards, resulting in significant harm to the young wizards..."
After Moody finished speaking, the quill wrote a long series of clauses, and when the final period fell, the magical pen flew back into Moody's pocket.
Moody held Thomas's hand, Benjamin carried Severus, and the two softly said: "Apparition."
After a slight spatial distortion, the four disappeared into the air.
Only Eileen was left, sitting stunned on the ground with tear-streaked cheeks, and Father Andrew, who had been silenced by magic and dared not make a sound.
Thomas and his group appeared silently on an empty street, night falling and enveloping everything in a deep blue-black.
Thomas experienced this wizarding mode of travel for the first time; he only felt as if his mind had been violently stirred by an invisible stick, an indescribable mix of confusion and dizziness.
Immediately after, a strong wave of nausea rose from his stomach, and he bent over, dry heaving.
"I think I should have held you during apparition, that might make you feel better."
Dizzily, Thomas felt Moody's voice coming from a very distant place, even echoing: "However, feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit after apparition is a perfectly normal reaction for young wizards."
"I'm fine, sir."
Thomas, while bowing his head, quietly activated the faint Wood Element Ability within him, and the surrounding air immediately became fresh and full of vitality.
He felt as if he were in a natural oxygen bar; the nausea gradually receded, and Thomas's complexion slowly regained its color.
Moody keenly sensed the energy fluctuations in the air and looked at Thomas; this child... hadn't completely become a Squib?
He decided to have St Mungo's examine him later.
The street was very quiet, with only a single, old, slightly weathered streetlamp standing alone on one side.
Its faint light illuminated an old-fashioned red-brick house with a locked door, and the sign above had some gilded words...
Thomas tragically realized he couldn't read them; all his English reading knowledge came from children's literacy books and the long-forgotten nine-year compulsory education, only recognizing simple words.
However, it looked like a department store because it had a large display window, and in the window was an ugly doll that would definitely scare ordinary children to tears.
Just as Thomas was curiously staring at the doll, it suddenly winked at him: "Oh my..."
Thomas was startled.
He heard Benjamin's soft chuckle beside him, and looking up, he saw a smile in Moody's eyes, who was holding his hand: "Don't be afraid, that's St Mungo's doorman, it means no harm."
Moody walked up to the doll: "young wizard magic outburst."
The doll nodded slightly, waving its finger and saying: "Welcome to St Mungo's."
Thomas's heart was filled with all sorts of imagination and expectation.
He thought that with the utterance of those words, some spectacular scene would occur, for example, an entire pane of glass disappearing into thin air, or perhaps even a wall splitting open to reveal a passage or something similar.
However, in reality, everything around them remained perfectly calm, with no dramatic changes occurring.
Benjamin nudged Thomas, who was still standing still: "Let's go."
"What?"
Where to go?
He then saw Moody step directly into the huge pane of glass; there was no obstruction whatsoever, and Moody's body passed through the glass as if walking through the morning mist, both mysterious and natural.
"Huh?"
Thomas also walked forward, cautiously reaching out to touch the huge pane of glass; his fingers seemed to pass through a thin film of water, encountering no resistance, and thus easily passed through the glass: "Physics doesn't exist anymore!"
"Alright, stop playing, child, we're in a hurry."
Benjamin bumped him from behind, pushing Thomas inside.
Thomas stumbled, and suddenly a cacophony of sounds erupted around him, followed by a drastic change in the scene before his eyes.
The dark street disappeared, replaced by a wide, bright, bustling hospital corridor, and the air was filled with a faint scent of herbs.
Moody was talking to a healer in a white robe, and the group followed this doctor named Jones to a private room, where Benjamin placed Severus on the bed.
The diagnosis was similar to Benjamin's at their home: the magic riot had not caused irreversible damage, and malnutrition could only be remedied by long-term recuperation, the same for old injuries, as there was no need to re-break and re-treat bones that had already healed.
It was only at the hospital that Thomas remembered something—he had no money!
Just then, Moody beckoned to him: "Thomas, come here."
He hesitantly walked to Moody's side, and before he could speak, he heard Moody say to the doctor: "Doctor Jones, could you also examine this young wizard? He once suffered damage to his magic core due to a magic riot; I once thought he had become a squib, but today I found that the situation doesn't seem to be that bad."
"Is that so?"
Healer Jones pointed his wand at Thomas.
Thomas quickly stopped him: "Gentlemen, please wait!"
He couldn't even imagine how expensive such a physical examination would be!
Moody and Jones both looked at him with confusion, and Thomas awkwardly scratched his face: "Sirs, I don't think my current assets are sufficient to cover any medical expenses; do your hospital accept credit?"
A flicker of amusement pz assed through Moody's sharp eyes, and he lightly patted Thomas's shoulder: "Don't worry, child, the Ministry of Magic will cover all treatment costs for underage young wizards."
Thomas felt a weight lift from his heart, not expecting the Wizarding World's social welfare to be quite good!
Jones glanced at Moody; his old friend was planning to pay for this "case" again.
Doctor Jones raised his wand again, and as the wand moved, its tip gently traced Thomas's body, initiating a series of complex and precise magical diagnoses.
Doctor Jones's brow furrowed slightly, surprised and puzzled: "This is truly perplexing; his magic core seems to be self-repairing?"
Damage to the magic core was considered an irreversible phenomenon in the Wizarding World, like cracks in the soul.
"Merlin favors this child."
Doctor Jones concluded.
"Although this child's magic core still has damage and weak magic, it will gradually recover with age."
He ruffled Thomas's head: "What a lucky young wizard."
Moody scrutinized Thomas, who looked back at him with an innocent, bewildered expression.
Thomas, of course, knew it was due to his Wood Element Ability nourishing his body, but this was an ability that didn't belong to any race in this world, and he didn't want to be studied.
Although Moody also found it very surprising, he realized the potential problems involved, and he said to Jones: "Richard, please keep this child's secret."
"You can rest assured."
He nodded to Moody, a little annoyed by his old friend's distrust; he wasn't some research fanatic, just genuinely happy for the child.
Moody and Benjamin received another summons from the Ministry of Magic and left in a hurry.
Thomas and Severus, both suffering from severe malnutrition, would remain at St Mungo's for a few days of treatment.
Doctor Jones said gently: "You need to complete an admission registration; Cully will come and show you how."
Then a blonde lady walked in, a green-covered registration book under her arm, and holding two brand new sets of hospital gowns, on top of which were two yellow rubber wristbands: "Hi, boy, what's your name."
"My name is Thomas."
It was only then that Thomas realized that until now, he didn't know his surname: "Thomas..."
Cully smiled slightly, opened the registration book, and placed it in front of him: "Come, child, put your hand on it."
Thomas followed her instructions and placed his hand on the booklet; his personal information, including parents, blood type, date of birth, etc., automatically appeared on the record page of the booklet, and his name also appeared on one of the wristbands.
"Thomas Snape, a good name."
The girl whispered, smiling as she handed him a wristband: "This is your hospitalization pass and also a Portkey.
Please abide by St Mungo's rules and do not leave the hospital, but if you accidentally get lost, you can use this wristband to return directly to St Mungo's from anywhere."
She playfully winked at him: "Don't lose it."
Thomas looked at the wristband curiously: What is a Portkey?
Just as he was about to ask how to use the Portkey, his mind suddenly exploded like a clap of thunder: Snape?
"???"
Was it the Snape he was thinking of!?