Chapter 30: The Potions Professor and the Magic Suppressing Potion
Madam Pomfrey, a tall witch renowned for her expertise in healing, potions, and medicinal herbs, was a figure of both respect and mystery at Hogwarts. Rumor had it that St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries had extended an invitation to her three times, offering her the role of vice-president if she accepted. However, she had always refused, insisting on staying at Hogwarts. Though the rumor was widespread, neither she nor St. Mungo's had ever confirmed or denied it, leaving it as one of Hogwarts' minor unsolved mysteries.
As Kyle entered the hospital wing, he saw Madam Pomfrey bustling around, tending to her patients. She handed a green potion to a young wizard in one of the beds. "This is the last bottle of scabies medicine. Apply it regularly, and stop drinking any more potions," she instructed sternly before turning to another bed.
Muttering under her breath, she complained, "Why are so many young wizards getting sent here this time of year? What are those professors doing? So irresponsible!"
It was clear she was in a foul mood, and Kyle hesitated, unsure how to approach her with Mikel's condition. But Madam Pomfrey caught sight of them before he could decide what to say.
"By Merlin's beard! What happened to this child?" she gasped, rushing over to gently place Mikel onto an empty bed. Without looking up, she asked briskly, "Potions mishap? Defense Against the Dark Arts? Why is he unconscious?"
"Neither, Madam," Kyle replied quietly. "It happened during Charms class. Mikel cast a Lighting Charm, and... that was it. Professor Flitwick said he must have overused his magic."
"Yes, clearly he's drained... Wait, what did you say?" Madam Pomfrey suddenly spun around, staring at Kyle in disbelief. "A Lighting Charm?"
Her expression was one of utter incredulity, as though she had just witnessed Dumbledore pole dancing on the Astronomy Tower. The absurdity of what Kyle had said made her doubt the truth of it.
These young wizards are getting more ridiculous by the day, she seemed to think. If they were going to make up a story, at least they could have come up with something believable. Overdraft from a Lighting Charm? Why not just say Filius Flitwick had been knocked out by it as well?