Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 871 242: Awakening

Vid woke up.

In a haze, he regained consciousness, feeling as though he had experienced a very long, very long dream. Even now, his eyelids felt heavy as if filled with lead, while the fragments of his prolonged dream tumbled in his mind.

Those scattered images left him exhausted, almost unwilling to wake up.

Soft, hushed conversations reached his ears:

"Still not awake?"

Ferdinand's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Then came the rustling sound of clothes, and Fiona's reply was as light as a sigh: "No."

"You go get some rest, I'll keep watching." Ferdinand said.

Vid felt the mattress sink slightly, as someone sat beside him.

"I'll stay too... I'm not feeling tired yet."

Fiona's cool fingertips gently brushed the hair on Vid's forehead.

Vid finally struggled to open his eyes, like emerging from the depths of the sea, his parents' faces gradually becoming clear in his vision.

Ferdinand's chin was covered with stubble, and he turned to grab the water cup on the cabinet, but it was the red-eyed Fiona who first noticed Vid waking up. She gasped, her hand instantly covering her mouth.

His father quickly turned around, the cup in his hand trembled slightly, almost slipping from his grasp.

He composed himself, reached out with the cup towards Vid, paused, then placed the cup down and tousled Vid's hair.

"Finally, you're awake... you child!"

He lamented in a hoarse voice, "You've slept for far too long!"

His tone was such that it seemed as if Vid hadn't just faced the Magic World's most dangerous Dark Lord, exhausting his strength and falling into a deep sleep, but had just taken an ordinary nap.

Fiona held his hand tightly and urgently asked, "How are you feeling? Is anything uncomfortable? Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine, really."

The young man's voice was slightly hoarse from just waking, he reached out to touch his throat, then looked at his own palm.

His body had fully restored, no longer in a child's form.

"Did Headmaster Dumbledore change me back?" Vid asked, propping himself up on the bed.

"Yes." Ferdinand quickly reached out to steady him, saying with lingering fear, "Thankfully Harry Potter brought back that kettle. They were worried about changing you too far, debated it for a long time before starting the Transfiguration, fortunately without any mistakes."

"But six-year-old Vid was really cute!" Fiona said with a hint of regret, then tentatively asked, "Vid, do you remember everything that happened before?"

Vid nodded: "Of course, I remember everything... After I fell unconscious, Professor Dumbledore must have arrived at the scene, right? What happened afterward?"

"The Witch Pure Party all left." Ferdinand said, "However, all the Death Eaters present were captured, and it's said they will spend the rest of their lives in that terrifying prison, Azkaban."

"This matter has already been reported... wait, let me get a newspaper for you."

Fiona got up, quickly flipping through a stack of newspapers before handing them to Vid, then busied herself pouring him water.

Ferdinand got up and said, "You read this first, I'll go find Madam Pomfrey. She said earlier that when you woke up, she wanted to check on you again."

His father closed the ward door and left. Vid's gaze first swept across the headline on the front page of the newspaper.

"Mysterious Man Revived But Suffered Heavy Blow, Minister Fudge Announces Resignation."

The rest was a retelling of the broadcast from that day.

Perhaps because the audience saw the entire process, the journalist didn't use any fancy words or suggestive questions, only subtly mocking the hasty resignation of Cornelius Fudge, comparing him to the previously tough yet open Minister Millicent Bulstrode.

Vid also saw the results of the Magic School Tournament on the second page.

Because he carried a large number of Poppets during the competition, some judges felt he should be disqualified.

But more judges believed Vid had reasons for his actions, and the competition's rule was "The Champion who touches the Goblet of Fire first wins," and before touching the Goblet, all of Vid Gray's actions complied with the rules.

As for what happened next, it was considered an "accidental event" outside the competition, unrelated to the league's judgement, and couldn't be used to negate the competition rules or interfere with the league's results.

In the end, Vid Gray and Harry Potter were both declared Champions, sharing the 3000 Galleon prize money.

But due to various changes, the final award ceremony of the tournament was canceled, and the Ministry of Magic only announced the final results in the newspaper.

During the few days Vid was unconscious, the Champions from other schools had already recovered from their injuries and returned to their schools with their professors. As for Clementine who later touched the trophy, she was found seriously injured, fortunately alive, and was sent to St Mungo's that day.

"That girl named Natalia left you a letter."

Fiona, seeing him reading this part, sat at the bedside and said with a gentle laugh, "She said you're welcome to visit Kodostorians in the future."

"And Digory, Krum, Viven and those kids all said, although they're a bit unwilling, they still want to thank you for knocking them out."

"It seems there's no mention in the newspaper of how to deal with Voldemort afterwards?"

Vid said strangely, "The Ministry of Magic's defense strategy, safety plans, reminders to prevent Dark Magic harm, the warning to report any abnormal situation immediately... why is none of this present?"

Fiona blinked, confused and puzzled, "Is it necessary? All the Death Eaters are caught, the Mysterious Man is dead once again... Your plan, though risky, does allow the peace in the Magic World to continue... People's lives shouldn't need to change, right?"

Her voice grew softer, finally looking at Vid, and quietly asked, "What I said... is it wrong?"

"...No, there's nothing wrong."

Vid lowered his eyes, folded the newspaper, then smiled, "Is there anything to eat? I'm actually feeling a bit hungry."

Fiona smiled again, hurriedly saying, "Of course! I prepared it long ago... Would you like a sandwich or pizza?"

Vid hadn't yet managed to eat when the door was once again pushed open, Ferdinand came in with Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore in tow, and a large crowd gathered at the door.

"Don't rush, ladies and gentlemen."

Madam Pomfrey, hurrying into the room, turned back to Harry, Michael, and the others at the door, saying, "Don't disturb the patient, let me examine him first! And you too, Albus, you'll have to wait!"

Dumbledore had to stop, giving Vid a distant, comforting smile.

Vid couldn't help but grin, feeling a sudden sense of ease within.