Cho Chang and Marietta walked out of the dormitory to ask the professor for leave, while Hermione stayed behind to keep an eye on Lin Yue.

She gently wrapped her arms around Lin Yue and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "When everyone asks you something later, just say whatever comes to mind. Don't hide anything from us, okay?"

"I promise you are absolutely safe here. No one will scold you, and no one will punish you. Don't worry."

Hermione's voice was soft and gentle, and her embrace was exceptionally warm and comfortable.

Lin Yue leaned against Hermione, her expression blank as she nodded, "Okay."

If they asked her questions, she would definitely not hide anything, speaking freely and openly.

As soon as Cho Chang and Marietta stepped out of the dormitory and into the common lounge downstairs, their anxious expressions were noticed by Penelope, who was sitting on the sofa in the lounge, drinking tea and reading a book.

Given that they were in the same dormitory as Lin Yue, Penelope's heart couldn't help but race as she saw the anxious expressions on their faces.

She casually closed her book and tossed it aside, quickly catching up to Cho Chang and Marietta. The two worried girls were just seconds away from running out of the Ravenclaw common room.

"Cho Chang, Marietta, what's going on?"

Cho Chang turned back, her face full of urgency as she spoke rapidly, "It's Lin Yue, she has an injury on her leg, and she's punishing herself. Hermione sent us to help her and ask the professor for leave so we can have a good talk with her."

"We were planning to ask for leave too," Marietta nodded in agreement.

"She's punishing herself again?!" Penelope's pupils shook violently.

"Senior Penelope, have you seen Lin Yue punish herself?" Cho Chang was taken aback, looking at Penelope.

Penelope nodded gravely, "Yes, and the situation was very serious at that time. Let's go, I'll go with you to ask the professor for leave."

But if they went to ask the professor for leave... the professor would probably come along too.

The three girls ran quickly to the hall without daring to stop for a moment, forcefully pushing open the doors of the hall. Breakfast at Hogwarts had just begun not long ago.

At this time, only half of the students were having breakfast, but all the professors at the staff table were present.

When Penelope and her friends rushed into the hall during breakfast, they didn't stand out too much, but when they ran straight towards the staff table, it was enough to draw attention.

At that moment, the Ravenclaws sitting at the Ravenclaw table couldn't help but look up at them.

Penelope, Cho Chang, and Marietta—this combination easily reminded them of Lin Yue.

So, did something happen to Lin Yue? Ravenclaws expressions turned serious, their eyes fixed on the staff table.

"Professor Flitwick!"

Penelope rushed to the teacher's desk and stopped in front of Professor Flitwick, catching her breath.

"Miss Penelope," Professor Flitwick nodded, "what's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry that you're out of breath?"

"Today, I, along with Cho, Marietta, and Hermione, would like to ask you and Professor McGonagall for a leave of absence."

Once Penelope caught her breath, she quickly explained the reason for her visit, while Cho and Marietta behind her nodded vigorously.

Seeing that there were students from her own house asking for leave, Professor McGonagall looked over with concern.

"Why do you all need to take leave? You don't seem to be sick?"

After scanning the three children up and down, Professor McGonagall said uncertainly.

"We're not sick; it's Lin Yue." Penelope instinctively lowered her voice, not wanting anyone other than a few people and the professors to know about Lin Yue punishing herself.

She didn't want Lin Yue to bear the strange looks of others, and even if there was just a possibility, she couldn't take that risk.

"She has punished herself for some reason, and this isn't the first time she's done it. We feel that we need to talk to her."

Penelope bit her lower lip, fearing that the professors might not understand the seriousness of the situation, so she recounted the last time she saw Lin Yue punish herself.

"Last time, Lin Yue punished herself by slapping her own cheek until it was swollen, and... I saw blood at the corner of her mouth."

Crash! Rip...

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The outcome Penelope had anticipated, where the professors failed to grasp the severity of the situation, did not occur.

As soon as they heard that Lin Yue was punishing herself, their hearts had already lifted.

However, upon hearing such a statement for the first time, they were momentarily taken aback and needed a moment to respond.

Then, when they heard Penelope say that Lin Yue slapped herself, causing her cheek to swell and blood to appear at the corner of her mouth, they were completely taken aback, with no time to pause for thought.

Professor Flitwick's cup and plate were knocked to the floor, while Professors McGonagall and Sprout abruptly stood up, their chairs scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.

Principal Dumbledore's bright eyes were fixed on Penelope and the other two, and for once, his expression revealed an unmasked concern.

As Professor Snape, sitting on the other side, he quickly reached out to restrain the "restless" Lockhart, giving him a warning look. (PS Snape waking up at middle of night giving himself a slap “shit I have hurt another girl”)

"This matter will be handled by Principal Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick. You should just sit here for a while, Professor Lockhart."

Lockhart's expression stiffened for a moment, and he awkwardly nodded, sitting down obediently and no longer trying to get up.

Professor Snape gazed deeply at the three anxious girls. Is Lin Yue punishing herself? He suddenly recalled a scene where he had made things difficult for Lin Yue in class; a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes before he quickly returned to his usual depth. He lowered his head to look at the sausages on his plate.

"This time, where is she hurt?" Professor Flitwick had already jumped off his chair and was anxiously heading outside.

More informed, Marietta quickly replied, "It should be her left leg, Professor Flitwick."

"Left leg..." Professor Flitwick frowned. Although Lin Yue was still young, she was ultimately a girl, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him, a male professor, to go over if it was her leg that was injured.

Professor McGonagall quickly stepped forward and nodded at him, "Since Miss Lin Yue has injured her leg this time, you are not suitable to go, Filius. I'll go instead; I think my students can manage to attend your Charms class without me."

"Of course," Professor Flitwick replied solemnly, nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Minerva."

Professor McGonagall shook her head seriously, "I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts; it is my duty. Moreover, Miss Lin Yue is also one of my favorite students."

For the same reason, Headmaster Dumbledore was also not suitable to go. Professor Sprout, as the Head of Hufflepuff House, held a strong affection for Lin Yue, a model student who also helped Hufflepuffs learn Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Without any hesitation, she followed along, but in the end, it was Professor McGonagall who persuaded her to go back. If too many professors went, Lin Yue might get nervous; just her going would be enough. To help treat Lin Yue's injury, they also went to the Hospital Wing to call Madam Pomfrey.

They rushed back to the Ravenclaw Tower, and Penelope answered the riddle of the bronze door at the fastest speed of her life. Accompanied by Autumn Zhang and Professor McGonagall, they entered the Ravenclaw common room with Madam Pomfrey.

The Ravenclaws studying in the public lounge were taken aback when they saw Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey Walk in.

Isn't Professor McGonagall the head of Gryffindor? Why is she here in Ravenclaw?

And why is Madam Pomfrey here? Is someone sick? Or injured?

They noticed Cho Chang and Marietta following Penelope.

There were some vague guesses in their minds, but they didn't want to believe in that possibility.

It wasn't until they watched the group walk into Lin Yue's dormitory that they had to accept that possibility.

"Is Lin Yue injured?"

"Sick?"

"How is that possible? Lin Yue was fine yesterday!"

"How can it be impossible? Don't forget how many Slytherins were pointing wands at her yesterday."

"Indeed, who knows if those Slytherins used any dark magic or curses behind her back."

"Can't win openly, so they resort to underhanded tactics, huh!"

The Ravenclaws became increasingly agitated, their emotions rising to the point where they felt like they could strike the snake's den at any moment.

In the end, it was a seventh-grade senior named Pratt who stepped in to calm them down.

"Everyone, please calm down. I know you are all very worried about Lin Yue, and I am too."

"But since we don't know the truth right now, we shouldn't casually suspect others; that's not right."

"Since the professor is here, why don't we wait a bit? Once the professor comes out, we can ask questions then. That way, we can address any issues that arise, rather than acting impulsively."

With Pratt's words, the little eagles finally managed to calm down.

Those who have classes soon started to pack their things to go to class, while those without classes sat on the sofas in the common lounge, intently watching the door of Lin Yue's dormitory.

Inside Lin Yue's dormitory, as soon as Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey entered, they headed straight for Lin Yue, who was being held in Hermione's arms.

"Miss Lin Yue, are you alright?" Professor McGonagall asked anxiously, looking at her to confirm that her complexion was rosy and that she showed no signs of distress, which made her breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Professor McGonagall. I appreciate you coming all this way," Lin Yue replied.

"Now is not the time for such pleasantries, dear," Madam Pomfrey said, gently rubbing Lin Yue's head. She had a very deep impression of this child.

With overly tense nerves and severely damaged digestion, she had never seen a child like this before. Last year, they had finally managed to help her recover, and now she heard that this child was punishing herself and harming herself.

It truly made her, as a doctor, feel a lump in her throat.

"Let me see where you're hurt. It's alright, everyone here is female."

After hearing Madam Pomfrey's words, Lin Yue looked up at Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together and nodded, "Miss Lin Yue, you certainly need to show Madam Pomfrey where you're hurt."

"Okay, Professor McGonagall."

Lin Yue mechanically opened her mouth, reached out to unfasten her wizard robe, and removed her school uniform pants and thermal underwear. She felt no shyness or embarrassment; after all, she was just fulfilling the professor's request.

As Lin Yue revealed the wound on her left thigh, everyone present couldn't help but gasp in shock. A gruesome, ten-centimeter-long wound lay on her thigh. The wound was deep enough that, although it wasn't bleeding, it still hadn't fully healed.

Next to this wound, there was another shallow scar that was just as long, looking almost identical to the wound. Madam Pomfrey's face flushed as she took a deep breath; with her keen eyesight and professional expertise, she immediately recognized that the child's wound had a blood-stopping spell cast on it. Using a blood-stopping spell to prevent blood loss showed that the child was indeed clever and well-informed.

However... this usage was quite inappropriate.

Madam Pomfrey took out her wand and gently tapped Lin Yue's thigh, saying, "Episkey.” The wound on Lin Yue's thigh slowly closed, ultimately leaving only a faint mark.

"Miss Lin Yue, do you have any other injuries?" Professor McGonagall looked at Lin Yue with a solemn tone. Just based on that wound alone, this matter was serious enough. No, the fact that students from Hogwarts were harming themselves was serious enough!

"No," Lin Yue honestly shook her head, but Madam Pomfrey in front of her still threw three detection spells at her, not stopping until she confirmed that there were indeed no injuries at all.

"Can I pull up my pants now, Professor McGonagall?" Lin Yue asked, her tone completely calm as she sought the instruction of the only professor present.

Professor McGonagall felt a discomfort in her heart. Such a meticulous child, and she needed to seek her consent for this matter. Why hadn't she noticed this before?

"Of course, dear, hurry and get dressed, don't catch a cold."

Her voice softened, even trembling slightly, completely different from her usual serious demeanor.

However, the few young witches present clearly had no mind to notice this surprising change.

They all looked at Lin Yue with red-rimmed eyes, and Hermione, after Lin Yue had tidied up her own clothes, directly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"It's my fault! It's all my fault! If I had been more careful with my words, if I had observed more closely..."

Wouldn't you have had the chance to punish yourself? Wouldn't I have been able to discover earlier that you were still punishing yourself? Wouldn't you have... suffered a little less?

"It was my own mistake." Held tightly in Hermione's arms, feeling her body tremble, Lin Yue's vision began to blur.

But her voice remained unchanged; it was just that her mind throbbed with dull pain, as if she wanted to feel something, yet at the same time, she was stopping herself from feeling it.

Looking at Lin Yue, who was being held in Hermione's arms, Professor McGonagall spoke in the gentlest tone.

"Miss Lin, would you mind sharing a bit about your past with us? Your history."

She was certain that no student at Hogwarts would teach Lin Yue how to punish herself, nor would any professor impart such knowledge.

So this could only be something Lin Yue learned in the past, no matter where it came from, whether from a teacher or a parent.

Faced with such a rigid "good child," who was filled with cruelty towards herself, Professor McGonagall only wished to transform those who taught her to be this way into slimy slugs, and ensure they could never return to their former selves.