Harry Potter: Who cares about belated motherly love?

――――From then on, Hogwarts seemed to have fallen into chaos.

I was taken to the infirmary by Patsy and stayed there all night, so I didn't learn the details until the next morning in the principal's office (my neck was only a so-called "whiplash injury", and the treatment was quickly over, but because of the mental trauma, analgesics and tranquilizers were prescribed, which made me sleep all night).

The news of Ginny's attempt to kill her sister spread all over Hogwarts overnight. When I woke up, Ginny had been suspended indefinitely.

―――Indefinite suspension. This is almost equivalent to expulsion from school.

In the long history of Hogwarts, there are almost no examples of people who have received this kind of punishment returning to school.

This punishment is usually given to those who have committed acts equivalent to expulsion, but are given leniency due to special circumstances (such as being controlled by an "obedience spell" or being forced to do certain actions under threat).

————————As for Ginny, she was diagnosed as suffering from a magical mental illness and was in a state of mental disorder, so she was suspended from school and sent to the "Janus Hickey Ward" of St. Mungo's Hospital for isolated treatment.

Ginny developed a magical mental illness during this year.

"Imaginary Friend Syndrome".

The so-called "imaginary friend" is a similar phenomenon in the Muggle world. This usually happens in childhood, especially around the age of 5 to 6, or around 10 years old, when the child creates a virtual friend unconsciously. However, in the magical world, this phenomenon is slightly different.

In fact, in the wizarding world, it is not uncommon for many children to have "imaginary friends" because they are isolated from the outside world since childhood. Magical people usually "live in secrecy" until they can control a certain amount of magic, and then they will contact the outside world. Therefore, many children have no contact with their peers before entering Hogwarts (except for children from pure-blood families).

As a result, one in five children in the wizarding world have experienced "imaginary friends" in their early years. In most cases, the "imaginary friends" disappear when they enter Hogwarts and make real friends.

So, it's not particularly problematic that Ginny has an "imaginary friend". The problem is that Ginny already has a wand.

Unlike Muggles, the magical community has a different approach to dealing with "imaginary friends".

For preschoolers who don't have a wand, an "imaginary friend" is just an ordinary friend. However, for magical children who have a wand, the problem is different.

Why is the situation different for children with magic wands?

Because the magic family's "imaginary friends" will be strongly affected by magic.

Preschool magic children without wands can hardly control their magic. Due to emotional fluctuations, they can easily cause damage to items. It is difficult for children without wands to make their magic have a direction, and they often release magic unconsciously. When they have a wand, they can control their magic and gradually learn to control their magic.

Once they have a wand, they can control their magic power and avoid releasing it unconsciously, while also consuming less magic power.

Why is that?

Because children without wands have limited magical powers, but with wands, their magic powers can be more controlled and directed.

So what does this mean?

――――The released magic power will be shared with "imaginary friends".

"Imaginary friend" refers to an inner existence. It is another personality in the host's heart. Therefore, there is a direct hotline between the "imaginary friend" of the magic family and the host, connected by magic power.

When the host holds a wand, they can share the magic power with the "imaginary friend". It is as if the magic power is divided equally. If the host's total magic power is 100, then the "imaginary friend" and the host will each share 50 magic power.

――――When the "Imaginary Friend" obtains the same magical power as the host, it will grow rapidly.

"Imaginary Friend Syndrome" refers to the growth and changes caused by the sharing of magic power between the "Imaginary Friend" and the host.

However, in most cases, when the host obtains a magic wand, the magic power is stabilized, and real friends are made, the imaginary friends will naturally disappear (or more accurately, the host will absorb them).

However, in rare cases, if children cannot adapt to their surroundings and feel lonely, they may become dependent on "imaginary friends" and develop obsessive emotions.

———From that time on, Hogwarts seemed to be in great turmoil.

I was taken to the infirmary by Patsy and kept there all night, so I didn't hear the details of what happened until the next morning in the principal's office (my neck was only slightly "whiplashed", which was quickly treated, but due to the mental shock, I was given painkillers and sedatives and slept soundly all night).

The news that Ginny had tried to kill her sister spread quickly throughout Hogwarts, and when I woke up, Ginny had been suspended indefinitely for the incident.

———Indefinite suspension is actually equivalent to expulsion.

In the long history of Hogwarts, almost no one who received this punishment was able to return to school.

This punishment is usually given in cases of extremely serious behavior, close to expulsion, but it will be decided at discretion if the student who is being punished has special circumstances (such as being under the control of an "obedience spell" or being threatened and put in a desperate situation).

———Ginny's condition was determined to be a case of magical mental illness causing mental disorder, so after being suspended from school, she was isolated and admitted to the "Janus Hickey Ward" at St. Mango's Hospital.

Ginny had been suffering from a magical mental illness all year.

———“Imaginary friend syndrome” or “imaginary friend syndrome”.

This phenomenon is also well known in the Muggle world, especially around the age of 5 to 6 or 10, where children tend to unconsciously create an imaginary friend, called an "imaginary friend". In the wizarding world, the situation is slightly different.

In fact, in the wizarding world, many children are almost isolated from the outside world since childhood, and it is not uncommon to have an "imaginary friend". Magical people are usually "secluded" until they can control a certain amount of magic, and then children will come into contact with people other than relatives. It is common for children not to interact with their peers before entering Hogwarts (except for pure-blood families).

Therefore, one in five children from the wizarding world have had "imaginary friends". Usually, after entering Hogwarts, children can make real friends and the "imaginary friends" will naturally disappear...

So it's not surprising that Ginny has an "imaginary friend". The problem is - Ginny already has her own wand.

Unlike Muggles, the magical "imaginary friends" are handled differently as they age.

For magical children who are not in school and do not have their own magic wands, "imaginary friends" are just friends; but for magical people who have magic wands, the situation is different.

Why is it different for the magical people who own wands?

Because the magic family's "imaginary friends" will be strongly affected by magic.

Underage magicians without wands usually cannot control their magic power, and may accidentally destroy items when they are emotionally excited. It is difficult for magicians at this age to concentrate their magic power, so it is easy for magic power to be released unconsciously. After having a wand, it is possible to prevent magic power from leaking unconsciously and gradually learn to control magic power. However, this change will greatly affect the existence of "imaginary friends".

The moment a magician possesses a wand, they gain the ability to bind magic power to themselves.

On the contrary, underage magicians who do not hold magic wands, as mentioned above, have difficulty controlling their magic power and can usually only maintain less than the maximum magic power. If compared to an RPG game, assuming the total magic power is 100, then they may consume 5-10 points of magic power due to anger, and usually can only maintain 20-30 points of magic power.

But once you hold the wand, the magic power can be maintained at a maximum value close to 100.

Moreover, when magicians holding magic wands use magic, the magic power consumed will be greatly reduced.

The spells learned by first-year students cost about 0.5 to 1 mana unless they are using powerful spells. Since they have fewer opportunities to cast spells than more advanced students, the mana they spend will be restored quickly.

what does this mean?

———The magic power that is no longer leaked will be shared with "imaginary friends".

"Imaginary friends" are the host's "inner self". They are mirror-like existences that can enhance the host's emotions. If the host feels happy, it will also enhance joy; if the host feels sad, it will intensify sadness.

…Ginny’s “imaginary friend” Mary was born out of Ginny’s jealousy of me.

In Ginny's diary, her disgust and jealousy towards me grew as time went on, and it was all caused by "Mary".

Imaginary Friend Syndrome is a magical mental illness that needs to be treated at an early stage.

Once it materializes, or comes close to materializing, it often has an effect on the personality of the host. Ginny's attempt to kill me was the result of this effect.

What should have been just a mild jealousy common in adolescence was greatly magnified and eventually distorted her psychology.

Once "imaginary friend syndrome" develops to this stage, it will take at least ten years to treat. Because there is a direct connection between the host and the "imaginary friend", only the host's strong rejection of the "imaginary friend" can make it disappear.

However, the "imaginary friend" is the other side of the host. Because it exists like a mirror, the host often relies on the "friend" who fully affirms himself.

Especially, when the host is an emotional girl.

…Ginny’s dependence on “Mary” is apparently so strong that it seems impossible for her to be discharged from the hospital at present. The therapists have diagnosed that given Ginny’s personality and the actual consequences she has caused (after all, trying to kill one’s own sister is not common), the possibility of recovery is very low.

what does this mean?

———Ginny might never be able to leave St. Mango's Hospital, and even her future as a wizard was completely closed.

… She might even have a hard time getting married.

"…Professor Dumbledore, then…what about Ginny?"

I looked at Dumbledore pleadingly, and he lowered his bright blue eyes and shook his head slightly.

"…It is a pity, but it is almost impossible to return to school…"

"How can it be……"

I repeat, being suspended indefinitely is equivalent to being expelled from school. Although unlike expulsion, Ginny's wand is not destroyed but kept by the headmaster, as long as her return to school is refused, Ginny's wand will be confiscated.

If she was allowed to go back to school, her wand would be returned, but if she was refused, even if she was discharged, Ginny would never have her own wand in her life, and of course, she would not be allowed to buy a new wand.

In the UK, it is almost impossible for students who have not graduated from Hogwarts to find a job (unless they open their own business). Hagrid is an extremely rare exception.

What's more, if she suffered from a serious magical mental illness and almost killed her relatives, she might not even have the chance to get married in the country.

In fact, such a situation would even restrict her from traveling abroad. If something happened to her abroad, the Ministry would be held responsible, so in reality, there was little chance of her going abroad.

I left the headmaster's office with a heavy heart, thinking about Ginny's future, but the incident did not end there.