Chapter 209: Madam Longbottom
Chapter 209: Madam Longbottom
Returning to his office, Hogwarts seemed particularly tranquil under the night sky, the Forbidden Forest even deeper and darker than the surrounding night. Felix carefully examined the Acromantula inside the large glass dome, recording the latest data.
"Wizard, when do you plan to let me go?" the Acromantula growled.
"Soon, once the experiment is done", Felix replied dismissively.
...
After Friday's usual teaching routine, time had moved to the second weekend of the school term. Felix dressed neatly and arrived at Hogsmeade Village right on time.
He deliberately passed by the school’s main gate, where he witnessed the Dementors.
These creatures were even more malevolent than he had imagined, exuding a chilling aura that made his body stiffen and his mood darken as he approached them. When Felix consciously activated his Occlumency, the Dementors' influence on him diminished significantly, and the cloaked, tattered figures seemed to lose interest in him.
However, his aversion to these creatures grew stronger, and he felt a strong urge to destroy them.
Pushing open the door to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Felix visited this place for the first time, known among Hogwarts students as a "dating haven." In a sense, it did have a certain ethereal charm.
The room was misty, with a winding, cramped layout, and everything was adorned with slightly tacky lace frills.
Felix wasn't a fan of this decorative style, but he had to admit that the owner did a good job of creating a cozy atmosphere.
Besides a few young Wizard couples, he noticed a few lone guests enjoying their tea and pastries, which relieved him. He approached the counter and saw a short, plump, middle-aged witch with a warm smile.
"Madam Puddifoot?"
"Yes, dear, what can I get for you?" Madam Puddifoot asked, her hair neatly tied in a black bun.
"Can you check the reservation for me? It's with Augusta Longbottom at ten o'clock."
Madam Puddifoot bent down and flipped through her records, which only she could understand. "Indeed, she mentioned it. It's at ten in the morning, by the window in the corner booth. You're a bit early."
"I know, can I have a coffee first? Which specific booth is it?" Felix asked.
"It's to your left, down the aisle, next to the table with the lace bow menu."
Felix took his seat, gazing out the foggy window. He tapped his index finger on it, creating a palm-sized clear spot, allowing him to see outside clearly.
He silently contemplated the conversation with Lupin on Thursday night, where he unexpectedly discovered the whereabouts of Harry and his friends. This led him to deliberately guide Lupin into recounting stories from his own era.
'Wonder if Harry can handle it, but the harsh truth is better than false comfort. Whether he falls into despair or rises up is his own choice, and he can't blame anyone else for it.'
After about seven or eight minutes, he saw an elderly woman with a large red handbag appear at the street corner.
As soon as she entered, she loudly asked if Puddifoot had arrived. Madam Puddifoot pointed to his location and said a few words. Then, the elderly woman strode over.
Felix stood up to shake her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Longbottom."
"Hello, Professor Hep. We met briefly over the summer", Mrs. Longbottom said, extending her withered, eagle-claw-like hand. She then removed her tall hat, adorned with a taxidermied eagle, and placed it with her red handbag, sitting across from him.
Madam Puddifoot brought a cup of tea. "As per your usual, Mrs. Longbottom."
"Ah, Puddifoot, you're always so thoughtful", Mrs. Longbottom said, looking at Felix's coffee. "The tea here is excellent; I highly recommend it."
"I'll give it a try, thank you, madam", Felix replied.
After some small talk, they got down to business. Felix said, "Madam, you must have received my letter. Neville's wand seems to be inherited from his father, and it's not as comfortable for him to use."
Mrs. Longbottom stirred the dark, rich tea with a small spoon. "You're right, my child."
Felix paused, testing the waters. "Perhaps I don't fully understand the traditions of the Longbottom family, but maybe..."
"No maybes, no", Mrs. Longbottom said, her lips tightly pursed. "It was Neville who insisted."
Felix found it hard to believe that this was the same slightly slow, introverted, and timid Xiao Yuan.
He looked at her calmly, remaining silent.
Mrs. Longbottom thought for a moment. "It's not a shameful thing. My son and daughter-in-law were driven mad by Voldemort's followers. They've been living in St. Mungo's Hospital for a long time. Neville grew up with me, and before he started school, I took him to St. Mungo's to visit his parents every other week..."
"Wait, you mean his parents are still alive?"
"Of course!" Mrs. Longbottom said proudly. "They were tortured by four Death Eaters using the Cruciatus Curse... Few people can survive that, but they were brave. Frank and Alice, I must say, they were both incredibly brave!"
Her voice boomed, drawing the attention of several people.
"Cruciatus Curse..." Felix repeated softly.
"Exactly, it's one of the Unforgivable Curses. It makes you wish you were dead." Mrs. Longbottom said. "Frank and Alice are the bravest people I've ever known. They didn't reveal a single word. I'm proud of them, but it's a bit disappointing... Voldemort is dead, and I remember Frank saying he would celebrate the victory properly."
She lifted her teacup to hide her face.
After a couple of minutes, she calmed down. Her eyes were a bit red, but her expression was even prouder. "We've gone off-topic, wasting your time, Professor Hep."
"That's nothing. I admire those with strong wills", Felix said.
"Thank you. Where were we? Wands? Ah, right, wands."
"Probably when Neville was about four or five, he came back from the hospital, rummaged through everything, and found his father's wand. I had hidden it away. The core is unicorn hair, known for its loyalty."
"I thought he was just being curious and let him have it. But he wouldn't let it go after that. When it was time to buy a wand before school, he refused, insisting on using his father's wand."
"Didn't you try to persuade him, Mrs. Longbottom?"
"I did. The boy is usually quite timid, but he was very insistent on this. And before school started, he managed to cast a simple spell with that wand, which, given his previous performance, was a miracle... So I agreed."
Felix thought for a moment and suggested, "Perhaps you could buy him another wand. His father's wand could serve as a backup."
Mrs. Longbottom's expression hardened. "I don't think changing wands will help much. His report card from this summer made me feel ashamed! He didn't inherit any of his parents' talents. I even suspected he was a Squib until an accident revealed his magical abilities."
Felix spoke gently. "But as you said, he's not a natural prodigy. Even a small change can make a big difference, especially with a wand."
He pulled out a stack of parchment from his ring. "This is Neville's performance in Dueling Class, recorded by himself. The data is surprisingly honest and has given me a clearer understanding of his situation."
"From the data, it seems Neville learns a spell three to five times slower than the average student. It's hard to say if the wand is a factor..."
Mrs. Longbottom examined the parchment carefully, flipping through each page. Besides Neville's handwriting, there were markings and summaries from another person. After a while, she looked up. "You've convinced me, Professor Hep. Neville is incredibly lucky to have you."
Felix shrugged. "I'm also curious to see how he performs with a new wand. Additionally, Mrs. Longbottom, I have a favor to ask..."
(End of Chapter)
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