Hogwarts: Who made her a professor?

Chapter 479 Longbottom

Augusta Longbottom also looked at the ugly plant.

To be honest, Mrs. Longbottom didn't recognize what the plant was, and she didn't know if Neville was right or wrong.

"Are you sure?" Belvina asked, her tone turning stern. "Neville Longbottom, are you sure that's the Devil's Web?"

From gentle, encouraging education to stern questioning, Belvina's transformation was so drastic that the crybaby Neville Longbottom struggled to keep up with the professor's leaps in thought.

Hearing Belvina's stern tone, Neville lowered his head insecurity, his gaze following the tip of her nose to the floor beneath his feet.

"Miss Black, what are you doing?" Mrs. Longbottom said in an unfriendly tone, she would not allow anyone to bully her little darling.

Belvina completely ignored Mrs. Longbottom, and continued sternly to Neville, "Neville Longbottom, look me in the eye and tell me, are you sure that plant is Devil's Web?"

Magic is a wondrous power, sometimes equated with "the power of thought."

A person who lacks self-confidence cannot control the "power of thought," let alone the magical power of magic.

In the eyes of many professors and students, Neville Longbottom was not smart enough, lacked talent, was timid, and worse, he was forgetful at a young age.

However, in Belvina's eyes, Neville Longbottom's biggest problem was his lack of self-confidence. He didn't believe he had talent, nor did he believe he was capable of doing things that others couldn't.

Just like now, Neville clearly recognized that the ugly plant on the bedside table was the Devil's Web, but after Belvina's scare, Neville lost confidence in his answer and began to doubt whether he had seen it wrong.

At this moment, Mrs. Longbottom wanted to speak again; she couldn't just watch Blake frighten her little darling like that.

Belvina raised her hand, gesturing for Mrs. Augusta Longbottom to be quiet.

If Mrs. Longbottom hadn't met him in Diagon Alley two summers ago, she would have already grabbed her weapon by now.

Frank and Alice's misfortune was caused by Bellatrix Lestrange, a black woman and Belvina's older cousin.

However, the unpleasant encounter two years ago changed Mrs. Longbottom's opinion of Belvina to some extent.

Of course, that doesn't stop her from hating Black and Lestrange.

Furthermore, Sirius Black was later exonerated, and Belvina became the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This changed Mrs. Longbottom's opinion of the siblings once again, which is why she didn't grab a weapon despite her harsh tone.

Augusta Longbottom trusted Dumbledore's judgment, and even when the entire wizarding community was smearing the headmaster of Hogwarts during the summer, Mrs. Longbottom remained steadfast in her belief that Dumbledore was right.

"Mr. Longbottom, answer my question," Belvina said, her tone growing increasingly stern. "Tell me, are you sure..."

Is that plant a devil's web?

Both her expression and tone of voice made it seem as if Belvina was interrogating a criminal.

The more this happened, the less confident Neville became. His eyes peered through the tip of his nose at the floor of the ward, and his hands clenched into fists.

"You really are Neville Longbottom?" He suddenly looked up, his lips trembling with nervousness.

"It's—it's—it's Devil's Web—that plant is Devil's Web, I'm absolutely certain, there's no mistake."

The moment you open your mouth is often the most difficult. When Neville uttered the first syllable, his tension and lack of confidence disappeared, and he spoke more and more fluently.

"Are you sure?" Belvina asked again.

"I'm sure, absolutely sure." Neville didn't lower his head, nor did he look away.

"Professor Sprout would be proud of you, Neville," Belvina said softly. "It's a pity this isn't a school, so I can't give you extra points."

Navei suddenly breathed a sigh of relief; his heart was pounding wildly in his chest.

"Madam, I think you've seen it," Belvina said, looking at Mrs. Longbottom. "That gift for Munch is..."

"The Devil's Web, Neville was right."

Just like two summers ago, Mrs. Longbottom re-examined herself. Was Neville's lack of confidence and his timidity really caused by her strictness?

"Nawi, what is the Devil's Web?"

At this moment, the teacher and student felt as if they were not in St. Mungo's ward, but in Hogwarts Castle.

"Devil's web is a vine that, when mature, can extend tendrils to entwine those who approach it. It prefers dark, damp environments and dislikes light and warmth."

This time, without Belvina even asking, Neville volunteered to tell a whole bunch of things, including the habits and natural enemies of the Devil's Web.

To Belvina's surprise, Nave's answer did not end there.

Mustering his courage, Neville continued, "I think Ms. Straw is a kind person; she must have mistaken the devil's web for a Christmas cactus."

The Christmas cactus is a plant with long tentacles that always sway back and forth. Many wizards will place a pot of Christmas cactus indoors for ornamental purposes.

Christmas cactus itself is not dangerous, but it looks very similar to Devil's Web. If you mistake the dangerous Devil's Web for a Christmas cactus, then you'll be in for a vine entanglement around your neck.

"Very good, Neville, but unfortunately I still can't give you any extra points," Belvina said.

Then, Belvina looked at Melanie Straw, who was still handing out gifts, and said, "Melanie, could you come here for a moment?"

Although the patients in this long-term ward were basically unable to communicate normally with others, Belvina still did not directly reveal the Devil's Web. Instead, she called Straw to her side and whispered the truth to her.

"This can't be!" Melanie Straw exclaimed, both surprised and frightened.

If Eric Munch had accidentally gotten close to that devil's web, and if no one had appeared in time, Munch would probably have been strangled by it.

Melanie Straw approached Eric Munch's bedside cautiously, worried that she might startle him and that a frightened Munch might accidentally touch the devil's web.

If a patient in the long-term care ward is harmed, and this patient is an "important person" whom the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has visited several times, Straw cannot afford to take responsibility if something goes wrong.

Standing before the hospital bed, Melanie Straw examined the ugly plant closely and realized it was indeed a devil's web, not a Christmas cactus meant for ornamental purposes.

A wave of lingering fear washed over Melanie Straw, and he felt a surge of panic. Had Mr. Longbottom not recognized the Devil's Web, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

At this moment, Belvina had already called in the guards who were standing outside the ward, partly to deal with the dangerous demon immediately.

The first reason was to find the person who sent the devil's net.

"Melene," Belvina said to the therapist whose legs were trembling, "please cooperate with the department's work and find out who sent the Christmas present to Munch."

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely cooperate." Melanie Straw nodded hurriedly.

Not only Munch, but another unlucky guy who broke into the Department of Mysteries also received the Devil's Web as a Christmas gift.

Melanie Straw naturally realized that this "gift" was not simple; it was definitely not because the giver couldn't distinguish between a Christmas cactus and a devil's web. This was a shameful murder.

Soon, the Ministry of Magic guards and St. Mungo's healers left the long-term ward. Straw, whose legs were weak, almost fell as they left, and the incident made her more and more frightened.

"Mrs. Longbottom, Mrs. Longbottom?"

Belvina called out softly to Augusta Longbottom.

At this moment, Mrs. Longbottom stared intently at Neville, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Perhaps it really was the first time. Neville's confident demeanor and his reasonable analysis were things he had never shown to Mrs. Longbottom before.

"Madam, are you alright?"

"grandmother?"

Neville also gently shook Mrs. Longbottom's arm.

Augusta Longbottom suddenly snapped out of his daze, and the vulture specimen on his hat jerked violently.

She said, "Miss Black, Neville—Frank and Alice's son—my grandson—has just stopped a murder?"

As if their souls had been swapped, the insecure man became Augusta Longbottom, and Neville brought the old man a truly wonderful surprise today.

“Your understanding is entirely correct, madam. Mr. Neville Longbottom has just prevented a vile murder. He stopped—” Belvina lowered her voice, “He stopped the Death Eaters’ plot.”

Mrs. Longbottom covered her mouth with her hand, looking as if she was about to cry.

“You should be proud, madam, Mr. Neville Longbottom has the potential to become an Auror,” Belvina continued. “Of course, provided his Potions grades are even better.”

Although Snape's bullying of Neville lessened somewhat, the psychological trauma he inflicted on Neville was too great, resulting in Neville's potion-making performance still not being very good.

Mrs. Longbottom turned her head away, her gaze seemingly able to see Frank and Alice behind the curtain.

While Mrs. Longbottom wasn't looking, Belvina secretly gave Neville a thumbs-up, praising him once again for his earlier actions.

which performed.

Neville lowered his head shyly. He didn't think he was as good as Belvina said, nor did he think he had the potential to become an Auror.

At that moment, Alice Longbottom emerged from behind the curtain.

Although this wasn't the first time Belvina had seen Alice in the hospital room, her heart still skipped a beat.

Alice Longbottom's face was gaunt and thin, which made her eyes look out of place. Her gray hair was dry and messy, making her look like an old woman on her deathbed.

Alice walked timidly toward her son, gesturing cautiously towards Neville. In this long-term hospital room, Belvina had never heard Alice speak, nor had Frank.

Neville held out his hand, and Alice placed a piece of Bubble Gum wrapper in his hand.

Under Mrs. Longbottom's increasingly excited gaze, Alice carefully raised her hand and gently stroked Neville's head.