190 The talk

Hello, this is subthor.

In case y'all hadn't noticed.

If I can't post on 11 am, I'll post on 11 pm.

Don't worry

;)

Plus, the author has a note as well.

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Copy and paste chapters are basically find the difference. You'll know what I mean.

And if I hear one more complaint about the golden trio being with Arthur , Harry is going to be killed, Hermione will be R**ed, And Ron will marry Scarlett. NO MORE COMPLAINTS!

However, I'll try my best to give the golden trio less screen time.

/—/

Subthor again, had to say it. Lol.

/—/

They spent the rest of the lesson taking notes on each of the Unforgivable Curses. No one spoke until the bell rang, and even after.

Arth waved goodbye towards Theodore and Scarlett before heading towards the golden trio- Harry, Ron, And Hermione.

(Subthor note: lol, and the MC is back again with the gold trio)

"Hurry up," Hermione said tensely.

"Not the ruddy library again?" said Ron.

"No," said Hermione curtly, pointing up a side passage. "Neville."

Neville was standing alone, halfway up the passage, staring at the stone wall opposite him with the same horrified, wide-eyed look he had worn when Moody had demonstrated the Cruciatus Curse.

"Neville?" Hermione said gently. Neville looked around.

"Oh hello," he said, his voice much higher than usual. "Interesting lesson, wasn't it? I wonder what's for dinner, I'm - I'm starving, aren't you?"

"Neville, are you all right?" said Hermione.

"Oh yes, I'm fine," Neville gabbled in the same unnaturally high voice. "Very interesting dinner - I mean lesson - what's for eating?"

Ron gave Arth a startled look.

"Neville, what - ?"

But an odd clunking noise sounded behind them, and they turned to see Professor Moody limping toward them. All five of them fell silent, watching him apprehensively, but when he spoke, it was in a much lower and gentler growl than they had yet heard.

"It's all right, sonny," he said to Neville. "Why don't you come up to my office? Come on. . . we can have a cup of tea. . . ."

Neville looked even more frightened at the prospect of tea with Moody. He neither moved nor spoke. Moody turned his magical eye upon Harry.

"You all right, are you, Potter?"

"Yes," said Harry.

Moody's blue eye quivered slightly in its socket as it surveyed Harry. Then he said, "You've got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you've got to know. No point pretending. . . well.. . come on, Longbottom, I've got some books that might interest you."

Neville looked pleadingly at them, but they didn't say anything, so Neville had no choice but to allow himself to be steered away, one of Moody's gnarled hands on his shoulder.

Arth sighed.

"I'm betting ten galleons that Neville is going to be dead or near death when he comes out of that talk."

"Bet!"

"Do you even have ten Galleons Ron?"

"Nope, But I'll pay you back if I lose."

"Fine."

Hermione went a disapproving glare at the two boys.

"Can you two be a little bit more concerned? It's one of our friends we are talking about right now. Neville seemed unusual today."

Arth shrugged.

"It's pretty simple actually. Neville's parents must've suffered from the cruciatus curse."

"What?"

Arth sighed.

"Have you ever wondered why Neville lives with his grandma?"

The four of them stared at each other silently, engrossed in their own thoughts.

After they ate dinner, Hermione went to the library while the boys went up to the dormitory to fetch their books and charts, to find Neville there alone, sitting on his bed, reading. He looked a good deal calmer than at the end of Moody's lesson, though still not entirely normal. His eyes were rather red.

"You all right, Neville?" Harry asked him.

"Oh yes," said Neville, "I'm fine, thanks. Just reading this book Professor Moody lent me. . ."

He held up the book: Hidden Magical Plants of the Saharan Desert.

"Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology," Neville said. There was a faint note of pride in his voice that people had rarely heard. "He thought I'd like this."

Arth wore an excited expression.

"Ooh! I haven't read that book yet! Hand it over when you're done won't ya?"

Harry nudged Arth and whispered that Now was not the time and Arth regained his self control.

"Sure, Arth. I would be happy to give it to you after I'm done."

"Thanks! Enjoy."

"I will."

Arth, Harry, and Ron watched as Neville left them and sighed.

"I guess we better start on homework."

"UHG."

"You just had to remind us Arth."