Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 235 The Return Journey (Part Two)

"Hermione, we need to talk, after we get home."

Mr. Granger fastened his seatbelt, turned the key, and amidst the roar of the engine, looked at the serene Hermione in the back seat through the rearview mirror and spoke softly.

Hermione didn't reply, but simply nodded, already having a vague idea of ​​what her father wanted to say to her.

As wizarding parents, they have access to information about the magical world, like the Daily Prophet, which has been a daily fixture at the Granger family's dinner table since she started school.

Perhaps Mr. Granger didn't know many of the people on there, but there was at least one person he did know.

That guy stayed at Granger's house for almost a month.

Hermione returned home in silence. She silently pulled her luggage from the trunk, opened the door, placed the luggage aside, and sat down on the sofa. A moment later, Mr. Granger, who had just parked the car, came in and sat down with Mrs. Granger at the coffee table in front of Hermione.

"Hermione, darling, your father needs to know if that brat is really like what the newspapers say?" Mr. Granger looked at Hermione with a serious expression, while Mrs. Granger beside her nervously clenched her hands and rubbed the collar of her dress.

"I can't tell, Dad," Hermione shook her head.

Mr. Granger frowned, remained silent for a long time, and then asked, "Is it that we are unable to know the answer?"

Hermione didn't react, her eyes fixed on Mr. Granger, clear and pure. Mr. Granger nodded slightly and asked, "So, Hermione, have you made your decision? Regarding…"

"Yes." Hermione interrupted Mr. Granger before he could finish speaking. She stood up, picked up her luggage, and walked to the stairs. She took a step, then stopped.

"I love you all, do you know that?"

"We know, my dear, we know." Mr. Granger tried to remain calm, but Mrs. Granger's eyes were already brimming with tears.

Hermione smiled, then turned and ran upstairs, slamming the door shut. Downstairs, Mrs. Granger could no longer hold back her sobs, tears quickly soaking her dress at her knees.

The wizarding world is in turmoil, with the Dark Lord's threat lurking in the shadows, and no one can predict what tomorrow will bring. But for Hermione, Harry, Ron, and others who personally experienced the battle of the Department of Mysteries, the answer is obvious.

Darkness is approaching, and everyone must prepare in advance. The cowardly seek refuge, while those with a righteous heart are already aware of the impending doom.

Whether they were forced into it or not, they were prepared.

Neville, who left King's Cross Station with Mrs. Longbottom, went to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries after putting his luggage at home, just like in previous years.

This had become a habit, one he had maintained since he was very young, spending far more time in St. Mungo's than at his own home.

He still kept his head down, even though he was now much taller than his grandmother. In front of her, he still looked like a child who had not yet grown up; this was almost ingrained in his bones.

Pushing open the door to the ward, Mrs. Longbottom naturally sat down in her usual small chair, between the two beds. To her left was her son, and to her right was her daughter-in-law.

The son was still lying there, fast asleep with his eyes closed, while the daughter-in-law sat on the bed. When she saw Neville come in, she smiled broadly, took something out of her pocket, stuffed it directly into Neville's hand, and then smiled with satisfaction.

It was kind and warm, but Neville knew that her mind was still blank, and that action was just a subconscious one.

He opened his hand, and sure enough, it was that candy wrapper, the same one that hadn't changed in over a decade.

Smiling and nodding, she unfolded the candy wrapper, picked up the non-existent candy, popped it into her mouth, squinted her eyes, gave a thumbs up, and then, when she wasn't looking, used magic to restore it and put it back in her pocket.

At this moment, Mrs. Longbottom, who had witnessed all of this, nodded in satisfaction, as if praising Neville's behavior.

Neville was already used to it. He sat down on his father's bedside, rested his elbows on his knees, and lowered his head naturally.

"I saw her," Neville said softly after a long pause. His voice was low, but it was loud enough to be heard clearly in the quiet hospital room.

"Her? Who?" Before Mrs. Longbottom could react, Neville continued, "Bellatrix Lestrange, the one who's got us all in this mess."

Mrs. Longbottom's previously dim eyes suddenly narrowed, then slowly opened again. She didn't speak, but listened to Neville talking to himself as if to himself.

"At the Department of Mysteries, we were attacked by Death Eaters. I saw her there, exactly like the one in the newspaper, just as insane."

"They were chasing us from behind, and we were running from the front. Spells were flying around us, and we had no idea what spell would land on us next."

"I fought her, but I was no match for her. She knocked me down, and she pointed her wand at me, trying to cast a Crucifixion on me too."

"I could see it in her eyes; she really would do it."

Neville's head was bowed low, almost buried between his arms. Then Mrs. Longbottom spoke.

"Are you scared? Are you backing down?"

"No!" Neville abruptly raised his head, his eyes glistening with tears, but he didn't flinch as he looked directly into Mrs. Longbottom's eyes. "I just... I just feel a little regretful..."

"Regret? Regret what?"

"I regret not having the power of Hermione or Harry, why I didn't work harder so I could defeat her and give Mom and Dad..."

"revenge?"

"Snapped!"

Mrs. Longbottom stood up abruptly and slapped Neville across the face.

"Revenge? How could you have such a foolish idea!"

"But..." Neville began, but Mrs. Longbottom snapped, "Are you trying to say that's what I've always demanded of you since you were little?"

"madness!"

"That's right, that woman is indeed the culprit behind your parents' current state, and revenge is not wrong, but it cannot be the driving force for your growth and becoming stronger!"

"Your parents, my son, and my daughter-in-law are acting out of justice! Justice... that should be your only motivation!"

Mrs. Longbottom looked down at Neville, her face cold, but her eyes were full of determination.

"You will defeat that madwoman, seize her in Azkaban, even kill her, but not for revenge, but simply because she is evil, and you represent justice!"

"Justice?" Neville looked at Mrs. Longbottom with a puzzled expression. Looking into her firm yet tearful eyes, he seemed to understand something.

He nodded slightly, but didn't know what to say. His head slowly lowered again, and the ward fell silent.

Suddenly, Neville felt something being placed in his hand. He looked up blankly and saw his mother smiling at him, pointing at his hand.

Looking down, I saw the candy wrapper that was crumpled again.

After a long silence, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. He popped the nonexistent candy into his mouth, smiling and giving a thumbs-up. He magically made it neat again, but didn't put the wrapper back in his mother's pocket.

He took a new candy from another pocket, opened it, handed it to his mother, and watched her put it in her mouth.

The candy was so sweet that the mother's eyes narrowed.

Watching silently as she casually put the candy wrapper back into her pocket, Neville finally turned to look at Mrs. Longbottom.

"I understand, Grandma..."

(End of this chapter)