"... From my point of view, the Gryffindor team has no hope. The Quidditch Cup this school year belongs to us Slytherins no matter what, doesn't it? Professor Umbridge's opinion is equivalent to the Ministry of Magic opinions, but when it comes to the Ministry of Magic - how can they compare to my father?"
"I heard my father say a few years ago that the Ministry has been thinking about firing Arthur Weasley! As for our savior... Haha, he should..."
"Malfoy, let it go."
Malfoy's tirade was interrupted by a cold voice, and the corridor fell silent for an instant because of this sentence.
He turned around and took a look, subconsciously twitching from the corner of his eye - standing behind him was Harry, and of course, Hermione, Ron and other young wizards from Gryffindor House.
There was no trace of anger on the faces of the three little lions, but their cold expressions made Malfoy take a step back.
Ever since he was taught a lesson by Maka, he had been dormant for a long time. Later, his father Lucius solemnly told him several times not to make enemies of Maca's friends.
But maybe time has worn away his inner fear. At the beginning of this semester, he seemed to start showing off his teeth again.
Although he still had lingering fears about Maka - after all, the power shown by Maka was beyond his common sense, but in front of ordinary classmates, he once again showed signs of taking pleasure in slandering Harry and others.
Of course, in normal times, he would do this as far as possible where the parties concerned could not see him. But recently he had a new friend, and the number of times he boasted in front of Sokas was obviously increasing.
And today, just like every other day, when he was trying to improve himself by slandering Harry and others, he finally accidentally met the real owner.
To be honest, let alone Maka, even facing Harry who could kill the fire dragon with a sword, he no longer had much confidence. So when he suddenly saw Harry, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his back.
Although for Harry's slaying of the dragon, he always gave all the credit to the sword of Gryffindor. From Malfoy's point of view, Harry was just lucky.
Seeing Malfoy take a step back, Harry was no longer interested in looking at him. He raised his legs and passed him by, expressionlessly walking towards the door of the Potions classroom.
"Humph, it's just good luck..." Malfoy murmured softly, "Without the Sword of Gryffindor and without Maka McClane, who are you, a scar-faced boy?"
"... That's better than you!" A small voice suddenly emerged, but it became quite obvious in this quiet corridor.
Ron wanted to say that, but he had figured it out beforehand. Now was not the time to fool around. So this sentence was not said by him, but by someone else.
But what is very surprising is that the person who said these words was actually Neville, who always looked timid.
"What?" Malfoy might be hesitant about Harry, but when he saw that a cowardly student like Neville dared to despise him, he suddenly felt that the blood vessels on his forehead were about to explode, "How dare you say it again? "
The dispute that had been resolved by Harry seemed to be ignited again.
The two big stupid followers who had been standing behind Malfoy since just now, Goyle and Crabbe, took a step forward at the same time, blocking Neville's way.
"Am I wrong?" Neville's neck jerked, but he was inspired by the courage he didn't know where he came from. He gritted his teeth and said tremblingly, "Harry must be better than you!"
"Neville," Harry, who had just reached the door, turned around and took two quick steps to reach Neville's side. "There's no need to argue with a guy like him. It's pointless. His brain has already been damaged!"
"It's ridiculous! I think he's the one with a bad mind, right? He's just a careless idiot -" Malfoy shouted angrily, "If you ask me, you'd better send him to St. Mungo's as soon as possible! There's a special person there. The ward is specially designed to house guys whose brains have been damaged!"
"Last time my father and I went to St. Mungo's to visit the deputy dean, I also visited there! Aren't all those brainless wizards exactly like him?"
"...it only eats, sleeps, and is in a daze all day long. It's worse than the Flobber caterpillar! At least the Flobber caterpillar can spit! Hahaha-ah! Stop him!"
Malfoy seemed to be bursting out all the grievances he had held back in the past. He would sneer at Neville when he caught him, but as he was talking, he suddenly let out an exclamation.
At that moment, Neville rushed past Harry, turning a blind eye to the tall Crabbe and Goyle in front of him, raised his fist and punched Malfoy behind them.
When he first entered school, Neville, who was in his early ten years, was short, chubby and chubby, so he was naturally no match for Malfoy's two followers. He was undoubtedly well suited to his cowardly and introverted character at that time.
But in the past two years, Neville, who had entered the growth stage, seemed to have been hit by an expansion spell. He had grown bigger and bigger, and he already stood out among his friends.
It's just that in everyone's impression, Neville's timid temperament is still so deep-rooted that his actual physique is often overlooked.
Now he suddenly went berserk and rushed towards Malfoy like a madman. There was chaos immediately.
Although Crabbe and Goyle were obviously bigger and rounder than Neville, they were unable to completely block Neville's impact when he burst into anger without warning.
There was only a "bang" sound, followed by Malfoy's muffled groan. In the midst of the chaos, Neville's fist accurately hit the bridge of Malfoy's nose.
"Neville! Don't-"
Hermione's words were obviously too late. Amidst her exclamations, Malfoy threw his head back and fell back. Sokas, who had been standing behind and watching quietly, reached out his hand to give Malfoy a hand.
Harry saw that something was not going well, and although it was definitely too late, he still grabbed Neville's robe with a single lunge.
Neville was obviously not satisfied yet. Despite the obstruction of Crabbe and Goyle, he still waved his fists wildly with all his strength, as if he wanted to rush forward and make up for it a few more times.
"Help!" Harry quickly turned around and shouted to Ron.
The two of them each chose a side, tried their best to hold Neville's arm, and dragged him away from the Slytherin group. Before Crabbe and Goyle could roll up their sleeves and prepare for a big fight, they dragged him back to the Gryffindor crowd.
"... This is not a joke! People like you are not worthy of being a Hogwarts person! How dare you insult those patients at St. Mungo's! They are the bravest people in the world! Don't hold me back, I want to teach you a lesson Him! Teach him a lesson!"
Probably because he never spoke loudly, Neville's neck turned red as he roared at this moment, and his tone became quite strange.
It is certainly not unreasonable for him to be so angry. Because among the wizards living in the long-stay ward on the fifth floor of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Maladies, there were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom.
In the aftermath of Voldemort's last fall, the Auror couple were captured by Death Eaters who were frantically searching for their master's whereabouts, and both were tortured with the Cruciatus Curse into a mentally broken man.
Just as Neville was struggling and shouting wildly, the door of the Potions classroom was gently opened, and a frosty-faced Snape walked out.
His cold, dead black eyes swept across the two groups of people in the corridor. When he saw Malfoy, who was leaning against Sokas with his face covered, he paused, and finally settled on the still twisted figure. Stopped on Neville.
No, no, it didn't seem to be Neville, but Harry who was holding Neville's arm.
"Fight? Huh... Potter? Weasley? Longbottom?" Snape curled his lips and said grimly, "Gryffindor, ten points will be deducted... let go of Longbottom, Potter... otherwise,... Confinement.”
"Neville!"
Harry called him softly again and let go.
Upon seeing Snape, whom he was most afraid of, Neville's heated mind finally calmed down a little. He lowered his head and propped himself on his knees, panting heavily, while his remaining angry eyes stared straight at the ground.
"...Everyone, come into the classroom." Snape glanced at Malfoy again, then said a word, and then turned around and walked into the classroom.
He was really disappointed with Malfoy, his "godson", who couldn't stand up to the wall at all. If there is no comparison, it may be better, but once there is a student Maka as a reference, it is simply miserable.
"I have to stop you," Harry gasped. He picked up his schoolbag and said softly, "But to be honest, you just punched him. You must be careful next time - although I don't I know why Snape didn't punish you again, but Malfoy and the others will definitely not let it go."
"I should say that - you can hit really accurately!" Ron said with a chuckle.
Neville didn't answer. He picked up his schoolbag and walked silently to the classroom.
"Don't say such sarcastic things." Hermione said dissatisfiedly.
"Well... But why?" Ron was a little confused, "What on earth is going on? Why did he suddenly... "
"Who knows?" Harry shook his head and said, "Listen to what he just said... maybe there is someone he knows in that ward at St. Mungo's?"
They whispered a few words, then hurried in along with the crowd, and sat down side by side in the seats at the back of the classroom as usual.
They have been sitting in the back row since the second Potions class of their first year, and that hasn't changed over the years.
When the three of them took out the quills, textbooks and other items needed for class from their schoolbags, they heard most of the students around them whispering about Neville's behavior just now.
But when Snape waved his wand and the classroom door slammed shut, all sounds suddenly stopped.