"I think you can't just listen to their side of the story," someone said firmly.
"You should understand the entire cause and process of the matter," another added.
"For example... ask Harry."
Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement. Understanding the full course of events was indeed the most important thing.
"Professor McGonagall! Potter is his cousin; he'll definitely side with him," a voice protested immediately.
But McGonagall was quick to respond, "Then... Miss Granger!"
"Miss Beaver and that gorilla are in cahoots!" came a harsh retort.
The terms "Beaver" and "Gorilla" were far from kind, and McGonagall frowned at the insult. But the group of five who spoke cared little for decorum now. Since the issue had escalated, they were determined to get Dudley into trouble—even if it meant offending the professor.
"I think we might as well ask someone else," Snape said calmly, his gaze settling on Neville Longbottom, who had brought McGonagall over.
All eyes turned to Neville.
Under the weight of so many gazes, Neville looked nervous.
Many Gryffindors present breathed a quiet sigh of relief. After all, Neville was one of them.
"I... I..." Neville stammered.
Timid, afraid of trouble, always meek and submissive in the face of anyone and anything—seemingly easy to bully—this was the image Neville projected. He wasn't taken seriously in Gryffindor either. His surname, Longbottom, meaning "always at the bottom," had earned him the nickname "Mr. Bottom," just like Hermione's "Miss Know-It-All." Though it seemed harmless at first, it was laden with mockery.
Today, however, stepping forward to find Professor McGonagall was already a brave act.
"Hurry up! Tell Professor McGonagall and the others that Dudley, that violent maniac, attacked us!" the group of five urged impatiently.
Dudley watched quietly.
Neville's brow furrowed tightly, his lips trembling, as if his heart was locked in a fierce battle.
"Speak up, Longbottom! What are you waiting for?"
"Tell Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape that that gorilla attacked us!"
"How long do you, cowardly boy, intend to wait?"
"Longbottom, don't be afraid... or else."
The group's pressure mounted, whispering threats and guiding Neville relentlessly.
His body trembled faster, his fists clenched tighter.
No... no... it shouldn't be like this!
Neville's memory wasn't great; he often forgot many things, even what he had just learned in class. Only Hermione patiently taught him, though often digressing. But her help kept his schoolwork from falling too far behind.
Then Harry had given him a set of experimental equipment and taught him how to use it, which spared him from Snape's scolding in later Potions classes, though he still struggled when working in pairs.
Moreover, every time he met Dudley, he was greeted kindly, and Dudley never called him a crybaby, but respectfully addressed him as Mr. Longbottom—the first time anyone had done so.
Neville remembered all this, his heart swelling with gratitude.
They were all good people—so why treat good people like this?
Not fitting in? Slytherin?
No, this was wrong.
When Hermione's shoes were hidden, Neville didn't speak up because he was timid and afraid.
When her textbooks were stolen, he stayed silent, unwilling to cause trouble.
When she was knocked down, he remained quiet, out of cowardice.
When they surrounded Dudley and Hermione, Neville finally couldn't bear it and called Professor McGonagall.
But now... they still wanted to force him to lie.
At this moment, the round-faced boy named Neville Longbottom felt a flame ignite in his heart, growing stronger and bigger until it erupted.
He breathed heavily through his nostrils, glaring fiercely at his own housemates, who sought to conceal the truth and distort the facts.
"It was you! You bullied Hermione!"
"It was you who hid Hermione's shoes!"
"It was you who hid Hermione's textbooks!"
"It was you who deliberately knocked Hermione down—I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Neville blurted out everything he knew.
All these misdeeds centered around this group of five.
Silence fell—deep and heavy. Every young wizard present looked at Neville in shock.
Even Professor McGonagall and Snape were taken aback.
They had not expected meek, timid Neville to speak with such conviction.
Was Neville timid? Perhaps.
Was he meek and submissive? Maybe.
Perhaps his memory was poor and he forgot many things, but he was more careful than anyone else, remembering everyone who was kind to him and everyone who helped him.
In truth, Neville's heart was stronger and gentler than most.
He knew that by speaking out today, he might be ostracized by Gryffindor and suffer the same treatment as Hermione.
But he had to say it.
Courage is not rushing headlong into everything. Courage is not the absence of fear.
Courage is standing up when you must, facing difficulties despite fear.
This is true courage. This is a true Gryffindor.
Dudley looked at Neville with great admiration. When he first met him, he felt Neville should train with him. Now, he felt it even more.
As for Neville's meekness, that didn't matter. A person's character can change—just like today.
Neville's courage proved that.
"Apologize... You should all apologize to Hermione, and you should all apologize to Mr. Dursley."
Neville's voice rang out loudly, addressing the other Gryffindor students.
Having said so much, a few more sentences didn't matter.
With his statement, those who had been unaware lowered their heads in shame. Whether they felt true remorse or not, only they knew. But their heads bowed all the same. Perhaps a flicker of guilt stirred, but it would quickly fade.
Apologizing and admitting mistakes also require courage.
It's a pity... though they were in brave Gryffindor, many clearly lacked such courage.
Dudley scanned the Gryffindor students. None dared meet his gaze. All lowered their heads, quietly awaiting the professors' judgment.
Very boring... and very disappointing.
Fake Gryffindors—they didn't deserve the name.
Neville was the true Gryffindor.
They owed me an apology. They owed Hermione an apology.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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