Dumbledore: ( ,
It seems I should practice running. I'll borrow a spiked club from Grindelwald another day.
Happy times are always short, and the Christmas holiday ended with the young Wizards' reluctance.
After school resumed, everyone was busy.
The nearing end of courses and the impending start of revisions already put many young Wizards under pressure.
Not to mention some still had to be busy with Quidditch training, preparing for matches, such as Cedric, Harry, and the Weasley Brothers.
However, compared to Cedric's ease, Harry and the Weasley Brothers seemed a bit stretched.
Because they fully utilized their initiative, finding other things to busy themselves with besides studying and sports.
George and Fred, who had made a good fortune selling things in Diagon Alley during the holidays, became even more obsessed with making magic items. They even stopped going out at night after school resumed, giving the marauder's map to Karl.
As for Harry, he and Ron and Hermione were still busy figuring out Nicolas Flamel's identity and what the Cerberus, Fluffy, was guarding. Snape was even bitten because of this item.
Of course, some people were also busy, busy bullying classmates for fun.
This day, as Karl and Nina walked out of the library, they saw Malfoy with his two cronies blocking Neville.
"Neville Longbottom, what is a brainless idiot like you doing in the library?"
Malfoy spoke in a strange, mocking tone, his expression absolutely ugly.
"I… I'm just here to read."
Neville cowered, a little afraid of these three ill-intentioned guys.
"Reading? That's hilarious! Can you even remember anything? You're not going to use that glass ball your grandma gave you, are you?"
Crabbe and Goyle laughed along with Malfoy, seemingly finding great amusement in it.
Neville trembled with anger, but worried about causing trouble, he didn't retort, only wanting to leave.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going, you coward? It just so happens I've been looking for someone to practice spells on.
Malfoy raised his wand and pointed it at Neville, "Locomotor Mortis! All right, Mr. Longbottom, you can walk now!"
"You!"
Neville clenched his fists and glared at Malfoy, but seeing the other party's smug look, he could only swallow his anger, lower his head, and prepare to hop away like that.
At that moment, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, and his legs, stuck together by the spell, instantly separated.
Neville turned his head and saw a gentle smiling face.
"Hello, Mr. Neville Longbottom, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Karl—Karl O'Laughlin?"
Neville's eyes showed confusion. He naturally knew this formidable Hufflepuff, but he never expected the other party to actively greet him, and with such a friendly attitude.
"That's right, you can call me Karl, and then we'll be friends."
"Friends? Really?"
Karl patted Neville's shoulder, looking sincerely into his eyes.
"Of course, I've heard about your parents' deeds. They were both brave and excellent Wizards, and I admire them greatly."
Hearing this, Neville's nose tingled, and tears almost welled up. He choked out, "Thank you—thank you, Karl, thank you for knowing them."
"Don't cry!" With a dull whoosh, a spiked club flew into Karl's hand, "This is a belated Christmas gift,
I hope you like it."
"This is a gift?" Neville, bewildered, took the spiked club and looked at Karl questioningly.
"Yes, this thing is very useful," Karl looked at Malfoy and his two cronies with a half-smile, "Next time someone bullies you, remember to smash their teeth and break their limbs, to teach those bastards a lesson."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looked at Karl in horror, not daring to speak.
On the night of their enrollment, the older Slytherins had sternly warned all new students not to provoke Karl O'Laughlin of Hufflepuff if they didn't want to die.
"Did you remember, Neville?"
Meeting Karl's encouraging gaze, Neville wiped away his tears, gripped the spiked club in his hand, and nodded forcefully.
"That's good!"
Karl smiled slightly and walked in front of Malfoy and his two cronies, finding that they all lowered their heads in fear.
"Look up! Answer me looking into my eyes!"
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