Hogwarts: Who made her a professor?

Chapter 177 Belvina is also awake

Chapter 177 Belvina is also awake

At 9 p.m. that evening, the door to the Muggle research classroom was knocked on again.

Belvina, who had changed into her nightgown early, put on her morning robe, slippers, and carried a candlestick as she walked out of the lounge.

Belvina stood on the top platform of the spiral staircase, snapped her fingers, and the tightly closed classroom door opened in response.

With a creaking sound, the classroom door swung open inwards, revealing Neville Longbottom standing in the doorway—a possibility Belvina could never have imagined.

As the other boy in that prophecy, Neville wasn't as brave (reckless) as Harry. He was powerless to resist the professor's bullying and dared not refute his classmates' mockery. He was just a pushover.

Neville doesn't seem to have the same level of talent as Harry. Most of the spells Belvina taught Harry could be learned after just one reading, while Neville's talent seemed to lie entirely in herbalism.

Compared to Harry, who was the center of attention, Neville was nothing more than an ordinary, timid boy.

Belvina was unaware of the prophecy; she had never even heard of it. Otherwise, she wouldn't have considered Trelawney a fraud, even though Trelawney had indeed been a con artist in the past.

Belvina felt a sense of déjà vu about Nave, reminding her of her former self, a self whose brilliance was overshadowed by others.

The classroom door had been open for quite some time, but Neville remained standing at the dark classroom doorway, neither daring to go forward nor wanting to retreat.

It was as if the act of knocking on the classroom door had exhausted all his courage.

Belvina, standing on the top platform of the spiral staircase, sighed. Was this a counseling center for troubled children? Why were they all coming to her?

Who will come looking for us next? Will it be Hermione Granger, who is overwhelmed by her studies, or Ron Weasley, the real supporting character, or Cedric Diggory, who has a crush on someone?

"Come in, Mr. Longbottom," Belvina said helplessly. "You've already knocked; what's the point of just standing there?"

One monkey, one tethering method.

To deal with someone as shameless as Draco Malfoy, you have to be ruthless, otherwise young master Malfoy won't learn his lesson.

To deal with someone like Neville Longbottom who is thin-skinned and timid, you have to be kind and approachable, otherwise you'll scare him away.

Belvina felt that this was really tough on her. She was only supposed to be a Muggle Studies Professor, and there was no mention of her having to work as a student counselor!

Pay more!

You have to pay more!

Otherwise, this job can't be done!

After a while, Neville seemed to have mustered his courage again. He silently counted to three in his mind and then plunged into the equally dark classroom.

Belvina held a candlestick, its flickering flame like a distant lighthouse, piercing the long, silent night and illuminating Neville's heart.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Longbottom," Belvina said, opening the door to the lounge. "Would you like something to drink? How about hot cocoa?"

Nawei Zhixin sat uneasily in the first row of the classroom, staring at the empty desk. Her hands, hidden under the desk, were clenched into fists, and she looked very anxious.

It was precisely because of Neville's unease and anxiety that Belvina did not lead him into the lounge; the relatively familiar classroom might have made it easier for Neville to relax.

Belvina turned and went back to the lounge, and soon came out with a tray on it. On the tray were two steaming cups of hot cocoa and a small snack that wouldn't get your hands dirty.

Two years ago, only Kreacher would send Belvina all kinds of snacks, but now Dobby is sending her snacks too. They can't finish them all, they simply can't finish them all.

Setting down the candlestick, Belvina pulled up a chair and sat directly opposite Neville, calmly observing the nervous-looking boy.

silence.

Still, silence.

Neville might shrink his chubby body so that he wouldn't attract so much attention.

But there were only Belvina and Neville in the classroom, so no matter how hard he tried to make himself inconspicuous,

Belvina could still see him; he couldn't make himself disappear into thin air.

When the steaming hot cocoa stopped belching steam, Neville Longbottom finally mustered his courage and revealed the reason for his impromptu visit that evening.

"Professor Bu-Black, what—what should I do?" Neville's voice was very soft, like a mosquito's buzz, and his rhythm was as if he were possessed by Quirinas Quirrell.

"Neville, I don't understand what you're saying," Belvina said, though she knew perfectly well that Neville's visit was definitely related to Snape.

Neville raised his head tremblingly, and hesitantly began, "It's...it's Snape...Professor Snape."

Belvina sat with her legs crossed, leaning back in her chair, her slippers dangling from her feet.

She said calmly and casually, "Professor Snape, what's wrong with Professor Snape?"

Pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth perfectly describes Belvina's current state.

"I—I—" Neville's voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible; he simply didn't have the courage to say it.

Another silence followed.

The timid and shy Neville needs time to rebuild his courage, much like a skill has a cooldown period.

It took Neville a full five minutes to muster the courage to speak again. He said, "Professor Snape—Professor Snape—he always picks on me in Potions class, always bullies me." After he finished speaking, Neville Longbottom seemed to have suddenly unloaded a burden, and his sweaty forehead stopped sweating.

"It's actually quite simple, Neville," Belvina said. "Just make sure he can't find fault with you." But that's easy for him to say. Neville isn't exactly good at potions, and with Snape as his potions professor, it's hard for the timid Neville to avoid making mistakes when brewing potions.

Whenever Neville made a mistake in class, Snape would seize on it and relentlessly criticize him with words and actions, causing Neville's classroom performance to deteriorate.

For Neville, Potions class and Snape had created a vicious cycle, a shadow over his mind.

"This is the most fundamental solution, Neville," Belvina said. "Only when you are strong enough..."

Then no one will dare to bully you.

"But I—but I can't, Professor Black," Neville whispered. He was always doubting himself, negating himself before doing anything, forcing himself to believe that he couldn't do it.

"Why don't you give it a try? How will you know you can't do it if you don't try?" Belvina said. "I believe your friends would be willing to help you, Hermione, or Harry—well, forget about the other two."

Hermione has about ten classes a day, so she doesn't have time to help Neville. As for Harry, Belvina doesn't trust his potions skills.

Belvina picked up the hot cocoa that was gradually cooling down and continued, "You can practice secretly in the common room or your own dormitory. Of course, it's best if there are other people around."

"Can I do it?" Neville raised his head uncertainly. "I probably can't—"

"Why not?" Belvina retorted. "Your parents are outstanding Aurors, respected by many."

I'm sure you've inherited their talent.

At this stage, what Nawei needs most is to build confidence. With confidence comes motivation, and with confidence comes the ability to catch up with its goals.

Belvina put down her cup and continued, "Besides that, he has other ways to temporarily relieve the stress Professor Snape is putting on you. Remember, only temporarily."

Upon hearing this, Neville Longbottom's eyes finally lit up. The pressure Snape had created was suffocating him, and Neville desperately needed to loosen the noose around his neck and breathe in some fresh air.

"You can explain the situation to Professor McGonagall, making it as serious as possible," Belvina said. "If Professor McGonagall can't handle it, you can go up to Professor Dumbledore and report the situation."

Belvina paused for a moment, then continued, "If the headmaster and vice-headmaster can't handle it, you can write to your grandmother and ask Mrs. Longbottom to complain to the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic."

If Mrs. Longbottom had complained to the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors, Slytherin's boomerang would have ended up hitting Slytherin himself.

"But Neville, you must remember one thing: complaints only provide temporary relief and cannot completely solve this problem," Belvina said solemnly. "If Snape is gone today, Snape will come tomorrow. The only person who can truly solve this problem is yourself."

Neville's round face turned serious, and his fists, hidden under the table, clenched even tighter, as if he had made some kind of decision.