No matter how much the school wanted to keep the whole thing a secret, students always knew something was going on.
First, Slytherin noticed that a large portion of the gems in his house's hourglass had disappeared, then Gryffindor discovered that Neville Longbottom was hospitalized, and then Hufflepuff heard that the Black Lake had turned into a light. Several governors appeared in the corridors of Hogwarts, the creaky old staircase was renovated, and finally Ravenclaw observed several students suddenly walking around Anthony.
"Do you know?" Students whispered among themselves, "Professor Anthony deducted 160 points from Slytherin."
"Which professor?"
"Professor Anthony, the Anthony who never deducts points."
"hiss..."
"Not only that, the Slytherins were also punished with a month of confinement. Snape's face turned black."
But no one guessed what the group did. The most outrageous (but also the most widespread) theory is that someone from Slytherin pushed Neville down the stairs. He rolled all the way from the castle to the Black Lake, knocking Professor Anthony's precious flashlight - in some versions a gift from his first love, in some versions a family heirloom - into the Black Lake.
Someone who actually knows what a flashlight is has refuted this story. Some students, who had just finished learning interesting chemistry, insisted that what fell was a piece of alkali metal.
"Why did a big hole suddenly appear on the ice?" they analyzed, "because it releases intense heat!"
…
These rumors have not affected Anthony for the time being. He was currently entertaining a student... Neville Longbottom.
He looked uncomfortable sitting in the only chair in Anthony's office used for guests. The chair was a little too big for him, so when he stepped back, his feet couldn't reach the ground, which looked a little funny.
"What's the matter, Longbottom?" Anthony asked, "I thought you were going back to your dormitory."
When he opened the door to his office, he never expected that it would be Neville who knocked on the door. He came almost as soon as Madam Pomfrey announced that he was discharged.
Neville lowered his head and said, "I'm here to say thank you."
"You already said thank you." Anthony said in surprise, "I should even apologize to you. I was nearby at the time, but I couldn't stop it before it happened."
"I...I..." Neville faltered, his face turning red as he took out a heavy, clinking bag from behind.
He looked pained: "My grandma said that wasn't a proper thank you...she...it was two hundred galleons..."
Anthony quickly held his hand: "Oh my God, what are you doing?" He looked at Neville's tearful eyes and slowed down, "Boy, the school pays me a salary. Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?"
…
The warm glass in his hand seemed to make Neville feel better. He sipped hot chocolate and told Anthony about his grandmother.
He said that his grandma was very good to him, but he always failed to live up to expectations, so he let her down time and time again. He was knocked down by Malfoy in a very simple way. He was in a mess and almost died, so grandma was very angry. But he was not dead after all, and grandma was a little relieved.
He shrugged: "I almost thought I was going to drown in the end, but I probably only had a passing desire to survive."
Anthony opened a bag of potato chips and handed them to him.
"Oh, thank you." Neville took a piece and said thoughtfully, "You know, Professor? Black Lake and I are old friends. When everyone thought I was a squib, only Uncle Algie I didn't believe it. One time he pushed me off the Black Lake Pier and wanted me to show off my magic."
He ate potato chips, swayed his legs, and recalled with some humor: "Of course, nothing happened. I almost drowned, and our family was ready for me to go live in the Muggle world."
"Is this kind of thing common?" Anthony asked warmly, "In order to let a child show his magical talent, you... try to force him into a desperate situation?"
Neville shook his head and nodded again: "It's more common in pure-blood families." He glanced at Anthony and hurriedly added, "Our family is not that kind of pure-blood family! I - when I get to the third grade, I will definitely Take your classes—as long as I don't repeat a grade or get kicked out."
He became frustrated: "I can't learn any class well. Without Hermione to help me, I can't even complete the class exercises. Maybe I am really more suitable to be a squib."
Anthony comforted him: "You are only in the first grade."
"I'm only in the first year, but I've already burned out three cauldrons." Neville said, "I can only get a P in Potions class."
"Then you are better than me. I dare say I can only take T." Anthony looked at Neville's wide eyes and smiled, "Hey, don't you know? I am not a student of Hogwarts. I have been in Life in the Muggle world. I know nothing about potions, and Professor Snape has looked down on me for that for a long time."
Neville smiled: "But you deducted one hundred and sixty points from Slytherin, and now Professor Snape (he shuddered) has to think highly of you. Alas, not only potions, but I also often ask Professor McGonagall disappointment..."
Anthony nodded: "I'm not very good at transfiguration. If I were good at transfiguration, you should be sitting on a chair of a suitable size."
Neville stared at him eagerly and whispered: "And Charms..."
Anthony, a newbie in magic who was very good at Charms and had been enthusiastically praised by Professor Flitwick many times for this, immediately changed the subject: "Speaking of which, I know almost nothing about Herbalism."
Neville showed a somewhat embarrassed smile.
Anthony also smiled: "Ah, look. Yes, I vaguely remember Pomona saying that you have some talent in herbalism."
Actually Professor Sprout never said that. Anthony just remembered that she had not joined in the complaints when the other professors talked about Neville.
"Really?" Neville asked in disbelief, "Me?"
Anthony nodded: "Yes, don't you feel it yourself? Don't you feel your talent?"
"I..." Neville's eyes gradually brightened, "I do feel that the herbal medicine class is the easiest to learn..."
They chatted about some random topics again, such as the food at Hogwarts and whether anyone snores in the dormitory. Neville drank two cups of hot chocolate, ate half a bag of potato chips and a small handful of coconut sorbet before he realized that he had been in Anthony's office for too long and hurriedly said goodbye to him.
When he left, he still carried the heavy money bag, but his steps were so light that he seemed to be flying. Anthony heard him repeat in a dreamy tone: "I have some talent in herbalism... I have some talent in herbalism..."
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