#150 - The Promise with Neville

"Is that the uncle of Sampel Travers?" Anduin recalled the gloomy face he had seen at the train station.

"On what basis? Didn't the McKinnon family accuse him? He attacked your family twice, and once even..." Vivian blurted out anxiously, but suddenly remembered Aunt Charles's accident and stopped abruptly.

"Isn't it because his brother is a member of the Wizengamot Council? That bastard only knows how to protect those criminals, and he actually got away with the excuse of being controlled by the 'Imperius Curse'." Charles said, getting angrier as he thought about it.

All criminals must be judged by the Wizengamot, and Sampel Travers's father is one of the council members. With him mediating, he only spent a small price to bail out his Death Eater brother.

"What's his name?" Anduin asked softly, narrowing his eyes.

"Togil Travers, said to be named after his ancestor who once served as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, bah!" Charles said with great disdain.

"I remember it." Anduin said, still softly.

Velen glanced at him in surprise, not knowing what Anduin wanted to do with the name, but vaguely feeling something was wrong.

In the crowd's chat, time passed quickly, and the train arrived at the station before long.

After getting off the train, Anduin turned his head and instructed the others, "Still, the same words, basic training can't be neglected during the summer vacation. After the next school year starts, I will check your progress. If anyone falls behind, don't blame me for being impolite."

The others looked at Anduin and nodded helplessly, even Velen. He felt that this year was more than he had experienced in the previous 4 years.

However, after Anduin turned and left, the others who were still standing there looked at each other tacitly. The meaning was simple: if we're going to slack off, let's slack off together. When everyone's level is similar, Anduin might not be able to tell.

Well, a good team shares the difficulties and enjoys the blessings together.

And Anduin, who left alone, didn't care about the little calculations in the hearts of those few people. He once again took the Knight Bus to Ottery St Catchpole.

"It seems I have to take the time to learn Apparition. This broken bus is really disturbing." Feeling the churning in his stomach, Anduin thought helplessly.

However, thinking of the side effects of learning this magic, he calmed down again. Learning Apparition alone is too dangerous, and he still needs to practice with someone's assistance.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Anduin reappeared in front of the Longbottom's house, and then heard Augusta's roar from inside the house.

"Neville! How many times have I told you, don't put the specimens in your mouth, can't you understand?"

Anduin curled his lips. The old woman's temper was as violent as ever. Thinking about it, he knocked on the door.

"Oh, Anduin, it's been a while since I've seen you. You've grown taller and more handsome." Augusta, wearing an apron, looked about the same as before, but with more wrinkles and haggardness in her eyebrows, but she still greeted Anduin very happily after seeing him.

"Hello, Mrs. Longbottom, I'm very sorry for not visiting you for so long."

"Look at what you're saying, I also know your situation. The year after the Dark Lord disappeared was the most chaotic year. Those desperate people were causing trouble everywhere like crazy, even..." Augusta seemed to recall some bad memories again, her voice gradually weakened, and then she shook her head gently, "Let's not talk about these, come in quickly."

After two years, walking into the familiar house again, Anduin still felt a little uncomfortable. The originally happy family now only had the old and the young.

Little Neville, who was three years old in the living room, had just been reprimanded by his grandmother. His eyes were faintly filled with tears. Suddenly seeing a stranger walking towards him, he was also startled and couldn't help but cry.

Uh, this little Neville, he cries every time he sees me. Anduin even began to suspect that there was something wrong with him.

"Don't cry, this is Uncle Wilson. He hugged you when you were little, don't you remember?" Augusta looked at the crying little Neville and became angry, scolding him sternly.

Seeing his grandmother getting angry at him again, little Neville cried even harder, making Anduin not know what to do for a while.

"Mrs. Longbottom, Neville is still young, it's normal to be afraid of strangers, so don't be so strict with him." Anduin advised.

"Hmph, the Longbottom family's boys are all men, are heroes. How can they be good if they are always timid and weak? I'm doing this for his own good. Alright, you're familiar with this place, so I won't entertain you. I'll go prepare dinner first." After saying that, Augusta glared at Neville sternly again and walked into the kitchen nimbly.

Anduin looked at the empty living room now, walked slowly to little Neville, took out a handkerchief to help Neville wipe the tears from his face, and then sighed softly.

"Neville, let's get to know each other again, I'm Anduin Wilson, you can call me big brother or uncle, I'm a friend of your parents." Anduin comforted Neville softly.

Perhaps Anduin's gentle tone relaxed Neville's tense emotions, or perhaps it was because Augusta was not staring at him, Neville's crying gradually subsided, and then he looked at Anduin with a slightly curious expression.

"Are uncle and mommy and daddy good friends? Then uncle, do you know where my mommy and daddy went? I miss them." Neville widened his eyes and asked in a childish voice.

This, Anduin couldn't help but be silent when he heard Neville's question. After thinking for a while, he picked up Neville, put him on the sofa in the living room, and sat down next to him himself.

"Your parents are heroes, they are usually very busy, and they will come back to see you in a while." Anduin said after thinking it over.

"But I miss them, can uncle help me find them back? Without them, Neville will be afraid alone at night." Neville's little eyes widened more and more, staring straight at Anduin.

"Find them back?" Anduin was stunned for a moment, then looked at Neville with firm eyes, "Okay, I promise you, uncle will definitely help you find them back, definitely."

"Then let's make a pinky promise." Little Neville saw the uncle in front of him, and his angular face gave him full confidence, and he smiled, extending his right little finger.

"Yeah, let's make a pinky promise."

Anduin also extended his right hand and made a pinky promise with little Neville. Suddenly, little Neville had full trust in him and soon began to play happily in front of him.