[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-166":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250404,4210,"Chapter 166: Leave-of-Absence Application","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-166",166,"\u003Cp>It was nearly time for the Hogwarts Express to depart; wizards lined up and left the snow-clad castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far away, one could see the giant leading a string of tiny figures, tracing dark, winding lines across the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view from Ravenclaw Tower had always been excellent, but Wizard Sean simply stared at the horizon for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting the thick, resilient sheet of paper into his bag, Wizard Sean began making his final batch of biscuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hut was much quieter now. Jia Jia Siting and Hermione had just left, and Harry and Ron had been spending days in the library searching for something; when Wizard Sean arrived, he found Neville practicing Aqua Eructo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden table spat out the first-row alchemy books on its left; as Wizard Sean examined them, a loud crash sounded beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head—it was Neville, drenched from splashing himself with Aqua Eructo. The crash had been the sound of the massive water mass hitting the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean looked at the damp portion of his notes and heard Neville’s shaky, tear-choked voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry, Wizard Sean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself looked like a drowned rat, yet he was the one apologizing first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, snow had piled up several feet deep; a cold front swept in from the frozen Black Lake, making Neville shiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean waved his wand and closed the window; as he dried the books and Neville by the fireplace, he heard Neville whisper:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wizard Sean… if you’re going to kick me out of the Hut, I’ll leave right now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville stared at Wizard Sean with tear-filled eyes, leaving Wizard Sean somewhat baffled… What was this all about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, Neville, no one can make you leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean spoke as if stating an obvious fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I… I ruined your books.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville trembled from the cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re just wet, Neville—they’ll dry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean guessed it must be another rumor from Harry or Ron; last time, he’d heard them say: If you touch Wizard Sean’s books, you’d better be stronger than ten trolls combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wizard Sean—it’s all my fault. Everyone knows I’m practically a Squib.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Neville’s round face hung deep guilt; he gripped his wand tightly, its surface marked with scars, as if from battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think sometimes the problem isn’t with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what kind of problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville placed his wand behind his back, as if distancing the topic from the wand itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he knew well: the saying “the wand chooses the wizard” was no mere flattery from Ollivander—nearly every wizard in Britain accepted it as truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his grandmother was furious he kept his father’s wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You always understand, Neville. I know it’s hard, but perhaps it’s time to face it, isn’t it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean gazed into Neville’s eyes, spoke softly, then flipped the book in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed like this until the soaked books were nearly dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I… get a new wand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville stared blankly at Wizard Sean—he understood perfectly, yet he still looked like he might cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his wand, wondering if he weren’t so clumsy, maybe things would be…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… I want to keep it. Sometimes, especially at night, I want my father to know I’m at Hogwarts… just like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean—do I… disappoint him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean turned his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When a problem is spoken aloud, half of it is already solved. Neville, why would you let your wand leave you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville didn’t quite follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Choice is this: facing two terrible outcomes—or two wonderful ones. Otherwise, why call it a choice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joy, Neville, is that you face two wonderful options—and even better, this might not be a choice at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can keep your father’s wand, can’t you? I suspect it holds value in certain ways. Try this—Finite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean waved his wand; the self-transforming wooden table froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville hadn’t understood yet, but instinctively mimicked Wizard Sean’s incantation—and to his surprise, succeeded on the first try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t fully halt the table’s transformation, it was a vast improvement over his past failures—even the Levitation Charm had eluded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-why…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville stood there, dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because it is the wand of the legendary Auror Frank Longbottom, now inherited by his son, Neville Longbottom. It was born for battle and protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean stared at the wand, as if expecting this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can have two wands, Neville. When you need to strike or defend, it remains your companion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean rarely spoke so much; when he finished, Neville was weeping uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean walked to the door; the cold wind of Hogwarts brushed his face, yet he caught the sweet, soft scent of pumpkin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville truly needed a new wand—but Frank Longbottom’s wand was not useless at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his father’s wand, Neville performed terrifyingly well in certain areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, in Defense Against the Dark Arts practicals, he never failed; he defeated Boggarts on the first try, every time, with exceptional results;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In DA lessons, Neville learned faster than ninety-nine percent of his peers—Disarming and Stunning spells came effortlessly, and his Patronus appeared on command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this perspective, it not only explained Neville’s erratic magical talent, but also made his role in the Department of Mysteries battle all the more compelling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville himself must have been bewildered: facing a flood of Death Eaters, his usual incompetence vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of power from his wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the wand carried the will of the legendary Auror—Frank Longbottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I’m too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Neville burst out of the Hut—he’d resolved to buy himself a new wand, but the Hogwarts Express had already departed; even if he filed a leave-of-absence application now, he couldn’t possibly catch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or… just in time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wizard Sean’s hand, a form had appeared out of nowhere; he flicked his wrist, and the form fell open, clearly reading:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dear Mr. Green:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve agreed to submit a leave-of-absence application on behalf of Longbottom. Please get that boy back soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am honored that such a fine friend watches over this child. If you change your mind and wish to spend Christmas with the Longbottom family, do contact me promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yours faithfully, Augusta Longbottom]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean blinked, and his voice dissolved into the snow-covered castle of Hogwarts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The writer’s assistant malfunctioned—refresh the chapter and it will restore.\u003C\u002Fp>",1064,"2026-06-19T10:00:40.768Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3af4d2613dbd2e29d7e7cd1c10299ac432dbf02aa4491ab6477a800b9d43a265","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-167","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-165",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]