Chapter 253: Meeting Neville by Chance

Listening to John's words, Harry looked up at him.

He felt that what he said made a lot of sense.

If he learned Occlumency, perhaps he could lock the half-hidden door in his brain.

Let Voldemort not be able to come in.

Professor Dumbledore told me that if I encounter difficulties, I can seek help from John, he didn't lie to me.

No pressure and no indulgence, directly pointing out the key to the problem.

It hit the heart at once.

Harry's Adam's apple moved, wanting to say something, and he exhaled lightly.

"I understand, John."

"Thank you... really."

Harry looked up, revealing a slight smile, a bit reluctant, but at least revealed a bit of light.

The two stood side by side by the window, finally talking about some small things.

No longer so depressed, but talking and laughing about Christmas arrangements.

Hearing that John's family could spend Christmas Eve with Hermione's family, he was very surprised.

These two developed too fast.

This started a family dinner?

So Harry couldn't help but hook shoulders with John, leaning very close, and asked about the detailed process.

At this time, Hermione and Ginny happened to find them.

Just now Ginny was telling Hermione about Harry's terrible state these past few days, and explained the information she knew, hoping Hermione could give a trick.

Although the information was incomplete, she also knew the general idea.

Hermione gave a method for Ginny to use herself as a case to comfort Harry.

After all, in the second grade, Ginny was truly possessed by Voldemort.

That horcrux diary.

But they were late.

As soon as they came out, they saw Harry recovering some spirit, hooking shoulders with John and whispering.

The two didn't know why they were both blushing, laughing so softly and sweetly.

That intimate appearance made both girls feel stressed.

As if they were a pair.

Ginny looked at Hermione, that look seemed to be asking, why did your man snatch my man?

Hermione also looked at Ginny, as if saying, why did your man hook my man?

"Hermione, this is a hospital, it's not very good for you to be like this..."

John looked at Hermione who was tightly holding his arm and said speechlessly.

Hermione's fingertips were still hooking the wool edge of his sleeve, and she loosened her strength when she heard this, but didn't let go.

Looking at Ginny and Harry in the corridor not far away, the two didn't know what they were saying.

Harry's face revealed a smile of peace and gratitude.

Clearly Ginny successfully appeased Harry's fear of being possessed.

He didn't show the symptoms that Ginny had when she was possessed by Voldemort back then.

Just at this moment.

An acquaintance came up from the first floor.

"Hmm? John, Hermione, why are you all here?"

The person who came was Neville, followed by an old woman full of heroic spirit.

She must have been a character when she was young.

"Neville?"

The two saw Neville and were stunned.

Didn't expect to meet him here.

"Ah, by the way, this is my grandmother, Grandma, these two are my friends at school."

Neville saw them and although he was stunned for a moment, he still introduced them to each other immediately.

Neville's grandmother nodded friendly at them.

"Senior Neville, you are here to..."

John asked hesitantly, feeling whether Neville's family was hospitalized.

"Uh, I... I am here to..."

Hearing John's question, Neville became stammering for a while, looking like he was embarrassed to say it.

But the grandmother behind him spoke.

"We are here to visit Neville's parents."

Neville's parents?

Are they both hospitalized?

Hearing this, not only John, but Hermione was also stunned, because this was the first time they heard about Neville's parents.

"Oh... I see, okay, Uncle and Auntie... should be fine, right?"

John nodded and asked with concern subconsciously.

Because looking at Neville and his grandmother's expression, they were very used to it, so it shouldn't be a big problem.

It's just...

"They are in the long-term ward... since I can remember." Neville seemed to feel he couldn't hide it, and said dejectedly.

"Uh..."

This remark came out.

John choked directly, the smile on his face froze.

Long-term ward, plus living there since he could remember.

Explaining what, it was self-evident.

"Sor... sorry senior, I..."

"No, it's okay John, it's my own family matter that I hid."

Neville shook his head, interrupting John's apology.

At this time, Neville's grandmother spoke somewhat surprisingly.

"Neville, didn't you tell your friends about your parents?"

"No......" Neville's voice was very light.

Looking at Neville's appearance, his grandmother sighed.

There was heartache, and also teaching.

"Neville, your parents are heroes, they were hurt by Death Eaters to protect civilians."

"You should feel proud of them, no need to hide it from friends."

Hearing these words, John and Hermione finally understood what was going on.

Probably Neville's parents were hurt by Death Eaters in the era when Voldemort was rampant, leaving behind uncurable injuries, and lived in St. Mungo's for a long time.

So they came to visit, and they were in a state of being used to it.

Afterward, John and Hermione followed Neville and Neville's grandmother to the long-term ward of the Spell Damage Department on the fifth floor.

The people living here were all patients who had received permanent spell damage.

There was an old man who was talking nonsense and mentally disturbed, sitting on the bed in a daze.

Beside him was a plant that didn't look very friendly.

There was also a handsome guy with blonde hair and blue eyes, also mentally disturbed, laughing foolishly there, not knowing what he was signing.

Hermione was obviously stunned when she saw him, but didn't say much.

Instead, she followed Neville's grandmother to the deepest part of the ward.

There, two middle-aged men and women were lying on two hospital beds respectively.

They were not mentally disturbed like the two outside.

Instead, they were dead and silent, revealing a gray decay.

Their eyes were empty, as if the glass beads had been drawn out of all focus.

Even seeing Neville coming, there was no extra reaction.

Seeing this scene, John and Hermione also held their breath in unison, feeling a silent soreness for Neville.

Neville greeted his parents as usual, even if he didn't get a response.

Then he started to tidy up the bedside table for his parents, inserting the newly picked silver bell grass branches into the glass bottle.

Neville's grandmother stood beside John and Hermione, silently watching Neville.

"I heard Neville mention you, Miss Granger, Neville said you helped him a lot, I am very grateful to you."

"And Mr. Merrick, Neville said you are a trustworthy partner, very happy to see you, hope you can continue to be friends with Neville."

Neville's grandmother nodded slightly at the two, her gaze warm and her tone sincere.

"You are too polite, Madam, Senior Neville is the one who has helped us a lot."

"To tell you the truth, half of my Herbology grades have to rely on Neville's notes."

John shook his head and smiled reluctantly.

Neville's grandmother smiled slightly, then looked at her son and daughter-in-law lying on the bed again, and sighed lightly.

"They were tortured repeatedly by Voldemort's subordinate, Bellatrix Lestrange, with the Cruciatus Curse for three days and three nights, until their spirits completely collapsed and became disturbed."

"Even after more than ten years of treatment, their spirits cannot be completely repaired."

Cruciatus Curse.

Although John had not experienced it in the true sense.

But when another soul in his body bore it for him, the wailing from the depths of the soul made him unable to bear it.

He didn't dare to think, if he endured it for three days and three nights, what kind of terrifying pain it would be.

Along with the soreness, a kind of incomparable anger surged into his throat.

This was the first time he had intuitively.

Felt the trauma Voldemort caused to this world back then.

Even if it was just his minions, they had committed such shocking atrocities.

No wonder Ryan's mother would so strongly demand Ryan to stay away from him.

No wonder Voldemort would make everyone talk about it.

"Voldemort must die."

John's voice was very light, but it made Neville's grandmother stunned.

She didn't answer, just patted John's shoulder lightly.

Hermione also tightened the hand holding John.

Past pain cannot be healed, but it can give us the strength to continue moving forward. ===== CHAPTER 254 =====