Clang!
A crisp metallic ring echoed through the Great Hall. Before everyone's eyes, Neville leaped into the air, his expression sharp as he drew a sword from his waist.
It was a sword without excessive ornamentation, yet its edge gleamed with cold light. Under the sunlight, its sharp blade radiated a pure glow like holy light.
At that moment, time seemed to stretch.
Almost every young wizard wore an absurd expression the instant Neville drew the sword. The students stared at him, and most thought something had gone wrong with his head!
Before this school year, if the students had been asked to choose the weakest, most easily bullied, most incompetent student in Gryffindor, Neville would undoubtedly have won by an overwhelming vote. He might even have nominated himself.
However, ever since this term began—or, more precisely, during the time Hermione Granger had been hospitalized after being attacked—Neville had become different after leaving the school once with Professor Dumbledore and returning.
The Neville who came back had shocked everyone.
No one could see any trace of his former timidness in him anymore. The former laughingstock of Gryffindor had undergone some unknown transformation and become confident and optimistic.
Of course, those close to him all knew why Neville had changed so drastically.
If this had been the old Neville, Harry would never have felt at ease with Professor Breen sending him out, even if he had performed fairly well in certain physical education class training exercises.
But after his personality changed, Neville had begun to resemble Fred and George in some ways, and he excelled in every kind of training during physical education class. That was why Harry had not questioned Professor Breen's choice when he called on Neville.
Yet when Neville drew a silver sword like those carried by the