A Christmas holiday just for the children, without any adults tagging along.
Neville was only a little slow; he was not actually stupid.
Of course he understood Vincent's good intentions.
"I—I want to go too."
"Wonderful!" Alfred hugged all three of them from behind. "This trip is definitely going to be amazing!"
"Alfred, let go of me already!" James's little face had turned bright red from being squeezed.
Vincent and Neville were also a little uncomfortable, though not nearly as badly as he was.
"Bastard! Alfred, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Not at all~"
Once the cheerful horseplay ended, it was time for the miserable Potions Class.
Thursday, with two classes back to back.
Snape never made a sound when he walked.
From the moment he slithered into the classroom, hell began for the Little Lions.
"Finnegan! Your essay last week was too short. Tonight, I expect to see it rewritten in standard-sized handwriting."
"Brown! Don't think I didn't notice you whispering to Patil just now. Ten points from Gryffindor."
"And you, Weasley!
You haven't properly cleaned your cauldron for two weeks straight. Your House will lose another ten points because of you."
Twenty points right at the start was merely an appetizer.
The Little Lions had all gone numb, Neville included.
"Longbottom, why are you adding pomegranate juice at this point?"
"I—"
Snape gave him no chance to answer. "Were you trying to follow Wayne's lead?"
"I—"
"Don't explain. I know Wayne often brews Strength Enhancers, but why haven't you learned how to do it yet?"
"I—"
"Ah, I see. Is it because Wayne's skills are so lacking that no matter how he teaches you, you simply cannot learn?"
Neville habitually shrank his head down.
The resentment was simply too overwhelming.
Meanwhile, Vincent calmly bottled the potion,