The students were particularly surprised to see the two people sparring on the ring when they came to the Club Room after class.
Neville is notoriously timid and usually only practices alone.
And today he actually stepped into the ring, his opponent being the completely invincible Vincent.
With a loud "bang," Neville was knocked down countless times.
He was panting heavily, and after resting for a while, he stood up again.
Vincent rushed toward him, "Watch my every move, don't miss any small movements."
Neville blocked the punch from the front and also dodged the sudden knee strike.
This scene deeply shocked everyone.
With a crisp "crack," they felt a sense of déjà vu, as if something had broken again.
Hermione, standing beside the ring, smiled as she watched everyone's reactions.
Just as she shed her nerdy image before, Neville will also shed his cowardly image after today.
The twins, who had just finished their Potions Class, walked into the Club Room and were so surprised that they couldn't close their mouths.
They rubbed their eyes vigorously. "Merlin! Are we dreaming?"
The two turned to look at Cedric behind them and pinched his arms on the left and right respectively.
"Aww—"
"Obviously, we're not dreaming."
"Unbelievable, this is actually the real world."
Cedric's face darkened. "Then why don't you pinch yourselves?"
Fred chuckled and withdrew his hand. "I'm afraid of pain."
Before withdrawing his hand, George pinched it lightly again. "Me too."
Cedric swayed slightly, seemingly feeling a bit short of breath.
He's innocent. Snape can insult whomever he wants; it's none of his business.
"That's because you're our good buddy."
"That's right, we share the good times and the bad."
Cedric couldn't understand the twins' thought process, and he rubbed his arm as he walked toward Qiu.
The twins, having lost their fun, went to the edge of the ring and sat down opposite Hermione and Daphne.
"How long have they been doing this?"
"Hmm... it's been almost an afternoon."
"Hiss—" Fred gasped. "Is Neville upset? Doesn't he usually play the punching bag by himself?"
Hermione brought up the Defense Against the Dark Arts.
After hearing this, the twins' gaze towards the ring changed, becoming somewhat solemn and respectful.
Just imagining it, the two believed that their anger and fear were simply impossible to suppress.
But Neville not only successfully suppressed them for so long, he even successfully transformed them into a driving force for progress.
"George, it seems we should make fewer jokes about him in the future."
"Agree."
Neville, who has virtually no real combat experience, has already managed to exchange a few blows with Vincent, who was holding back, in such a short time. If given a year or two, he would definitely be no worse than a sixth or seventh grader.
"Tap tap tap—" The familiar sound came from the corridor outside the Club Room.
The students all looked towards the door, and soon after, Moody, carrying several books and leaning on a cane, came over.
"Mu—"
"Shh—" Moody gestured for everyone to be quiet, then looked silently at the two men sweating on the ring.
Seeing Neville's current state, he tightened his grip on the books he was holding with a look of relief.
A few minutes later, another loud "bang" rang out from the ring.
Neville swayed as he stood up. "Phew—I knew you were going to pull a fast one."
Vincent shook his slightly sore arms vigorously. "You're standing so steadily. I feel like I'm lifting a truck."
Neville, panting, said, "I just instinctively felt I couldn't let you arrest me."
Although he was eventually caught and slammed onto the ring, he seemed extremely excited.
"One more round?"
"Certainly."
A new round begins.
As Neville remained highly alert, his reaction speed gradually slowed down, indicating that his physical strength was nearing its limit.
Vincent slowed down the attack. "Should we take a break?"
"No!" Neville gritted his teeth and gripped the fist that was aimed directly at him. "I think I can still continue."
"Good!"
About ten minutes later, after blocking one of Vincent's side kicks, he staggered backward.
His back slammed heavily against the ring post, and he slid down against it, powerless.
"Huff—huff—" He gasped for breath, his hands bracing against the ring as he tried to support his heavy body.
Everyone in the Club Room was deeply shocked.
They practiced intensely from afternoon to evening; anyone else would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
With trembling hands, Neville stood up again amidst the encouraging gazes of everyone.
A series of crisp and loud applause rang out.
Moody led the applause, and soon everyone joined in with enthusiastic applause.
On the ring, Neville stared at everyone in disbelief.
Vincent walked over, clapping as he went. "Don't doubt it, our applause is for you."
"I..." Neville's eyes reddened, "I...I can't believe it..."
"You deserve it." Vincent helped him sit down, his body trembling. "Look, Professor Moody is here too, and he was the first to applaud."
Neville turned his head and saw Moody slowly walking towards him with a big smile on his face.
"Well done, child."
Just as he was about to get up to thank them, Moody gently pressed his shoulder from below the ring.
"Sit down and rest. It's not class time now."
Moody placed the books he was holding at his feet. "Professor Sprout has been praising your recent progress in the staff lounge lately. I guess you must be very interested in Herbology."
Neville looked down and saw that the book on top was "European Obscure Plant Knowledge".
His eyes lit up, and he eagerly picked up the book.
Vincent tilted his head and gestured to Moody that Neville was just like that.
They usually seem harmless, but when they encounter something they like, they will devote themselves wholeheartedly to it, and when they get serious, they are no less capable than others.
Neville glanced at the book a few times and then closed it. "Professor Moody, are these for me?"
"Yes." Moody patted the books at his feet. "These are all Professor Sprout's treasures. If you've finished reading them, remember to return them to her for me."
Neville immediately became cautious. "I... I definitely won't get them dirty."
Moody smiled. "Alright, it's getting late, we should go down for dinner."
Vincent held out his hand to Neville, "You've used up a lot of energy today, so you need to eat more foods rich in protein and vitamins to replenish it."
"Uh... what are proteins and vitamins?"
"Meat, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, and fruits."
"Yes, I understand." Neville nodded his little head, as if he had returned to his previous timid and hesitant self.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and everyone's personality is formed by countless experiences.
Taking that first step is the beginning of things getting better.