"Expelliarmus."
Neville raised his wand and cast a spell at an ornament in the distance.
"Pfft."
Red light blossomed at the tip of his wand, but just like a fart, no spell came out.
"Be determined, Neville. Let your—"
Mrs. Longbottom began in disapproval, but Voldemort quickly interrupted her.
"Perhaps we should try a different approach, Mrs. Longbottom."
As he spoke, Voldemort gestured for Neville to come to him again.
This time, Mrs. Longbottom hesitated, but Neville walked toward Voldemort without a moment's hesitation.
"Be determined. Try to draw on more of your magic. You can do it."
As he spoke, Voldemort reached out and patted Neville's head.
At the same time, he guided his own mental power into Neville's mind and struck his mental shield.
"Ding!"
A clear chime rang inside Neville's mind.
Without hesitation, he swung his wand, not even saying the spell aloud.
"Whoosh."
A red spell burst forth, striking the ornament in the distance and sending it shooting toward Neville.
"Smack."
Neville caught the ornament, his face showing disbelief.
He wasn't the only one. Mrs. Longbottom and Luna also stared wide-eyed in surprise.
"Good heavens, how did you do that?"
Mrs. Longbottom excitedly got up and went over to Neville, asking in amazement.
It was astonishing enough that he'd successfully used the Disarming Charm, let alone cast it nonverbally.
For a moment, Mrs. Longbottom had even thought it was all an illusion.
"He has powerful mental strength, Mrs. Longbottom. He has the same talent as I do," Voldemort said. "But you and your family have put too much pressure on him. And his mental power hasn't been properly developed—perhaps his magical outburst when he was young wasn't strong enough. He needs a good teacher."
Mrs. Longbottom fell silent. She looked at Voldemort; her revulsion remained, but