A tabby cat nimbly climbed onto the wall, then leaped onto the windowsill with elegant steps.
"Meow~"
Behind the square patterns on its face, its cat eyes suddenly widened.
Red patterns were reflected in its pupils.
Inside the room, Voldemort and Neville stood facing each other, their hands clasped tightly together.
Mrs. Longbottom's wand was pointed at their joined hands.
A thin, dazzling tongue of flame burst from the wand. Like a red-hot metal wire, it wound around their clasped hands.
"Without acting against your own will, are you willing to obey my instructions and protect my life? Of course, not at the cost of your own."
That last condition was something Mrs. Longbottom had insisted on.
She didn't want her precious grandson to die for Voldemort.
Voldemort had accepted the condition, too.
After all, he didn't think there'd be any point in Neville sacrificing his life if Voldemort ever found himself in such a predicament.
"I am."
There was an unusual firmness in Neville's voice.
"Whoosh."
A thin red flame burst from the wand and wound around their hands.
"Dark Lord, are you willing to give your all to train me to become a powerful wizard..."
Before he could finish, a sharp crack came from the window.
The tabby cat had smashed through the window and leaped inside. The instant it landed, it transformed into Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva?" Mrs. Longbottom cried in surprise.
She and McGonagall had a very good relationship, which was also why McGonagall had been so strict in teaching Neville.
Still, Mrs. Longbottom clearly didn't want to see McGonagall at a time like this.
"Augusta, do you know what you're doing?"
She didn't rush forward, but kept her distance.
The Unbreakable Vow couldn't be broken lightly, or everyone present would suffer the backlash.
If that happened,