Saving a Family

Neville Longbottom was light, as light as a feather. This was not the weight a somewhat chubby boy should have. He Shenyan carried him through the corridor, his brows locked in a deep frown.

Meditation was indeed dangerous, but under normal circumstances, this situation should never occur. The boy's condition could only mean that he had been enduring profound suffering.

He looked down at Neville. The poor child's face was as pale as paper, yet his expression was eerily tranquil. There was not a flicker of unease or pain, only stillness. At the same time, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead; it was a face of contradictions.

It also meant he was in grave danger.

He arrived at the second-floor hospital wing and, before even entering, shouted, "Madam Pomfrey! Please, I need your help!"

The elderly yet gentle face of the school nurse appeared behind the swinging door. When she saw Neville in He Shenyan's arms, her expression turned grave instantly.

He Shenyan handed the paper-light Neville to her and said urgently, "Forgive me, but please do not apply any medical treatment to him until I return. This is a symptom of soul-loss caused by meditation. He is currently weightless, so you need to use heavy objects to weigh him down, alright? Do not be nervous, Madam Pomfrey, he will be fine."

Madam Pomfrey's face turned pale as well; she was shocked by the abnormal weight the moment she took Neville. She nodded, and He Shenyan immediately departed through a portal.

He arrived instantly at Dumbledore's office. The old man was eating snacks, and upon seeing his expression, realized something was wrong. He Shenyan asked, "Do you know the student Neville Longbottom?"

Dumbledore set down the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans in his hand and nodded. "I do. He is an unfortunate child."

"Good."

He Shenyan gestured and said, "He lost his soul during meditation, and the 'floating' phenomenon caused by the soul nearing detachment has occurred. You should know what that means."

Dumbledore's expression turned solemn.

'Floating' meant that the meditator's subconscious believed there was no place where they could feel secure. Thus, the soul would drift endlessly through the void, searching for that place.

Tragic, isn't it? Yet such people are not rare. Some can still be saved, while others have no possibility of returning.

"Follow me."

He stood up and opened a portal. Behind the door was a quiet ward. The two of them stepped through, and Dumbledore lowered his voice, pointing at a man and a woman in the two central beds with a complex expression.

"These are Neville's parents. Frank Longbottom and Alice Longbottom. They are members of the Order of the Phoenix I told you about. During the war against Voldemort, they were subjected to the Cruciatus Curse."

He took off his glasses, looking at the two peacefully sleeping figures. "They are insane. For many years. Neville's condition is likely due to this. This is my fault."

He Shenyan, however, seemed to exhale in relief. He turned to look at the grieving Dumbledore. "Do not dwell too much on the past, but do not forget it either. Mistakes can be remedied."

Dumbledore looked up, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes, but He Shenyan merely waved his hand. "Neville still has family, right?"

"His grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, is his guardian."

"Excellent. You bring Augusta Longbottom to the hospital wing first; I will follow shortly."

Dumbledore did not ask why; he complied.

He Shenyan closed his eyes, and the surrounding space rearranged and reorganized. A vast yet gentle magic erupted from him as the center, sweeping precisely over the poor couple. They were completely unaware of it.

Magic is not omnipotent; for instance, the soul-disorder and madness caused by curses were beyond the reach of magical healing.

But He Shenyan was not.

He raised his right fist and clenched it; black magic lifted the two gently, then delved into their minds.

The Augusta Longbottom that Dumbledore knew was a stern and short-tempered woman, but at this moment, she appeared utterly distraught. She could barely walk, and Dumbledore had to support her as they made their way to the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey was using green binding straps to secure Neville to the hospital bed so he wouldn't float away.

She was drenched in sweat from anxiety; for a healer, there was nothing more agonizing than watching a patient suffer while being unable to do anything.

Seeing this, Augusta Longbottom let out a short, mournful cry.

She collapsed to the floor, and Dumbledore had to cast a calming charm on her to temporarily soothe her. Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore helped place her on a bed directly opposite her grandson, Neville.

He was helpless in this situation and could only hope for He Shenyan's swift return.

Ten minutes later, a black portal opened within the hospital wing.

Sensing the magical fluctuation, Dumbledore looked up immediately. He saw He Shenyan stepping out, accompanied by two anxious people. His eyes grew moist in an instant, and he had to look down to hide it.

It was Neville's parents, the Longbottoms.

The Longbottoms looked at him; the situation was urgent, and there was no time for pleasantries, so they simply exchanged a brief greeting.

He Shenyan led them to Neville's bedside and said, "Would you two please each extend a hand to me?"

Alice Longbottom, her hair already gray, exchanged a look with her husband, Frank Longbottom, and they both reached out.

He Shenyan took their hands and looked down at Neville. Black magic formed a vast shadow behind him, appearing both terrifying and reassuring.

He closed his eyes, his soul diving deep, beginning to search the void with Alice and Frank for their son's lost soul.

Neville knew he was lost. He had read about this phenomenon in the professor's books and had learned about it in class.

He felt sad, but not for himself—for his grandmother.

His grandmother was a stern person who often scolded him. But every time they returned from visiting his parents at the hospital, Neville would see his grandmother weeping silently in her room alone.

He thought, if I go insane too, what will happen to Grandma? His grandmother undoubtedly loved him; there was no doubt about that.

But he could do nothing.

His soul drifted aimlessly through the endless void. Here, he could see countless magnificent and magical sights. He saw a cow grazing on a meadow, but in the next instant, the cow transformed into an exploding star.

The light of the explosion reflected in his eyes before vanishing, leaving behind a silent darkness. He tried to speak, but could only hear his own echo.

Amidst the absolute stillness, a creature whispered something to him, though he could not grasp its meaning. The creature then departed, ushering him out of that place with a gentle, friendly motion.

His soul arrived at a beach where a colossal octopus reached out with its tentacles. He could see the suckers on those tentacles, each one filled with countless joyful faces, saying to him: "Join us, you will find happiness here."

Neville recoiled in fear; his soul was not bound by the laws of reality. Thus, the moment the thought occurred, a force carried him flying backward into the distance.

The surroundings were a kaleidoscope of color; he even saw a giant purple butterfly stirring up a storm in the void. Yet, the octopus's tentacles seemed endless, chasing him across thousands of wondrous scenes until he collided with a warm chest.

Immediately after, he heard the Professor's voice: "Begone!"

The voice was like thunder, rippling black lightning through the void. The octopus's tentacles were severed in an instant and vanished. A cowering cry echoed from the void, filled with fear and unease.

Neville turned back and saw his parents looking at him with tears in their eyes.