Had he been there at the time?
Yet he vaguely felt that perhaps that was not what had happened-he seemed to have heard a familiar voice in his daze.
It had been his father, Lucius Malfoy.
That afternoon, after an utterly boring Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, Audrey went to St. Mungo's Hospital to give the Longbottoms another session of psychotherapy.
Conversation, Mind Reading, delving into their Mind World, then using Psychological Suggestion to gradually lower their defenses and have them regard her as someone they could trust, before the two of them guided the couple in confronting their fears.
The treatment took most of the afternoon, but it did have some effect-a little more life appeared in Mrs. Longbottom's eyes, and she began consciously observing her surroundings. She seemed to be looking for something.
After a moment's thought, Audrey asked the old lady for a photograph of Neville and handed it to Mrs. Longbottom. She immediately held it as though it were a priceless treasure, cradling it carefully in her hands and staring at it in a daze.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
The old lady was delighted as she saw the two of them out of the hospital. If Audrey's previous visit had given her hope, this time she had seen that hope take shape.
"It's all right. You may not believe it, but treating the Longbottoms benefits me too."
"Oh, dear, that's different."
The old lady shook her head earnestly. "If Neville weren't already too old, I'd insist on making him your godson."
Audrey recoiled in alarm. That... really wasn't necessary!
Having a daughter over a hundred years old was quite enough. Adding a dim-witted teenage son would be utterly hopeless.
Once the reluctant old lady had gone back inside, the two looked at