When Professor Quirrell said he had already eaten dinner, Brian felt as though someone had cast a Cheering Charm on him.
Sometimes, having an invitation turned down was a stroke of luck, Brian thought as he walked back toward the library.
He had changed his mind. Going to the Great Hall took quite a bit of time and energy-at least for a novice wizard who had just cast over a hundred spells in succession-and that very feat had led Professor Quirrell to misunderstand him.
Professor Quirrell now seemed to think he was a seasoned wizard with formidable abilities who was simply too modest, but he really was a newcomer who had only just learned magic-
The truth was clearly absurd, and probably no one would believe it if word got out, but Brian still asked Professor Quirrell to keep what had happened today a secret.
"Of-of course, sir. Every wizard has-moments of madness-now and then. I'll-keep it secret," Professor Quirrell said generously. "If-you'd like-you can come here-to practice-anytime."
"Thank you. I'll be back." Brian was deeply grateful for Professor Quirrell's understanding, but he still decided to avoid him as much as possible on future visits to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom-so he could breathe more easily.
Just as Brian was working out how to have a proper talk with the book, he came across two familiar faces-Longbottom and Mr. Malfoy.
But this time, Malfoy was not alone. Two tall, chubby students followed behind him.
"How did the Longbottom family end up with a useless fool like you? Hm? Neville Longbottom? Is it because you had no one to teach you growing up? I heard one of your elders tried to drop you to your death when you were little. Ha, is that true? Answer me!"
With his nose tilted high in the air, Malfoy held Longbottom against the wall in a corner, his expression mocking.
"Longbottom, you're useless! Longbottom, you're useless!" The two chubby students behind him joined in, jeering loudly.
"I-I had my gran to teach me!" Neville pressed his whole body tightly against the wall, tears mingling with snot as he offered a feeble defense. "And-and I wasn't dropped to my death!"
That absurd rebuttal seemed to be the strongest resistance Neville could muster-he did not even use his hands to fight off the hand restraining him, only to wipe away the tears about to slide down his face.
Brian could not stand it anymore. He had expected Malfoy to retaliate against Longbottom, but he had never imagined that retaliation would come so quickly, or be so humiliating. This was outright bullying.
Yes, exactly. Brian suddenly realized that the only difference between wizarding schools and Muggle schools was what they taught, and the only difference between their students was whether they could use magic-
Both would always share certain problems between students, problems that could not be ignored.
Brian strode forward, seized Malfoy's hand firmly, pulled it away, and lifted it high, saying sternly:
"Mr. Malfoy, you need to apologize to Mr. Longbottom for what you just did."
"Who?! You! When did you-!"
Malfoy was startled by the tremendous force gripping his hand. For a moment, his feet nearly left the ground!
Once he noticed that it was Brian, the arrogance drained from his face, replaced by nervous sweat.
"I... why should I apologize? I didn't hit him. Ask Crabbe and Goyle if you don't believe me!"
"Is that so?"
Brian looked at the two chubby students behind him. Their earlier grins had vanished as well, and they shook their heads at him in fright.
"No, he didn't! He really didn't!" they said in a panic.
Brian turned to Neville and asked gently, "Mr. Longbottom, is what Mr. Malfoy said true?"
He handed Neville two tissues as he spoke. Neville nodded gratefully at him, then gave the three boys who had just insulted him an angry look.
Malfoy's face darkened terribly at that moment-he was afraid Neville would retaliate by saying, "He did!"
But Neville only shook his head and said, "N-no, he didn't."
"See!" Malfoy's dark expression brightened. He actually looked rather proud of himself. "You can let me go now, right?"
Brian was deeply displeased by his reaction, but then he considered that Longbottom and Malfoy would both have to live at Hogwarts for seven years, while he had no idea how long he would stay. Weighing his options, he released Malfoy's wrist and said, enunciating every word:
"I don't know what you're so pleased about-Mr. Malfoy, and Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle-I hope whoever taught you basic manners told you that verbal abuse hurts people no less than physical violence does. If no one has taught you that, then from today onward, please remember it well."
After saying that, he realized he had let his emotions get the better of him. Whatever else might be said, these three children who had done something wrong were only eleven years old. Their values had yet to fully form, and they would have plenty of time to correct their mistaken beliefs in the future.
"If I catch you doing anything like this again, I'm afraid I'll have to speak to your Head of House."
Brian kept his voice as calm as he could.
"Now, go and do what you ought to be doing."
Brian had barely finished when a familiar, low male voice, with an almost operatic cadence, sounded behind him.
"What a coincidence. Their Head of House happens to be right here-Hogwarts's new librarian, what business do you have with me?"
Everyone turned and saw Professor Snape limp around the corner, sporting his unmistakable hooked nose. His face was expressionless, but Brian still noticed a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth-probably from pain. It seemed his leg injury was quite serious.
Once Snape stopped, he swept a cursory glance over the students present, raised his eyebrows, and said, "You lot may leave. Listen to our librarian-go and do what you ought to be doing."
Malfoy and his two companions slunk away, but for some reason, Neville stayed where he was. After seeing Professor Snape, he looked even more frightened than before and was on the verge of tears again. Brian quickly patted his shoulder to calm him down.
"I... I can't help it... I'm sorry... sir..."
Neville began to cry anyway, but even the way he cried seemed painfully timid.
Brian let out a breath, crouched down to meet his eyes, and said gently:
"Neville... I hope I may call you that... there's no shame in crying. The shame is in failing to draw strength from our tears-but I believe you can. Go ahead and cry. Once you're done, you'll be a little stronger."
Neville suddenly froze, and so did his tears.
Brian wanted to wipe those tears away for him, but he wanted even more to see Neville wipe them away himself.
Neville remained still for quite a while before wiping his nose firmly, then rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand and saying:
"I... I will!"
And so, for the second time that day, Brian watched Neville leave.
Then he looked at Snape, whose face remained expressionless, and said earnestly, "Professor Snape, I'll be direct-perhaps you need to put a little more effort into those three students, Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe. They..."
"Merely a little friction between students, isn't it?" Snape interrupted coldly. "There's no need to concern yourself with such trifles. I do have a question for you, however-why did you suddenly go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom?"
Before you continue