"Oh, you've had to witness another embarrassment, Professor Brian. We'll discuss the potions later. Right now, I must see what on earth is going on with Neville." When her grandson's shout exploded in her ears, Mrs. Longbottom's face darkened.
Shouting in a hospital, and at his parents' bedside, no less-Mrs. Longbottom felt it necessary to give her forgetful grandson another three-hour etiquette lesson once they got home, and dock half his pocket money for the term.
She stormed into the ward and offered a few soothing words to the other patients (which took little effort, since none of them were lucid; their strongest reaction to the scream was to frown and look displeased),
then drew back the curtain. Her daughter-in-law sat on the bed, watching her grandson, who looked both dumbfounded and anxious. Her son, however, no longer wore that vacant expression. Instead, with a strained look on his aged face, he was vigorously gesturing for the boy to hush. Her mind went blank-she saw what seemed to be her son smiling at her, and the sheer shock swallowed all her thoughts.
Only after standing stunned for quite some time did Mrs. Longbottom manage to say, her voice strained with disbelief, "Frank, my dear Frank-can you hear me? You don't look quite right-not like before, not quite like before-"
"My dear Mother, I'm afraid the Frank Longbottom you see now is the most right any Frank Longbottom has been in years. I'm glad you're still so full of life-I must say, I've missed you-and I'd love to say more sentimental things, but there isn't much time.
"We'll have to catch up later. Right now, please stay calm and listen to me."
Frank Longbottom held tightly to Neville's and his wife's hands, but his voice grew breathless as he spoke. He