Neville's chest rose and fell slightly. He breathed deeply, but without panic.
He slowly stood up, straightened the hem of his coat with his free hand, then turned his gaze toward Pucey.
Those eyes, always thought to be weak, now held a sharpness that made people afraid to meet them.
"What... what are you going to do?"
Pucey stammered, his voice cracking with utter shock.
"You actually hit someone! You lunatic! I'm telling Deputy Director Umbridge! I'm telling Professor Snape! You attacked a student for no reason!"
"Tell anyone you like, Pucey."
Neville's voice was unusually steady.
From the inside pocket of his tactical coat, he unhurriedly took out an absurdly thick bound volume of parchment-the Hogwarts Academic Affairs Office Supplementary Disciplinary Handbook.
He opened the title page, which bore a special magical seal, and ran his finger over the densely written parchment.
"Before you go reporting me, I think we need to settle the matter at hand."
Neville's gaze never left the handbook, but something about him bore down on Pucey, making him afraid to move an inch.
He began reading aloud. The first few words still carried that slight Longbottom stammer, but then his tone became utterly firm.
"Ch... chapter twelve, article four."
Neville read loudly, every word striking clearly against the flagstones.
"Should a prefect on patrol encounter a student making an unauthorized attack using dangerous jinxes, the prefect has the right to employ any necessary emergency restraining magic to ensure their own safety and that of student bystanders."
Lying on the floor, Warrington clutched his chest and struggled for breath. His face flushed red as he roared:
"Bullshit! You didn't use magic at all! You broke my wrist like some crude Muggle! What kind of restraint is that?"
Neville closed the heavy handbook and slipped it