"You know, I'm a bit stupid. I always mess up when I'm preparing potions, so Professor Snape scolds me in class. Actually, it's not just me. Lots of people in Gryffindor are scared of Professor Snape because he's too strict, and the things he says are too..."
Neville stammered, unable to get the words out, so Lorne finished for him.
"Too hurtful, right?"
"Yes." Neville lowered his head again. "Then there's Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. They took my Remembrall last week. Harry helped me get it back."
"They play pranks on me normally, too, like binding my legs together with the Leg-Locker Curse. I have to go out of my way to avoid them."
"Everyone in Gryffindor helps me, too, but they can't be beside me all the time, and they'd rather I stood up for myself."
Neville's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, I can't do it. I'm a coward, not a Gryffindor at all."
"No, Neville, this isn't your fault." Lorne thought back. Neville in the films didn't seem to have let anyone down when it mattered. "If everyone were kind, I don't think you'd have any of these troubles. It's just that, while we loathe the darkness, we also need the courage to resist it."
"The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes. You're a brave person, Neville. You just haven't realized it yourself."
Neville was doubtful. "Really? Then what should I do?"
Lorne nodded in affirmation. He took a sip of honey tea and spoke unhurriedly, trying to look utterly confident.
"I'll talk to Professor Snape. It's not just you. Many students, including those in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, have reported that his teaching style is too harsh. I'll inform him and press him to change."
Lorne was bluffing.
But he had also left himself some room. After all, he was only going to inform and press him. No one could say exactly how long it would take for him to change completely.
"As for the Slytherin students bullying you, perhaps we don't need to fight back, but to show them an attitude." Lorne raised one finger. "I'm not to be messed with."
"To change in that respect, Neville, you first need to stick out your chest. Yes, just like that. Speak louder, too."
Neville held his head high and stuck out his chest, but his voice was still doubtful. "But I can't learn any spells."
"No, no, no. If they come at you again, use my name to intimidate them. For example..." Lorne cleared his throat. "If you give me any more trouble, I'll report everything truthfully to Director Lorne. He told me the school is cracking down on bullying right now. You wouldn't want to be expelled from Hogwarts in your very first year, would you?"
Neville's eyes sparkled. "Really? Say it again, Director. I didn't remember it."
Lorne shook his head. "It doesn't have to be that exact line. You can put it all on me however you like, as long as it scares them."
"What if they still attack me?"
Lorne gave a soft snort. "Then it's no longer your problem, Neville. It would only mean my name doesn't carry enough weight, and I'll make them understand that Hogwarts has more than just three options: taking points, detention, and expulsion."
Neville was completely reassured.
Lorne talked about a few other topics, such as class schedules, food, and accommodation. He also made a point of mentioning the mystery gifts he had handed out during the event.
"It's absolutely brilliant, Director!" Neville's eyes lit up, his expression so excited that he looked like a completely different person from his lifeless self moments before. "Harry and the others and I have been playing like mad. I pulled the White Lord-Dumbledore. Harry was so jealous."
That was right. Besides ancient wizards and legendary figures, Lorne had specifically added Dumbledore.
After all, Chocolate Frogs didn't have to pay licensing fees, so if he used Dumbledore's likeness, surely no one would come knocking?
"Then do you think the game has any shortcomings?"
Neville shook his head, insisting that there were none. Lorne knew he wouldn't get the answer he wanted by asking that way, so he changed his question.
"What do you do after finishing the game's story?"
"Fight bats..."
"And what if you finish fighting all the bats?"
"How could you ever finish fighting all the bats?"
Lorne noted in his notebook: insufficient endgame content; urgently needs new stages, new storylines, and new monsters.
"And there are lots of puzzles on the map, too. I don't even know how many there are altogether. I'm still looking for them."
It seemed the achievement system could go live, too.
"Director Lorne, where did you get the Magic Mobile Phones? I'd really like to buy one for my gran."
"They're out of stock for now. At the moment, I'm the only one who has Magic Mobile Phones." Lorne didn't want to expose Magic Mobile Phones to the public so soon. He wanted to first clarify the Ministry of Magic's regulations on magical merchandise, research the market along the way, then run advertisements during some holiday, promote them extensively, and launch them with a bang.
For now, it was enough for them to circulate only within Hogwarts.
After sending Neville off, Lorne couldn't help sinking into thought. Why did it feel as though he was getting further and further from the laid-back life he wanted?
Forget it, forget it. Everything is difficult at the start. Once I get the game up and running, sooner or later the day will come when I can count money lying down.
The next day.
It was another day with classes in both the morning and afternoon.
Lorne took out his newly purchased storage component. He had decided not to listen in class anymore and to spend all his class time updating the game.
He would talk things over with Dumbledore at the end of term and see whether he could take a different kind of exam. With his improved Levitation Charm, Lorne felt that his practical combat ability should have reached the realm of an adult Auror.
This class was History of Magic, and Professor Binns experienced the students' enthusiasm for the first time.
Apart from Miss Granger, who was still sitting upright in her chair, Potter, Longbottom, and Mr. Weasley were now listening attentively, too. They would even exchange smiles when he mentioned certain names.
So he lectured even more enthusiastically.
After class, Neville walked with Harry's group. He now really enjoyed asking Hermione questions about the game.
"Professor Binns mentioned Agrippa just now," Harry said confidently. "I have that character card. He's only a purple, but his skill lets him turn invisible..."
"Oi, isn't this our Mr. P-P-P-Potter? You really ought to learn from how I choose my friends. I wouldn't tolerate someone who forgets things even with a Remembrall hanging around me."
Draco approached with his two henchmen. After speaking, he laughed along with Crabbe and Goyle in perfect unison.
Harry was just about to step forward, but Neville stopped him.
"Neville?" Hermione was puzzled.
Neville stood in front of the trio, chest out and head held high, and said in a ringing voice, "Director Lorne said Hogwarts has zero tolerance for school bullying. If you want to keep going, I'll tell Director Lorne exactly what happened."
Draco was just about to point out that his father was a school governor when Crabbe and Goyle stopped him.
The two whispered into Draco's ears, "My family wrote back. They said there's nothing called a Magic Mobile Phone out there at all."
"I suspect Director Lorne is the only one with a supply."
"Let's not offend him for now."
At the mention of Magic Mobile Phones, Draco calmed down, too. With a sour face, he gave a cold snort and walked away.