Neville and his grandmother Augusta Longbottom lived in the Longbottom ancestral home, a building no less ancient than the Potter ancestral home. However, unlike the dilapidated Potter residence, the interior of the Longbottom home was kept spotlessly clean.
Unlike the Potter family, which only had Harry as the sole heir, the Longbottom clan still had many members. For instance, Neville had an uncle and a great-uncle. However, they didn't live in the ancestral home. They had all gradually left after coming of age.
Only Neville and his grandmother remained in the ancestral home.
Lady Augusta was a witch who appeared very stern, but she was quite warm toward Dudley and Hermione.
"You must be Mr. Dursley and Miss Granger. Neville mentions you often."
Dudley said respectfully, "Very pleased to meet you, Lady Augusta."
Dudley felt genuine respect for this seemingly stern elderly woman. Neville's parents... because they opposed the Death Eaters and Voldemort, they were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix using the Cruciatus Curse. They were now receiving treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital. It had been eleven years.
All these years, Lady Augusta had been both father and mother, single-handedly raising Neville, supporting this household, and supporting the entire Longbottom family.
"You're the first friends Neville has ever invited to our home. When he asked to invite you over, I was extremely surprised. I'm so glad he's made friends at Hogwarts."
You could see that Lady Augusta was truly happy.
"This child Neville is too timid. I was very worried he'd be bullied at Hogwarts. He learns things slowly, and I was also concerned he wouldn't keep up with Hogwarts' academic pace."
Lady Augusta chatted on and on. Every sentence revealed her deep concern and earnest expectations for Neville.
"Grandmother!" Neville's face turned red, whether from embarrassment or shyness was unclear.
"Neville is excellent," Dudley said with utmost seriousness. "He's very brave and has strong willpower. He's a true Gryffindor."
Lady Augusta hadn't expected Dudley to have such a high opinion of Neville. Meanwhile, Neville's cheeks grew even redder.
Finally, Dudley added, "And his grades ranked sixth in the year."
"Yes, yes, I heard Neville mention it." Lady Augusta sighed again. "He said it was all thanks to Mr. Dursley and Miss Granger's help. After a year of study, he's changed so much. Especially physically... well, he's become much stronger."
When mentioning strength, Lady Augusta's gaze unconsciously fell on Dudley. She had thought her grandson was exaggerating, but it turned out he wasn't at all.
This is really a first-year student? Even a half-giant wouldn't be much different.
Dudley shook his head. "That's all the result of his own efforts. If a person doesn't work hard themselves, no amount of help from others is worthwhile."
After some simple conversation, a few words had Lady Augusta beaming with joy. Few elderly people don't like others praising their grandchildren. It made her even happier than praising herself.
Moreover, she was truly grateful to Dudley and Hermione. She knew better than anyone what Neville's personality was like a year ago. Now he was already a little man.
After arranging rooms for Dudley and Hermione and instructing Neville to study well with the two, Lady Augusta left, letting the young people communicate among themselves. As the head of the Longbottom family, she had many responsibilities.
Thus, Dudley and Hermione settled into the Longbottom ancestral home.
Life returned to its previous pattern: physical training, magical study, and academic work. A simple three-point routine. However, Hermione added consulting with Lady Augusta, while Dudley added searching for directions in alchemy and magical equipment modification.
Lady Augusta was an extremely powerful witch, no less capable than Professor McGonagall of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts. Her masterful Transfiguration particularly amazed Hermione.
Unfortunately, compared to her Transfiguration, Lady Augusta was much weaker in Charms. This was because she had failed her O.W.L.S Charms course and held a prejudice against it, believing the subject wasn't worth studying.
Though the Longbottom family hadn't produced any great figures in their ancestry, their family heritage had never been broken. They preserved many rare magical texts. While these couldn't directly enhance strength, many gave Dudley great inspiration.
They spent many peaceful days this way.
During this time, Dudley acquired two new accessories: a ring with a red gemstone (Philosopher's Stone) and a ring with a blue gemstone (Magic Crystal).
"Eight more rings and I could probably cosplay a certain Marvel villain," Dudley said as much.
Until three owls arrived and broke the tranquility, bringing Hogwarts second-year textbook requirements.
"Break with a Banshee, Gadding with Ghouls, Holidays with Hags, Travels with Trolls, Voyages with Vampires, Wanderings with Werewolves, Year with the Yeti..."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks? A seven-book novel series?"
Hermione looked at the book list on the parchment with a strange expression. The most conspicuous items were the Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks. One subject required almost as many books as all other subjects combined.
Moreover, these weren't proper Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks at all. They were all novels. The key point was that as novels, they weren't even as well-written as Dudley's.
Hermione had read Dudley's Lord of the Rings and Dragonlance Chronicles more than once, and had become a faithful editor, constantly asking Dudley for the next parts of the story.
"Looks like our second-year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is this fellow called Lockhart."
Dudley tapped Lockhart's name on the parchment with his knuckle. Ten novels all written by one person. If the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher wasn't this Lockhart, then he must be a fanatic of his novels.
Hearing this, Hermione let out a mournful cry. "Hopefully it won't be like last year's Quirrell, where we learned nothing..."
Maybe it won't just be learning nothing... Dudley thought silently.
Among all subjects last year, she was most dissatisfied with Quirrell. His classes were absolutely pointless. The only thing she learned was how to deal with trolls.
How can I help Dudley if I learn nothing?
Hermione pulled out a pen and began writing and drawing on the parchment. She planned to buy relevant Defense Against the Dark Arts books for self-study based on previous Defense textbooks.
Back at Oxford Bridge Primary School, when she encountered teachers who taught poorly, she used this method for self-study.
Clearly, she held no hope for this Professor Lockhart.
As expected. Truly worthy of you, Hermione.