Chapter 35 - Have You Seen a Common Toad?
A toad, scientifically known as Bufonidae, is an amphibian with many bumps on its skin and internal poison glands.
However, what Neville lost was not an ordinary toad, but an invisible Golden-Back Toad.
The Golden-Back Toad is a species distributed across the northern countries of South America, north of Brazil. It belongs to the group of large toads, and compared to others, its appearance is considered more attractive. Most importantly, it is remarkably intelligent, earning the reputation of being the "Einstein among toads."
The ability to turn invisible is not a natural trait of the Golden-Back Toad. It must be because Neville's toad, Trevor, carried the bloodline of some magical creature.
An animal with magical blood is already rare.
It seemed that little round-faced Neville came from a decent family background. Otherwise, he would not have obtained an invisible toad. Didn't you hear Ron's sour tone when he mentioned pet toads?
"If I bought a toad, I'd try to lose it as quickly as possible."
"I didn't mean to lose it! It just keeps trying to run away from me!"
Neville raised his voice in protest. It was clear he truly cared about his toad, Trevor.
Perhaps because it carried magical creature blood, Neville's Golden-Back Toad was far more intelligent than normal ones.
"Can we help him, Dudley?"
Seeing Neville's pitiful expression, Hermione softened and gently tugged at Dudley's sleeve, whispering.
Even without Hermione asking, Dudley intended to help. It wasn't a big deal anyway.
"I'll help you look for it."
Dudley closed his book completely, knowing he wouldn't be reading it again before arriving at Hogwarts.
In truth, his first impression of Neville was not good. The chubby boy's crying and whining lacked the courage a boy should have. But his body was sturdy, with a big frame. If trained, he might develop a strong physique.
Dudley's words lifted Neville's spirits, but what followed made him falter.
"If I find it, could you lend it to me for a few days?"
Though Dudley didn't particularly like toads, their mucus was a useful potion ingredient.
Moreover, he wanted to see if mucus from a Golden-Back Toad with magical blood differed from that of a normal one.
"Y-Yes, sir," Neville stammered, his face falling.
Once Neville agreed, Dudley pulled out a small vial of slightly impure pink liquid from his belt pouch.
"Magical Creature Bait (Inferior)"
This was a byproduct created when Dudley brewed potions. Fortunately, the system identified it for him; otherwise, he might have thrown it away as failed waste.
As the system often reminded him, "Knowledge is essential to becoming a spellcaster." A wizard's failed potion residue was not always useless.
Dudley took some of Trevor's usual feed and carefully dripped a drop of the liquid onto it.
He only had this one small vial. Since he hadn't figured out how to reproduce it, he could not make more.
Most failed potions were indeed worthless.
If only he knew the Summoning Charm—it would have been easier. But Dudley didn't, nor did Hermione, who had managed to cast a few small spells at home. The Summoning Charm was taught only in fourth year at Hogwarts.
A faint, strange fragrance spread through the compartment. Normal people could not detect it. Only magical creatures and Dudley could smell it.
Soon, something extraordinary happened.
"Croak."
With the sound of a toad's cry and a few faint hops, a toad the size of a palm with a shimmering golden back gradually appeared on the table, munching greedily on its food.
"Oh, Trevor, you're back!"
Neville joyfully scooped up the toad, hugging it tightly to his chest and rubbing it against himself.
Dudley immediately understood why the creature always tried to run away. For an amphibian, a cold-blooded animal that preferred damp and dark places, Neville's habit of grabbing it and pressing it to his body was unbearable. Human body temperature was simply too high.
No wonder it wanted to escape.
"That's a potion," Ron said in surprise, staring at the little vial in Dudley's hand. "I've heard George and Fred talk about it—potions are magical brews that can sometimes do things even spells can't."
"Harry, did your brother make this himself?"
After Harry gave a firm nod, Ron lowered his voice and whispered, "Your brother's amazing."
Then, muttering so quietly that only he could hear, he added, "Unlike my brothers, who only bully me."
It was not unusual for a young wizard, not yet in school, to manage a few small spells through self-study. That happened every year. But to self-teach potion brewing—Ron had never heard of such a thing.
Potion-making often came with risks.
Hearing Ron praise his cousin, Harry immediately puffed out his chest, happier than if Ron had complimented him directly. His liking for Ron grew at once.
"That's Dudley. I've never seen anything he can't do."
Harry spoke with unreserved admiration.
When it came to boasting about Dudley, Harry never held back.
"Neville, if you really like Trevor, then you should seriously learn how to care for him."
Dudley offered the advice kindly, then pulled a book from his bag and handed it over. "Take this. It never hurts to study a little more."
It wasn't a magical book, but a Muggle-published guide to caring for cold-blooded animals, which happened to include sections on amphibians.
Dudley's luggage contained all sorts of things—even multiple sets of dumbbells and other exercise equipment that only his strength could manage to carry.
"Thank you, sir."
Neville accepted the book as though it were a treasure, carefully tucking it away. His fear of Dudley eased, replaced with warmth and admiration. Dudley's figure loomed larger in his heart.
Because of his timid nature, Neville had grown up without many friends. Meeting a wizard like Dudley, who showed him such kindness right from the start, made his nose sting with emotion.
"You can call me Dudley."
"Yes, Dudley sir."
The compartment door was pushed open again. But unlike Ron's gentle entrance, or Neville's knock before pulling it open, this time it was shoved roughly aside.
Three boys entered. Leading them was the platinum-haired boy Dudley had once frightened into tears. He hadn't noticed Dudley at all. As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes locked eagerly on Harry, his head tilted back slightly, nostrils flaring as he looked down at him.
"Everyone on the train is talking—Harry Potter is in this compartment. That's you, isn't it?"
(End of Chapter)
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