No one in the entire wizarding world would be your match???
Professor Jack's words echoed in Hermione's mind, refusing to fade.
Wasn't that just too exaggerated!
Hermione swallowed hard, staring at Neville, who was still deep in thought. She couldn't understand what there was to think about.
If you don't want it, I'll take it!
She looked pleadingly at Professor Jack, her large eyes blinking rapidly as if trying to communicate a message.
Seeing her expression, Jack couldn't help but chuckle. Well now, is she trying to use puppy-dog eyes on me?
A pity. This item wasn't suited for her.
"Don't look at me like that. It won't work. This thing isn't for you," he said gently but firmly. "Only a very specific few are suited for it, and Neville is one of them."
"Even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't be able to upgrade it. The cost of its evolution is something you couldn't bear."
"Focus on learning your Shadow Clone Jutsu. If you master the later Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, it won't necessarily be inferior."
Hermione was stunned. The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu was that powerful?
It could also make someone undefeatable in the magical world?!
She wanted to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu right now! Why was Neville still thinking?!
In truth, Neville wasn't pondering the choice at all. He was simply stunned into silence by Professor Jack's words.
He still hadn't fully processed it. He had worked hard to learn the Doppelganger Charm just to gain a little recognition from others. He never imagined it would lead him to the first step on a path to becoming truly powerful.
Finally, Neville snapped out of his daze and looked at Professor Jack with newfound determination.
"Professor Jack... I trust you. I choose to forgo the Combat Spells!"
As expected, Neville had made the choice Jack anticipated.
"Good! Truly worthy of Neville Longbottom! If your parents were in their right minds, they would be immensely proud of you!"
Neville's head jerked up. He stared at Professor Jack, his face suddenly deathly pale.
"You... you know my parents?"
It was true. Neville believed he was a poor student, useless, an object of scorn. But more than that, he didn't want others to see what had become of his parents. A part of him was ashamed of their condition, even though he still loved them deeply.
Flustered and panicked, he glanced frantically at Hermione.
Quick on the uptake, Hermione immediately raised her textbook to block Neville's line of sight, pretending she hadn't heard a thing.
"Professor Jack, my parents..." Neville began, his voice trembling.
Jack cut him off, looking directly into his eyes with utmost seriousness.
"Neville, your parents are heroes! They are objects of respect for everyone!"
Neville stared blankly. Heroes? Respected by everyone?
Others respect them... and yet I was ashamed of them. If they knew, they'd surely think I was the disgrace.
He was a pure-blood, yet his magic was so poor he'd nearly been refused entry to Hogwarts.
Even his own grandmother was ashamed of him, looked down on him.
Remembering his own feelings of embarrassment towards his parents, Neville's eyes welled up with tears.
Professor Jack placed his hand on Neville's head once more, gently stroking his hair.
"Sleep. A good sleep will make things better."
A few white feathers suddenly materialized in the air, drifting down to settle on Neville. His eyelids grew heavy, and he slowly closed his eyes, falling into a deep slumber.
Just as Neville's body began to slump, Jack flicked his wand.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Neville's body levitated gently and was guided by Jack into a small side room connected to the office.
"Hermione, wait outside."
Neville was laid carefully on a sofa. A complex light flickered in Jack's eyes as he reached out towards the empty space to his right.
The air there began to swirl, a black rift tearing open in reality itself. Jack reached inside and retrieved an object.
He looked at the item in his hand, then at the sleeping boy on the sofa.
"A sigh. Who knows if this is a blessing or a curse."
Hermione flipped through her textbook outside, growing more and more restless with each passing second. She desperately wanted to go in and see what incredible artifact Professor Jack was giving Neville.
But she couldn't just barge in. She was left to pace anxiously outside.
It felt like a hundred thousand kittens were scratching at her heart, the curiosity was unbearable!
What could it possibly be? The legendary Elder Wand?
It was said the Elder Wand made its owner unbeatable in battle, allowing them to unleash immense power in duels and cast high-level spells with ease.
But she'd never heard of the Elder Wand being upgradeable!
This was agony! When were they coming out?!
Hermione endured ten minutes of this torturous, nail-biting curiosity before the door finally opened.
Professor Jack emerged, followed by a Neville who kept his head bowed.
Neville looked... the same as before. Still the same slightly pudgy boy, his blond hair just as bright.
No visible changes.
He wasn't holding anything, and it didn't look like he was hiding anything on his person.
Hermione was confused. Had Professor Jack not given him the item yet?
Just as she was about to speak, Neville lifted his head.
His eyes were different!
They were now a striking red. Within each pupil, a black dot was encircled by a single ring, and above that ring, a solitary comma-shaped tomoe slowly, steadily rotated.
This... was the thing Professor Jack said could make Neville undefeatable in the wizarding world?
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