.Yes,.Neville.s.told.me.all.about.you..Helped.him.out.of.a.few.sticky.spots,
.haven.t.you?.He.s.a.good.boy,..she.said,.casting.a.sternly.appraising.look.down.her.rather.bony.nose.at.Neville,..but.he.hasn.t.got.his.father.s.talent,.I.m.afraid.to.say...And.she.jerked.her.head.in.the.direction.of.the.two.beds.at.the.end.of.the.ward,.so.that.the.stuffed.vulture.on.her.hat.trembled.alarmingly..
.What?..said.Ron,.looking.amazed..(Harry.wanted.to.stamp.on.Ron.s.foot,.but.that.sort.of.thing.is.much.harder.to.bring.off.unnoticed.when.you.re.wearing.jeans.rather.than.robes.)..Is.that.your.dad.down.the.end,.Neville?..
.What.s.this?..said.Mrs.Longbottom.sharply...Haven.t.you.told.your.friends.about.your.parents,.Neville?..
Neville.took.a.deep.breath,.looked.up.at.the.ceiling.and.shook.his.head..Harry.could.not.remember.ever.feeling.sorrier.for.anyone,.but.he.could.not.think.of.any.way.of.helping.Neville.out.of.the.situation..
.Well,.it.s.nothing.to.be.ashamed.of!..said.Mrs.Longbottom.angrily...You.should.be.proud,.Neville,.proudl.They.didn.t.give.their.health.and.their.sanity.so.their.only.son.would.be.ashamed.of.them,.you.know!..
.I.m.not.ashamed,..said.Neville,.very.faintly,.still.looking.anywhere.but.at.Harry.and.the.others..Ron.was.now.standing.on.tiptoe.to.look.over.at.the.inhabitants.of.the.two.beds..
.Well,.you.ve.got.a.funny.way.of.showing.it!..said.Mrs.Longbottom...My.son.and.his.wife,..she.said,.turning.haughtily.to.Harry,.Ron,.Hermione.and.Ginny,..were.tortured.into.insanity.by.You‐Know‐Who.s.followers...
Hermione.and.Ginny.both.clapped.their.hands.over.their.mouths..Ron.stopped.craning.his.neck.to.catch.a.glimpse.of.Neville.s.parents.and.looked.mortified..
They.were.Aurors,.you.know,.and.very.well.respected.within.the.wizarding.community..Mrs.Longbottom.went.on...Highly.gifted,.the.pair.of.them..I.‐.yes,
.Alice.dear,.what.is.it?..
Neville.s.mother.had.come.edging.down.the.ward.in.her.nightdress..She.no.longer.had.the.plump,.happy‐looking.face.Harry.had.seen.in.Moody.s.old.photograph.of.the.original.Order.of.the.Phoenix..Her.face.was.thin.and.worn.now,.her.eyes.seemed.overlarge.and.her.hair,.which.had.turned.white,.was.wispy.and.dead‐looking..She.did.not.seem.to.want.to.speak,.or.perhaps.she.was.not.able.to,.but.she.made.timid.motions.towards.Neville,.holding.something.in.her.outstretched.hand..
.Again?..said.Mrs.Longbottom,.sounding.slightly.weary...Very.well,.Alice.dear,
.very.well.‐.Neville,.take.it,.whatever.it.is...
But.Neville.had.already.stretched.out.his.hand,.into.which.his.mother.dropped.an.empty.Drooble.s.Best.Blowing.Gum.wrapper..
.Very.nice,.dear,..said.Neville.s.grandmother.in.a.falsely.cheery.voice,.patting.his.mother.on.the.shoulder..
But.Neville.said.quietly,.Thanks,.Mum...
His.mother.tottered.away,.back.up.the.ward,.humming.to.herself..Neville.looked.around.at.the.others,.his.expression.defiant,.as.though.daring.them.to.laugh,.but.Harry.did.not.think.he.d.ever.found.anything.less.funny.in.his.life..
.Well,.we.d.better.get.back,..sighed.Mrs.Longbottom,.drawing.on.long.green.gloves...Very.nice.to.have.met.you.all..Neville,.put.that.wrapper.in.the.bin,.she.must.have.given.you.enough.of.them.to.paper.your.bedroom.by.now...