Chapter 69  

Alex smiled as he looked Neville and said, "What did I ask you to tell me, Neville?"

"Um, sorry. Well... you know Hermione said she'd only teach me the basics, but I managed to convince her to teach me offensive spells." Neville said, excitement oozing out from his voice.

"I struggled quite a lot as you said back then." he admitted. "But Hermione changed the plan which focused only on theory. We spent hours poring over books and diving into the theoretical complexities of offensive magic. We explored basic hexes, curses, and even defensive countermeasures. It was like unlocking a whole new world of possibilities."

A mischievous glint appeared in Neville's eyes as he continued, his voice was so low that even whispering would have been louder. "And then... during the summer holidays, I promised myself to practice in secret. I never set foot outside my house. I picked a few spells and studied them, refined my wand movements, and perfected my incantations. By the end of summer, I only improved a little but I was still proud of my progress."

Aman leaned in closer, trying to catch snippets of the conversation between Neville and the person he was speaking to. Neville's whispers were barely audible, making it challenging for Aman to properly listen to the details.

Neville's face lit up with a mixture of determination and pride as he stared into Alex's eyes. "I won't lie, it wasn't always smooth sailing. Some spells misfired, causing chaos and mess, but luckily there's a room in my grandmother's house which has walls that are highly resistant to spells. I experimented a lot, fine-tuned my technique, and immersed myself in the theory behind each spell."

"HEY! ALEX!!" Aman growled, his glare fixed on Alex. "Stop that buzzing sound. I saw you pointing your wand at me."

Alex let out a chuckle, seemingly enjoying the situation. Without missing a beat, he swiftly cast another spell in Aman's direction. A sense of calm washed over Aman as the spell took effect, restoring his ability to hear properly once again.

"Alright, Neville, back to the topic," Alex said, "Let me tell you, you have truly impressed me. Now that I know what you did all that time, I understand why this wand chose you. The combination of dragon heartstring and willow wood is nothing to scoff at. It's an incredibly powerful pairing."

Alex ran his fingers over Neville's wand as his eyes traced the intricate carvings on the wand, appreciating the craftsmanship. "A beautiful wood. Even my wand doesn't look this good." he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration as he gave the wand back to it's owner.

Neville's face lit up with a mixture of pride and gratitude. He had poured his heart and soul into mastering offensive magic, and the recognition from Alex only further validated his efforts. The wand he held, a testament to his dedication and growth, seemed to pulse in his grip.

"Thank you," Neville said, his voice filled with gratitude, his eyes almost welling up with tears. He shook his head vigorously, dispelling any lingering doubts along with the water in his eyes. "I did everything that I could to do. So please, teach me now."

"Well…" Alex's gaze drifted off, his mind seemingly preoccupied with Neville's request. After a few seconds, he shifted his attention back to Neville.

"Show me your timetable," Alex said, pausing for a second before continuing, "Let's find a time slot where both our houses have no classes. That way, I can use that time to teach you."

Neville's face brightened with anticipation as he quickly retrieved his timetable, unfolded it and presented it to Alex. After a thorough examination, Alex's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Here," he pointed to a vacant period where both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had no classes. "This is it. Thursday and Friday after 2pm. I'll be with you until six and for the rest of the time when you're free, train with Hermione.

Try to convince her to join our study sessions on Fridays. Thursdays, we will do a secret training."

"Thank you." Said Neville and walked back to the Gryffindor table pretty fast as he felt like Aman was giving him weird looks.

Alex chuckled as he observed Aman's frowning expression, seemingly amused by his reaction. "Jealous, are we?" he teased, "Don't ask me to train you too. I wouldn't want to waste my efforts on someone who has different priorities."

Aman turned to face him, "Hey, Alex," he began, his tone tinged with genuine intrigue. "Tell me something… Last year, you trained with me for a few months. What is it about him that you're so interested in?"

"Oh well..." Alex began, "The reason is actually quite simple. It's about talent and potential. Among all the second years, Neville is likely the most naturally gifted. The only hurdle he faces is his weak mentality, but that can be overcome with time, guidance and some harsh training. However, now he has something that will propel his growth exponentially, and that, my friend, is called a goal."

"A goal?" Aman asked, seeking further clarification.

"Yes," Alex said as he nodded slightly, "A goal provides purpose and direction. It fuels motivation and ignites a fire within. It's similar to you wanting the world to know you as the greatest goalkeeper for eternity and remember your grandfather. He has a goal that requires an insane amount of preparation.

Always remember one thing mate, Talent and potential is dangerous. But when you add in hardwork and sheer will, you get an unstoppable monster."

"What's his goal? Is it so grand that it excites even you?", Aman asked as he frowned.

"Well…. His goal is a pretty common one for people who experienced similar things. If you want the details, you should ask him yourself." Alex said as he picked up a fork from the table while Aman turned around curiously to look at Neville who was busy talking with Hermione.

Alex shuffled the fork between the fingers while his mind was on something else.

'I'm excited about the stuff he will be able to do for me in the future. Not his goal…'