Neville woke early the next morning.
For a moment he remained in bed, staring at the ceiling as pale morning light slipped through the curtains. His body still felt slightly sore from yesterday's long walk through Oxford.
It was a different kind of tiredness though.
Not unpleasant.
After a minute he pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
If he was serious about getting stronger, there was no reason to stay comfortable.
---
The Longbottom estate was quiet that morning.
Neville stepped through the back doors and onto the wide lawn behind the manor. Dew clung to the grass and the gardens stretched far beyond the stone paths surrounding the house.
He started jogging along the path circling the garden.
At first the pace felt easy.
But within a few minutes his breathing grew heavier.
"…Right."
He slowed slightly but kept moving.
This body had spent years doing very little. Even light exercise was already pushing his lungs harder than expected.
He completed one loop.
Then another.
By the time he stopped, his breathing was uneven and his legs felt heavy.
Neville bent forward, hands on his knees.
"So that's where we're starting."
After catching his breath he dropped onto the grass and began push-ups.
Ten.
His arms started shaking by twelve.
He rolled onto his back and stared at the sky.
"Well… that answers that."
If he wanted to fight anyone in the future, this body would need a lot of work.
---
After a shower, Neville changed clothes and headed downstairs.
Breakfast had already been prepared.
The dining room was calm as usual. Augusta Longbottom sat at the head of the table reading several documents while a house-elf arranged the dishes.
Bread.
Soup.
Vegetables.
Roasted meat.
Simple food.
Neville sat and began eating.
Augusta lowered her paper slightly.
"You seem tired."
"Went running outside," Neville said.
Augusta studied him.
"Exercise?"
"Trying to get into better shape."
She folded the paper neatly.
"A sensible habit. A wizard should not neglect physical health."
They continued eating quietly.
After a moment Neville spoke again.
"Grandmother… can the food be made healthier?"
Augusta raised an eyebrow.
"Healthier?"
"For training," Neville said. "Preferably without tasting terrible."
Augusta glanced toward the house-elf.
"Pip."
With a soft pop the elf appeared.
"Yes, Mistress Augusta?"
Neville turned slightly.
"Can healthy food have its taste changed?"
Pip brightened immediately.
"Yes, Master Neville! House-elves can use a small spell that changes the taste of food to whatever the eater prefers."
Neville leaned forward slightly.
"So healthy food can taste like something else?"
"Yes!" Pip said eagerly. "Many wizards use this magic when they want to eat healthy meals."
Neville nodded thoughtfully.
"That would help."
Augusta observed the exchange quietly but didn't interfere.
---
After breakfast Neville called Pip again.
"I need another favor."
"Yes, Master Neville?"
"I want you to search a trainer."
Pip tilted his head slightly.
"For what?"
Neville leaned back in his chair.
"Martial arts. Sword instructors. Anything related to real combat training."
Pip blinked.
"In the muggle world?"
"Yes."
Neville nodded calmly.
"Look for instructors who teach practical fighting techniques. Not competitions. Not sports."
"Understood," Pip said quickly.
"I will search."
With a soft pop, he vanished.
---
With Pip gone, Neville began exploring the manor.
The Longbottom estate was larger than he had realized.
Long corridors stretched through the house, lined with portraits of past Longbottoms. Some watched him silently while others nodded politely.
Most looked stern.
Eventually he reached a tall wooden door at the end of a hallway.
The family library.
Inside, books covered nearly every wall from floor to ceiling.
Wizarding history.
Magical plant studies.
Spell theory.
Neville wandered between the shelves, occasionally pulling down a book to skim a few pages. Much of the material was advanced, but it was still fascinating.
Eventually he sat at one of the reading tables and opened a book on basic dueling principles.
Neville glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was already past midday.
He closed the book he had been reading and left the library. By the time he reached the dining room, lunch had already been prepared.
Pip appeared beside him with a soft pop.
"Mistress Augusta has already eaten, Master Neville," the house-elf said politely. "She is working in her study."
Neville nodded and sat down.
A bowl was placed in front of him. It looked like nothing more than a plain salad — vegetables and greens.
He took a bite.
The taste was completely different.
It tasted like fried chicken.
Neville raised an eyebrow.
"The taste magic?"
"Yes, Master," Pip said proudly. "Healthy food with preferred flavor."
Neville nodded and continued eating.
While he ate, Pip began explaining the results of his search.
"I found three instructors that match your request, Master Neville."
Neville gestured for him to continue.
"The first teaches martial arts in Oxford. Mostly hand-to-hand combat training."
"The second teaches sword fighting, but mostly modern fencing and demonstration combat."
Neville nodded slightly but said nothing.
Pip then held out the third note.
"The last one lives in Warwick. A retired soldier. His family used to operate a training school for great-sword combat. The school closed many years ago. He now works as a mechanic."
Neville read the note carefully while finishing his meal.
"That one sounds promising."
After finishing lunch, Neville stood up.
"I'll speak with Grandmother."
Neville walked down the hallway and knocked lightly on Augusta's study door.
"Come in."
Augusta was seated at her desk, reading through several documents.
She looked up as Neville entered.
"What is it?"
Neville spoke calmly.
"Pip found a few instructors. I want to learn martial arts from the muggle world."
Augusta frowned slightly.
"What use is that? Wizards only need to keep their bodies healthy. Martial arts are unnecessary."
Neville shrugged.
"I'm interested in it."
Augusta studied him for a moment.
Finally she sighed.
"Very well. But from now on you will also spend time studying our family history and magical theory."
Neville nodded.
"Alright."
Augusta returned to her papers.
"If you need muggle money for lessons, ask Pip. The family keeps some for such matters."
Neville nodded once more.
Understood.
Neville stepped out of the tight pull of Apparition and immediately grabbed his balance.
For a moment the world twisted around him. His stomach lurched and his head spun as if everything had been squeezed together and suddenly released.
He stood still and breathed slowly until the dizziness faded.
That was his first time Apparating alone.
The strange pressure in his chest slowly settled.
Warwick looked quieter than Oxford. Old stone buildings lined the street, and the distant towers of Warwick Castle rose above the rooftops.
Beside him, Pip appeared with a soft pop.
The house-elf immediately changed his appearance. His body stretched and reshaped until a thin middle-aged man stood where Pip had been. Dressed neatly like a quiet attendant or butler, he looked completely ordinary.
Neville nodded once.
"Let's go."
They walked down the street together.
The mechanic shop wasn't far.
After a few minutes they reached it. The large front entrance stood open, and the sound of tools striking metal echoed from inside.
Several mechanics were working around different cars.
One of them looked up as Neville and Pip entered.
"Yeah?"
Pip spoke calmly.
"We're looking for Arthur Hale."
One of the mechanics jerked his thumb toward the back of the shop.
"That's him."
A broad-shouldered man stood near a workbench wiping grease from his hands with a cloth. He looked up and walked toward them slowly.
"I'm Arthur Hale," he said. "What do you want?"
Neville stepped forward.
"I heard your family used to run a training school."
Arthur frowned slightly.
"That school closed a long time ago."
"I know," Neville said.
Arthur crossed his arms.
"So why are you here?"
Neville spoke clearly.
"I want to learn the techniques your family used to teach. The great-sword techniques."
Arthur shook his head.
"That place shut down years ago. We don't teach that anymore."
"I know," Neville repeated. "But I still want to learn."
Arthur looked at him like he was wasting his time.
"Kid, that training isn't something people just pick up for fun."
"I'm not here for fun."
Arthur shook his head again.
"No."
Neville didn't move.
"I want to learn real combat. Great-sword techniques and hand-to-hand combat."
Arthur sighed.
"I said no. The school's gone."
Neville answered calmly.
"I'll pay you."
Arthur gave a short laugh.
"Not interested."
"I'll pay you three times what you earn here."
That made Arthur pause.
He looked at Neville again, studying him carefully.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
Arthur rubbed his jaw for a moment.
"…Three times, huh."
Neville glanced toward Pip.
The disguised house-elf stepped forward and placed a thick envelope on the workbench.
Arthur frowned and opened it.
Inside were several banknotes.
Neville spoke plainly.
"That's one thousand pounds."
Arthur looked up sharply.
"For one month," Neville continued. "You train me every morning and evening."
Arthur stared at the money for a moment.
Then he slowly closed the envelope.
"…Alright."
He looked at Neville again.
"But understand something."
"If I train you, it'll be hard. Real training."
Neville nodded.
"That's exactly why I came."
Arthur tossed the rag aside.
"Fine."
"Come tomorrow morning."
"We start early."