Neville stepped out of the tight pull of Apparition and paused where he stood.
The twisting pressure inside his chest faded slowly this time. The first time he had experienced it, the world had spun so hard he thought he might collapse. Now it was unpleasant but manageable.
He stood still for a moment and took a slow breath.
Beside him, Pip appeared with a quiet pop.
Neville glanced toward the small clock on a nearby building wall.
Plenty of time.
"Let's go," he said.
They walked down the street until the houses became less crowded. After several minutes they reached a small road leading toward the outskirts of town.
Arthur Hale's home stood near the end of that road.
It was a simple two-story building made from old brick and dark wooden beams. The structure looked sturdy but clearly aged. The paint on the outer walls had faded, and some of the wood around the windows showed marks from years of weather.
The lower floor looked more practical than comfortable. One side had a wide garage door that was currently closed, while a smaller entrance led into the house itself.
Behind the building stretched a large yard.
A wooden fence surrounded the open space, forming a rough square around the training area. The ground inside was mostly packed dirt with patches of grass along the edges.
Several thick wooden posts had been planted firmly in the soil. Their surfaces were scarred with countless cuts and dents.
A few old pieces of equipment lay scattered nearby—rusted metal bars, a worn bench, and several heavy practice weapons leaning against the fence.
The place looked old.
But it did not look abandoned.
Anyone who saw the yard could easily guess what it had been used for in the past.
Arthur Hale was already outside.
He stood near one of the posts with his arms crossed, watching them approach.
"You're early," he said.
Neville nodded.
Arthur looked at Pip briefly before focusing on Neville again.
"Training starts simple," he said. "Run."
Neville did not argue.
He stepped through the small gate in the fence and began jogging along the edge of the yard.
The ground was uneven in places, forcing him to pay attention to where he stepped.
Arthur watched him without speaking.
After several minutes Neville's breathing started to grow heavier.
His legs still felt stiff from the exercise the day before.
Arthur finally spoke again.
"Faster."
Neville increased his pace slightly.
He completed several loops around the yard before Arthur raised a hand.
"Stop."
Neville slowed and came to a halt.
"Push-ups," Arthur said.
Neville dropped to the ground and placed his hands on the dirt.
He began counting quietly in his head.
Ten.
Twelve.
His arms began to tremble by fifteen.
Arthur stood nearby, watching silently.
Neville forced out three more before his arms finally gave out.
He rolled onto his back and stared up at the sky for a moment.
Arthur nodded once.
"That's about what I expected."
Neville sat up slowly.
Arthur walked to the fence and picked up a large wooden sword.
The weapon was much heavier than it looked.
Arthur handed it to him.
"Stand."
Neville took the sword and stood.
Arthur adjusted his grip immediately.
"Not like that."
He repositioned Neville's hands on the handle.
"Both hands. Firm."
Then he stepped back and examined Neville's posture.
"Feet apart."
Neville adjusted his stance.
"Wider."
He moved them again.
Arthur nudged his shoulder slightly.
"Straighten your back."
Neville corrected it.
Arthur nodded.
"That's the basic stance."
Neville held the sword in front of him.
The weapon felt heavier with each passing second.
Arthur walked around him slowly, checking his balance.
"Do not lean forward," he said. "If your weight moves too far ahead, you lose control."
Neville shifted slightly until Arthur seemed satisfied.
"Now stay like that."
Neville blinked.
"For how long?"
Arthur shrugged.
"As long as you can."
The first minute was easy.
By the second minute his arms began to shake.
The wooden sword felt twice as heavy as when he first lifted it.
By the fourth minute the muscles in his shoulders were burning.
Arthur watched him calmly.
"This is where training begins," he said.
Neville gritted his teeth but kept the sword raised.
Arthur continued speaking.
"Everyone wants to learn techniques first. Fancy strikes. Fast movements."
He gestured toward the yard.
"But those techniques mean nothing if the body cannot support them."
Neville held the position, breathing slowly.
Arthur nodded toward the sword.
"You will build stamina first. Strength second."
"And when those are strong enough," he continued, "then we work on technique."
Neville managed a small nod.
Arthur checked the time on his watch.
"Good enough."
Neville lowered the sword immediately.
His arms felt like they were made of stone.
Arthur took the weapon back and placed it against the fence.
"Come back this evening," he said.
"What time?" Neville asked.
"Same time."
Neville nodded.
Training had taken about an hour.
When Neville left the yard he checked the time again.
It was just past seven.
---
Back at the Longbottom estate,
After breakfast, Neville went to an open stone area beside the garden at the Longbottom estate where there was enough space to move around.
"Pip," he called.
With a soft pop the house-elf appeared.
"Yes, Master Neville?"
"I need a few things," Neville said. "Bring a stopwatch, some weights, chalk, and a measuring tape."
"Right away, Master!"
Pip disappeared and returned only seconds later carrying the items.
Neville walked over to a flat wall and rubbed chalk across his palm.
"First test," he said.
He stood close to the wall and jumped as high as he could, pressing his hand against the stone at the peak of the jump.
A faint chalk mark appeared.
Pip quickly measured the height using the tape.
"Thirty-four centimeters," Pip reported.
Neville nodded.
That was about average for an eight-year-old.
"Again," Neville said.
This time he focused slightly and allowed anti-magic to circulate into his legs
He jumped.
His hand struck the wall higher this time.
Pip measured again.
"Sixty-eight centimeters."
Almost exactly double.
Neville wrote the numbers down.
Next came running speed.
Pip measured a straight twenty-meter line across the stone path.
Neville stood at the starting mark.
"Ready," he said.
Pip raised the stopwatch.
Neville ran.
His first run without using anti-magic took 5.2 seconds.
Then he tried again while channeling anti-magic through his legs, pushing the strength into the muscles that actually needed it.
This time he crossed the line in 3.4 seconds.
Neville nodded again and wrote the numbers down.
Finally came strength.
Pip placed several iron weights on the ground.
Neville tested how much he could lift.
Without using anti-magic, the maximum he managed was 12 kilograms.
That was normal for a child his age.
Then he activated anti-magic again, focusing the energy mainly through his hands and arms.
His muscles tightened as the energy flowed through his grip.
This time he lifted 24 kilograms before his arms began to shake.
Neville set the weight down carefully.
Next he decided to test endurance.
Neville dropped to the ground and began doing push-ups.
Without using anti-magic he managed 11 push-ups before his arms gave out.
He rested briefly.
Then he tried again.
This time he directed the anti-magic toward his chest, supporting his heart and lungs instead of his arms.
His breathing felt steadier as the energy circulated through his chest.
He began again.
This time he completed 22 push-ups before stopping.
Neville stood up and wrote the numbers beside the other results.
He looked over the notes he had written.
Jump height — doubled.
Running speed — significantly improved.
Strength — doubled.
Endurance — nearly doubled.
Not overwhelming.
But useful.
Neville nodded slightly.
That confirmed it.
---
Lunch passed quietly.
Afterward Neville went directly to the library.
The room was silent except for the occasional rustle of pages turning.
He selected several books related to wizarding history and magical theory.
For the next few hours he read steadily.
---
Neville returned to Warwick the same way as before.
This time the Apparition felt even easier.
Arthur was already waiting in the yard again.
"Back on time," he said.
Neville stepped inside the fence.
Arthur tossed him a pair of worn gloves.
"Put those on."
Neville did.
Arthur stepped closer.
"This time we start with hand-to-hand."
He raised his hands slightly.
"Balance first."
Arthur adjusted Neville's stance again.
"Feet here."
Neville moved them.
"Hands up."
He did.
Arthur nodded.
"Your body must stay centered. If your balance breaks, you lose immediately."
He demonstrated a simple movement.
"Strike."
Neville copied the motion.
Arthur corrected the angle of his arm.
"Again."
They repeated the motion several times.
Then Arthur showed a simple block.
Neville practiced that as well.
Most of the training focused on positioning and balance rather than speed.
After nearly an hour Arthur stepped back.
"That's enough for today."
Neville lowered his hands.
Arthur crossed his arms again.
"Same schedule tomorrow."
Neville nodded.
"Understood."
Arthur pointed toward the gate.
"Get some rest. Your body will need it."
Neville left the yard and stepped outside the fence.
Pip appeared beside him again.
They returned home shortly afterward.
The estate was quiet by the time Neville reached his room.
He lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
His muscles ached.
But it was a good kind of pain.
Training had officially begun.
And this was only the first step.