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A toad, also known as a cane toad, is an amphibian with bumpy skin covered in glands that secrete poison.
But the one Neville had lost was no ordinary toad.
It was a smooth-backed toad.
And it could turn invisible.
The smooth-backed toad is a species found in northern Brazil and other parts of South America.
It is larger than common toads, has a more pleasant appearance, and, above all, is extremely intelligent.
So intelligent that it has even been nicknamed the "Einstein of toads."
However, invisibility is not a natural trait of the species.
Trevor — or "Lefo," as Neville sometimes called him — likely carried some magical creature blood.
Animals with magical lineage were already considered rare.
It seemed Neville's family was fairly well off.
Not just anyone could afford a toad like that.
You could tell by the sour look on Ron's face when he heard the word "toad."
"If Mum had bought me a toad, I'd have found a way to lose it as fast as possible," Ron muttered.
"I didn't lose him on purpose!" Neville shot back, close to tears. "He keeps trying to run away!"
It was obvious he truly cared about the toad.
Perhaps because of the magical blood in him, Trevor was even smarter than others of his kind.
Hermione discreetly tugged at Dudley's sleeve.
"Can we help? Please."
Even if she hadn't asked, Dudley had already intended to help.
It wasn't a big deal.
"I'll find him for you."
He closed his book.
He probably wouldn't get any more studying done before they reached Hogwarts anyway.
To be honest, his first impression of Neville hadn't been great.
Too whiny.
Not much spirit for a boy.
But the kid's build had potential.
Good bone structure.
With proper training, Hogwarts might gain another muscular giant.
Then Dudley added,
"If I find him, can I borrow him for a few days?"
He didn't particularly like toads.
But their mucus was an excellent potion ingredient.
He wanted to compare the mucus of a smooth-backed toad with magical blood to that of a normal one and see the differences.
"Y-yes, that's fine," Neville replied, sounding a bit desperate.
With permission granted, Dudley opened his small side pouch and took out a vial filled with a slightly cloudy pink liquid.
It was labeled:
"Magical Creature Attractant (Low Grade)."
It was a byproduct he had obtained while brewing another potion.
If not for the system identifying it, he probably would have discarded it as a failed attempt.
As the system often reminded him, knowledge was essential for any caster.
Not every "mistake" in potion-making was useless.
Dudley asked for some of Trevor's usual feed and dripped a single drop of the liquid onto it.
He only had that one vial.
Since he hadn't fully mastered the brewing process yet, mass production was out of the question.
Most failed potions were indeed worthless.
If he knew the spell Accio, this would have been easier.
But neither he nor Hermione — who had already managed small accidental bits of magic at home — could cast it.
It was a fourth-year spell.
A faint, unusual scent spread through the compartment.
Only magical creatures — and Dudley — could detect it.
Soon after, something incredible happened.
"Croak… croak…"
A familiar sound echoed.
Tiny, almost imperceptible hops.
Gradually, a hand-sized toad with a golden back began to materialize on the table.
It devoured the feed greedily.
"Trevor! You're back!"
Neville grabbed him and pressed his face against the toad, overcome with emotion.
Dudley immediately understood why Trevor kept running away.
Cold-blooded amphibians prefer damp, shaded places.
Being clutched by someone as warm as Neville must have been unbearable.
It was only natural that he tried to escape.
Ron stared at Dudley's vial in amazement.
"Is that a potion? My brothers said potions can sometimes do things spells can't."
He turned to Harry.
"Did your cousin make that himself?"
When Harry confirmed it, Ron muttered,
"Your cousin is incredible…"
Then, almost too quietly to hear,
"Unlike my brothers…"
Harry instantly puffed out his chest.
No one was happier than he was when Dudley received praise.
"That's Dudley. I've never seen anything he can't do."
Harry never held back when complimenting him.
Ron liked him even more for it.
…
Dudley turned back to Neville.
"If you really care about Trevor, you should learn how to take proper care of him."
He pulled a book from his bag and handed it over.
"Read this. You can never have too much knowledge."
It wasn't a magical book.
It was a Muggle guide on caring for cold-blooded animals, with an entire section devoted to amphibians.
Dudley's luggage was practically an arsenal.
It even included dumbbells and training equipment.
Only he could have carried all of that.
Neville accepted the book as if it were treasure.
"Thank you…"
The fear in his eyes faded.
In its place came admiration.
Neville didn't have many friends.
Especially not someone who treated him kindly right from the start.
His eyes even grew a little misty.
"You can call me Dudley."
"Y-yes, Dudley."
…
The compartment door opened again.
This time without knocking.
Three boys stepped inside.
At the front stood the platinum-blond boy Dudley had frightened in the wand shop.
He hadn't noticed Dudley yet.
The moment he entered, he looked straight at Harry with an air of arrogance, chin slightly raised.
"The whole train's talking about how Harry Potter is in this compartment. That's you, right?"
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