https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1108-The-Only-Way-to-Win-Hearts-and-Minds/12527941/
Chapter 1109: A Few Happenings Before the Holidays
Chapter 1109: A Few Happenings Before the Holidays
With the end-of-term exams over, a cheerful atmosphere once again filled the halls of Hogwarts School. Students who had finished their exams were enjoying the last few days of leisure before the holidays. It was then that news of a gathering organized by the Wizarding Card Club began to spread among the students.
However, at this point, most students were not very interested in attending club activities.
Having endured the end-of-term exams, many students preferred to spend their free time in the sunny grounds, playing Quidditch to relax and relieve the stress built up during the exam period.
There were only a handful of students interested in participating in the Wizarding Card Club gathering, at least in comparison to the club's usual membership. But this was understandable.
Albert was not surprised by the low turnout; he was just relieved that there were still around two dozen students willing to attend, sparing him from the embarrassment of hosting an empty gathering.
Those who chose to attend the Wizarding Card gathering were truly passionate about wizarding cards, and Albert did not want to disappoint them. After formally completing the ceremony for Luna to take over the club, Luna took the lead in hosting a relaxed competition with especially generous prizes, promoting the merchandise that would be sold in the "House of Fun."
Initially, Fred and Lee Jordan had wanted to name their shop "Flag Joke Shop," but both Albert and George felt that the name was odd, so it was eventually changed to "House of Fun," implying a shop that brings joy.
Everyone had a wonderful time at the gathering. They not only enjoyed chilled butter beer and various delicious treats but also had the opportunity to win raffle prizes. These included Albert's newly published "Self-Defense Guide," as well as black magic defense items and prank toys crafted by Fred and George.
"Does this thing really work?" Hermione asked curiously, holding the pocket watch she had drawn and examining it with intrigue.
"Of course, it works! It's our latest product," Fred promoted enthusiastically. "Invented by Albert, this pocket watch will warm up to alert the wearer of impending danger nearby. It's similar to a Sneakoscope, but those things are notoriously unreliable. Once it starts making noise, it might as well be announcing your presence to others."
"When there are Dark Wizards or dark creatures around, it will indicate to the wearer the direction from which the enemy is approaching, helping you avoid a direct collision. Isn't that useful?" George added, taking out an identical pocket watch. "The only downside is that the effect probably only lasts for about six months."
"Of course, this is the mass-produced version," Fred shrugged. "If you want a more perfect dark magic alert device, you'll have to commission a custom one from Albert, but be prepared to pay a hefty price."
"Are you sure you're running a joke shop and not a black magic defense shop?" Ron asked, having just tested the defense badge, which actually deflected Harry's Impediment Jinx. Though Harry had used similar items before, it was only through personal experience that one could truly appreciate the wonders of these defense devices.
"With the resurgence of the Dark Wizard, the wizarding world has become unsafe. So, Albert took the initiative to share his research with everyone," George explained. "By the way, where's Albert?"
Everyone looked around for Albert and finally spotted him in a corner, talking to Luna.
Soon enough, Lee Jordan pulled Albert back to introduce these fascinating black magic defense items.
"As we all know, the wizarding world is not very peaceful at the moment..." Albert was surprised by how captivated this group was by his words, but he kept his thoughts to himself and simply shared his insights on the current situation.
In summary:
The wizarding world is about to descend into chaos. The Ministry of Magic cannot be relied upon, and wizards from Muggle families will face great challenges. It is recommended to learn some self-protection methods. Most vendors selling protective amulets are scammers, so don't fall for their tricks. Fred and George's black magic defense items are not as miraculous as you might imagine; they need to be used judiciously.
"Mr. Anderson, can you make amulets to resist black magic?" asked a curious Hufflepuff girl.
"No, it's not possible," Albert shook his head. "Most black magic spells are too powerful to be directly countered by a simple amulet. Amulets can only protect against minor spells and hexes to some extent, and while they can weaken the power of black magic, don't expect them to be a foolproof solution."
"But you're the Dueling Champion, and you've defeated many Dark Wizards. I think you must know how to deal with those evil villains," she persisted.
"If you ever find yourself in serious trouble, my advice is to first calm yourself down. If you can't calm down, take a calming draught; it's important to stay composed and level-headed. Moreover, it's best to detect your enemy's presence in advance and use a Disillusionment Charm or an Invisibility Cloak to hide yourself. Avoid direct confrontation if possible. If you must retaliate, hide first, then use a Stunning Spell to ambush your enemy," Albert suggested.
"Stunning Spell?"
"Yes, the Stunning Spell is actually more practical than most spells," Albert explained. "You can also use the Freezing Spell or the Full-Body Bind Curse. As long as you can subdue your enemy, you've won. So, there's no need to seek out those flashy and seemingly powerful spells."
"And never try to fight a Dark Wizard head-on. To be frank, your chances of defeating them are slim unless you ambush them. Taking them down in one fell swoop is your best option. Once they're down, make sure to cast a few more spells to ensure they stay subdued. If the situation is dire, remember to use the Summoning Charm to take away their wand. Remember, without their wand, most wizards lose their edge."
"There wasn't any of this in the Self-Defense Guide," Cedric teased. "Looks like you've been keeping some secrets for yourself."
"If I had included all this, the book would never have been published," Albert said helplessly. "Some things are not allowed by the Ministry of Magic to be printed in books, so I can only teach them to you in secret."
"Then how should we face black magic?"
"My advice is to turn and run as soon as you sense danger. Use the Disillusionment Charm to hide or Apparate away," Albert suggested. "Running away is never something to be ashamed of. I would never advise inexperienced witches and wizards like yourselves to confront Dark Wizards; it will only put you in harm's way."
The latter half of the Wizarding Card Club gathering turned into a black magic defense lecture by Albert, where he taught them how to protect themselves in the coming turmoil, how to use the black magic defense items sold in Fred and George's shop, and how to make the most of them.
Everyone listened intently, some even wishing they had a quill and parchment to take notes, as Albert's advice was incredibly practical.
It wasn't until dinnertime that they finally let Albert go, still eager for more.
"I think you should compile all this information and include it in your 'Self-Defense Guide.'
Cedric looked enlightened as he said, "There are indeed many helpless things in this world."
News of the Wizarding Card Club soon spread throughout Hogwarts, and many members regretted not attending the gathering. Especially after Albert's words were circulated among the students, many felt that Dumbledore should hire Albert as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Everyone hoped that Albert would teach them more about defending against dark magic, but they soon found that he had gone missing again.
The task eventually fell to Harry, who, along with Hermione and Cedric, compiled and organized Albert's lecture notes to share with their peers.
Fred and George's defensive gadgets, especially those that could deflect magic and hexes, became popular among the students. They were confident that this new venture would quickly make them wealthy.
At the year-end party, Dumbledore made a rare, solemn speech lasting half an hour, reminding everyone once again of Voldemort's resurrection.
What surprised everyone the most was that Gryffindor had won the House Cup this year.
Despite all the other Houses having their hourglasses emptied of gems except Slytherin, Dumbledore still awarded points to the other Houses, ostensibly to remind them of the return of the mysterious person.
However, Gryffindor had gained the most points due to Harry, which directly led to Slytherin's downfall from their initially advantageous position, becoming a laughingstock.
Snape was displeased about this turn of events and wore a stiff expression all evening, as if someone owed him a lot of galleons.
On the day of departure from Hogwarts, Albert was extremely busy, personally handing out the silver cards to his invited friends and explaining the risks involved.
Everyone was shocked to learn that Albert was getting married.
"Due to certain reasons, the wedding has been brought forward to next month," Albert reminded them again, lest they spread the news carelessly and attract Death Eaters.
Albert had a way to ensure the privacy and safety of the wedding, but if the wrong people found out, they would have to fend for themselves.
"You're getting married!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes, this is the invitation card, and the time will be indicated on it," Albert said as he handed the silver card to Hermione, "But please keep this a secret. I've offended both the mysterious person and the Death Eaters, and they might try to find out the specific time and location through the invitees."
"Oh, congratulations!"
Hermione took the card, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure it's safe, though?"
"Of course, I've also invited Dumbledore, so there's no need to worry too much," Albert assured her before leaving. "Because of the Potters' situation, I didn't invite them."
Albert wasn't foolish enough to invite Harry Potter, a magnet for trouble.
After Albert left, Hermione stared at the silver card in her hand, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"He's getting married..."
She hadn't expected Albert to be planning a wedding so soon, right after graduating from school.
Despite Albert's request for secrecy, the news still spread among the girls.
"I told you this couldn't be kept a secret. Maybe you should have waited until the holidays and then sent the cards by owl. That way, there wouldn't have been this problem," Angelina said.
On the way to the lake, Lee Jordan expressed his innocence, "It's really not my fault!"
"Keeping it a secret is actually for their protection. I'm just worried that if they leak the information, the Death Eaters will pay them a visit, and they might lose their lives," Albert said helplessly.
If something happened to them because of this, there was nothing he could do.
"Really? I thought you would be more worried about..." Lee Jordan raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised by Albert's words.
"I've done the most stringent screening. Even if they use the Imperius Curse or complex potions, I have a way to identify them. As for the specific location, no one but the invitees can enter," Albert explained. He had prepared for this a long time ago and put the most stringent protective measures in place to ensure that there would be no accidents during the wedding.
"Everyone, get on the boats! One small boat can only fit two people. We're crossing the lake now," Hagrid stood on the shore and shouted after making sure everyone was on board. "Let's go!"
A fleet of small boats sailed forward, cutting through the cool breeze as everyone turned to look back at the distant, majestic castle.
"Duck your heads!" Hagrid shouted.
As the boats approached the cliffs, everyone lowered their heads. The distant Hogwarts Castle stirred complex emotions within them.
They had spent seven years here, and now it was time to leave.
The boat ride didn't last long, and soon everyone disembarked, their hearts heavy with emotion. They still had to make their way to the train station and board the Hogwarts Express to depart.
"Aren't you coming?" Angelina asked, puzzled.
"No, you guys go ahead. We're still waiting for someone. We'll apparate directly from here," Albert smiled and waved goodbye to everyone.
A beautiful figure walked towards them and gave Albert and Katrina a warm hug.
Many boys whistled, and the girls felt a pang of jealousy.
"Goodbye, Albert," Hagrid waved to Albert and left with the departing seventh-year students towards the train station.
"What are you looking at?" Isabelle asked.
"Hogwarts," Albert replied, his eyes fixed on the distant, ancient castle. "It's truly a magical place."
Just now, Albert had confirmed the completion of the "Ancient School: Hogwarts" mission. Although the final progress was stuck at 81.5%, the actual completion rate was quite high, and he had gained a lot of experience and skill points.
"Are you feeling reluctant to leave now?" Katrina was surprised by Albert's sentimental mood.
"I'm still grateful for that owl letter I received years ago. It changed my life. Otherwise, I would probably still be like most Muggles, struggling to make a living," Albert withdrew his gaze from the castle and looked at Isabelle, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's go back too."
"Let's go."
Isabelle reached out to Katrina, who placed her hand on top of hers, her face resigned as her hair blew in the gentle breeze.
A leaf fell onto the black lake, creating ripples, but the three figures standing by the lake had already disappeared without a trace.
(End of Volume) And so, another volume comes to an end. Indeed, there have been many things happening lately, but I managed to finish this volume. This volume focused more on the growth of the characters, and Umbridge, as the catalyst for their development, had a more significant role. In the next volume, Voldemort will meet his end.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
