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Chapter 132: Gryffindor's Secret Treasure?
Chapter 132: Gryffindor's Secret Treasure?
"Here, this is the Developing Solution," Albert said during one of the post-meal breaks, handing a glass bottle containing the solution to Sana. "You know how to use it, right?"
"Yes, thank you," Sana replied as she took the bottle from him. "But I'm curious, when did you make this?"
"A few days ago," Albert said, not hiding the truth. "I've already tested it on photos, and it works."
"Thanks again," Sana said, grateful for his help.
With her current level of potion-making skills, it would be impossible for Sana to make the Developing Solution on her own. If she wanted to get her hands on some, she would have to purchase it herself. However, even if she had galleons in her pocket, she wouldn't know where to buy it.
To be honest, Sana had never tried owl mail order before. Her impression of the wizarding world was still limited to Diagon Alley and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The entire wizarding world was a foreign concept to Muggle-born wizards like herself.
"You're welcome," Albert said, not really concerned about such things. He had already set aside some of the Developing Solution for himself, and the small bottle he gave to Sana was just a token share.
"Albert, Albert!" George and Fred suddenly rushed into the Great Hall, making their way towards Albert.
"Aren't you two supposed to be in the library working on your History of Magic homework?" Albert asked, looking up at the Weasley brothers in confusion.
Before he could say another word, Albert found himself being pulled away from the Great Hall by the twins, each grabbing him by one arm.
Lee Jordan, who was trailing behind the twins, offered an embarrassed smile to the others before quickly helping to gather Albert's things and followed the trio out, leaving behind a hall full of students filled with curiosity.
"What's going on?" Albert asked as the four of them reached a secluded corner.
"Look what we found in the library!" the Weasley twins said in unison, their eyes sparkling with excitement as they looked at each other.
"What did you find?" Albert played along, asking the question they expected.
"Ta-da!" George exclaimed, dramatically pulling out a piece of parchment from his pocket and handing it to Albert.
Albert's eyebrows twitched as he scanned the information on the parchment. He was indeed surprised by the words "Gryffindor's Secret Treasure" written on it.
He turned the parchment over, revealing a simple map with a tree, the number 1, a campfire, and an 'X'.
Albert looked up at the three of them and asked, "What is this nonsense?"
"Gryffindor's secret treasure!" Lee Jordan exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"What treasure?" Albert asked again, wanting clarification.
"Gryffindor's secret treasure," Lee Jordan repeated, his tone serious.
"Okay," Albert said, a bit annoyed. "I admit, this is a little interesting. But if we take this seriously, we'd be fools."
"We found this piece of parchment hidden in a book," Fred explained.
"The book had a secret compartment, and we only found it by accident," George added.
"An accident?" Albert scoffed at the idea. He could easily create a hundred such 'accidents' if he wanted to.
"...So, are you going to look for the treasure?" Albert asked, already guessing their intentions. These guys wanted to go on a treasure hunt, an adventure. Perhaps they didn't even care if this so-called Gryffindor's secret treasure was real or not.
They just wanted to... adventure and seek treasure?
In a way, the idea of an adventure and a treasure hunt was intriguing. But the problem was the treasure itself. What if, in the end, they realized they had been played for fools? Their moods would certainly take a turn for the worse.
"This was probably put there on purpose, right?" Albert said, examining the strange drawing with disdain. "And I don't believe for a second that Gryffindor would hide their secret treasure in the Forbidden Forest."
That's right, the Forbidden Forest.
The tree on the drawing most likely referred to the forest next to Hogwarts.
"So, it is the Forbidden Forest," the three of them said in unison.
"The tree probably represents the forest, the number 1 could refer to a unicorn, which is the ancient magical number 1, and the campfire indicates a populated area, a place with people. The only beings in the Forbidden Forest that could be considered 'people' are the centaurs. And the 'X' marks the spot where the treasure is hidden," Albert explained, having deciphered the map's markings at a glance.
"Wow, you figured all that out just like that?" Lee Jordan exclaimed, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
"So, where's the secret treasure?" The three of them looked at Albert expectantly.
"It's probably near the centaurs' camp," Albert said, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "To be honest, I don't even believe what I just said."
This was obviously a prank, right? Otherwise, the so-called Gryffindor's secret treasure should be hidden within Hogwarts, not in the Forbidden Forest.
"Well..." The three of them fell silent, as this was something they had already considered.
"What are you lot doing here?" Filch's voice interrupted them. He had been keeping an eye on the corner where the four students were huddled together, whispering. His tone was unfriendly.
"Nothing," Albert replied nonchalantly.
"If you're doing nothing, then stop loitering around and get out of here," Filch snapped, shooing away the four students who looked suspiciously secretive.
"Let me say this again, don't believe this nonsense," Albert said, looking at the three of them. "It's like you borrow a book from the library one day and deliberately write something in it, telling others that there's something valuable hidden inside. But in the end, after they've gone through all the trouble of finding the so-called treasure, all they find are a few dung bombs that you put there years ago."
The three of them exchanged glances, knowing that Albert's guess was spot on. They had initially thought the same, but after hearing Albert's analysis, they were even more convinced that this was the most likely scenario.
A prank?
Yes, it was very possible.
"By the way, there's one more thing," George said, scratching the back of his head.
"What is it?" Albert asked.
"This piece of parchment was originally hidden between two pages of the book, and then..." George trailed off, a helpless smile on his face.
"Don't you know how to use the Repairing Charm?" Albert asked, confused.
Two-thirds of the first year had already passed, and in that time, they had learned quite a few spells, including the Repairing Charm.
"Well..." George's expression turned awkward, and he rubbed his head dejectedly. "We couldn't use the spell to fix the book."
Fred took out 'Yuri's Biography' from his bag. It was actually their History of Magic homework, as they all had to write an essay about medieval wizards.
"It was hidden very secretly. At first, we almost didn't notice it," Albert said as he turned to the page that Fred had damaged, a twitch appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Put the book away first. We'll look into it again tonight when we're back in the dormitory," Albert reminded them. Don't let others see what you're up to, or Mrs. Pins will find out about this."
"She'll kill us."
"Why us and not you?" Fred asked, annoyed.
"Because you two are twins! Duh."
(End of Chapter)
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