https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-135-If-Self-Awareness-is-Useful-Then-/12526055/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-137-On-a-Better-Alternative-to-Loophole-Exploitation-/12526057/
Chapter 136: Not Meant for Others' Eyes
Chapter 136: Not Meant for Others' Eyes
Having just finished breakfast, Albert and his friends chatted leisurely in the Great Hall. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were planning to head to the library.
"I wonder when you two became such diligent students?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow at his younger brothers.
"We've always been diligent!" Fred protested.
"We're just going to look something up. Want to come, Albert?" George asked, turning to Albert.
"Don't you remember? Albert has an appointment with Professor Burbage," Lee Jordan scoffed at the twins, "And you two have the nerve to say my memory is bad."
"We're wrong, okay?" the twins said in unison.
"Hmph, good that you know it," Lee Jordan said smugly, soon getting entangled in a playful scuffle with the twins.
"Don't forget we have Quidditch practice this afternoon," Angelina reminded the twins before turning to Albert. "What about you?"
"I'm afraid I can't," Albert shook his head.
"What are you up to with Professor Burbage?" Alicia asked curiously. As far as she knew, Albert had been visiting Professor Burbage regularly over the past few weeks, but she had no idea what they were up to.
"Oh, it's a secret!" Albert winked at them.
"Are you close with Professor Burbage?" Percy asked, a bit surprised. "As far as I know, that professor is quite remarkable."
"Not really sure," Albert replied as he took out his pocket watch to check the time. "Well, I should get going now."
"That guy's always so mysterious, who knows what he's up to?" Angelina muttered. "He's skipped Quidditch practice quite a few times. Charlie's been pretty unhappy about it, you know. Ever since Albert caught the Golden Snitch, he's been Charlie's chosen successor as Seeker."
"Successor?" Shan Na didn't understand what that meant.
"Charlie's about to graduate, so the next Quidditch captain will be Wood. Charlie originally wanted Albert to stay as the Seeker for a while. But honestly, Albert doesn't seem that passionate about Quidditch," Angelina admitted. In fact, she was quite envious of Albert's luck.
"He's got a lot on his plate, don't forget about the Transfiguration Club..." Shan Na reminded them.
At that moment, a senior student walked towards them, and his voice soon reached their ears. "Anderson, has anyone seen him?"
"Beck, what do you want with Anderson?" Whether it was Angelina, Alicia, or Shan Na, they could hear the respect in Percy's voice.
"I heard Anderson was here for breakfast. He hasn't shown up at the Transfiguration Club in a long time, so I came to ask what's going on," Beck said helplessly.
"Albert just left. He has something with Professor Burbage," Shan Na explained.
"Professor Burbage?" Beck frowned and turned to Shan Na. "Please tell him not to forget to submit his Transfiguration Club essay. That's all, I'll be going now."
"Who is he?" Angelina asked curiously.
"You don't know Beck? He's the Gryffindor student council president. Apparently, he's published articles in 'Today's Transfiguration' and even won the 'Most Promising Newcomer Award' from the same publication," they were told.
Beck was Percy's role model, just like his brother Bill. But this student council president before them shone even brighter than his brother.
"I think I just saw what Albert will be like in a few years," Alicia suddenly said.
"I feel the same way," Shan Na agreed with Alicia's view.
...
At that moment, Albert, the topic of their conversation, was standing in front of the door to the Dark Magic Defense office on the second floor. However, he was surprised to run into a familiar face—Isobel from Ravenclaw.
And then...
"An essay?" Albert took out his small notebook and found no record of it.
"You were absent the week before last," Isobel reminded him.
"Oh, when is it due?"
"Tonight at the Transfiguration Club."
"That's too soon!" Albert was speechless. If he had known earlier, he might have had time to write it, but now... it was too late.
"If you start writing now..." Isobel eyed Albert doubtfully, her curiosity getting the better of her. "By the way, what brings you to Professor Burbage?"
"Yeah, there's something," Albert said as he raised his hand and knocked on the office door.
"Even earlier than I expected," Professor Burbage greeted Albert with a smile. The gentle smile on his face caused Isobel, standing next to Albert, to pause and regard Albert with suspicion.
"Isobel, come in too!"
The Dark Magic Defense office was in disarray. Books and parchment were piled on the desk, and even the walls weren't spared, covered with various parchments—all of which were the research results of Albert and his friends from the past few days.
"What's going on here?" Isobel stared wide-eyed at the office, hardly believing her eyes. Was this still the Dark Magic Defense office? In her memory, Professor Burbage's office had been a cozy place. What had brought about this change, making it look like the workspace of a research maniac?
"It's nothing. Please take these books to Mrs. Pince, and while you're at it, borrow the books listed on this parchment," Professor Burbage said, pointing to a few books on the parchment.
Then he picked up a roll of parchment from the desk and handed it to Albert. "This is from Mog. He'll be here soon, so take a look at this first."
"Is this the final product?" Albert asked as he took the parchment and glanced at its contents.
"No, it's a work in progress. He's only completed a third of it," Professor Burbage said. "What would you like to drink?"
"Some milk tea, I just finished breakfast not long ago," Albert said as he sat on the sofa and began to browse through the parchment Professor Burbage had given him. "It's even faster than I expected."
He was a little surprised, but even more so was Isobel, who had been about to leave. This genius was trying to figure out what was going on.
"Uncle Mog is coming to the school?" Isobel was very surprised by this news. In her memory, Uncle Mog was a very busy man.
"Mog is writing a book, and I'm helping him with Albert," Professor Burbage explained casually. "You can come by later to help out as well. I remember you've started studying ancient magic scripts, and this will be helpful for improving your understanding of them," he added.
"Oh?" Isobel gave Albert a deep look and left with the books.
"So, what do you think?" Professor Burbage asked.
"I don't think many people will be able to understand it," Albert said after flipping through a few pages and coming to this conclusion. "This book isn't meant for the average person. Without a deep knowledge of ancient magic scripts, even if you know the meaning of every word, it will be difficult to comprehend the content."
After all, Albert himself was a contributor to the book.
Recently, his proficiency in ancient magic scripts had improved significantly, and he still found it a bit challenging to read. It would be even more difficult for others.
What was the point of such a book?
As if guessing Albert's thoughts, Professor Burbage smiled and said, "To be honest, I don't understand much of it either. But in Mog's words, this book is meant to raise the overall level of ancient magic script understanding. It doesn't matter if ordinary people can't understand it. There will always be someone who can."
(End of Chapter)
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