Chapter 1386: Dumbledore's Scheme
Chapter 1386: Dumbledore's Scheme
"This song sounds nice, but the voice... it sounds familiar somehow."
Having just finished his shower and changed into warm clothes, Albert stepped into the courtyard for breakfast. He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, ready to enjoy the hearty meal that the house-elves had just brought out. The light and airy melody floating through the air caught his attention.
"Can't you tell?" Katrina paused in her yoga routine and gave her brother-in-law a peculiar look.
"It does sound familiar, but is there a problem?" Albert took a sip of milk and picked up the newspaper, intending to catch up on any recent news of interest.
"Keep pretending," Katrina said with a slight smirk as she eyed Albert. "Your lover is singing, and you can't even recognize her voice?"
Pffft! Albert sputtered, spraying the milk he had just sipped all over the newspaper.
Cough, cough, cough.
Lover?
The word truly took him aback.
"I'm talking about that beautiful vampire lady from Spain," Katrina clarified with a smile. "This is her newest album, released after she graduated from school."
"Spain, vampire? You mean Yanira? I haven't seen her in a long time, and she's not a vampire per se. She has some vampire ancestry but doesn't drink blood herself."
Albert's fingers lightly slid, as if plucking a handkerchief out of thin air to dab at the corners of his mouth. "By the way, where did you get this album from?"
"It was in your Christmas gift. You asked me to help you open it, remember? There was a package and a letter from her inside. I think the letter is with the others in your study."
Katrina hadn't opened that particular letter, but she could guess its contents. She sized up Albert and suddenly said, "I think you should start exercising with us every morning. Otherwise, with your current physical condition, I doubt you can satisfy all your lovers."
"Well, thank you for your concern," Albert said dryly.
"You're welcome," Katrina replied with a smile. She pulled a chair and sat down directly across from Albert, her lovely face inches away from his. "Tell me, how do I look now? Do you notice any changes?"
"How do I look?"
Albert glanced at the piece of black bread in his hand and eyed Katrina with confusion as she leaned in close. He let out a soft sigh. "No changes, really. Even if there were, we live together, so it's hard for me to notice any subtle differences."
Katrina raised an eyebrow. "Everyone says my skin has improved. I'm not even wearing any makeup right now."
"You do look more beautiful than before," Albert conceded, glancing at Katrina's rosy cheeks. He tried to sound sincere.
"I'm currently writing a new book, in the form of a diary..." Katrina paused, clearly unhappy with Albert's lack of enthusiasm. Nonetheless, she continued to share her latest research findings.
"A healthy diet, minimal fruit intake, and almost no sweets or sugary drinks..."
"So, that's why we've been having black bread lately?" Albert eyed the remaining crumbs of the dark bread.
"How does it taste?"
"It's edible," Albert replied without hesitation.
"I'm surprised you don't like it," Katrina remarked, sounding a bit taken aback.
"It's not tasty," Albert said. "And there's no need to be so hard on yourself with the bread. You can cut out sweets, sugary drinks, and overly sweet fruits if you want, but there's no point in sacrificing your staple food. It's just plain foolish. Anyone who tells you that black bread will help you lose weight is treating you like a fool and probably just wants to make money off you."
"Are you calling me a fool?" Katrina fixed Albert with an intense gaze, her voice taking on a slightly menacing tone.
"No, you just lack knowledge in this area and are easily deceived," Albert explained. "Many people in Europe are used to consuming large amounts of sugar, and in America, where I haven't been yet, almost all Muggles are obese due to their unhealthy diets. It's similar here in Europe. So, you should be grateful that I'm helping you steer clear of that fate. If you still think it's not healthy enough, I suggest you give up desserts entirely and even cut out milk tea. Stick to unsweetened tea instead."
"I already have." Katrina puffed out her chest proudly. "Just in the past few months, I've achieved self-improvement."
"A healthy diet and a healthy sleep schedule can make you healthier than most, and a healthy body will make you look more beautiful than most." Albert said calmly.
"Oh, dear, it seems you have a different view of staying up late?" A gentle voice sounded in his ear.
"No, it's quite normal for couples to have a bit of a nightlife." Albert allowed Isabelle to straighten his clothes.
"No, I think you're right. We should go to bed earlier from now on." Isabelle kissed Albert's cheek and said, "Anyway, in a while, Alice will be much better."
"Ahem."
Katrina coughed lightly, indicating that the two of them weren't alone.
"Your skin has indeed become much better than before, and it's also smoother." Isabelle cupped Katrina's face and gently stroked it before saying, "It seems that your theory is quite useful after all. I think someone will be very pleased to hear that."
Albert pretended not to hear, and he was indeed a bit surprised by Isabelle's "hostility." But to avoid provoking her further, he focused most of his attention on the newspaper.
The news of Voldemort "stirring up trouble" in Europe had gradually spread, and those arrogant spectators finally got to experience first-hand the sour consequences of being plagued by the Dark Lord.
"Dear, has something interesting happened?"
As she was talking to Katrina, she noticed the slight curve of Albert's lips and turned her head, curious.
Albert then told the two women about Voldemort wreaking havoc in Europe.
"It seems you don't want him to return to Britain so soon." Isabelle immediately guessed that Albert was behind it but reminded him, "But the Dark Wizard isn't stupid. He should be able to guess that, right?"
"Yes, he can guess, but he probably wants to get his hands on that wand and use it against me." Albert calmly stated the fact that Voldemort intended to deal with him.
"Then why are you still..."
"This is one of Dumbledore's schemes."
"Dumbledore's scheme?"
The McDougall sisters were quite surprised, as this was the first time they had heard of such a secret.
"Yes, the old wand itself is a plot Dumbledore prepared for the Dark Wizard before his death, effectively distracting his attention." Albert explained quietly, "Even if the Dark Wizard eventually finds the legendary wand, he's only stepping into another pitfall that Dumbledore dug. Besides, he won't be able to find Grindelwald."
"So, the Grindelwald in the newspapers is fake?" Katrina suddenly felt that Isabelle's worries were a bit unnecessary.
The once-fearsome Dark Lord was being played like a fool, and he seemed closer to death than ever.
"Compound potions?"
"So, were all those you?"
"Of course not, I don't have that much time to play hide-and-seek with the Dark Wizard." Albert said meaningfully, "But there are always people willing to do it, and many European dark wizards actually want the Dark Wizard to continue wandering around Europe. He's been up to quite a lot of mischief lately."
"I don't think this will force them to muster the courage to stand up to him." Isabelle shook her head.
"I never expected the wizards of various countries to, but at least we can give them a wake-up call and make them aware of the Dark Wizard's harm and danger. Let them face the legendary Dark Lord and buy some time for our country." Albert saw more clearly than anyone else, and he understood the problems Voldemort's return to Britain might cause.
"It seems the team resisting the Dark Wizard is developing successfully, but do they really have the courage?" Isabelle wasn't looking down on them; she knew that many wizards lacked the courage to face the Dark Wizard.
"They will, everyone is growing and gaining confidence. With a few more training sessions, they'll soon become qualified warriors."
This was actually the main reason Albert kept Voldemort abroad. If Voldemort returned to Britain, he wouldn't dare to let the Defense Association members use the elimination of Inferi as a training exercise.
(End of Chapter)
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