Chapter 153: Fake
Chapter 153: Fake
It's often said that Gryffindor can't keep secrets, and this statement couldn't be more true! Albert's daring solo venture into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night to rescue Fred and George has now become a widely circulated tale among the students of Hogwarts. The story goes that he slew countless spider monsters along the way and, with the help of a centaur, eventually found the Weasley brothers.
Of course, the story has taken on a life of its own, becoming a legendary tale within Gryffindor.
Naturally, some people scoffed at this so-called legend. After all, how could they believe that a first-year student could venture alone into the Forbidden Forest and emerge victorious against hordes of terrifying monsters? Surely, it was all just a dream?
Regardless of how outrageous the rumors became, Albert neither confirmed nor denied them.
The morning after the story spread throughout the school, a group of students cornered Albert at the dining table, eager to hear about his adventurous exploit. Albert, in the midst of his meal, reluctantly put down his fork and addressed the curious crowd: "Well, on my way there, I defeated countless spider monsters and even nearly got into a fight with a centaur. In the end, I managed to persuade the centaur to lead me to where Fred had set off the red sparklers. When I arrived, I saw Fred and George trapped in a tree surrounded by those spider monsters. It was a challenging battle, but I managed to defeat them and drive away the giant spiders, rescuing the Weasley brothers."
An eerie silence fell upon the Great Hall as everyone exchanged glances, unsure what to make of Albert's story. Finally, someone burst out laughing, unable to contain their skepticism any longer.
"Good, I'm glad you don't believe it," Albert sighed deeply, addressing the entire audience with a tone of resignation. "You actually believed the rumors and still came to ask me if it was true. I wonder if you're bored out of your minds or just lacking in intelligence."
Many faces in the crowd turned sour upon hearing the subtle insult in Albert's words. As the protagonist of the story himself had denied it, the matter was considered settled.
"But is it really false?" Shanna persisted in her inquiry.
"Who knows?" Albert replied nonchalantly. "Next time, don't be so quick to believe rumors. Stupidity is contagious. You need to learn to discern fact from fiction."
"I believe you defeated over a hundred spider monsters," Shanna declared suddenly. "Sixty points to Gryffindor."
"You believe what you want to believe," Albert said, his lips twitching with amusement and resignation.
"Of course, it's true. Let me tell you, Albert..." Fred began, eager to recount the events, but Albert cut him off with a fierce glare.
"I believe you still have a week of detention left, right?" Albert interrupted Fred. "Filch asked me to remind you to report to his office promptly at six o'clock this evening for your detention."
Detention?
So, the story was indeed true.
Shanna thought as she observed the dejected Weasley brothers.
Gryffindor's points had indeed increased by sixty, and it wasn't a small matter.
If their house points hadn't increased significantly, the students wouldn't have believed the rumor, nor would they have been interested in hearing the supposed truth.
This was all too far-fetched.
However, the points were right there for everyone to see, which was why that bizarre scene had just unfolded.
After all, the story was incredibly legendary, and many found it hard to accept that a first-year student could accomplish such a feat. When Albert claimed it was just a rumor, they took it as a way to save face, and the matter was dropped. As for mocking Albert? Well, he hadn't confirmed the story himself, and he had just indirectly called everyone present intellectually challenged. If they continued to pursue the matter, they would only be proving his point.
"But what about the points?" Angelina asked curiously.
"Actually, Lee Jordan and I promptly informed Professor McGonagall about the situation and used an owl to help her confirm that Fred and George had indeed entered the forest," Albert explained, shooting a meaningful glance at Lee Jordan, who nodded vigorously in agreement. "So, she awarded thirty points each to us."
Angelina gave them a skeptical look but didn't press the issue further.
"Ahem, let's head to the library to work on our holiday homework!" Albert suggested.
Fred and George eagerly raised their hands in agreement, as they were far behind on their assignments. Lee Jordan, too, saw the wisdom in getting a head start on their work so that they could have more time for fun later.
"I can't believe those guys actually believed your tall tale!" Fred muttered under his breath as they walked.
"That's only because they don't want to accept the truth," a voice said from behind Albert. The four friends stopped in their tracks and turned to see Isabel approaching them.
"Professor Burbage is looking for you," Isabel informed Albert.
"Sorry, guys. I'll catch up with you later for the homework session," Albert apologized to his roommates and made his way upstairs toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office.
"Congratulations on becoming Hogwarts' celebrity," Isabel said. "Everyone's talking about your exploits. Perhaps you should record this in your notebook. In a few years, it'll become a legendary tale."
"No thanks, I'm not interested," Albert replied irritably. "And by the way, try not to listen to too many rumors. It'll turn your brain to mush and impair your basic judgment."
"There's a special contribution medal for you in the trophy room, if you care to look," Isabel remarked nonchalantly, giving Albert a sidelong glance. "Next time you try to pull the wool over people's eyes, remember not to leave so many obvious loopholes."
"I merely told them what they wanted to hear," Albert shrugged, unembarrassed by Isabel's revelation. "Sometimes people don't want the truth; they just want to hear what aligns with their desires. There's no point in banging your head against the wall trying to convince them otherwise."
Isabel studied Albert for a moment before adding, "Next time we speak, remember to drop the condescending attitude. Don't you think it's rather foolish to treat others as if they're idiots?"
"I'm just stating the facts," Albert shrugged again.
"So, it is true, you really..." A voice interrupted their conversation, and Albert turned to see Katrina approaching them.
"It's false," Albert replied bluntly.
"Do I look stupid to you?" Katrina asked, turning to her sister, Isabel, as if seeking confirmation.
"It's false," Isabel agreed.
Katrina: "...Did you just ignore the conversation we just had?"
"Whether it's true or not, it's now false," Isabel explained.
"Why?" Katrina asked, confused.
"Because I, as the person involved, am saying it's false," Albert said matter-of-factly. "Therefore, it's false."
(End of Chapter)
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