Chapter 156: The True Crow's Mouth
Chapter 156: The True Crow's Mouth
Before Albert had the chance to challenge the Eagle Ring puzzle, the Easter holidays had come to an end.
Soon after the break, news of Professor Broad's resignation spread like wildfire through Hogwarts, leaving everyone disappointed. The Dark Arts Defense class was one of the few subjects that brought them joy, and the witty Professor Broad always managed to teach them useful things in an engaging way.
"Who do you think they'll get to teach next semester?"
"Who knows?" Lee Jordan mumbled, his eyes fixed on the nearly completed Dark Arts Defense essay on the parchment in front of him. "Should we even bother doing the holiday homework for this subject?"
Everyone knew that Professor Broad had planned to resign, but no one expected it to happen so soon.
"Do you know why Professor Broad decided to resign?" Angelina looked at Albert with a puzzled expression and asked.
Without looking up from his work, Albert replied, "Professor Broad mentioned this during the first Dark Arts Defense class. It's just that the timing is a bit earlier than expected."
"Is that true?" Lee Jordan muttered, trying to finish his essay. He barely remembered what had been discussed in the first class.
"Yes, I remember that," Shanna nodded in agreement.
"There's a rumor that the Dark Arts Defense class is cursed," Albert said as he checked over his essay.
"I thought you'd say that rumors are unreliable," came the response.
"If it weren't for the fact that we have to get a new Dark Arts Defense teacher every year, I wouldn't believe it either," Albert continued. "But the truth is, no professor for this subject has lasted more than a year. They always end up resigning due to various troubles, some even sustaining serious injuries or losing their lives."
"Professor Broad's decision to resign early is a wise one," Albert added. "At least he can ensure his safety and not spend his later years in the hospital."
"Is it really that serious?" Angelina was skeptical, thinking that Albert might be exaggerating the so-called curse.
"I suggest you look up the records yourself," Albert advised as he organized his parchments. "That's far more convincing than anything I could say."
As the group was leaving the library, Lee Jordan frowned and asked, "Now that Professor Broad has resigned, what will happen to our Dark Arts Defense class? Will we have to self-study?"
"Either they'll find a substitute teacher or we'll self-study," Albert replied without hesitation. "And if they do find a substitute, it'll most likely be Snape."
"Oh no," came the chorus of dismay.
"Of course, Snape already has his own classes to teach, so it's more likely that we'll self-study," Albert continued.
"Can't you just say everything at once instead of dragging it out?" Lee Jordan grumbled. Many students disliked Snape's classes, finding them overly oppressive.
It was past 10:30 in the evening when the Weasley twins finally returned to the dormitory, their bodies exhausted.
Filch had been deliberately cruel by spacing out their detentions instead of giving them one long stretch. As a result, the twins had been serving detentions almost every week for nearly a month.
A quick end to pain is better than a prolonged one! Filch clearly understood this, and his methods left the Weasley twins seething with anger. However, they couldn't think of any effective way to get back at him.
"I feel like my hands are about to fall off!" Fred sat on the edge of his bed, massaging his sore wrists.
"What did Filch make you do this time?" Lee Jordan yawned and popped a spinach-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean into his mouth.
"He made us copy out records of students' past misdeeds and their punishments," Fred replied wearily.
"That's such boring and meaningless work," George said, looking furious. "Filch is definitely doing this on purpose. Every time I see his smug face, I just want to smear dungbombs all over it."
"No use complaining," Lee Jordan shrugged. "You two snuck into the forest, so consider yourselves lucky that you weren't expelled."
"Where's Albert? Is he in the kitchen?" George asked as he unwrapped a toffee for himself, feeling a bit hungry.
"No, he's taking a shower," came the reply.
Just then, the door to the dormitory opened, and Albert walked in, wearing his pajamas and drying his hair with a towel.
"Back already? What new torment did Filch come up with for you two?" Albert asked, his attention divided between his friends and drying his hair.
"It was awful," Fred grumbled. "Filch made us copy records of past students' misdeeds. My hands are killing me."
"How many times has he made you do this now?" Albert asked.
"Oh, don't remind me. If you want to remain friends, that is," Fred said, feeling close to breaking down.
"Five times?" Lee Jordan guessed.
"Six," George mumbled.
"I want to get back at Filch!" Fred declared, clenching his fists. "Help us come up with something!"
"What about throwing a bunch of dungbombs into his office so he can't stand going in there?" Lee Jordan suggested.
"We're all out of dungbombs!" Fred said glumly, not really liking the idea anyway.
"I can donate a bag of dungbombs for free," Albert suddenly offered, clearly someone who didn't mind stirring up trouble.
"I can chip in a few dungbombs too," Lee Jordan added as he watered the garlic plants.
The twins hesitated, considering the offer.
However, the very next weekend after Easter, Fred and George made their decision.
The highly anticipated Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match, the last important match for Gryffindor this year, was scheduled for the first weekend after the Easter holidays.
But, on the morning of the match, Fred and George were informed by Filch that they were to serve detention that day, causing them to miss the crucial game.
"Filch is definitely doing this on purpose! He's getting back at us!" Fred fumed, tearing the note into pieces.
The punishment from Filch was more than the twins could bear.
"That's a brilliant move," Albert commented. "It seems Filch really dislikes the both of you."
"Dislikes?" Lee Jordan felt that Albert's choice of words was inappropriate. If Filch didn't outright hate them, why would he deliberately schedule their detention during the Quidditch match, and on top of that, assign them the task of scrubbing bedpans?
"About that offer of yours," Fred said through gritted teeth, looking ready to exact revenge on Filch. "Is it still on the table?"
"Of course, it is!" Albert replied, tilting his head as he looked at Fred and George. "But I suggest you make your move on the night before we leave for the holidays."
"I know," Fred said.
"Don't worry, we'll fill you in on all the details of the match after we're done watching it," Lee Jordan offered consolingly, though his tone held a hint of schadenfreude.
"Maybe the match won't even be over by the time your detention ends!"
"You should say that Gryffindor will defeat Ravenclaw and claim the Quidditch Cup this year," Fred and George corrected him in unison.
(End of Chapter)
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