Chapter 266: The Hypocrite
Chapter 266: The Hypocrite
After Albert obtained the note from Professor McGonagall that allowed him to borrow books from the restricted section, the task "Magic Forbidden Area" on the panel could be completed with just one more borrow. Originally, Albert thought he would have to start with Gilderoy Lockhart, but now it seemed he could finish it ahead of schedule.
Albert walked out of the library and saw Fred, George, and Lee Jordan standing forlornly in the corridor waiting for him. As soon as they spotted Albert, the trio immediately rushed over to surround him.
"That wasn't real, was it!" Fred asked anxiously.
"Oh, you mean the detention thing!" Albert looked at the trio in realization and shook his head with a straight face, suppressing his laughter. "I just came back from Professor McGonagall's office, and she asked me to give you a message before I left."
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan's faces turned glum. They never expected that after all their hard work copying the homework, the outcome would be detention?
"I told you guys to do your homework properly. Professor McGonagall is very displeased with the way you handled the holiday assignment," Albert shook his head repeatedly, speaking in a mocking tone.
"Merlin's beard, this joke isn't funny at all," Lee Jordan looked like he was about to lose it.
"By the way, we have Potions class tomorrow, so it's best not to be complacent. Otherwise, Snape will definitely be happy to give you detention," Albert reminded the trio.
"Oh, shut up! We're already miserable enough," George couldn't help but cry out in despair. Albert's big mouth always seemed to predict their fate.
Once again, reality proved that Albert's mouth was more accurate than any prophecy.
The next day, the trio truly encountered misfortune. Because they hadn't followed Albert's suggestion to redo Snape's holiday homework seriously, the Potions master announced this unfortunate news just before the class ended.
There were a total of five unlucky students who were given detention, and among them were Albert's three roommates.
George was so startled that he shook, causing the vial containing the Swelling Solution to fall to the ground and splash liquid all over, burning a few holes in Fred's robe and boots.
As soon as the Swelling Solution made contact with their skin, the two boys' skin immediately began to swell. Snape, in a fit of rage, scolded George harshly and told them to go to Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing after class.
In truth, the swelling could be cured with a simple antidote potion. Snape had one in his possession, but he didn't offer it to Fred and George. Instead, they had to trouble Madam Pomfrey, even though it would only take a few seconds to cure with the antidote.
"Write a one-foot essay on the Swelling Solution and its antidote," Snape cruelly announced the homework before dismissing the class.
"Homework, piles of homework, I feel like I'm going to break down!" Outside the hospital wing, Lee Jordan wailed in agony, feeling like he was being driven insane by the mountain of homework.
"Stop shouting, or Madam Pomfrey might come out to scold you," Albert glanced at Lee Jordan irritably. This guy had brought it upon himself, so who could he blame?
As he finished speaking, the door to the hospital wing suddenly opened, giving Lee Jordan a fright.
However, they soon realized that it was Fred and George who emerged, both looking dejected, probably worn out by a string of bad luck.
"I feel like I'm going crazy with all this homework!"
The trio looked at Albert pitifully, their unspoken request clear.
"Do your own homework," Albert said unsympathetically as he turned the corner. "Don't even think about it. The professors are already watching you, so don't try anything funny or I'll end up in trouble too."
"Then what should we do?"
"Let's work on the homework together during our breaks!" Albert thought for a moment and suggested, "We can find the information together, and it'll be faster to write the essays that way.
"Alright, I guess that's our only option," they agreed.
"I have something else to do. I need to find Professor Smith. You guys head to the Great Hall first," Albert handed his backpack to Fred and waved goodbye as he turned toward another corner.
On his way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, he ran into a familiar face. Albert greeted Katrina, but Miss MacDougal's gaze at him seemed...a little strange.
"What's wrong?" Albert raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Nothing!" Katrina hesitated but couldn't help giving in to her curiosity. "Is it true that you and Isabelle are together now?"
"Listen to less gossip. It'll affect your intelligence and judgment."
Albert rolled his eyes and interrupted Katrina, unable to hold back his annoyance any longer.
"That unicorn wood carving amulet you gave me is beautiful," Katrina replied, her tone growing even more peculiar.
"That was a return gift. She taught me a useful spell last time," Albert appraised Katrina, his tone equally odd. "Speaking of which, you seem to be quite concerned about this. Could it be that..."
"No, I'm just curious," Katrina quickly interjected.
She was being tsundere, absolutely tsundere.
Albert found it amusing; Nia sometimes acted like this too.
"Then I'll give you a birthday gift next time as well." Albert winked at Katrina and asked tentatively, "What kind of wood carving would you like?"
"Are you here to see Professor Smith too?" Katrina realized that Albert was leading the conversation and quickly changed the subject.
"If you don't want it, then forget it," Albert said nonchalantly.
"I hate it when you use that babying tone," Katrina retorted, realizing for the first time that Albert and Isabelle had a lot in common.
Despite their similar ages, she always felt like they were treating her like a child, and she hated that feeling.
"Oh, well, I thought we could become good friends." Albert feigned disappointment.
"We already are friends; you said so yourself last year," Katrina reminded him.
"I meant taking it a step further?" Albert suggested.
"A step further?" Katrina's cheeks flushed slightly as she regarded Albert guardedly.
"Well, we were just classmates before, but now we can be considered good friends." Albert's mischievous sense of humor was acting up again.
"What's the difference?" Katrina was confused.
"There is a difference." Albert earnestly spouted nonsense, "Classmates are no different from strangers, but friends are a step further; they exchange Christmas and birthday gifts."
"And then, are you trying to say that taking the friendship a step further means becoming a couple?" Katrina scoffed, "You still love to deceive people, don't you?"
"Deceive? Not at all." Albert shrugged innocently, "I'm just stating the facts."
Katrina harrumphed coldly and knocked on the wooden door of the Dark Magic Defense office.
A moment later, Professor Smith opened the door and, seeing the two of them, his gaze fell on Albert, and he asked with a smile, "Albert, how was the alchemy gathering?"
"It was interesting, and I made some significant discoveries." Albert thought for a moment and replied, "Regarding the matter we discussed last time, I may have found an answer."
"Oh, so you've found an answer so soon?" Professor Smith turned to Katrina and said, "I have some private matters to discuss with Mr. Anderson. Could you wait for a moment?"
"Oh." Katrina gave Albert a meaningful look before turning and leaving the office.
"To open the next hidden door, we'll probably need to further research ancient magical texts," Albert noted as Katrina closed the door behind her. He then briefly mentioned the master of ancient magical texts he had met at the alchemy gathering and shared his findings and speculations.
"I suggest you seek the help of Mr. McDougall," Albert recommended.
"Oh." Professor Smith looked at Albert and sighed inwardly. He was a little disappointed.
In truth, he had already thought of these possibilities.
Moreover, Professor Smith didn't want too many people to know about the Ravenclaw treasure, which was why he had placed his hopes on Albert.
However, the results seemed to deviate from his expectations.
Or perhaps, this was the expected outcome from the beginning.
Albert had already exceeded Professor Smith's initial expectations.
"Albert, I believe you also have a talent for ancient magical texts," Professor Smith said softly, his meaning implied.
"Professor, my exposure to magic is still relatively short. Knowledge is something that takes time to accumulate," Albert sighed, feigning helplessness.
"Keep working hard, and I believe you can become a master of ancient magical texts like McDougall," Professor Smith encouraged.
"It seems Katrina has something to discuss with you, so I'll take my leave." Albert bowed slightly to the professor, "Please give me a few years, and I'm confident I can help you open that hidden door."
"Then I'll have to trouble you at that time," Professor Smith smiled.
(End of Chapter)
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