Chapter 276: A Solution
Chapter 276: A Solution
As Albert passed through the entrance hall, he was suddenly surrounded by Fred, George, and Lee Jordan.
"What's going on?" Albert asked, looking at the trio in confusion.
Fred, ensuring that no one was around, lowered his voice and asked, "You went into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid, didn't you? Were you hunting that monster?"
"You didn't call us to join you for something so exciting!" George protested from the side, with Lee Jordan eagerly nodding in agreement.
"You guys chose not to come along. I even asked you this morning if you wanted to go," Albert retorted, immediately pointing out that it was their own decision not to join him.
"Ahem, that's not important!" George coughed lightly.
"By the way, have you finished your homework?" Albert tried to change the subject.
"That's not important, let's put it aside for now," Fred replied.
"Not important?" Albert emphasized, "Really not important?"
The trio immediately looked guilty. Having just finished their detention not long ago, they certainly didn't want to go through that again.
"Alright, Hagrid and I walked around in the forest and didn't find anything. My feet are sore from all the walking, though. Do you guys want to give me a massage?" Albert said in a slightly annoyed tone.
The three shook their heads in unison.
"I know what you're thinking, but this isn't a game. The Forbidden Forest is dangerous, and Fred and George should know that better than anyone. Also, not doing your homework will definitely land you in another detention," Albert added.
The trio felt embarrassed but still huddled closer, eager to hear about what had happened in the forest.
...
"And that's it?" A few minutes later, Lee Jordan stared wide-eyed in disappointment. He had expected something interesting to have occurred, but in the end, nothing much happened. He couldn't believe that Albert and Hagrid had simply wandered around the Forbidden Forest, which was a huge letdown for them.
"What else did you expect? Did you think Hagrid would battle the monster?" Albert's tone turned sharper, silencing the trio, who dared not complain further.
Novels are exciting because the author can choose to narrate only the most captivating parts. But this is reality, and most of the time, reality is mundane.
"Have you finished making your Pepper Imps?" Albert asked the twins. "You can't open a joke shop without your own products."
Fred and George quickly scurried away, probably off to the library to search for information.
"What about the preparations for the Duelling Club?" Albert turned to Lee Jordan, who was also about to slip away. "Hosting this event is a great opportunity for you. Don't you need to think carefully about how to do a good job?"
Lee Jordan also left in a hurry.
"Trying to compete with me, huh? You still have a long way to go!" Albert unwrapped a chocolate bean and popped it into his mouth, his mood improving even further.
After returning to the common room, Albert picked up a book and sat in an armchair by the fireplace to warm himself.
Past eleven o'clock, Albert headed to the library to work on his homework.
Fred and the others had already searched for the necessary information, making things easier for Albert. He didn't spend much time gathering materials and quickly finished his essay.
The second-year homework no longer posed much of a challenge to Albert, but he didn't mind exercising his brain a bit.
"Could you take a look at my Transfiguration Club manuscript?" Katrina sat down next to him and pushed a piece of parchment toward Albert.
"Just a moment." Albert gathered his things and picked up the parchment, quickly scanning through the content.
How should he put it?
It was an essay, but it certainly didn't qualify as an academic paper.
The main issue was that Katrina's knowledge wasn't sufficient, making it difficult for her to express her ideas clearly.
However, the fact that a second-year witch could write such an essay showed that Katrina had put in a lot of effort. But since the Transfiguration Today magazine catered to the entire British wizarding community, it required a higher standard...
"Considering your current level, this essay is already well-written. I suggest you finish studying the books on Transfiguration and expand your knowledge. Also, academic papers need to include some of your own insights and understanding of the subject, not just those of others," Albert offered his advice. He would be happy to help revise it, but he felt it wouldn't benefit Katrina much, and she might not appreciate it either.
"Oh!" Katrina looked a little disappointed but understood Albert's suggestion.
"You're amazing," Katrina said sincerely. "I heard from Professor McGonagall that Transfiguration Today is going to award you as the Most Promising Newcomer."
"Is there a prize?" Albert asked suddenly.
"I... I don't know," Katrina hesitated and shook her head.
"Here, you should have more confidence in yourself." Albert smiled and took out a few candies to give to Katrina. "Candy can help improve your mood. Consider it my way of sharing the joy your news brought me."
"Share the joy?"
Katrina unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth, stealing a glance at Albert. She felt that he didn't seem to care much about the Most Promising Newcomer award.
Of course, if there were a prize involved, perhaps he would feel differently.
What a strange guy, always concerned about money.
Indeed, Albert didn't care much about the award. Ever since he gained a bunch of old friends, writing letters had become akin to writing essays.
Fortunately, with the knowledge provided by the panel, they could maintain pleasant correspondence. Over the past few months of practicing this skill, Albert had accumulated more and more experience, which motivated him to continue writing letters.
Experience! Having experience brought motivation.
It was a bit pragmatic, but that was how it was.
It was a unique way of profiting, and it helped him become more familiar with magic.
Of course, the letters weren't always academic discussions. Occasionally, they would gossip about some magical world news or share some insider information.
During lunch, Fred and George whispered to each other mysteriously, but Albert didn't bother to pay attention. After finishing his meal, he returned directly to the dormitory, found the hidden Felix Felicis, and took a carefully measured sip, narrowing his eyes to savor the changes brought about by the potion.
"Mmm, this feeling is fantastic," Albert's mood improved even further. He put the potion away in his pocket and strode out of the common room with long strides, intending to find Hagrid, feeling confident that he could now successfully resolve the issue.
As Albert walked on the moving staircase, he spotted Professor Flitwick's back and suddenly had an idea. He changed his route and quickly caught up with the professor, greeting him.
"Professor Flitwick."
"Albert, is there something the matter?"
"Yes, it's about Hagrid. He's facing some trouble, and I was wondering if you could help keep it confidential," Albert pretended to hesitate.
"Hagrid?" Professor Flitwick looked at Albert with a puzzled expression. "I'm not very familiar with him. What's the problem? Oh, of course, I will definitely keep it a secret."
"Some time ago, Hagrid raised a three-headed dog in the Forbidden Forest. Later, the dog ran away," Albert looked around and lowered his voice.
"No wonder there were such rumors going around before," Professor Flitwick looked at Albert and smiled. "Are you asking me to help find that three-headed dog?"
"No, I want to inform Dumbledore about this matter," Albert shook his head. "I need a password to enter his office."
"I understand!" Professor Flitwick realized why Albert had sought him out. "You're in luck. The headmaster should still be at school. Follow me!"
Chapter end
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