Chapter 293: A Bunch of Troublemakers
Chapter 293: A Bunch of Troublemakers
It wasn't yet curfew when Albert left the Room of Requirement.
He spoke the password in front of the Fat Lady's portrait and slipped through the revealed passage into the Gryffindor common room. At this time, most people had already returned to their dormitories to rest.
"Where have you been?" Hannah asked in surprise as she saw Albert coming in from outside.
"The kitchen. Do you want anything?"
Albert shook the bag in his hand, which contained cream cookies.
"Thanks." Hannah took two cream cookies and made herself a cup of hot cocoa. She chatted with Albert about some of the challenges she was facing with her studies, and then they both returned to their respective dormitories to rest.
"You're back! We were just discussing how we were going to carry you out of the Room of Requirement later," Fred said as he and the others, who had been playing cards, turned their heads toward the door. Seeing that it was Albert, they looked a little disappointed.
What a hope for something to happen to him! "I'm fine, and I'm sorry to disappoint you," Albert said, a vein popping on his forehead in mild irritation. He decided not to share the snacks he had gotten from the kitchen with them.
"So, you succeeded?" Lee Jordan was more curious about how the thing Albert had been working on turned out, supposedly a powerful self-defense weapon.
"Yes, it turned out quite well."
Albert took a small cage out of his pocket and placed it on the table.
"What's this?"
"A rat cage."
"You're joking, right?" Lee Jordan raised an eyebrow.
"Idiot, it's the Undetectable Extension Charm," Fred interjected, as he had seen this kind of magic before.
"You actually mastered the Undetectable Extension Charm? That spell is supposed to be extremely difficult," George said in disbelief. "By the way, I thought you were practicing the Patronus Charm?"
"It's something Professor Snape taught me. I haven't mastered getting my Patronus to speak yet, but I've picked this up." As he spoke, Albert took the unconscious mouse out of the small cage.
"Where did you get the mouse from?"
"I caught it in a corner of the castle where junk is piled up. It wasn't easy." Albert poked the mouse with his finger.
"What's wrong with the mouse?"
"I don't know. I guess it's dead," Albert said. He picked up his wand and began to cast the Reviving Spell on the mouse, curious to know if it was truly dead, cursed, or just unconscious.
"Your creations won't be dangerous, will they?" Lee Jordan asked in mock horror.
"I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe no. I'm testing its power," Albert replied, realizing that the Reviving Spell had no effect, which meant the effect of the Banshee's Lament was quite extraordinary.
"I think this mouse is dead," Fred said, poking the mouse with his finger curiously.
"No, otherwise, why would Albert bother casting spells on it?" Lee Jordan shook his head.
"This... this isn't Percy's Scabbers, is it?" George, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked.
"Of course not," Albert replied. "Speaking of which, isn't Percy's mouse about to kick the bucket soon?"
"It looks pretty alive and well to me," Fred said in surprise. "Can mice usually live this long?"
"How should I know!" Albert, of course, knew that a mouse couldn't possibly live that long, but a person could. However, that wasn't something he needed to worry about right now. He took out a small packet of dark-colored salt from his pocket.
"What's that?"
"Just salt. Help me pry open the mouse's mouth."
Albert signaled for the three of them to come over and help.
It took them some time to get the unfortunate mouse to swallow the salt.
Before long, the exhausted mouse finally came to, but it looked miserable and weak.
"It actually works," Fred said, his eyes shifting back to the small packet of discolored salt. He curiously examined it before pinching a bit and putting it in his mouth.
Fred's face immediately contorted, and he spat out the salt, crouching down as he continued to dry heave. "What the hell is this thing?"
"It's just processed salt, similar to a potion in effect. Speaking of which, don't just go around eating things you don't know," Albert said, giving Fred a sideways glance. He couldn't help but admire his audacity.
"Come on, show us your masterpiece!" George urged, curious about what Albert had been working on.
"I'll let you guys try it out some other time. For now, I don't want to pass out mysteriously," Albert said, having no intention of letting them use the Banshee's Lament in the dormitory. He knew exactly what kind of people they were, and he was sure that if any of them got their hands on it, they would eagerly open it and not only harm themselves but also drag everyone else down with them.
As it turned out, Albert's decision was a wise one.
The next afternoon, in the Room of Requirement.
Albert looked at the three people lying on the ground with a helpless expression.
Fortunately, he had the foresight to wear earplugs before giving the Banshee's Lament to Fred.
As expected, that rascal Fred immediately opened the Banshee's Lament as soon as he got his hands on it.
The three of them, without any ear protection, had suddenly collapsed.
Albert bent down, picked up the Banshee's Lament from the ground, checked that it was undamaged, and then closed it again. He let out a soft sigh as he looked at his roommates sprawled out on the floor.
Unfazed by the danger, they courted death, and now look where it's gotten you!
Albert attempted the revival spell on the three of them, but to no avail, just like with the little mouse. He then took out some prepared table salt from his pocket, pried open Lee Jordan's mouth, and fed it to him, followed by a small cup of water, making sure he swallowed it by massaging his throat.
Afterward, he cast the spell again to restore his vitality.
"Ow, my head! What happened? Ugh, what's this stuff?" Lee Jordan rubbed his head, having bumped it when he fell. He started dry heaving as if feeling very unwell.
"That idiot Fred used this thing, and you all passed out because of him." Albert waved the Banshee's Lament in his hand, offering a casual explanation.
Lee Jordan's face twisted in anger, and he looked like he wanted to kick Fred. It was all that troublemaker's fault for causing this mess and dragging all three of them down with him. No wonder Albert hadn't wanted to let them try it last night; he must have known something like this would happen.
Lee Jordan glared at Albert with a grudge-filled look as he helped the Weasley brothers regain consciousness. The two of them were also in bad shape, with bruises and injuries that left them dry heaving.
George was the unluckiest, with a big bump on his head.
"Did you know about this beforehand?!" Fred asked in a sullen tone. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"I told you last night!" Albert snapped. "But you guys didn't listen. You had to learn the hard way."
"You did this on purpose!"
"Let's teach him a lesson!" (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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