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Chapter 297: Inflated Ego
Chapter 297: Inflated Ego
Within the confines of the 'Room of Requirement', an intense battle was unfolding.
A trio consisting of Fred, George, and Lee Jordan was on the offensive against Albert, unleashing a relentless barrage of spells. However, to their dismay, Albert deflected every single one with his expertly cast Protego charm.
Albert stood amidst a dazzling display of spell lights, reflecting the incoming curses with his Protego charm, causing them to ricochet wildly around the room.
Compared to Albert's composed defense, the attacking trio looked far more disheveled as they dodged and weaved to avoid their own spells rebounding at them.
The intense practice of the Protego charm over the past half month had paid off, and Albert could now cast it swiftly with a mere twitch of his lips. Of course, the Skill Panel had been instrumental in accelerating his progress.
Although he hadn't yet mastered non-verbal spells, Albert's adeptness with the Protego charm was evident as he effortlessly deflected the trio's onslaught.
However, this pace couldn't be sustained for long.
As the saying goes:
"Success comes in a flash, then wanes, and finally exhausts."
And so it seemed to be playing out.
What Albert found regrettable was his inability to control the angle at which the Protego charm deflected the incoming spells. If only he could direct them back at the casters; that would be truly impressive.
Before Albert could pause to catch his breath, the trio wisely ceased their attack.
"Congratulations, you've gotten even stronger," George grunted as he clambered to his feet, the only one of the three to be taken down by his own rebounded spell.
"I'm not the only one who's improved," Albert replied, rubbing his lips. No matter how nimble one's tongue was, chanting the Protego charm dozens of times in quick succession would leave anyone needing a breather.
"Oh, come off it," Fred grumbled. "We know we're just here to be your sparring partners."
Magic training? All nonsense.
In their eyes, they were being used as free sparring partners by Albert, especially now that he had become so adept at the Protego charm. This realization had dawned on them during their fruitless attempts to break through his defenses.
What frustrated them the most was that even their combined efforts failed to overcome Albert, and they were the ones left scrambling to avoid their own rebounding spells.
"What do you mean, sparring partners?" Albert retorted irritably. "As if you haven't gained anything from this."
If anything, Fred, George, and Lee had gained more from these sessions than Albert.
After all, their fundamentals were lacking, and the benefits they reaped from this practice far outweighed Albert's own improvements.
However, the events of the past few moments had left them feeling a little disgruntled.
"I'm the one who should be your sparring partner," Albert said with a straight face.
His words were met with a chorus of boos from the trio.
"I don't know how you do it," Lee Jordan muttered.
Deflecting their barrage of obstruction curses with the Protego charm was no easy feat.
Speaking of obstruction curses, the trio had cast them countless times over the past few days, honing their skill.
Now, they could cast them silently with ease, and the potency of their spells had increased significantly.
"Haven't you noticed my lips are about to cramp?" Albert said, slightly annoyed. "My goal is to cast the Protego charm non-verbally."
"Oh, give it a rest," Lee Jordan interjected. "I heard from others that non-verbal spells are only taught in the sixth-year advanced classes. You have to hold your breath while practicing, like you're constipated for days." He, too, had invested considerable effort into mastering this skill and had made significant progress.
"And doesn't the power of the spell weaken when cast non-verbally?" George added.
"Non-verbal spells allow for faster casting," Albert countered, unperturbed. "In critical moments, you won't have the luxury of chanting aloud, and as you saw just now, chanting too many spells can be exhausting."
More importantly, Albert possessed a strong natural magical core, and his Protego charm was equally robust. Even with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan casting obstruction curses simultaneously, they couldn't breach his defenses.
The trio had attempted this very thing, only to have their spells rebound off Albert's Protego charm. They were lucky to have dodged out of the way in time; otherwise, they would have been in a world of hurt.
Changing the subject, Fred asked, "When are we going into the Forbidden Forest to search for Gryffindor's secret treasure?" He was eager to resume their quest for the legendary treasure.
With Albert's help, their chances of success would increase exponentially, and the endeavor would be much safer.
"Not yet," Albert cut him off. "At least, not with your current abilities. Do you really think you're ready to venture into the Forbidden Forest?" He shook his head in dismay. "Keep practicing your spells, and we'll plan to go treasure hunting in the Forest after our exams are over."
"After the exams?" George exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Don't be ridiculous," Albert said, rolling his eyes. "We're not going there to die. I'll make sure to prepare adequately and ensure our safety. It would be a waste to die mysteriously in the Forbidden Forest."
"But..." Lee Jordan began, looking glum, before ultimately conceding to Albert's viewpoint.
After all, their housemate had always been level-headed, and the Forbidden Forest was notorious for its dangers, including—but not limited to—the Acromantulas.
"Once we master the Spider Repelling Charm, we should be able to handle those Acromantulas with ease," Fred mused. All four of them had already learned this charm and simply needed to practice it more to become proficient and unafraid of the giant spiders.
"The real danger of Acromantulas lies in their ability to ambush," Albert explained, shooting Fred a disapproving glance. "Once you've mastered the Spider Repelling Charm, we'll work on enhancing your skills. Then, I'll see if I can find a suitable place for us to practice our spells."
The trio looked dejected, having hoped that Albert would take them into the Forbidden Forest during the Easter holidays to search for Gryffindor's treasure.
"Never embark on an adventure without proper preparation," Albert advised as he holstered his wand.
"Gryffindors are never lacking in courage," George asserted.
"You call that courage?" Albert retorted, exasperated. "If your luck holds, then yes, it's courage. But if your luck runs out and you end up dead, it's just stupidity and recklessness."
"Well, your luck seems pretty good to me!" The twins exchanged a glance and spoke in unison.
"My luck is good?" Albert's face twitched involuntarily.
Did he really have good luck?
Perhaps, but Albert attributed his successes more to his meticulous preparations. Even when faced with challenges, he always had a solution up his sleeve.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"You dare call yourself unlucky when your luck is clearly sky-high?" Fred's eyes narrowed, and he nearly pointed an accusatory finger at Albert.
In his opinion, he had never encountered someone so shamelessly fortunate.
As far as he knew, Albert had never lost a bet—a testament to his outrageous luck.
"Ahem, well, even with good luck, one should still prepare thoroughly," Albert said, unable to fathom the trio's mindset. Did they not comprehend the dangers of the Forbidden Forest? Or had their brief foray into magic inflated their egos?
(End of Chapter)
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