https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-298-The-First-Wizarding-Card-Game-Tournament/12526478/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-300-The-Incident-in-the-Girls-Bathroom/12526480/
Chapter 299: An Illegal Assembly?
Chapter 299: An Illegal Assembly?
As the first-ever Wizarding Card game tournament commenced, Albert diligently took on the role of referee, ensuring the event proceeded smoothly.
With Fred, George, and Lee Jordan occupied with their tasks, he felt it only right to step in and maintain order.
The first round of eliminations was a cringe-worthy affair, to say the least.
The participants, from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, displayed a mutual unfamiliarity with the rules, leading to a rather embarrassing display of novice gameplay. Their lack of understanding resulted in numerous elementary mistakes.
Albert watched on, feeling second-hand embarrassment, occasionally fighting the urge to facepalm.
The onlooking crowd, however, seemed to be enjoying the show, whispering amongst themselves and pointing out every blunder. Some even went as far as to suggest that they themselves could win the tournament if the competition remained this lackluster.
A particularly vocal onlooker took it upon himself to loudly point out each player's errors, mocking them for their apparent lack of comprehension of the game's rules.
The Hufflepuff student, flushed with embarrassment, eventually conceded and disappeared into the crowd, unable to bear the whispered ridicule any longer.
"What is all this?" Albert shook his head as he watched the dejected student leave. The Hufflepuff student had likely entered the tournament on a whim, with little to no prior experience playing the game. Not only was his skill level subpar, but he also seemed oblivious to the rules, leaving Albert perplexed as to his motivation for participating.
His opponent, a Gryffindor student, turned to Albert and asked, "Did I win?"
"Yes, your opponent has forfeited. You advance," Albert replied, making a mark on the parchment before him and calling for the next pair of contestants to step forward. He then proceeded to reshuffle the cards in the deck.
The eliminations progressed faster than Albert had anticipated, and it became evident that a significant number of participants were unfamiliar with the game.
There were even moments that elicited laughter from the crowd due to the players' blunders.
"You should have played that other spell card; you would have won for sure!" someone blurted out, unintentionally causing one of the players to lose the match.
More than half of the audience turned to glare at the speaker.
"Please keep it down and refrain from interfering with the game. It's basic etiquette to respect the players," Albert said sternly, directing a sharp look at the upperclassman who had spoken out of turn.
The student froze, his face reddening as he realized his mistake. He didn't dare argue, knowing that doing so would only make him appear more rude and disrespectful.
"Everyone, please refrain from disrupting the game," Albert addressed the surrounding crowd. "Also, for the previous match, we'll rewind three turns and resume from there."
As the eliminations continued, Albert noticed that most students were indeed novices when it came to the card game. Matches rarely lasted more than a few minutes, and the more skilled players consistently emerged victorious in quick succession.
The finalists, unsurprisingly, turned out to be individuals that Albert was familiar with—those who frequently socialized and played together.
The most captivating match of the tournament was undoubtedly the showdown between Sana and Katrina, which drew a large crowd of eager spectators.
Albert momentarily abandoned his referee duties to join the audience, captivated by the intense competition.
In the end, Katrina lost.
"What a fantastic match!" Albert initiated a round of applause, and soon, others followed suit, recognizing the impressive display of skill.
Katrina, however, was visibly frustrated. She had expected to claim the championship with ease, only to fall short due to her deck running out of cards first.
If only she had endured one more round, she was certain she could have defeated Sana.
But it was too late; she had lost and was eliminated in the first round.
"Looks like you've got some competition, Albert," George said with a smile to Sana. "You're the top contender for the championship now."
Albert was speechless. Was it really necessary to hype him up like this right at the start of the tournament? He couldn't help but worry about potential backlash.
"What's going on here? Break it up! Stop crowding around!"
An untimely voice rang out from the outskirts of the crowd, and Filch pushed his way through, his beady eyes narrowing suspiciously as he tried to discern the nature of the gathering.
"Yes, what's the meaning of this?" Albert inquired, his brow furrowed.
"I've received a tip-off that there's an illegal assembly taking place here," Filch declared, his eyes darting between Fred, George, and the others with a gleeful glint.
"And you lot, disperse immediately! Stop loitering!" he added, addressing the surrounding students.
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, recognizing the potential threat that Filch posed, quickly made their way over, their expressions grim. They knew that Filch's presence here boded no good, and if he insisted on labeling their gathering as an 'illegal assembly,' they had little recourse. Their carefully organized tournament would be reduced to a joke, an outcome they vehemently wanted to avoid.
"It's fine," Albert assured them, turning to face Filch with a calm demeanor. "An illegal assembly, you say? Are you certain your information is correct, or have you been misled?"
"What are you implying?" Filch retorted sharply, his eyes narrowing further.
"The Wizarding Card Club was established with the explicit approval of Headmaster Dumbledore," Albert explained with a smile. "Our assembly is perfectly legal and has been from the outset. If you don't believe me, here's the headmaster's signed authorization."
Albert reached into his pocket and produced a roll of parchment, which he then handed to Filch.
Filch took the parchment and scanned its contents, his face falling as he realized his mistake. He resembled a child who had just been informed that Halloween had been canceled.
"The Wizarding Card Club was formed with the headmaster's consent. Whoever gave you this information was clearly trying to stir up trouble," Albert stated, fixing Filch with an unwavering gaze as he tried to discern the identity of his informant.
Filch, seething with frustration, stormed off.
The dramatic turn of events became a topic of excited conversation among the students, who relished the rare occasion of Filch being proven wrong.
"When did you prepare that parchment?" Fred whispered, impressed.
"Of course, it's genuine," Albert replied, glancing at Fred. "My words are truthful, and so is the headmaster's signature. This club promotes camaraderie among students—why would he deny his approval?"
In truth, Albert had prepared the parchment as a precaution against potential interference from certain professors, though he hadn't anticipated Filch to be the first to cause trouble.
After all, some individuals had a penchant for stooping to underhanded tactics.
"Who gave Filch that information?" Lee Jordan demanded, his face darkening as he contemplated seeking retribution.
The first-ever Wizarding Card tournament held significant meaning for the four friends, and they refused to let anyone sabotage it or turn it into a laughingstock.
"It doesn't matter," Albert said, placing a hand on Lee Jordan's shoulder. "Let's forget about it for now. You have a job to do—the first round of eliminations isn't over yet."
"If I find out who's responsible for this," Fred gritted his teeth, "they'll regret ever messing with us."
Albert's foresight had saved them from a potentially disastrous situation.
(End of Chapter)
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