Chapter 330: A Created Monster
Chapter 330: A Created Monster
"Cheers to our exam results!"
Under a beech tree by the shores of the Black Lake, Albert and his friends, freshly liberated from their end-of-term exams, clinked their chilled butterbeers, toasting to their freedom from the stifling classrooms and the specter of final tests.
With over half a cup of butterbeer in their systems, the oppressive June heat dissipated, and a gentle breeze off the lake brought a welcome coolness.
"I wonder how old that giant squid in the lake is," Fred mused, gazing at the massive creature sunbathing in the warm shallows.
"A few hundred years?"
"No way a regular animal could live that long!"
The trio turned to Albert, awaiting his verdict.
"Who knows?" Albert replied lazily, stretching out on a lounge chair conjured by a spell. "The giant squid has probably been around for ages. I suspect it might have been a pet kept by the four founders of Hogwarts in the Black Lake."
"That's possible," Lee Jordan chimed in, poking at one of the squid's tentacles with a twig, causing it to flick water and douse him. "I've heard it won't harm Hogwarts students. If you fall into the lake, it will even bring you back to a boat."
Fred and George couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Lee's soaked state.
"I don't buy that a regular animal could live that long," Fred said, his skepticism clear.
"Well, there are phoenixes," Albert reminded them.
In unison, the three rolled their eyes.
"Aside from phoenixes, then?"
"Maybe basilisks," Albert said mysteriously.
"What's a basilisk?"
"According to an ancient book in the Hogwarts library, 'In our land roam many fearsome beasts and monsters, but none are as bizarre and deadly as the basilisk, also known as the Serpent King. This serpent can grow to immense size and typically lives for several hundred years. It hatches from a rooster's egg, incubated by a toad.'"
Fred stared at Albert, astonished. "You actually memorized all that? Do you have too much free time on your hands?"
Albert was momentarily lost for words. "Maybe your choice of interests is questionable."
"It hatches from a rooster's egg, incubated by a...toad?" George echoed, puzzled.
"Yep, basilisks are magical creatures created by dark wizards, and they pack a punch," Albert continued, undeterred. "Legend has it that their gaze can kill, and anyone who meets their stare will instantly perish." Albert pretended to stare at them intently to illustrate his point.
"You're saying a basilisk can stare people to death?" The trio was clearly unconvinced.
"Maybe!" Albert shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. That's what I found out last time I was researching Acromantulas. They're a favorite snack for basilisks, by the way—their natural predators."
"So, you think the giant squid is also a magical creature created by wizards?" Lee Jordan caught on to Albert's train of thought.
"Yeah, I suspect the founders of Hogwarts might have created the giant squid as a magical guardian for the Black Lake, fortifying Hogwarts with an additional layer of defense," Albert mused. "If anyone attempted to cross the lake to attack Hogwarts, they'd be capsized by the giant squid and fed to the depths."
"Why do you think that?" George inquired, intrigued.
"Acromantulas are often created to guard witches' and wizards' dwellings or treasures, and other magically created monsters usually serve similar purposes," Albert explained.
"Alright, stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes," Fred interjected, rolling his eyes. "We know you're just pulling our legs."
"Have you noticed how the terrain around Hogwarts Castle is naturally defensible?" Albert continued, aware that his friends hadn't paid much attention to such matters. He was merely sharing his thoughts in a lighthearted manner.
"There are also countless statues and suits of armor within the castle. In times of need, a wizard can animate them with magic, turning them into loyal soldiers to fend off external threats."
"That does make some sense," the trio conceded half-heartedly.
"That era was known as the Dark Ages," Albert went on, unfazed by their lack of enthusiasm. "Can you imagine how perilous it must have been? There were likely even fewer wizards back then, and they lacked the structure we have today. If Muggles had attacked this castle, the wizards' numbers alone wouldn't have been enough to hold them off."
"Muggles attacking Hogwarts?" The trio was taken aback by the notion.
"Or perhaps it was other dark creatures or malevolent wizards," Albert continued, lightening his tone. "A millennium ago, the world wasn't as safe as it is now. But interestingly, I couldn't find any records of wars involving Hogwarts in historical documents."
"So, you were just spinning a yarn earlier?"
The trio rolled their eyes in unison, realizing they'd been duped again.
"It's just a theory!" Albert protested.
"Enough with the pointless theories," Fred interrupted, scanning their surroundings to ensure no one was within earshot before lowering his voice. "When are we going after Gryffindor's secret treasure?"
"Tomorrow morning!" Albert added, "And we'll fly there on brooms."
"Fly there on brooms?" The trio exchanged glances, having expected to trek through the Forbidden Forest. They hadn't anticipated Albert's plan to simply soar over it.
"What else were you expecting?" Albert countered. "Were you planning to brave the Acromantulas and fight your way through the forest? That would be downright foolish."
"Then what was the point of all those magic dueling and anti-Acromantula curse lessons?" Lee Jordan grumbled.
"To ensure our own survival, of course," Albert replied, outlining his strategy. "We'll fly to the general area indicated by the secret treasure clue and then lower our altitude to search more carefully."
"We were so naive back then, thinking we'd simply walk through the forest," George remarked, realizing how shortsighted they had been. Why hadn't they considered simply flying over the treetops?
"We didn't have brooms back then!" Fred protested.
"What about me?" Lee Jordan interjected anxiously. Of the four of them, he was the only one without a broom.
"You can ride with George," Fred suggested with a grin, passing the problem to his brother. He knew Albert wouldn't have the time or energy to babysit Lee during their excursion.
"You dolt, didn't Albert just get the Silver Arrow?" George boasted about his quick thinking. "Lee Jordan will ride a broom with us, of course."
"What if I suddenly fall off?" Lee Jordan worried, his voice laced with concern. "It's an antique, after all!"
"You won't," Albert reassured him casually. "And if you do, I'll catch you in an instant."
"You're not very good at comforting people, you know," Lee Jordan grumbled. "I really don't want to experience what it feels like to fall off a broom."
(End of Chapter)
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