https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-362-Secrets-on-the-Fourth-Floor-of-the-Castle/12526557/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-364-The-Candid-Professor-Trelawney/12526559/
Chapter 363: The Reason That Cannot Be Mentioned
Chapter 363: The Reason That Cannot Be Mentioned
The next morning, Albert woke up to find a fluffy object by his head.
The next moment, he was face to face with a pair of vertical pupils.
Albert blinked and saw the face of Tom, the large cat curled up by his pillow. He sighed helplessly and sat up in bed.
"Tom, get back to your cat bed," Albert said as he picked up the yawning fat cat and placed him back in the special little bed he had prepared. He wouldn't allow his cat to wander around, get dirty, and then snuggle up with him.
"What's going on?" Fred and the others had also woken up and couldn't help but smile as they watched Albert scolding his cat.
"Is your cat planning to attend classes with you?" Fred, now dressed in his robe, teased as he looked at the cat by Albert's feet.
"Yeah, I plan to let Tom get familiar with the surroundings today," Albert replied. He didn't intend to let Tom roam freely just yet; he wanted to take things one step at a time and not rush it.
After preparing breakfast and fresh water for Tom, Albert opened the box that had been enlarged with the Undetectable Extension Charm and then closed the room door before heading to the common room with Fred and the others.
"Have you met Harry Potter yet?" Angelina approached them with a smile and greeted the group.
"Is this the latest way to say hello?" Albert joked.
"This morning, I've heard that phrase more than anything else," Shan Na chimed in.
"How do you feel about it?" George asked with a smile.
"Feelings? What feelings?" Angelina asked, confused.
"About Harry Potter, of course!" George exclaimed.
"He's a bit different from what I imagined," Angelina said to George. "And that red-haired boy next to Potter must be your brother, Ron!"
"You're talking about Ron, yes," Fred nodded in acknowledgment. "Actually, we first met Harry on the train."
"Did you see the scar on his forehead?" Alia asked curiously.
"Of course, we did!" George replied proudly.
The morning's conversation revolved entirely around Harry Potter and his lightning-shaped scar.
On their way to the Great Hall, they saw a group of students crowding around Harry Potter like obsessed fans.
Albert noticed some students following closely, and some even walked past Harry Potter, only to turn back and stare intently at his face, eager to catch a glimpse of the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
"What do you think they're trying to do?" Lee Jordan frowned slightly as he watched Harry and Ron disappear around a corner, clearly not heading toward the Great Hall.
"I think they might be lost," Albert said with a smile to the group. "If you're really interested in Harry Potter, you can pretend to be kind seniors and offer to show them the way."
"Do you think they're really lost?"
"I remember when I first came to Hogwarts, I had to ask someone to show me the way to the Great Hall. If they want, there will surely be a bunch of enthusiastic people willing to help," Albert said, raising an eyebrow.
Was this savior of the wizarding world just shy, or was he lacking in intelligence? When one is lost, isn't asking for directions the most sensible thing to do?
The group exchanged glances, but no one stepped up to play the role of a kind senior. Perhaps they were too embarrassed, or perhaps there were other reasons.
Not long after they arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast, Professor McGonagall came to distribute the third-year course schedules.
George looked at his schedule and sighed, "The workload seems heavier this year."
"Don't be silly, your workload isn't as heavy as Albert's, and we're in our third year now. You can't expect it to be the same as before, can you?" Shan Na glanced at George and reminded him, "I heard that quite a few fifth-year students had mental breakdowns last semester due to the pressure of their studies."
"Do you think Albert feels any academic pressure?" Lee Jordan scoffed. "We'd all have mental breakdowns before he even starts to feel the strain. Something wrong, Fred? You don't agree?"
"Albert's schedule is quite peculiar," Fred frowned as he asked, "Why do you have to take two classes simultaneously?"
The others gathered around as well, looking at the course schedule that Professor McGonagall had given Albert, their brows furrowed in confusion.
"Nine o'clock, you need to attend Divination and Arithmancy?"
"That's when the Polyjuice Potion comes in handy!" Albert replied nonchalantly, brushing it off with a laugh.
The group exchanged puzzled glances, all eyes on Albert.
"How does that work?" Angelina asked curiously. "Can you show us?"
"That's a secret that only those who take all the electives would know. I promised Professor McGonagall that I wouldn't tell anyone." Albert raised a thumb to his lips and whispered, "If any of you find out, I'll have to cast the Forgetfulness Charm on you."
"That's unfair; you won't even tell us," George grumbled. They all knew that when Albert said he would keep something confidential, he would most likely not share it with them.
Just then, they noticed the bustling crowd surging in their direction, and the Great Hall filled with hushed whispers. Everyone turned to see what was happening and soon realized the cause of the commotion.
None other than the famous Harry Potter had arrived in the Great Hall, and true to his reputation as a superstar in the British magical community, his entrance caused quite a stir.
"Should we go get an autograph?" Albert asked with a smile.
"Do you think he still remembers what the Mystery Man looks like?" Alia whispered.
Albert was left speechless. Why did they all seem to think that Harry Potter had his childhood memories?
"Actually, I'm more curious why everyone insists on calling him the 'Mystery Man' instead of Voldemort," Shan Na said, voicing her confusion. As someone born to wizarding parents in the Muggle world, she didn't fully understand the wizarding community yet, nor could she comprehend why they revered Harry Potter as the savior. While she had heard of Voldemort, she couldn't fathom the extent of their fear.
The reactions of the others to the name 'Mystery Man' were peculiar.
Fred and George were stunned into silence, their faces reflecting their shock, while Lee Jordan shuddered involuntarily, causing the sausage he was about to bite into to fall back onto his plate.
Alia looked around anxiously, as if worried that Voldemort might overhear them.
"Don't say that name!" Angelina exclaimed, breathless with fear.
Although Shan Na understood their fear of Voldemort, she, too, couldn't quite grasp the intensity of their reactions. She looked at Albert, seeking clarification.
Albert, however, seemed to be the only one unfazed by the name, appearing almost indifferent as if he had heard nothing more than a trivial name.
"The name is enchanted," Albert explained quietly, noticing Shan Na's curious gaze. "Imagine that when you inadvertently utter that name, the Mystery Man or his minions will instantly know your whereabouts. They will Apparate and surround you, capturing or killing you."
Shan Na opened her mouth but remained silent.
"It was a time when order almost collapsed, and the Mystery Man unleashed a terrifying reign of black terror that struck fear into the hearts of all wizards," Albert continued.
Fred let out a strange cry of protest, clearly displeased with Albert's choice of words.
Ignoring Fred's protest, Albert went on, "For us, that name carries that weight. For the wizards of the British magical community, it has become synonymous with the black terror. That's why they refer to him as the Mystery Man or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' to express their reverence and fear."
Shan Na nodded, only partially understanding.
"You can think of the Mystery Man as a serial killer," Albert tried to explain further, using a different analogy. "When you mention his name, he will immediately appear and kill you, and no one, not even the police, can catch him or dare to try."
A hush fell over the group, and the revered Mystery Man, in Albert's description, took on the likeness of a serial killer. While it made a strange sort of sense, they couldn't shake the peculiar feeling it evoked.
"No wonder everyone admires Harry Potter so much," Shan Na said, beginning to understand why Harry Potter was so famous. She figured that if she were in their shoes, she, too, would hold him in high esteem.
After all, Harry Potter had rescued them from a dire situation, and being hailed as a savior was well-deserved.
(End of Chapter)
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