Chapter 393: Unheeded Protests
Chapter 393: Unheeded Protests
Albert and Isabelle's Hogsmeade date, despite a few minor hiccups, had been largely satisfying, and their relationship was now firmly established. They were headed straight for the altar after graduation.
Before returning to Hogwarts Castle, the couple indulged in one last shopping spree at Honeyduke's Sweetshop.
As for Katrina's issue, Albert had completely brushed it aside. He trusted that Isabelle would handle the matter between the McDougall sisters herself.
When Albert next encountered Katrina, he noticed a peculiar look in her eyes as she glanced at him, but he didn't pay it much mind.
After all, their relationship was barely even that of friends, let alone something more.
Not long after the Hogsmeade weekend, tales of Albert's romantic exploits began to circulate throughout Hogwarts School. Most of the girls were intrigued by the news of Albert and Isabelle's date, but he remained unaffected by the gossip. After all, such rumors tended to blow over quickly, and this was no exception.
There was no way Jordan Leigh Jordan, the notorious gossip and rumor-monger, could keep his big mouth shut, especially when it came to spreading tales about Albert.
Fred and George were also disappointed that they hadn't gotten the chance to witness any intimate moments between Albert and Isabelle. They bemoaned their bad luck in missing such a rare opportunity to tease Albert, as situations like this didn't come around often.
Even if they wanted to catch Albert in a compromising position, they had no such luck. During their free time, Albert barely interacted privately with Isabelle, let alone go on dates.
At the very least, the Weasley brothers couldn't find any evidence of their dates through the Marauder's Map.
Of course, Fred and George wouldn't be able to find him, as the Room of Requirement didn't appear on the map.
However, their constant surveillance of the map revealed a big secret: there were two Alberts simultaneously present in Hogwarts Castle.
Intrigued, they approached Albert for an explanation, only to be rebuffed.
"I've already said that I'll only tell you if you get Outstanding in all your subjects. Additionally, I promised Professor McGonagall that I'd keep this secret. If you're that curious, I suggest you ask Professor McGonagall," Albert replied, feeling annoyed. He wondered how they had the time to pay such close attention to his date with Isabelle. He decided to temporarily take custody of the Marauder's Map to prevent further trouble from the mischievous twins.
"You can't do that! Without the Marauder's Map, we won't be able to pull a prank on Filch tonight!" Fred and George protested vehemently.
"Take a few days off from pranks!" Albert declared, ignoring their protests as he tucked the map into his pocket.
After some grumbling and complaining, the three of them dropped the topic of the two Alberts. Some things were better left unasked, and it was clear that Albert was willing to use the Forgetfulness Charm on them if they probed further. They remembered Albert's warning about the matter, and it was obvious that it wasn't as simple as a mere duplication charm.
Albert also began studying the Marauder's Map, realizing that it was more complex than just casting a tracking spell on a piece of parchment. A simple tracking spell would gradually lose its effectiveness over time due to the magic dissipating.
In essence, the map worked by casting spells simultaneously to amplify their power and enhance their effects.
A common example of this principle was seen in dragon tamers' attempts to subdue dragons. It required over ten wizards casting the Stunning Spell together to penetrate the dragon's tough hide and render it unconscious.
The stronger the magic, the longer it could persist, as exemplified by the Sorting Hat.
The Marauder's Map involved more than just a tracking spell; it also employed magic to conceal the map's contents. The most remarkable aspect, however, was the advanced tracking spell cast by the four creators onto the parchment.
The advanced use of most spells went beyond their basic form and focused more on how they were utilized.
Albert had once tried to erase his presence from the map using a shielding charm, but he had failed.
The shielding charm was primarily used to conceal a wizard's presence, making them undetectable to tracking magic. As a result, it was particularly effective against owl messengers, preventing them from locating wizards who had cast this charm.
Developing an advanced application of the shielding charm might be able to counter the advanced tracking spell on the map, but Albert didn't have the time to devote to this endeavor.
Albert suspected that Nicolas Flamel might be adept at using advanced shielding charms. Over the centuries, the Flamels had successfully hidden their existence, evading detection by other wizards.
However, Albert dared not write to Nicolas, not wanting to bring them any unnecessary trouble. In fact, even if he did send a letter, it wouldn't reach Nicolas due to the shielding charms they had in place.
He wished they had a two-way mirror to communicate, as it would have allowed him to stay in touch with Nicolas and seek his wisdom on alchemy and other matters.
In Albert's eyes, the Flamels were invaluable repositories of knowledge.
With the Marauder's Map in his possession, Albert occasionally kept an eye on Quirrell's movements. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor seemed to be lingering on the fourth floor, still struggling to get past Hagrid's three-headed dog.
As for the other professors' traps, Quirrell had likely already started gathering information about them discreetly.
"Soon, it will be Halloween!"
Albert had no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the 'Golden Trio' of saviors. He believed that without the reliable help of Hermione, Harry Potter might accidentally meet his end on any given day.
The savior, Harry Potter, must not fall, as he had to bear the brunt of Voldemort's pressure.
What would the future hold if Harry Potter, the savior, were to die unexpectedly?
Would he, Albert, have to face Voldemort himself?
While Albert considered himself lucky, he had no desire to take on such a risky endeavor. Voldemort's wand might show mercy to Harry, but it certainly wouldn't spare him.
If he were unlucky enough to be hit by the Avada Kedavra curse, he would perish instantly.
In the face of death, his system and his status as a time-traveler were meaningless.
Avoiding danger was the true nature of a time-traveler.
Indeed, confronting Voldemort was a task best left to the savior, Harry Potter.
As for himself, his role was to cheer on the savior from the sidelines and perhaps send Voldemort off with some paper money to speed his journey to the afterlife.
(End of Chapter)
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