Chapter 410: A Boat
Chapter 410: A Boat
The Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff took place in late November. Kenneth Towle approached Albert once more, hoping to collaborate on a gambling scheme. However, as expected, he was mercilessly rejected by Albert, who expressed his disinterest in such endeavors.
In truth, Albert didn't know who would emerge victorious, so he saw no point in taking unnecessary risks, especially when it involved potentially losing a substantial amount of Galleons. Who would willingly gamble away their hard-earned money?
Students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had little interest in organizing gambling activities, and after the incident with Flint and his companions from Slytherin, no one dared to test their luck again.
On the day of the match, the weather was dreadful. The sky was gloomy and gray, with a mix of rain and snow. The spectators braved the biting cold, shivering as they watched the game.
Albert met up with Isabelle, and the pair found a secluded spot away from the crowd to observe the match. For them, this gathering was more like a date than a sporting event.
The only thing that caught Albert's attention was Ravenclaw's Seeker, Qiu Zhang. This young woman had joined the Ravenclaw Quidditch team in her second year, but her broom, the Comet 260, didn't give her much of an advantage in terms of speed.
Nonetheless, it was undeniable that Qiu Zhang was a skilled flier.
"Are you interested in Qiu Zhang?" Isabelle asked, following Albert's gaze and smiling as she spoke.
"Her name is quite unique, and Zhang isn't a typical European surname." Albert remarked casually, unable to deny that Qiu was indeed a beautiful young woman.
"Would you like me to introduce you to her?" Isabelle suggested with a mischievous smile. "I'm sure she'd be delighted to meet the Gryffindor genius."
"We've already met at the Wizarding Card Club," Albert added. "I know all the members who joined the club."
"You don't need to explain yourself to me," Isabelle said, not taking offense. She snuggled closer to Albert, resting her head on his shoulder as she watched the match through her telescope.
The rain wasn't heavy, but the cold was biting.
Albert conjured a large umbrella that floated above them, shielding them from the elements. He also created bright blue flames in a jar to provide some warmth for the couple.
"Sometimes I find it hard to understand why people are so obsessed with Quidditch," Albert remarked as he watched the enthusiastic yet freezing crowd. He spoke softly, but as they were huddled close together, Isabelle could hear him clearly. "I mean, look at them, shivering in the cold just to watch a game."
"Probably out of boredom," Isabelle replied, her head still resting on Albert's shoulder as she observed the match through her telescope. "Wizards don't really have many entertaining pastimes."
"That's what I figured," Albert agreed.
He felt a bit sympathetic towards the players who were enduring the cold. This was one of the reasons he had no desire to join a Quidditch team. His enthusiasm for the sport didn't extend to suffering through such conditions.
Being a spectator was much more enjoyable. There was no need to endure the bitter cold when he could prepare hot drinks to share with Isabelle, snuggle close together, and cast warming charms on themselves. In Albert's opinion, watching the match was about pleasure and interest, not subjecting himself to misery. He certainly didn't relish the idea of shivering in the cold like the rest of the crowd—that was pure torture.
"The Wizarding Cards will be a hit," Isabelle said, offering her thoughts. "The card game is quite enjoyable, but you might want to add something extra to it."
"I've thought about that, too," Albert replied, his eyes briefly drifting to a familiar figure in the distance before turning back.
"What is it?" Isabelle asked, noticing his glance.
"Nothing," Albert said. "You know, when people use the Wizarding Cards, the cards themselves will shout out their names or certain special phrases. But that requires a lot of time and effort to set up."
"I can help you with the design if you'd like," Isabelle offered, though she knew that Albert was exceptionally talented and resourceful in many areas. She figured he probably already had plans for the cards but simply hadn't had the time to implement them yet.
However, she wanted to be of assistance to Albert wherever she could. Even as they enjoyed the match, they were both busy working on their respective tasks for the Problem Solvers Club.
In the end, Ravenclaw emerged victorious, thanks to Qiu Zhang's swift and decisive capture of the Snitch, despite Hufflepuff having a talented Seeker of their own.
Hmm, would they end up together? Albert found himself wondering about Qiu Zhang and Cedric Diggory's future relationship.
With his meddling, there was a chance that Diggory might actually survive. By the time they reached their seventh year, Harry might not even be a factor in the equation. The idea of a lovesick savior amused him.
"What are you smiling about?" Isabelle asked, noticing the faint smile playing on Albert's lips.
"I was just thinking of something funny," Albert replied, pausing in his tracks and looking at Isabelle. "Do you think the future can be changed?"
"It's difficult," Isabelle acknowledged.
"I know it's challenging, but perhaps some interesting variations could occur," Albert said mysteriously.
"Can't you make a prophecy about it?" Isabelle asked.
"I can," Albert acknowledged.
"Then you should know that the future is hard to change," Isabelle pointed out.
"Yes, that's true," Albert agreed with a smile. "But as long as it hasn't happened yet, anything could still transpire."
"That makes sense," Isabelle conceded. "By the way, can you really do crystal ball divination?"
"I rarely use it," Albert said, taking advantage of the situation, "but I've already foreseen that you'll marry me in the end."
"What about her?" Isabelle asked suddenly, a playful glint in her eye.
"What do you mean, 'what about her'?" Albert was momentarily confused by the question. Who was she referring to?
Then it clicked, and he realized Isabelle was teasing him. Especially when she seemed to take delight in his flustered expression, he quickly recovered and replied, "I don't know what she'll do, but if you don't mind, I certainly won't mind having two boats to rock."
"Two boats?" Isabelle feigned confusion for a moment before understanding dawned on her.
"You already have two boats?" she asked, a hint of mock outrage in her voice.
"No, just this one boat—yours," Albert replied with a grin.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
