Chapter 528: Suspicions
Chapter 528: Suspicions
In the end, Albert was unable to stay the night at Isabelle's as he had hoped. To be fair, he hadn't really expected to be able to stay over in the first place.
It just wasn't the right time yet.
Isabelle's mother, Mrs. McDougal, was similar to Albert's mother, Daisy, in that they were both career-oriented women. If there was one difference, it was that Mrs. McDougal wasn't particularly skilled at household chores. The seafood feast they had enjoyed that day had been prepared by the McDougal sisters together.
They sat around the table chatting about trivial matters.
It was a normal meal, and it was clear that Mrs. McDougal approved of Albert, especially when he mentioned that his parents were also quite fond of Isabelle.
As for Albert's Muggle-born status, Mrs. McDougal didn't seem to mind, and the dinner proceeded peacefully and casually, with both parties leaving a good impression on each other.
Finally, Mrs. McDougal used her connections to connect the two fireplaces, allowing Albert to return home via the Floo Network before ten o'clock.
The dinner had turned out differently from what Albert had expected, but everything went smoothly.
"Wizarding magic is truly incredible," Herbert remarked as he steadied Albert, who had almost stumbled out of the fireplace.
"How did it go over there?" Daisy asked.
Brushing the soot off his clothes, Albert picked up Tom, who had curiously wandered over, and made his way to the sofa. "Everything went well," he replied.
"You three are acting rather strangely," Nia remarked, eyeing the trio suspiciously. She sensed they were keeping something from her.
"She agreed to help with the beauty potion research," Albert said, changing the subject. "Perhaps we'll have success one day."
"Aren't wizarding beauty potions supposed to alter one's appearance?" Daisy quickly picked up the thread of the conversation, recalling the French wizard they had met during their ski resort vacation.
"Magic potions are wondrous things," Albert explained casually. "If they can grant immortality, then surely they can preserve one's youth as well. The success rate is probably quite high, and they're quite profitable, too."
Nia had no interest in so-called beauty potions and continued to stare intently at Albert, as if trying to discern something hidden within him.
Most of the remaining time was spent discussing similar topics, especially the impending destruction of the Philosopher's Stone, which Daisy and Herbert struggled to understand. They could only express their regret.
As Albert and his family chatted, the McDougal ladies also engaged in their own conversation after finishing the dishes and sitting back down at the table.
"Your boyfriend seems rather extraordinary," Mrs. McDougal remarked. "He doesn't quite strike me as a Muggle-born wizard."
Sensing her daughter's gaze, Mrs. McDougal quickly added, "I'm not saying he's not good enough; he's just very unusual. No Muggle-born wizard could achieve what he has, especially… Well, there's no denying that Albert is incredibly talented, but to have friendly correspondences with renowned wizards is no easy feat."
"Does that matter to you, Mother?" Isabelle asked softly, gazing into her teacup.
"No, I'm merely curious," Mrs. McDougal replied, shaking her head. "Even for the most gifted wizard, it's not common to be well-received among a group of famous wizards."
The wizarding community was actually quite exclusive; sometimes, even with exceptional talent, one might not gain entry without the right introductions.
And her daughter's boyfriend seemed to be well-known in many of those exclusive circles.
Whether it was potions, spells, transfiguration, runes, or alchemy… He had even become the youngest International Wizarding Chess Champion. Surely even a young Albus Dumbledore hadn't achieved such feats.
Mrs. McDougal found it all a bit peculiar, but she didn't intend to pry further. Everyone had their secrets, and in this case, it seemed to be a good thing for Isabelle.
The three ladies chatted late into the night, with the topic invariably circling back to Albert. Isabelle shared stories of her time with Albert, and when she finished, Katrina's expression was complex.
So, they were all liars.
The claim that they had only started dating this term was obviously a lie.
Even Mrs. McDougal was surprised to learn that her daughter had started dating so early.
"Do you think Katrina has a thing for Albert as well?" Mrs. McDougal asked after Katrina had retired to her room.
"Perhaps a little," Isabelle replied thoughtfully. "After all, Albert is quite popular, and he's the ideal boyfriend for many girls at school."
"I know you're level-headed, but I don't want this to cause any issues between the two of you," Mrs. McDougal said, furrowing her brow slightly. While she thought the chances of any drama were low, it was best to be cautious.
After all, Isabelle would be graduating early, while Albert and Katrina would still be together at school for another two years. Who knew what could happen in that time?
And Katrina was indeed a lovely girl.
"She doesn't stand a chance," Isabelle shook her head. "She never did."
"Albert wants to get engaged as soon as he comes of age," Isabelle continued, her cheeks flushing slightly as she spoke. "Uncle Mog will be our witness."
"He's more proactive than your father was," Mrs. McDougal mused, cradling her chin in her hands. "Your father only gathered the courage to propose to me in our seventh year."
Mrs. McDougal didn't object; she knew her opposition would likely be futile. Her eldest daughter was a genius, far more accomplished than her father, and due to their family circumstances, she had matured quickly and made many sacrifices for their family. Mrs. McDougal wanted her daughter to find happiness.
This Albert was clearly a genius as well, and like Isabelle, he seemed mature beyond his years. It was said that they had similar backgrounds, which probably explained why they had gravitated toward each other—they shared a unique perspective that others couldn't understand.
"Actually, you're keeping something from me, aren't you?" Mrs. McDougal suddenly said. "Your father didn't inherit much from the McDougal family either, yet he managed to acquire this lovely estate and devote himself to magical research right here at home."
"And don't forget your Uncle Mog," Mrs. McDougal huffed. "He didn't inherit much from the family either, yet he became a wealthy and famous wizard in a short time, and he even has a house-elf to tend to his estate."
By the time Mrs. McDougal had married Isabelle's father, the McDougal family had already declined, and there wasn't much wealth left.
After her husband's death, the family had relied on the support of his friends, and Isabelle had even become quite close with Mog, who was now offering to be their witness. It was all rather peculiar.
If one were to examine the social connections between these individuals, it wouldn't be difficult to uncover something unusual. Perhaps there was a secret society of sorts that only admitted genius wizards?
(End of Chapter)
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