Chapter 562: New Discoveries (2)
Chapter 562: New Discoveries (2)
After parting ways with Hettich, Albert and Isabelle made their way to the Three Broomsticks. Since they were already in Hogsmeade, they couldn't pass up the chance to enjoy a drink at the famous pub.
The pub was bustling and cozy, with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Albert glanced towards a corner and spotted Fred, George, and Lee Jordan huddled together, whispering amongst themselves. They seemed oblivious to Albert and Isabelle's presence.
Albert found an empty spot and approached the counter, ordering two butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta. Though it was a pub, no alcoholic drinks other than butterbeer were served to minors.
Albert thought that the pub could offer some low-degree sweet wines, which would surely be a hit among the ladies. After all, it was common knowledge that girls had more Galleons to spare than boys.
However, most sweet wines in Europe were varieties of mead, and Madam Rosmerta would obviously not sell mead to students.
Speaking of sweet wines, Albert recalled the rice wine from his previous life. It was one of the few alcoholic beverages he enjoyed, resembling a soft drink more than a wine, although it didn't keep well.
"What are you thinking about?" Isabelle asked, noticing that Albert's attention had wandered during their conversation.
"There's a rather delightful sweet wine in the Muggle world," Albert said suddenly. "Perhaps I could have a house-elf try brewing some."
After all, the house-elf had little to do but stay in the manor. Giving it a task would boost its motivation, and Albert was confident that it would be eager to learn a new skill.
"Sweet wine? Is it tasty?" Isabelle was intrigued by Albert's description.
"Mhm, it's similar to a beverage. I think you'll like it." Albert had already planned how to obtain the rice. He was sure Mungundus would be willing to help procure the ingredients.
After finishing their drinks and strolling around Hogsmeade, buying a birthday gift for Nia, the pair returned to Hogwarts Castle.
Before parting ways, Albert reminded Isabelle, "Something might happen in the castle today, so remember not to wander off."
"Okay, you be careful too," Isabelle replied, sensing that something was amiss. Though she had no intention of wandering, she knew that Albert's warning must be heeded, perhaps due to another one of his prophecies.
If this warning had been given to Gryffindors, they would have likely been eager to get involved, regardless of the danger.
As soon as they returned to the common room, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan appeared out of thin air.
"It failed!" Fred blurted out. "But Mr. Zwicky is interested in our Wizarding Wireless Network. He seems open to a potential collaboration."
"That's a shame," Albert said, uninterested in such an unbalanced partnership.
"You seemed to have predicted this," George said, raising an eyebrow. He, along with the other two, looked glum as they stared at Albert.
When they had approached Zwicky, they had been completely ignored. In some ways, the man was incredibly arrogant.
At least, that's how the trio saw it.
"No money, no help," Albert said bluntly, shooting a glance at Lee Jordan. He didn't mince words when it came to this topic.
Most people were driven by self-interest, especially businessmen like Zwicky. It was only natural that he wouldn't lend a helping hand without any incentive.
"Never mind, don't take it to heart," Albert said with a smile. "Zwicky wouldn't want a similar shop competing with his, so it's normal for him to dislike you. If your shop takes off later on, his might have to close down."
"I see," the trio murmured, still feeling a bit dejected. They wondered if the outcome would have been different had Albert accompanied them.
"Cheer up," Albert said. "The Halloween feast is about to start, and we have the Skull Dance Band to look forward to, right?" He reached into his pocket and handed each of them a piece of candy.
The Halloween feast began at seven o'clock, and Albert took the opportunity to write a letter to his thief, Mungundus.
Of course, Albert didn't expect Mungundus to find everything in one go, but with enough Galleons, he was confident that the thief would be willing to help.
After all, as the saying goes, money makes the world go round. And in this case, it would make Mungundus search far and wide.
So, before seven o'clock, Albert and his roommates made their way directly to the Great Hall. Along the way, they encountered the trio of Harry Potter, who were heading in the direction of the underground classrooms, away from the crowd.
"Where are they off to?" Lee Jordan wondered, watching their retreating backs.
"They're going to the ghost's feast, of course," Albert said, paying no heed to Harry and his friends as he strode towards the crowded Great Hall.
In the corner of the Great Hall stood a towering jack-o'-lantern, and a swarm of bats flew around the enchanted ceiling. The most eye-catching feature, however, was the stage at the front, where a large area had been sectioned off and veiled in a layer of mist, behind which the Skull Dance Band was hidden from view.
Soon, the feast commenced under Dumbledore's supervision, with the Skull Dance Band kicking off the festivities. The audience erupted in thunderous applause.
Albert looked up at the stage, where a pile of instruments lay, and a group of wizards dressed in heavy metal style attire began to speak, setting the mood. They were surrounded by a throng of students who resembled frenzied fans.
True to their style, the band played heavy metal music, but Albert just didn't have an ear for it. As the crowd cheered and screamed, he calmly sliced into his steak, taking his time to enjoy the meal.
"I really don't get why they're so famous," Hannah murmured. She was one of the few Gryffindors who hadn't joined the crowd in front of the stage.
"It's the charm of music, I guess!" Albert glanced at the parchment in his hand. Ginny Weasley had already disappeared from the map, indicating that she had entered the Chamber of Secrets.
"Do you really believe that?" Hannah asked, giving Albert a curious look.
The performance lasted for over an hour, with the Skull Dance Band treating the students to three songs before finally exiting the stage amidst reluctant farewells.
The rest of the students returned to their respective tables to continue the exquisite feast.
Perhaps it was because the Skull Dance Band had captured everyone's attention, but no one seemed to notice that the savior, Harry Potter, had gone missing.
The food at the feast was exquisite, and after Albert had his fill, his thoughts turned to a pressing question.
From start to finish, the Chamber of Secrets incident had resulted in no casualties. Was this mere coincidence or a deliberate act? Did Tom Riddle truly know nothing about it?
Many things didn't stand up to scrutiny. Such a series of coincidences could hardly be called coincidental.
Moreover, Albert suspected that Tom Riddle must also be capable of using the Homomorphus Charm, otherwise how could he have attacked his targets so precisely without being noticed?
"Damn," Albert cursed. This realization left him feeling uneasy. He felt an urgent need to master advanced Disillusionment Charms to erase his presence from the map completely. Only then could he ensure that he wouldn't be specifically targeted.
If he used advanced Disillusionment Charms to hide himself, it would be difficult for owls to locate him, and he received many owl-delivered letters. He couldn't afford to cut himself off from communication with others, so he would have to come up with an alternative solution.
(End of Chapter)
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