Chapter 616: Meaningful or Meaningless?
Chapter 616: Meaningful or Meaningless?
The "surprise" that Professor Lockhart had prepared for everyone that day was the group of gnomes he had hired, who kept bursting into classrooms during lessons to deliver Valentine's Day cards to the students.
It was one thing for this group of "Cupid Gnomes" to deliver Valentine's Day cards to the students, but they would also take out their harps and loudly sing the contents of the cards when presenting them to the recipients.
Not only did this embarrass the recipients tremendously, but it also annoyed the professors, as no teacher appreciated their lessons being randomly interrupted.
Once again, Professor Lockhart, the culprit behind this chaos, became one of the least liked professors at Hogwarts.
Well, why only one of them? Albert was probably another.
In fact, the vast majority of the Valentine's Day cards were anonymous confessions from girls in the school addressed to Albert. Although the professors knew that it wasn't Albert's fault, having their lessons interrupted repeatedly made Albert one of the most unpopular students among the faculty that day.
"Anyway, today's lesson is quite simple for you." Professor McGonagall glanced at the gnome who was about to take out his harp and said to Albert, who looked helpless: "I think you have more important things to do today, so go ahead."
Thus, Albert was excused from the Transfiguration classroom amid the envy and jealousy of his classmates.
Without Albert, the professors no longer had to worry about their lessons being disrupted by the gnomes halfway through.
At least, the gnomes' appearances became less frequent.
Soon after, the gnomes encountered a problem: Albert Anderson had gone missing. No matter how hard they searched within the Hogwarts castle, they couldn't find Albert, which directly led to a pileup of undelivered Valentine's Day cards in their hands.
In the afternoon, Isabelle gently pushed open the door and entered the Room of Requirement. Seeing Albert sitting by the fireplace reading a book, she smiled and said, "I guess you're hiding here."
"I'm not hiding here," Albert corrected.
"Those gnomes are looking for you everywhere," the young girl said, tucking her hair behind her ear as she whispered in Albert's ear.
"Their musical skills are terrible," Albert couldn't help but complain. "I guess Lockhart couldn't find anyone more suitable for the job, so he hired this group of the ugliest Cupids ever."
"They are quite ugly," Isabelle giggled. "You're as popular as ever."
"I don't want to be, you know that. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here," Albert replied.
"Okay, you're forgiven."
Isabelle smiled and sat down opposite Albert. She looked up at the handsome young man's face illuminated by the firelight and nodded in satisfaction. Then she took out a piece of chocolate from her pocket, broke off a piece, and pinched it with her hand to feed to Albert.
"By the way, I hope you don't mind my giving you this."
"I think you should sit next to me, it's more convenient," Albert patted the sofa next to him and said, "It would be even better if we could change the way."
As he spoke, he pointed to his mouth.
"You're taking advantage," Isabelle said, but she didn't refuse. She bit the chocolate and leaned towards Albert.
"Is it delicious?"
"It's not bad," Albert said. "Now it's my turn to feed you."
Isabelle didn't refuse, and both of them needed some romantic spice in their relationship. Albert seemed to be a pro in this regard, but Isabelle knew she was Albert's only girlfriend. That day... well, he had been clumsy too, so she could only attribute it to him being skilled in this area. If she hadn't tied him down, he probably... was very likely to become a lecher?
Albert stared at Isabelle for a long time before saying softly, "I feel like you're thinking of something rude."
"I think that if the girls knew that you were like this, Albert, they wouldn't know..." Isabelle covered her mouth and laughed. "By the way, do you think I would..."
"You're pregnant..." Albert was startled.
"No, I don't think so. Mom told me to be careful," Isabelle interrupted, happy to see Albert panic, but also a little unhappy. She glared at him.
"I don't think that's the kind of pressure you should be under right now," Albert hugged the girl and whispered, "If you are, we'll have to take a leave of absence and get married right away. Don't worry, I was mentally prepared for this. We can hide in the Muggle world for four or five years, and everyone will just think that you eloped with me."
"So, it was premeditated after all?"
Albert's sense of responsibility was quite satisfying, but Isabelle didn't want to continue this topic because she also realized how lucky the two of them were.
They snuggled up to each other and chatted idly about the future.
Isabelle picked up the Valentine's Day card that Albert had casually thrown on the table and read softly, "It's nice to have you by my side."
"Looks like Miss Granger has a crush on you!"
"She's just a female friend that I get along with pretty well," Albert shrugged. "I guess it's her way of thanking me for visiting her when she was sick some time ago."
Isabelle looked at the pattern on the card, half-smiling as she said, "I think she wants to be more than just your friend."
"Hermione can only be my female friend now, and I think you're prettier," Albert replied.
"Hmph, you men!"
Isabelle suddenly took out a bag from her pocket and poured out a pile of Valentine's Day cards.
"You're really popular," Albert's tone was a little sour, but he soon realized something and said, "Don't tell me these are all for me?"
"Of course they are," Isabelle glared at Albert. "No one has bothered me since our relationship became public."
"Just burn them," Albert said without hesitation. He didn't feel like reading them one by one, and he felt it was important to set a clear boundary.
"This one is from Katrina," Isabelle picked up one of the Valentine's Day cards and handed it to Albert.
"How do you know it's from her?"
"I'm her sister, of course, I recognize her handwriting," Isabelle said.
"Never mind," Albert shook his head.
However, Isabelle didn't give him a chance to refuse and read out the contents of the card:
"It took me until today to finally gather the courage...
In the moment our eyes met, I could feel your gentleness.
...
I hope to grow old with you."
"Are you sure you didn't write this yourself?" Albert asked jokingly. However, after meeting Isabelle's gaze, he sighed softly, "You shouldn't have done this."
"She must have spent a lot of time writing this!" Isabelle closed the Valentine's Day card and threw it back into the pile. "I just don't want her efforts to be in vain."
"But what's the point of doing this?" Albert looked at his girlfriend and couldn't help but ask.
"You heard it, didn't you?" Isabelle said.
"You know that's not what I meant..." Albert, of course, understood Isabelle's intention and wouldn't be foolish enough to think that she was suggesting he pursue Katrina.
She just wanted him to see the Valentine's Day card Katrina had written to him, nothing more.
Yes, nothing more! (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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