Chapter 634: Another Attack
Chapter 634: Another Attack
As Easter approached, the students of Hogwarts found their workload increasing. It seemed that the professors, fearing the students would have nothing to do during the holidays, were determined to assign an abundance of homework before the break began.
To be honest, the Easter break after third year was hardly a relaxing vacation. The sheer amount of homework was enough to keep students busy and frazzled. Every year, there were a handful of students who ended up having nervous breakdowns due to the workload.
To salvage what they could of their holiday, the entire fourth-year Gryffindor cohort collectively persuaded Albert to join them in the library to complete their assignments. With Albert's help, they hoped to tackle the mountain of homework assigned by their professors.
Why Albert?
Well, everyone was a little peeved at a certain someone who, despite taking twelve courses, somehow had less homework than the rest of them. With Albert around, they figured they'd have someone to turn to when they got stuck.
Geniuses always had their perks.
After all, once you were in the professor's good graces, some homework assignments could be conveniently skipped. As the professors would say, it would be a waste of their valuable time to bother with such trivial matters.
Nevertheless, Albert had been particularly busy lately, as a group of second-year girls often sought his advice on third-year elective courses. They hoped he could provide them with some useful suggestions.
Their little crushes didn't go unnoticed by the other girls.
"You're quite the popular one!" Angelina sat across from Albert and greeted him with a smile.
"To be honest, I don't really want this much attention," Albert shrugged helplessly, "Not everyone craves fame like Professor Lockhart, just ask Potter."
"So, what do you crave then?" George put down his quill and gently blew on the ink on the parchment before carefully putting away his freshly written History of Magic essay.
"Money!" Albert replied without hesitation, "Money makes the world go round."
"That's quite an unexpected answer, isn't it? By the way, George, do mind lending me your essay for reference?" Lee Jordan reached out with a smile to take the essay that George was offering, having had no intention of properly doing the History of Magic homework anyway, since Professor Binns never bothered to grade their essays.
"I think you're already the richest student at Hogwarts," Fred looked up from his parchment, eyeing Albert with a hint of resentment, "And here you are wishing for even more money. I thought you'd say you craved knowledge."
Albert pulled out a Galleon from his pocket, gently rubbing the gold surface, and said self-deprecatingly, "If I said I craved knowledge, wouldn't that just make me a hypocrite?"
"As if you aren't already."
Albert glared at Lee Jordan, who had just called him out, and complained, "What's so hypocritical about me?"
"You have no idea what people are saying about you these days," Alicia chimed in, sharing the latest gossip among the girls.
"They're saying you're trying to woo Miss Granger."
Albert paused for a moment, his tone turning odd, "Aren't we friends? Just because I talk to you a bit more, does that mean I'm trying to woo all of you?"
"It's not just a bit, you know," Angelina cleared her throat, steering the conversation in a different direction, "In fact, a lot of people think you're trying to play the field and that your taste in women is..."
"What about my girlfriend? She doesn't seem angry about it," Albert's tone grew even stranger.
"Why would she be angry?" Albert asked, his tone growing curious, "Would you be angry if your boyfriend had a few close female friends?"
"What if your girlfriend had a few male friends? How would you feel about that?" Shanah asked with a smile.
"What could I possibly feel?" Albert thought for a moment, "With guys like you trying to hit on my girl? I've got nothing to worry about."
The girls exchanged bewildered glances, at a loss for words.
After all, this statement could also apply to Isabelle. Were they, with their inferior qualities, trying to steal my boyfriend? It seemed a bit harsh! However, the girls felt that Isabelle probably did think that way.
"No matter where you go, this thing is needed. That's just how the world works." Albert turned to Fred and George and said, "I'm sure you two understand this deeply!"
"Indeed."
As penniless students, Fred and George deeply resonated with this sentiment. If it weren't for Albert, they wouldn't know what to do in the future. Maybe they would have to work for a few years and save up before they could open their joke shop together?
Some others who wanted to form a circus troupe had more to say on this matter, considering the predicament of their seniors.
"What do you plan to do after graduation?" Fred asked Angelina, "Are you going to join a Quidditch team like Wood?"
"I haven't thought about it, but that's a good option." Angelina replied after some thought.
"What about you, Shanah?"
"I want to work for the Ministry of Magic!" Shanah said, though she didn't sound very certain.
"It's difficult for Muggle-born wizards to get promoted in the Ministry." Albert stated a harsh truth, "Especially for young women like yourselves. Without someone to watch your backs, it will be tough."
The atmosphere turned a little heavy, and Albert ended the topic, putting the Galleon back into his pocket.
He then noticed that his detection ball was slightly warm, which was never a good sign.
Just recently, he had been wondering about Tom Riddle's unusual silence, and now it seemed the enemy had made his move.
With so many students around, did he not fear collateral damage? Had his anger clouded his judgment?
Albert didn't think Tom was foolish. There had to be a reason for his actions.
However, Albert remained calm, as he suspected the unlucky victim was probably Lockhart.
A scream in the distance broke the heavy atmosphere.
"What's going on out there?" Fred stood up, intending to go out and take a look.
In fact, most of the students in the library were curious about the commotion.
"Aren't you going out?"
Shanah called out to Albert, inviting him to join her in checking out the situation.
Albert had a hunch that another attack had occurred.
And he was right.
But this time, the victim was none other than Hermione Granger, who had been petrified along with the nearly headless Nick.
The fact that a ghost had also fallen victim to the attack struck fear and unease into the hearts of the students.
Indeed! What terrifying power could harm someone who was already dead? Albert trembled as he whispered, "Is this some form of historical revisionism?"
"What are you talking about?" Fred looked at Albert anxiously, clearly concerned for his friend's safety.
"Nothing, I'm just curious if there's any meaning behind this attack."
Fred and George were both puzzled, not quite understanding what Albert meant. They shared a concern for their friend's safety.
Lockhart was the one with a grudge against Tom, yet he attacked Hermione. Was it a case of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
The attack threw the entire castle into chaos, like a depth charge disrupting the false peace that had existed before.
(End of Chapter)
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