Chapter 640: An Ambush
Chapter 640: An Ambush
Having just finished their Transfiguration class, Albert headed towards the Great Hall with the others. As they passed through the entrance hall, he noticed a crowd of students gathered around the bulletin board, reading a newly posted notice.
"Percy, do you know what the announcement is about?" Albert greeted Percy in the crowd and inquired about the information posted on the bulletin board.
"It's about the arrangements for the Easter holidays," Percy glanced back at the crowded bulletin board and shared what he knew. "Professor McGonagall requires that students staying at school during the holidays can only move within the Great Hall, the library, and the common rooms of each house."
"This is definitely the worst Easter holiday in the history of Hogwarts!"
Albert was not surprised. If they relaxed control over the students during the Easter break, then the previous strict control measures would have been pointless.
Lee Jordan squeezed his way out of the crowd and couldn't help but complain, "I say, we might as well not have the Easter holidays at all. It's the same situation either way, and we won't have to deal with that pile of annoying holiday homework!"
Hearing Lee Jordan's words, Percy frowned and said to the group, "Professor McGonagall is doing this entirely for our safety, and she has been working hard to keep the school running smoothly."
"Why not let all the students go home for Easter?"
Albert believed that, given the current situation, the Easter holidays would be a headache. Keeping the students at school to celebrate wasn't a good idea. If they had forced everyone to go home for Easter, they wouldn't have this bunch of troubles now.
"It's not that bad. Professor McGonagall won't possibly drive... send all the students home," Percy had intended to say 'drive', but it didn't seem appropriate, so he changed it at the last moment.
Anyway, as long as nothing happened, they could continue to drag their feet.
Albert was all too familiar with this kind of wishful thinking. It would be too late by the time something happened; these words were not just empty talk.
However, through the bulletin board, Professor McGonagall very subtly suggested that everyone should go home for the holidays.
In fact, she did just that.
At lunchtime, Professor McGonagall began signing the list of students staying at school. It had to be said that the notice on the bulletin board was effective, as quite a number of students had booked seats on the Hogwarts Express, intending to go home for the Easter holidays.
Seeing Albert sign his name on the parchment for students staying at school, Shan'na finally couldn't help but ask, "You really don't plan on going home for Easter?"
"No, I don't plan on going back," Albert made up an excuse casually, "Anyway, the holidays are almost here, and there's quite a bit of holiday homework for Easter. Those who go back will probably not be able to finish it."
"I think no one believes your nonsense now," Fred and George looked at Albert with contempt.
If you don't count the first and second-year students, Albert was probably the one with the least pressure from holiday homework. They knew that Albert had almost finished his holiday homework a few days ago.
"Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on him and make sure Albert doesn't get attacked." Lee Jordan patted his chest and didn't forget to claim credit for himself in front of Albert.
"Shut up, don't jinx me," Albert forked a large piece of potato and stuffed it into Lee Jordan's mouth, stopping him from finishing what he was about to say.
Lee Jordan casually picked up his fork, took a bite of the potato, and said with his mouth full, "I'm just saying, it's not like it's you. You say it, it happens."
In the blink of an eye, the Easter holidays had arrived.
On Saturday morning, many students dragged their suitcases and gathered in small groups in the entrance hall, preparing to take the Thestral-drawn carriage to Hogsmeade Station.
In reality, without Professor Dumbledore's protection, Hogwarts had lost its sense of security for many students. Most Muggle-born wizards were unwilling to stay at school for the holidays.
After most of the students had left, the castle suddenly felt spacious. According to Fred and George, there were only slightly more students staying for Easter than there had been during the Christmas holidays.
Albert planned to start on his holiday homework first to avoid rushing to finish it just before the holidays ended. Although Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were reluctant to start their homework as soon as the holidays began, they still accompanied Albert to the library to do their homework.
Since they had to do it anyway, they might as well stick together.
They also had to be mindful of this matter. Every year, the amount of Easter holiday homework was enough to drive people crazy.
Albert weaved through the bookshelves, searching for useful materials for his Charms essay. He only had a few essays left to complete his holiday homework.
Without sufficient materials to fill the pages, he didn't know how he would fill the twelve-inch parchment.
As soon as Albert pulled a book off the shelf to browse, he immediately noticed that someone had slipped a note inside.
The attack would happen today.
Someone had even taken the time to leave him a note, which meant that something was definitely going to happen.
Albert slipped the note into his robe pocket, then returned the book to the shelf. He continued wandering through the library, moving out of sight of the others before retrieving the Chameleon Charm leather pouch from his pocket. From it, he took out a small golden vial.
It was Felix Felicis, the legendary good luck potion.
In critical moments, it was perfect for ensuring one's survival.
To guarantee his safety, Albert always carried these items with him to prepare for any unforeseen events.
He scraped off the sealing wax on the bottle's mouth with his fingernail, popped open the cork, and carefully measured a small sip, consuming about a quarter of the potion. This would grant him several hours of good fortune.
As soon as the Felix Felicis slid down his throat, Albert could distinctly feel the potion taking effect.
A thrilling sensation coursed through his body, as if he had become all-powerful, capable of effortlessly accomplishing any task.
That feeling of invincibility, of everything becoming effortlessly easy, was truly mesmerizing.
Of course, Albert was aware that this was a minor side effect of the Felix Felicis, but as long as he exercised caution, it wasn't a significant concern compared to the potion's formidable efficacy.
Under the influence of the potion, Albert's mind had never been clearer, and he was confident in his ability to emerge victorious. Especially since he had prepared for this in advance; he truly couldn't fathom how he could lose.
Hmm, the Felix Felicis, or perhaps his intuition, was telling him that the parchment likely held another hidden meaning, and he might end up using the Time-Turner to escape the Basilisk's pursuit.
For now, he should return to his holiday homework and give Ginny Weasley a hint so that she would have time to get ready for the ambush.
Albert returned to the group with a stack of books, flipping through his research materials while quietly murmuring to his friends under the influence of his Felix Felicis-enhanced (intuition), "Oh, almost forgot. Tomorrow's Easter. I received an invitation from someone to attend an Easter feast. With what's happening now, I wonder if Professor McGonagall will still allow me to use the Floo Network to leave the school."
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were accustomed to Albert's habit of sneaking off for feasts during holidays, and they would, at most, tease him for secretly indulging in delicious food.
Ignoring their banter, Albert continued working on his Charms essay, sneaking glances at Ginny Weasley from the corner of his eye. In his heart, he muttered, "Tom, don't let me down!"
The Charms essay was completed faster than expected, and Albert handed it to Fred, politely declining his roommates' intention to accompany him to Professor McGonagall's office. He left the library alone.
The walk from the library to Professor McGonagall's office was brief, but it presented an excellent opportunity for Tom Riddle.
Albert was well aware of the dangers along this route, as this was the perfect ambush spot he had crafted for Tom Riddle.
As soon as he stepped out of the library, Albert pulled out the map from his pocket and located Ginny Weasley's precise position.
Ginny was in the abandoned girls' bathroom on the second floor, and the unfortunate Moaning Myrtle had apparently been petrified.
A faint smile curved Albert's lips as he strode towards Professor McGonagall's office. Along the way, he spotted a ghost patrolling the corridor, but its position remained unchanged, leading Albert to suspect that it had already been attacked by the Basilisk.
As he reached a corridor near the staircase between the third and second floors, Albert slowed his pace, his Felix Felicis-enhanced (intuition) urging him to stop. He narrowed his eyes, staring at the direction of the corner ahead, sensing a profound malice emanating from beyond the bend.
This was the first time Albert had experienced such a feeling, and the hairs on his body stood on end as a sense of impending death rose within him.
While Felix Felicis couldn't bring him true luck, it greatly enhanced his abilities and amplified his five senses.
His enhanced (intuition) warned him that proceeding further could be fatal.
He halted in his tracks, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the warming Detectorscope. A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Tom Riddle was likely waiting on the other side of the corner, accompanied by the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets.
As long as he turned the corner, he would undoubtedly run straight into the Basilisk, and the outcome would be predictable.
Tom Riddle was monitoring his movements, waiting for him to take the bait, but wasn't he doing the same?
"Let the game begin!"
Albert took a deep breath, calming his racing heart, and pulled out the item he had specifically prepared for the Basilisk from the package at his waist. Without hesitation, he turned around and began retracing his steps, following the predetermined route.
He knew that at the moment he turned, Tom Riddle, who had been tracking him with the Trace Charm, would be treated to an interesting expression.
(End of Chapter)
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