Chapter 656: The Magpie and the Gorilla
Chapter 656: The Magpie and the Gorilla
May brought with it the season for Quidditch matches once more.
The first weekend featured a match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff.
The outcome was hardly surprising.
Riding on the superiority of their Nimbus 2001 brooms, the Slytherin team mercilessly crushed Hufflepuff with an overwhelming score, marching their way towards the Quidditch championship.
If Gryffindor lost to Ravenclaw in the upcoming match, the Quidditch Cup might change hands sooner than expected.
However, all of this was merely Slytherin's wishful thinking. They had no idea that Cho Chang, the Seeker for Ravenclaw, had been injured during practice not long ago and was unable to play in the match. Thus, Ravenclaw had no choice but to find a temporary substitute.
The dismal performance of this last-minute substitute, who lacked rigorous training, was evident in the match against Gryffindor, as they were utterly routed.
Gryffindor's victory in the Quidditch Cup did little to divert Albert's attention from his quandary regarding Divination.
Indeed, sometimes, knowing too much could be a burden.
After much contemplation, Albert finally arrived at an answer.
A well-prepared wizard need not fear or lose to anyone! To keep his mind off his concerns, Albert started inviting Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to practice magic at the Room of Requirement. He sought to distract himself with a fulfilling and busy lifestyle.
This strategy proved to be quite effective.
With ample combat experience, Albert was growing stronger at an astonishing rate.
Recently, he had been practicing the use of non-verbal spells in battle. Knowing a non-verbal spell did not necessarily translate to proficiency in using it effectively against another wizard.
These were two entirely different concepts.
That period was undoubtedly the happiest time for Fred, George, and Lee Jordan. In their previous sparring sessions, the trio usually ended up on the receiving end of a beating.
Now, they finally had the opportunity to "fight back" with their spells and vent their pent-up frustrations. Such a chance was truly rare.
Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived.
Within just a few days, Albert had mastered the use of non-verbal spells in magical duels.
However, what truly frustrated the trio was Albert's newfound skill in counter-curses.
After he learned the Counter-Spell from Professor Flitwick, they finally understood the frustrating feeling of having their spells interrupted before they could even be cast.
Consequently, the three went on strike.
No one wanted to be on the losing end.
"We want to practice the Patronus Charm."
This was the excuse the trio gave for their refusal to continue.
Unfortunately for them, their Patronuses still manifested only as wisps of vapor.
If they couldn't summon corporeal Patronuses in a well-lit classroom, there was little hope they could do so when facing a Dementor.
"This spell is too difficult," Lee Jordan said, his brows furrowed in intense concentration, but only a few thin wisps of silvery smoke emerged from the tip of his wand.
"You must think of something happy," Albert reminded him.
"I don't think we lack cheerful memories," Fred said as the tip of his wand spewed out streams of silver gas. "Still no luck!"
"Is there a trick to it?" George asked.
"The Patronus Charm requires a strong foundation of magical power," Albert replied. "Perhaps your magical power isn't strong enough yet."
"What should we do, then?"
"Keep practicing and tap into your potential," Albert said without hesitation. "Being from pure-blood wizarding families, you have an advantage in magical power over Muggle-born wizards."
"Bloody hell, did I just hear that?" Fred muttered. "Next time you say something like that, consider your own situation first."
"I'm different from you," Albert explained calmly.
"How so?"
"A wizard's magical power needs to be cultivated," Albert elaborated. "Right now, I've almost reached my limit, whereas you guys haven't even begun to tap into your potential. That's why the gap between us is so significant."
"Can we become as strong as you?" Lee Jordan asked eagerly.
"And you believe his words?" Fred rolled his eyes.
"Don't complain," Albert said. "If you had kept practicing the Patronus Charm as diligently as I did, you would have probably mastered it by now. I've never slacked off, and I've even completely grasped the advanced applications of the Patronus Charm."
As he finished speaking, Albert waved his wand and summoned his Patronus.
The griffin, with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, soared above their heads and spoke in Albert's voice, "You three idiots, get back to practicing."
"Wow!"
"The Patronus actually spoke!"
"You've been practicing secretly!"
"I've been training consistently, and the reason you can't summon a Patronus is that you're not putting in enough effort," Albert bluntly pointed out the reason for their slow progress.
Changing the subject, George asked, "What do you think our Patronuses would be?"
"It would definitely be some sort of cheerful and playful animal," Albert replied without hesitation. "For example..."
"A monkey!" Lee Jordan blurted out.
"We think your Patronus would be a gorilla!" Fred and George said in unison after exchanging a glance, then asked, "What do you think, Albert?"
"For you guys, it would probably be... a magpie!" Albert said uncertainly. "A bird that brings joy and happiness to people."
"What about Lee Jordan?" Fred inquired.
"Hmm, I think it would probably be... a gorilla," Albert said, still unsure. "I've heard that gorillas have a good sense of humor."
Fred and George shot Lee Jordan a knowing look.
"What does a gorilla have to do with a sense of humor?" Lee Jordan asked irritably. Clearly, a gorilla didn't align with his aesthetic preferences; he would have preferred a lion.
"I think many gorillas are quite humorous," Albert nodded, recalling images he had seen in his previous life.
"Then why is yours a griffin?"
"Of course, it's because he has a smart brain and a brave heart," George replied matter-of-factly, feeling that the griffin suited Albert's image.
The king of beasts and birds.
In a way, Albert embodied these qualities.
"Don't rush to refute it," Fred said with a laugh. "Once you successfully summon a corporeal Patronus, we'll know if it's a gorilla or not."
"Damn it, I say we're better off practicing magic with Albert than wasting time on the Patronus Charm," Lee Jordan remarked, his expression suggesting that they should all share in the pain.
"Ahem, I think we should try to master the spells on the bookshelf," Fred cleared his throat.
"Learning more spells won't hurt, and who knows, we might even be able to tap into our potential in the process," George quickly agreed.
Soon, they regretted their decision.
Albert was mastering spells at a breakneck pace, learning two to three new spells every day. It was truly jaw-dropping.
So, this was what a genius looked like—a terrifying force to be reckoned with.
Those with talent and dedication truly left no room for others to compete.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
