Chapter 66: In a Hurry...
Chapter 66: In a Hurry...
As Albert returned to the Gryffindor common room from the library, he found that his three roommates were nowhere to be seen.
He pushed open the door to their dormitory and, as expected, found it empty as well. Their absence was a relief, as he could now write his letters in peace without any distractions.
Albert picked up his wand and pointed it at the cabinet, unlocking it and retrieving a box from within to continue writing his letter to his family.
Once he finished the letter, Albert used the Replication Charm to make another copy of the parchment, as well as the photos he had taken.
One set was intended for his parents, while the other was for his grandfather, Luke. Even though he was now distant from the wizarding world, Albert knew that his grandfather would still appreciate seeing the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After all, it had been a childhood dream and a source of regret.
Naturally, Albert had to write separate introductions and conclusions for each letter.
After sealing the letters, Albert placed them into hard cardboard boxes created with Transfiguration, along with the gifts he had bought from Hogsmeade.
Of course, he didn't forget to include the magical world's signature beverages—pumpkin juice and butterbeer.
Once everything was packed, Albert realized that the parcel for his family was quite large. He began to worry if his owl could handle the weight and deliver the package safely to its destination.
"Looks like I'll have to borrow one of the school's owls," Albert muttered to himself. He picked up a quill and wrote his name, the recipient's name, and the address on the package.
Then, holding the two parcels together in his arms, he left the dormitory, remembering to close the door behind him.
As he passed through the common room, the other students noticed him carrying the large parcels, but Albert paid no mind to their curious glances. He continued climbing upwards within the castle until he reached the Owlery, located at the very top of the West Tower.
Thankfully, his past life's practice of karate and regular exercise in this life kept him in better shape than in his previous life; otherwise, climbing up and down the stairs with the parcels would have been exhausting.
As Albert climbed the outer stairs, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He quickly stepped aside, nearly bumping into a large figure who was also rushing upwards, presumably to send a package as well.
"Is it really that urgent?" Albert wondered aloud, looking up at the figure's retreating back.
A moment later, Albert saw the same person again, this time having apparently tripped and fallen. Their robe was now covered in straw and... owl droppings.
As the person passed by with a scowl on their face, Albert caught a whiff of the foul odor of bird droppings.
The Owlery was a circular stone room with empty windows, located high up in the tower, allowing for a smooth flow of air.
However, Albert had no intention of going inside, as the floor of the Owlery was covered in straw, owl droppings, and mouse bones. Tripping and falling in such a place was certainly not an amusing prospect.
The clumsy, unlucky person he had seen earlier served as a perfect example.
Standing at the doorway, Albert looked inside and saw hundreds of owls of various breeds roosting within. It would be impossible to find Sheila among this multitude.
"Sheila," Albert called out softly. His voice disturbed some of the owls, but his call was effective, as Sheila soon noticed him and flew towards him.
"This is for Grandpa Luke. Please bring back any reply," Albert said as he handed the parcel for his grandfather to Sheila. The owl gave a soft hoot, as if assuring him. Then, with her claws grasping the rope of the parcel, which was slightly smaller than her body, she spread her wings and disappeared into the sky.
After Sheila flew away, Albert looked back at the Owlery, knowing he needed one or two stronger owls to deliver the other, larger parcel.
Students were allowed to borrow owls from the school.
However, Albert couldn't tell which owls belonged to the school, so he took a direct approach: "I have another large parcel to send. Who's willing to help me out here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong, gray owl swooped down in front of him, clearly volunteering for the task.
"Thank you," Albert said. "This is for you as a token of my appreciation. I hope you like it." He took out some owl treats from his pocket and placed them in his palm, offering them to the gray owl. The owl seemed pleased with the reward, quickly devouring the treats before grabbing the remaining larger parcel and taking off with powerful wingbeats.
These magical creatures are surprisingly human-like! Albert thought to himself.
As he watched the owl disappear from sight, he couldn't help but marvel softly, "Truly amazing creatures." Turning away from the Owlery, he had no intention of lingering in a place filled with straw and owl droppings.
As Albert made his way towards the Great Hall, he happened to catch sight of Fred, George, and Lee Jordan being chased out of the Forbidden Forest by Hagrid. A smirk tugged at his lips as he recognized the trio's relentless mischief. They had apparently sneaked into the forbidden area and were caught by Hagrid.
Albert walked towards them and greeted Hagrid with a smile. "Good afternoon, Hagrid! What's going on with them?" he asked, gesturing towards the trio.
"It's you, eh? These three rascals have some nerve, sneaking into the forest not long after starting school. They don't know how dangerous it could be out there!" Hagrid scolded them, brandishing a dead tree branch. "I know I can't control you lot. But Professor McGonagall..."
"Hagrid, what are those things in your hair?" Albert interrupted skillfully, pointing at the strange creatures on Hagrid's head and shoulders, which resembled tree bark and small branches.
"Oh, these? They're called Bowtruckles. These two got injured, so I need to bandage their wounds," Hagrid explained, his attention successfully diverted.
"Hagrid, can you take care of these magical creatures?" Albert asked, his face filled with admiration. "I heard that the Care of Magical Creatures course isn't offered until the third year."
In fact, Albert's admiration was genuine. Despite Hagrid's thick fingers, he was able to tend to these tiny creatures.
"I learned it from Professor Silvanus Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures professor. But he's quite old now, so I occasionally help him take care of the beasts," Hagrid said proudly.
"Can I watch you bandage the Bowtruckles?" Albert asked, raising his hand to signal the trio to apologize and admit their mistake.
"Hagrid, we know we were wrong," Fred quickly said. "We also want to see how you bandage these little creatures."
George and Lee Jordan nodded vigorously, their faces displaying a clear 'we're sorry' expression.
"Don't let it happen again. Follow me!" Hagrid didn't refuse and instead invited Albert and the trio into his hut.
(End of Chapter)
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