Chapter 772: A Web of Lies
Chapter 772: A Web of Lies
After breakfast, the couple left the Great Hall together.
On their way to the Room of Requirement, Isabelle suddenly asked, "Have you ever peeked into Miss Granger's future?"
"Do I look like the sort of person who would do that?"
Facing his girlfriend's almost accusatory question, Albert shrugged helplessly, wearing an expression that said, 'I didn't do it, don't accuse me.' "I think it's something you would do," Isabelle asserted.
The pair stopped in front of the tapestry of the giant club-wielding barbarian on the eighth floor. Isabelle turned to look directly into Albert's eyes and, lifting her hand, poked his chest as she said seriously, "While you're generally nice to most of your friends, I feel that you're a bit too nice to Granger. You probably don't realize that a lot of girls have noticed this, and those who don't know better might think you're trying to woo Miss Granger."
"How would they know I want to woo Miss Granger?" Albert asked, deliberately making an exaggerated expression.
After being stared at by Isabelle for a while, Albert had no choice but to put on a helpless expression and ask, "Okay, I was just joking. But why would they think that?"
"Jealousy, I suppose," Isabelle replied.
"I think so, too," Albert said with interest as he watched Isabelle, waiting for her to continue.
"There are quite a few pretty girls you know, like Louise, Katherine, and Valeria, whom you met some time ago. They're all very beautiful, and I don't think you'd be interested in a girl who's still so young and not yet mature," Isabelle counted off.
"You forgot to include yourself in that list," Albert added.
She ignored his comment and continued, "So, the only explanation is that you see a very promising future for Miss Granger. Making friends with someone from a young age is very different from becoming friends with them after they've grown up, achieved success, and matured. That's an area you're quite skilled in."
"It seems that, in your eyes, I'm a very scheming person," Albert teased. "So, what do you think my motive is for getting close to you?"
"Who knows?" Isabelle looked at Albert as he walked past the corridor three times and successfully opened the door to the Room of Requirement. "That someone always has a strong purpose for his actions."
"My motive?" Albert reached out to Isabelle, smiling as he said, "It's to find myself a nice-looking and pretty girlfriend. After all, pretty girls are a rare commodity at school, so I have to strike while the iron is hot, or else I might lose you to someone else."
"You've said that before," Isabelle reminded him. She placed her hand on Albert's palm, and they walked into the Room of Requirement together.
"Yes, that's my motive," Albert agreed. "Actually, men are all visual creatures. When we see a particularly beautiful girl with a compatible personality, we naturally won't let the opportunity pass us by." Albert gently hugged the girl's waist and kissed her cheek, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he said, "So, when I first saw you, I already had my eye on you. It took a lot of effort, but I finally managed to win over the most beautiful girl in school."
Isabelle, of course, didn't take these words seriously. She was well aware of what Albert had been like in the past, or else they wouldn't be together now.
"You certainly have a way with words," Isabelle said, somewhat speechless, although she knew that some of what he said was true.
"Aren't girls the same?" Albert said nonchalantly. "I dare say that most girls like handsome boys. As far as I know, Diggory is quite popular with the girls."
"Why don't you talk about yourself?" Isabelle teased.
"Of course, a handsome, rich, and famous man will naturally be adored by countless girls," Albert said matter-of-factly. "It's a common occurrence. After all, girls all want a romantic Prince Charming to marry them. Otherwise, they wouldn't gather in groups under the mistletoe at Christmas."
Isabelle sized up Albert from head to toe and asked with a smile, "Are you saying you're my Prince Charming?"
"No, I actually can't ride a horse," Albert replied.
"According to what you said, Louise, with her Veela blood, is prettier and more outgoing than me, and she seems to want to pursue you. Don't you like her?" Isabelle asked curiously.
"Of course, I do. She's quite easy on the eyes, and as long as her personality isn't too bad, men usually won't refuse," Albert said, only to feel his waist being twisted forcefully, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.
"Then why don't you go find her to be your girlfriend?" Isabelle asked, pretending to be angry. "She would definitely be willing to be your girlfriend."
"Because I know you wouldn't like a man who plays the field," Albert sighed. "And I don't want to lose you."
"What if I agreed?" Isabelle said suddenly.
"I never thought I had that much charm," Albert said, shaking his head.
Albert shook his head. "Besides, this isn't 17th-century France; no one would tolerate that kind of affair."
Isabelle's expression turned even more peculiar. "You seem to know a lot about it. Have you ever peeked into my future?"
"No, I promise. In fact, I rarely peer into anyone's future at all." Albert reached out and felt around the corner on the right side of the room, as if grabbing something out of thin air. He pulled, and a Vanishing Cabinet appeared before them.
"The only time I did was with Harry Potter."
A hint of surprise flashed across Isabelle's face, but it quickly turned into a look of realization.
"The young Potter eventually defeated the Mysterious Man at Hogwarts," Albert said calmly. "Later on, Potter became the Head of the Auror Office, and during a Quidditch World Cup interview, I saw Hermione by his side. She seemed to have become... the Minister of Magic."
"Minister of Magic?"
Isabelle was astonished. She was well aware of the situation Muggle-born wizards faced in the Ministry of Magic, let alone rising to the position of Minister.
"Maybe," Albert said ambiguously. "Who knows what the future holds? Prophecies are just prophecies, after all."
"That's so like you," Isabelle remarked. If things unfolded as Albert predicted, befriending Hermione now would undoubtedly bring numerous benefits, even if she didn't become the Minister of Magic. Making friends with a talented witch, especially one who was a close companion of the savior, Harry Potter, would undoubtedly be advantageous.
"Don't say that," Albert shrugged. "At the very least, I genuinely want to be her friend, and even if Hermione does become the Minister someday, it won't be for many years."
"You're just making an early investment!" Isabelle exclaimed. "I know that's your style."
"If you say so," Albert replied with a smile.
"By the way, have you really never looked into your own future?" Isabelle asked suddenly.
"No, I dare not look too far ahead, and I have no intention to," Albert shook his head. "The future is unknown, and I'm afraid of seeing something terrible. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I avoid peering into my own future."
"More prophet eccentricities?" Isabelle teased as she stepped into the Vanishing Cabinet. "See you later."
"See you," Albert echoed.
As he gazed at the closed cabinet, he murmured, "Early investment? She's not wrong about that."
In Albert's eyes, Hermione was indeed a potential asset. After all, she might become the Minister of Magic one day.
Cultivating a good relationship with her was undoubtedly a wise investment, to use a business analogy: it was a surefire way to make a profit.
Moreover, by getting close to Hermione, he might be able to influence certain future events and even trigger more panel tasks, earning him more experience.
Isabelle really saw through him; even Albert had to admit that he was indeed someone who acted with purpose.
Of course, there were other reasons as well.
In his previous life, Albert had quite liked the character of Hermione, a smart and clever girl. Naturally, he wanted to be friends with someone he had once admired and occasionally offer her some help. If she ended up liking or even admiring him, all the better.
It was a tiny bit of male vanity, nothing more.
Whether it was for profit, sentiment, or personal reasons, Albert couldn't find a single reason not to try and raise his affinity with Hermione and strengthen their friendship.
As it turned out, Albert's efforts paid off, and he and Hermione had become quite good friends.
After stepping out of the Vanishing Cabinet, Albert found himself on the outskirts of Hogsmeade in a secluded house.
Sunlight streamed through the windows into the hall, where Isabelle was waiting for him on the sofa, and a house-elf had already brought them two cups of tea.
Albert reached for a notebook on the bookshelf next to him and sat down beside Isabelle. He tossed the notebook aside and took a sip of his tea before asking, "By the way, do you want to go to the Quidditch World Cup together during the summer break?"
"Just the two of us?"
"I can tag along with your family if they're going," Albert suggested with a smile. "There's an Easter gathering tomorrow. I'll ask them then if they can get me a ticket for the final match."
"My mom might be busy," Isabelle said.
"It's fine. We can go just the two of us if that's the case," Albert replied.
After concluding their discussion about the Quidditch match, the pair began to discuss the contents of the notebook, refining their transformation plan.
(End of Chapter)
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