Chapter 788: Three Against One
Chapter 788: Three Against One
The next morning, as Albert entered the Great Hall, he immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere. The air was thick with tension, like a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest provocation.
Albert quickly located Isabelle and, without hesitation, grabbed his plate and made his way over to sit beside his girlfriend.
"So, are you planning to transfer to Ravenclaw?" Penelope teased as she noticed Albert approaching. "I'm sure they'd welcome you with open arms."
"The tension over there is too much. Is it really necessary to be so intense over a game? It's putting me off my appetite," Albert ignored Penelope's jest and continued eating from his plate, his words filled with malice. "They might as well just have a brawl right here in the Great Hall. Whoever loses the fight loses today's match. They'll probably end up fighting on the pitch anyway once the game starts."
"I thought you'd be rooting for Gryffindor?" Penelope asked with a smile.
"Of course, I am," Albert replied.
However, his words lacked any conviction.
"The Slytherin players are in much better shape than the Gryffindors, and you've got three girls on your team. That's a disadvantage in a fight," Penelope reminded him with a laugh.
"You make a good point," Albert admitted, setting down his fork. He turned his head to glance at the Slytherin table, and it was clear that if a fight broke out, Gryffindor would be at a serious disadvantage.
Penelope was surprised to find Albert agreeing with her, and she couldn't help but laugh.
"What about you, any plans for the summer break? Want to come with us to the Quidditch World Cup?" Albert asked, turning to Isabelle after finishing his food.
"It's always busy at the hospital, so Mom might not be able to make it," Isabelle replied, dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief. "I'll probably be the one taking you and Katrina to the Cup."
"How about just the two of us then? I could say I only got two tickets," Albert suggested jokingly.
"Who said it would be just us two?" Isabelle, understanding Albert's implication, replied with a quirky expression. "Not long ago, Katherine asked me if I wanted to go to the Quidditch World Cup, and I already agreed. We're supposed to meet up there. Didn't they mention it to you?"
"When did you guys get so close that you're going to the Quidditch World Cup together?" Albert asked, his guard up. When did these two become so friendly?
"Valeria will be coming too. She's already planning to open a beauty shop with Katherine after graduation," Isabelle continued. "We agreed to meet up there and chat about beauty potions. They seem to have made some new progress."
Although Albert wasn't heavily involved in the development of beauty potions, the three of them never failed to include him in their discussions. They were well aware that Albert's skill could help accelerate their research.
Youth was fleeting for the young ladies, so the sooner they could develop the potion, the better.
"You guys are really working on a beauty potion that makes people prettier?" Penelope asked, her eyes widening at the prospect. For girls, the idea of maintaining their beauty was almost irresistible.
"It's not that magical," Isabelle clarified, thinking it over. "At most, it will get rid of acne, freckles, and keep the skin soft and smooth. Actually, using too much makeup is bad for the skin. Those who rely heavily on cosmetics tend to age faster, so we've also considered focusing on that aspect."
"No wonder I haven't seen you using much makeup lately," Penelope exclaimed, her eyes wide with realization.
"Because I told her that too much makeup can make you look older," Albert chimed in with a smile.
"Thankfully, I don't wear makeup that often," Penelope joked. "If you need help with the beauty shop, count me in. Just give me an employee discount..."
Their lively conversation was interrupted by enthusiastic applause as Albert turned to see the Gryffindor team entering the Great Hall to a warm welcome. Not only were the Gryffindors cheering, but students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were also clapping for them.
Of course, there were inevitable boos from the Slytherin table, but their jeers were drowned out by the applause.
"Do you think Gryffindor will win? Last night, many Ravenclaw students placed bets with Slytherin, saying you guys would win and even take the final championship cup," Penelope said, suddenly remembering something. "They said you predicted a Gryffindor victory, and that you've never lost a bet."
"Me?" Albert pointed at himself, taken aback.
"Yes," Penelope confirmed.
"And they all believed it?" Albert's lips twitched, finding the situation incredulous. "Aren't you guys worried that Slytherin might try to weasel their way out of paying?"
"Nope, Kenneth got Hufflepuff involved too," Truman piped up, appearing from somewhere. "If Slytherin loses and refuses to pay up, they'll have made enemies out of most students from three houses."
"That's a ruthless move," Albert finally understood why Kenneth wasn't worried about Slytherin backing out.
Truman suddenly asked, "You didn't place a bet, did you?"
"Why?" Albert asked, confused.
"That jerk tricked everyone."
"Don't say that," Penelope interjected. "If there's a chance to get the money back, Albert would definitely be willing to bet. Right, Albert?" In Kenneth's eyes, this was a sure win. As long as he got the other two houses involved, there was no way Slytherin could back out without consequences.
Albert's reluctance to bet was more out of concern that Slytherin might try to welch on their debt. It would be frustrating to win the bet but not receive the money.
As for the Slytherins, they had agreed out of face-saving concerns. After all, if they won, they would receive a substantial sum, and the probability of Gryffindor winning the final match was not high.
Watching Kenneth's retreating back, Albert wondered if the guy would end up getting stripped naked and dunked in a toilet the day Gryffindor won.
Perhaps due to the bets placed on Gryffindor, the voices supporting a Gryffindor victory grew louder. Albert even spotted a red flag in the stands, emblazoned with a roaring Gryffindor lion and the words "Gryffindor Must Win."
"Here's a rose for you."
Percy distributed a crimson rose to Albert, symbolizing Gryffindor's red colors.
"How about a roaring lion badge next time?"
Albert jotted down a quick note in his notebook, confident that Fred and George would be able to handle the badge on their own.
The Slytherin side was similar to Gryffindor's, with the only difference being that Professor Snape sat in the front row, donning the green emblem of Slytherin like the rest of his house.
Was the Head of House openly supporting his team?
"Gryffindor should win, right?" Percy asked, taking a seat next to Albert, while Penelope sat on the other side. As for Truman, he had gone off with Kenneth to handle the betting matters.
"How much did you bet?" Albert inquired of Percy.
"One Galleon?"
"What about you two?"
"I'm not much of a gambler," Isabelle gestured for Albert to look at the pitch. The Quidditch match was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)
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