Chapter 934: Lack of Experience
Chapter 934: Lack of Experience
To be honest, the content of the second task of the Triwizard Tournament was absolutely thrilling for the four champions, but for the audience watching from the stands by the lake, it was downright unfriendly, even a form of cruel torture. The spectators had to endure an hour of cold wind blowing from the lake without seeing anything, and in the end, they were left listening to silence as the second task came to an abrupt close.
Compared to the first task, the viewing experience of the second task was downright dismal, one could even say there was hardly any experience to speak of.
This was something the curious students couldn't bear. After the second task ended, everyone was eager to know what had happened beneath the lake's surface.
As a result, the "champions" and "hostages" became the center of attention, as only they could provide answers and shed light on the entirety of the second task.
Many girls tried to seek answers from Albert, but they soon found that this Hogwarts genius was elusive. Even during mealtimes when they blocked his path, Albert's explanation of the whole affair was so simple and straightforward that it made everyone doubt their life choices.
How could he just know the exact location of the mermaid village and dive vertically from the lake's surface to reach it, rescuing the hostages and then directly surfacing to return?
How could he be on good terms with the school's ghosts, with the Grey Lady providing him information about the situation beneath the Black Lake, helping him locate the mermaid village?
Well, even Harry was a bit perplexed.
It turned out that Albert hadn't relied solely on his own abilities to find the mermaid village but had also received assistance from the Grey Lady. Why hadn't he thought of that? He knew the Grey Lady too! When everyone realized that no matter how they questioned him, Albert would respond like a parrot, they lost interest in asking him further.
Instead, Harry, Ron, and Hermione became the focus of everyone's attention.
Ron was probably the happiest among the trio, as he finally achieved his long-awaited desire for attention and even grew to like the feeling. He was more than willing to narrate his experiences to anyone who would listen, often adding many intriguing details.
Although the stories sounded far-fetched, everyone enjoyed hearing Ron's tales, in contrast to Hermione's version of the hostages being magically hypnotized, which was less well-received.
Perhaps, the vast majority of people are inherently drawn to thrilling and sensational stories! "Ron Weasley must be craving attention too much," Albert commented nonchalantly after listening to Lee Jordan's latest rendition of Ron's supposed hand-to-hand combat with fifty fully armed mermaids, ultimately being subdued due to the overwhelming strength gap.
"Craving attention too much?" Fred asked, perplexed, as he sat down next to Albert with a plate of food.
"Your younger brother probably doesn't get much attention at home," Albert said casually as he ate his steak.
"It's normal with so many kids in the family. It's hard to take care of everyone," George acknowledged.
"At school, Ron's presence is also low, especially as the best friend of the famous savior, Harry Potter. Whenever someone sees Harry, Ron is often neglected and left on the sidelines." Albert speared a potato with his fork and continued, "Do you like being a supporting character? I believe no one likes being in the background, and this time, those emotions were ignited, causing Ron Weasley to desperately seek attention."
"You always make so much sense," George said, munching on a potato while pondering Albert's words, eventually nodding in agreement.
"He just looks like an idiot," Fred couldn't help but quip.
Didn't everyone know that Ron was making up these stories?
No, they did know, but true idiots were few and far between. Besides, it didn't stop them from enjoying the tales and having some fun.
"By the way, isn't Professor Dumbledore going to purchase the fireworks?"
"The headmaster said he needs to consider it," Fred replied, exchanging a glance with George, looking a bit glum.
"Then that means he's not buying them," Albert said, not too surprised. Fireworks were expensive, and at a hundred galleons each, they accounted for a significant portion of the championship bonus. As the headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore had to be frugal, especially considering that Hogwarts' teaching funds were already quite limited.
"Your fireworks are too expensive; you're practically ripping people off!" Lee Jordan exclaimed in annoyance. "A hundred galleons, and it's gone with a bang. It's not like we have too many galleons lying around. Why waste money like that?"
"I could use some large fireworks," Albert's comment startled the Weasley twins, and before they could react, he continued, "for an event after we graduate next year. Consider it my first large order for you. However, we need to lower the price of the fireworks. A hundred galleons is too expensive. How much do you think it cost to make those fireworks you displayed last time?"
"Less than ten galleons," Fred's voice trailed off.
"What are you looking at me like that for? Making those fireworks takes time and effort; that's why they're so expensive. Do you know how long it took us to make the fireworks for the last display?" George mumbled.
"Then let's settle for fifty galleons each," Albert glanced at the twin brothers and finalized the deal, "I'll let you know later what type of fireworks I want and how many we'll need. Rest assured, it won't be a small number."
"You don't mean..."
George seemed to realize something, and he suddenly looked up at Albert, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Fred asked, confused and not quite following.
"Where do you think such fireworks would be needed?" George retorted, giving them a hint.
"A grand celebration!" Lee Jordan answered for Fred, his eyes widening as he seemed to grasp the situation.
Fred wasn't an idiot either, and he quickly caught on, his expression turning complex.
"Have you decided so soon?"
"Yeah, it's decided. It will be the summer after graduation."
"That soon?"
"Is it really that rushed?" Albert tilted his head in response, "Wasn't this decided a long time ago?"
"Decided what?" Hermione interrupted, sitting down across from Albert with a plate of food. She couldn't stand being around Ron at the moment, especially after he had the audacity to boast to the girls about his supposed duel with the mermaids. And of course, there was another reason—those envious idiots who kept teasing her about being Krum's beloved, driving her crazy.
"It's a big decision about my life. You'll know when the time comes," Albert glanced at his three roommates, signaling them not to spread the news around.
"By the way, Hermione, have you offended Rita Skeeter in any way?" Lee Jordan asked, changing the subject.
"What? Offended who?" Hermione looked up, bewildered, at Lee Jordan.
"Rita Skeeter, the journalist from the Daily Prophet," Lee Jordan pulled out a copy of the Witch Weekly from somewhere and pushed it across the table to Hermione, "Page thirty-two, the short article below Harry's colored photo."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, took the magazine, and turned to the indicated page, quickly finding the article.
"Harry Potter's Secret Sad Story?" Hermione read quietly, scanning the content below:
...After losing his parents at the age of fourteen, Harry Potter thought he had finally found emotional solace at Hogwarts with his constant companion, a Muggle-born girl named Hermione Granger...Crum has obviously been bewitched by the cunning Miss Granger, who has invited her to Bulgaria for the summer and insisted that he has "never felt this way about another girl."
Unbeknownst to them, Albert was well aware of the challenges that lay ahead. As the stand-in for Diggory, he would have to face the same dangers that awaited the original champion. And the issue of lacking experience loomed large, not just in handling Horcrux fragments, but also in combat.
Despite his confidence in his abilities and his prowess in dealing with Aurors, he knew that facing malevolent Dark Wizards was a different ballgame. He needed to bolster his strength and skills, especially since his wonderful new life had just begun, and he wasn't about to let it slip away due to a moment's carelessness.
Albert's mind raced, and he identified three individuals who could aid him in this endeavor: Professor Dumbledore, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Burbage. He decided to seek their help in honing his combat techniques and gaining much-needed battle experience.
Of course, he wished that Professor Dumbledore would be willing to lend a hand, but he knew the chances of that were slim. Nonetheless, he resolved to give it a shot and try his luck at convincing the esteemed headmaster. After all, one needed dreams to strive for.
(End of Chapter)
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