Chapter 942: Wings of a Butterfly
Chapter 942: Wings of a Butterfly
In a secluded corner of the Hogwarts library, Albert pored over the drafts of his previous writings on Dark Arts defense, his brow furrowed in concentration. He realized that much of what he had written needed to be revised.
Ever since he started learning combat techniques from Professor Flitwick, his perspective on certain matters had evolved. The drafts he had spent considerable time on now seemed like little more than grandiose theories built on flowery language.
Perhaps this was what they called growth.
Of course, Albert wasn't in a hurry to edit his work. He knew that any modifications made before completing his learning with Professor Flitwick would only be preliminary, paving the way for further refinement.
He pulled out a piece of parchment and began recording his evolving thoughts and insights, preparing for a comprehensive revision later on.
"Hope I'm not disturbing you!"
Hermione had quietly taken a seat next to Albert and was now eyeing his writings with interest.
Sensing a gaze upon him, Albert looked up and spotted a certain celebrity lurking behind a bookshelf in the distance before turning back to Hermione with a smile. "How's your training going?" he asked.
"It's going great," Hermione replied in a hushed tone, sharing her recent experiences in the Forbidden Forest. "I've learned quite a lot from Sirius and Professor Lupin, even just by accompanying Harry and Ron in their training."
Even though she and Ron were merely there to support Harry, they had still gained valuable knowledge.
However, from Hermione's tone, it seemed she wished for Albert to join them and learn some useful skills from Sirius Black and Professor Lupin as well.
Albert could tell that Hermione's suggestion came from a place of concern, and he offered her a smile in return.
The basics that Sirius and Lupin were teaching Harry were of little use to Albert. Those were fundamentals that should have been taught by the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but the quality of that particular class had been abysmal, leaving the students of Hogwarts ill-prepared.
Noticing the smile on Albert's face, Hermione seemed to realize something. "I guess what they're teaching is quite elementary for you," she mused.
"It never hurts to brush up on self-defense measures," Albert reassured her gently. "Our school's Dark Arts defense education is truly lacking. If you want to excel in that subject, learning from Sirius and Lupin is a smart choice."
To be honest, ever since sparring with Professor Flitwick, Albert had begun to question the overall strength of the British wizarding community.
Aside from the long-deceased Ronald Smith, every opponent he had faced had been surprisingly competent.
Death Eaters, adept in Dark Magic, were no pushovers. They were formidable foes capable of going toe-to-toe with Aurors. How could they be anything but strong?
And as for the Aurors, only the cream of the crop, those who excelled in their academic examinations and passed through rigorous selection processes, earned that title. Their collective caliber couldn't possibly be subpar.
Well, wizards were known to be offensively powerful but defensively lacking, but the overall display of magical prowess during the final battle at Hogwarts had left Albert with the impression that the entire magical community was underwhelming.
Perhaps it was a matter of numerical advantage for the side of the savior, or were all of Voldemort's followers slacking off?
It was best not to delve too deeply into the narrative choices of the novel, but it was a fact that Harry Potter had single-handedly dealt with the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, even if Albert didn't know the exact details of what had transpired there.
However, he found the whole affair rather peculiar.
Because, to be frank, Harry Potter struck Albert as rather weak, even inferior to Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, whom Albert had personally trained.
Perhaps, indeed, Potter's protagonist aura was just too strong.
Noticing Albert's pensive expression, Hermione asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much," Albert said with a smile as he steered the conversation in a different direction. "By the way, have you caught Rita Skeeter yet?"
"No, I haven't spotted her beetle form yet," Hermione replied. Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, and there's something else. I've noticed that Sirius seems to be wary of Professor Moody. Do you know why?"
Hermione proceeded to tell Albert about Professor Moody's appearance during their break and his suggestion that Harry consider becoming an Auror.
"Professor Moody even suggested that Harry drop out of the tournament to ensure his safety," she added.
"Drop out of the tournament?" Albert repeated.
"What are you going to do? Are you going to drop out as well?" Hermione asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She truly hoped that Albert wouldn't take on unnecessary risks, especially after learning that the third task involved Voldemort's plot. She would much rather both Harry and Albert prioritize their safety and forgo the competition.
"I'll decide when the time comes," Albert said, his tone reflecting his uncertainty. "If it does turn out to be too dangerous, I'll just exit the maze and wait for the tournament to conclude."
"As for your suspicions about Professor Moody, it's understandable," Albert continued, shrugging. "Hogwarts has had a string of questionable Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. From Quirrell, who was possessed by Voldemort, to Gilderoy Lockhart, a fraud, and then Lupin, a werewolf and friend of a fugitive... So, it's only natural for Sirius to be cautious about Moody. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Moody turned out to be an imposter as well."
When Albert referred to Lupin as "a friend of a fugitive," Hermione narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased with the phrasing.
"You can't deny that Lupin's identity was highly suspect before the truth came out last year," Albert reminded her.
"So, you think there's something off about Professor Moody," Hermione stated.
"Maybe," Albert replied nonchalantly. "That position tends to attract trouble, so it's always wise to remain vigilant. I just don't understand what Moody hopes to accomplish by giving Harry such advice."
Unbeknownst to them, Moody was actually contemplating Potter's safety.
Well, Albert would have thought so, too, if he hadn't known better.
But he was well aware that Moody was an imposter, planning to make a move against Potter, and everything he had done was naturally in preparation for leading Potter away from Hogwarts.
What if the fake Moody just ran off with Harry Potter? Albert had considered this possibility, but he figured that Dumbledore should be able to track down Voldemort's resurrection site through the traces left by the door key.
So, Fake Moody would definitely buy time for Voldemort and would never expose himself easily.
However, what if Potter was blown away by the fluttering of Albert's butterfly wings? Albert thought with malicious intent.
If Savior Potter were to be killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the entire narrative would drastically change.
If that truly happened, Albert would flip the table and push Dumbledore to the front lines to face off against Voldemort.
As for asking Albert to confront Voldemort himself, well, he valued his life too much for that! ...
"So, how far have the two of you progressed?"
"Huh?" Hermione was startled by Albert's sudden question.
"You and Krum," Albert said, looking at Hermione's puzzled expression with confusion. "Hasn't he asked you out yet?"
"We're just ordinary friends," Hermione said dryly.
"Ordinary friends wouldn't invite you to their home country for the summer," Albert pointed out with a smile.
"We're truly just good friends," Hermione insisted, her face reddening.
"No need to explain," Albert consoled her. "Finding someone you like isn't something to be ashamed of. Sometimes, if you have feelings for someone, you should seize the opportunity. Some guys are just clueless, and if you don't speak up, they'll never know. Don't expect them to suddenly have an epiphany; who knows how long you'll have to wait. No need to look at me like that; I'm talking about Harry Potter."
"Harry?"
Hermione actually agreed with Albert. Harry was incredibly dense when it came to romance; he was practically clueless.
She thought of Ginny, who had a long-standing crush on Harry, and sighed.
"Krum isn't a bad guy, but he's just not bold enough. If it were me, I would have made a move already instead of planning to intercept you later."
Hermione didn't want to discuss Krum with Albert. In her opinion, they were just ordinary friends, and although she was aware of Krum's intentions, she also knew that long-distance relationships rarely ended well, so she valued their friendship more.
"What about you and Isabelle?"
"We're both mature and know what we want," Albert shrugged.
"Can I take a look at this?"
Hermione's gaze fell on the open folder on the table and she steered the conversation in a different direction. She didn't want to discuss this topic that made her feel uncomfortable any longer.
"Sure, go ahead," Albert pushed the folder towards Hermione. "But the contents might not be very useful to you."
The corner fell silent again as Hermione flipped through the drafts on Dark Arts defense.
Albert continued writing down his thoughts and insights from the past few days. It was always a good idea to record them first, and even if the content became a bit bloated, it could be edited later—that was the experience he had gained from writing novels in his previous life.
If he didn't want to bother with editing, he could always make the content a bit more concise.
"Do you plan to publish this?"
Hermione realized that the draft was almost complete. It contained instructions on how to protect oneself against Dark Magic, but as she read, she also sensed Albert's grim predictions for the future, as if he were telling them that Voldemort's resurrection was inevitable.
"Yes, people will need it soon," Albert said calmly.
"You seem to believe that the mysterious figure will rise again?" Hermione lowered her voice as she asked, her eyes fixed on the folder.
"It's not just my belief; many prophecies point in that direction," Albert shook his head. "Although prophecies may not always come true, they are still worth heeding. When most prophecies align, it's wise to be cautious. By the way, can you help me come up with a title for this book? I'm not very good at naming things."
Hermione couldn't think of a suitable title for the book at the moment, but she promised to help Albert brainstorm one.
Hermione left soon after, without saying goodbye to Krum. She hurried off, eager to share her findings with Harry and Ron.
Albert didn't mind. He had already shared this information with many people, so a few more wouldn't make a difference. In fact, the more people who knew, the easier it would be to convince them later if things went according to his predictions.
He picked up his quill and flipped through his notes, checking the calendar and estimating the time he had left. He planned to have Isabelle choose a secluded house for them to stay in while they remained in Britain.
They would be cooped up in that house for most of the time, so it had to be comfortable. Moreover, once he cast the Fidelius Charm on the house, it would essentially be off-limits to visitors.
That was one of the drawbacks of the Fidelius Charm—once cast, it could never be undone.
Speaking of which, there was another matter to consider. His graduation was coming up next semester, and he needed to figure out a way to complete the valuable leftover tasks.
Albert put down his quill and flipped through the task panel, searching for tasks related to Hogwarts. He remembered triggering several tasks related to the school when he had first enrolled.
Ancient School: Hogwarts Current Progress: 68%
This was one of the few rewarding large-scale tasks, but it was incredibly difficult to complete thoroughly.
If he managed to visit the common rooms of the other houses and took a tour of the girls' dormitories and bathrooms, he estimated he could reach over 85% completion. However, pushing beyond that would be challenging.
"I think I'll just sneak back during the summer break, and that should be enough." Albert jotted down this plan in his notebook.
As for the Bookworm task, his progress was currently stuck at 83%.
This semester, he rarely ventured into the Hogwarts library anymore, and it would be challenging to complete this task before graduation.
However, he didn't plan to give up on it. He intended to borrow a few more books when he had the time and finish the task. The task rewards were quite generous, and even though the three random skills could be a bit of a gamble, they were still valuable experience points that he couldn't afford to pass up.
Before leaving the library, Albert made a quick stop at the restricted section to borrow a book called Deadly Magic. He had actually read parts of this book before, and it recorded quite a few dark magic spells. Although he believed that most of them were useless, a careful study could help improve his task progress, and it would be beneficial to understand dark magic to counter it more effectively.
As he exited the library, someone blocked his path.
"Yes?" Albert asked, looking at the gloomy-faced Krum with an unaffected expression.
"I want to know," Krum said, his face somber as he lowered his voice, "what's going on between you and Hermione?"
"I have a girlfriend, and you should have seen her too." Albert paid no heed to Krum's glaring eyes and smiled as he teased, "So you don't have to worry about me stealing your girlfriend."
"Hermione often mentions you." Krum raised an eyebrow, recalling the beautiful red-haired girl who had been with Albert during the second task.
"Hermione and I are just good friends." Albert shrugged, "Actually, you should be more concerned about Potter."
"Are they dating?"
"Probably not, but Potter still doesn't have a girlfriend." Albert sized up Krum and said, "Are you having trouble with Hermione?"
Krum's face grew even gloomier, clearly indicating that Albert had hit a sore spot.
"To be honest, the two of you don't stand much of a chance."
Krum glared at Albert, his eyes unfriendly, but he held back from taking any action.
"Most long-distance relationships don't usually turn out well, especially once you go back to your country. It will be difficult for the two of you to even meet." Albert offered friendly advice, "Unless one of you gives up everything and stays in the other's country."
"Would you be willing to give up your Quidditch career and stay in Britain to wait for Hermione until she's an adult?" Albert asked Krum.
"Are you trying to persuade me to give up?" Krum asked hoarsely.
"Not exactly, I'm just telling you how cruel reality can be." Albert said calmly, "Hermione is a smart girl, and she's well aware of this. That's why she turned you down and only wants to be friends."
Krum fell silent, knowing that he wouldn't give up his Quidditch career to stay in Britain.
"If you want to preserve your friendship, I suggest you remain friends and keep in touch through letters." Albert smiled and patted Krum's shoulder, "As long as you stay in contact, there's always a chance. The outcome depends on your own abilities."
"Being an international Quidditch star sure is tough. Even finding a pretty girl to date is difficult." Krum couldn't help but complain.
He did want to pursue Hermione, but hearing Albert's words, he knew his chances were slim.
"Thanks for the advice."
Before leaving, Krum didn't forget to express his gratitude to Albert.
He knew that if Hermione still didn't have a boyfriend after graduation, he would still have a chance to pursue her.
"What did he want?"
As soon as Krum left, Katrina appeared out of nowhere.
"He wanted to chase after a girl." Albert smiled.
"So, the magazine was telling the truth. Krum wants to pursue Granger?" Katrina asked curiously, "He came to ask you about her?"
"Something like that. I told him his chances are slim." Albert smiled mischievously, "I suggested they start as friends and keep in touch."
"You're such a troublemaker." Katrina knew that Krum's chances were slim to none, and even if they did become a couple, a long-distance relationship like that would be difficult to sustain.
"I'm just stating the facts. Long-distance relationships rarely have a happy ending, unless one person gives up everything, but most of the time, it ends in 'tragedy'." Albert turned to Katrina and said, "Even relationships that start at Hogwarts rarely last after graduation."
"You're something else..." Katrina turned and walked away. Although she didn't want to admit it, Albert was stating facts.
Watching Katrina's departing figure, Albert wondered if Hermione would eventually marry Ron.
After all, with the fluttering of his butterfly wings, the future could change in unpredictable ways.
Indeed, the future was highly uncertain, especially with his influence.
Based on Ginny's comments in the later parts of the novel, it could be inferred that Hermione and Krum did have a brief romantic relationship and even dated and kissed.
This was quite normal. Krum was the first boy to appreciate Hermione, and as a famous Quidditch star, he actively pursued her. It wasn't strange for them to develop feelings for each other and become a couple, especially since Krum had invited her to his home country for the summer.
However, this development seemed to have been derailed by Albert.
Because, to be honest, Albert was the first boy to truly appreciate Hermione, and he may have even become her first love.
Although it sounded a bit narcissistic, Albert could tell that Hermione liked and admired him, as evidenced by Krum specifically seeking him out.
Good looks and charm were indeed important, and if he had taken the initiative...
Shaking off these impractical thoughts from his mind, Albert made his way towards the common room.
(End of Chapter)
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