Future Players

"You're making Filch sound like some kind of Dark Lord." Albert found the twins' assessment of Filch rather amusing. It reminded him of how students used to treat a strict dorm matron like an old witch.

"No, everyone hates him," Fred said seriously. "Even Percy says so. I really can't think of any reason not to believe it."

"What do you mean, even Percy? Isn't he your brother? Is it really okay to talk about your family like that?" Albert held back the urge to make a snide remark. He took his pocket watch from his pocket, checked the time, then turned to the three of them. "All right, it's about time. Let's go to the Great Hall for breakfast first, then have a look around the castle."

This time, they took the route Albert had used that morning. The twins showed tremendous interest in the secret passages. When they passed the moving staircases, they didn't have to wait and reached the entrance hall without trouble.

When they entered the Great Hall for breakfast, the four long tables were practically empty. The enchanted ceiling was a gloomy gray, and it looked as though it might rain at any moment.

"We're probably among the earliest people up," George Weasley said in a slightly helpless tone as he cut the potatoes on his plate with a knife. He looked around the empty Great Hall. "I can't even remember the last time I got up this early."

"Three years ago," Fred suddenly said.

"You actually remember?" George looked at his brother in disbelief. "Don't tell me you guessed."

"Of course I guessed." Fred couldn't help laughing. "You actually believed me?"

"I knew it."

"What are you drawing?" Lee asked.

"I'm recording the places we just passed through. I'm planning to draw a map of Hogwarts." Albert turned the parchment around to show them what was on it.

"I'm more curious about what you're holding," Fred said, staring at Albert's fountain pen. He had noticed Albert had been drawing the whole time without ever dipping it in ink, which was very strange.

"This? A fountain pen. Muggles use it to write. You can't exactly carry a quill around and use it whenever you want, and it's not very convenient either." Albert handed his fountain pen to Fred. It had been a birthday gift from Herb. Though it wasn't anything particularly good, he had used it for many years.

"It feels a bit like a quill," Fred said as he examined the nib.

"Of course. A fountain pen works on roughly the same principle as a quill. Its advantage is that it stores ink, so it can be used continuously for a long time." Albert held the parchment before the three of them. "We're in the Great Hall right now. Outside is the entrance hall. Going up the marble stairs leads to the moving staircases. Filch's office is nearby. There are also two doors here that lead to the basements. The door on the left leads to the kitchen—on the left when you come down the stairs. I haven't been through the right one yet. The kitchen is probably around here. Its entrance is a painting of a huge silver bowl filled with fruit. Touch the big pear, and a doorknob will appear."

"You recorded all that in so much detail." Lee took the parchment and looked at the kitchen's location. He felt that he could probably find it himself if he went there. Handing the parchment to one of the twins, he asked, "Where are we going later?"

"I'm going to find the exact locations of our classrooms first, so we won't get lost when classes start," Albert said, putting away the parchment George had handed back. "Then, while we're at it, we'll see if we can find any secret passages. They're usually hidden behind tapestries, statues, stone walls, or even paintings."

"If that's how you put it, finding secret passages shouldn't be hard." After finishing the roast potatoes on his plate, Fred was already eager to give it a try.

"No, the key is that some secret passages require specific passwords, or that you touch certain special spots." Albert shook his head. "I only found the kitchen because I felt up that painting and happened to find the entrance."

"Why did you think that painting had a secret?" a girl's voice asked from beside them. Albert turned to look. It was Angelina, a first-year from the same house whom he had chatted with a little the previous night.

"Because it was too suspicious, obviously. That fruit painting was almost the same size as the Fat Lady's portrait. It was practically telling everyone that there was a secret passage there," Albert said as though it were only natural.

"Oh!" After hearing that, the four of them found Albert's line of reasoning rather difficult to understand.

Yet the facts proved Albert's guess right.

This guy's brain really worked well.

"Johnson, are you by yourself?" Albert asked curiously. "Where are your dormmates?"

"You actually remembered my surname." Angelina looked surprised. In fact, even her dormmates couldn't remember her name clearly.

After all, they had only known each other for a short time and had barely exchanged a few words. It was normal not to remember, wasn't it?

"I've always had a good memory." Albert smiled and introduced them. "This is Lee, and these twins are George and Fred. Though don't ask me which is which. I can't tell them apart either."

"I'm George, George Weasley."

"No, no, no. I'm George. He's Fred," the other twin countered.

"Lots of twins like playing that trick. They wear the same clothes and dress the same way so no one can tell who is who." Albert suddenly looked toward the owl flying their way.

"You forgot to introduce yourself, Albert," Lee Jordan reminded him.

"Oh, sorry. I saw my owl." Albert picked up a piece of bread, tore it apart, and fed it to Shira as she landed before him on the table.

"I'm Albert Anderson."

"Anderson, aren't you eating?" Angelina asked curiously as she made herself a sandwich.

"I already ate in the kitchen. Just call me Albert." Albert stroked his owl. "I have something to send home this weekend. Remember to come to the Great Hall in the morning."

Shira hooted to show that she understood.

Another owl flew into the Great Hall and dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet before Albert. Its aim was poor, however, and it nearly knocked over George's pumpkin porridge. If Fred hadn't been quick, it would have landed in the porridge. Then, with some jam on it, it probably would have been ready to eat.

"Can I borrow that?" Angelina asked, picking up the newspaper. "I want to read the Quidditch section."

"Oh, of course," Albert said.

"You like Quidditch too?" the twins asked in unison.

"Of course I do. It's a shame first-years can't try out for Quidditch," Angelina said regretfully.

"You can, if the Quidditch team is short on people and you can get Professor McGonagall to agree." Noticing everyone staring at him, Albert shrugged helplessly. "They say first-years can't try out, but there are always exceptions, aren't there? Rules are meant to be broken."

"Ah, forget it." Angelina didn't think she could change Professor McGonagall's mind. "I've already found out that a Gryffindor Chaser will graduate next term. I'm planning to sign up and give it a try then. What about you?"

"Beaters suit us better," the twins said in unison.