Secret Treasure

Albert looked up and, by the white light of the wand tip, vaguely saw Professor McGonagall walking quickly toward them. Behind her were... their roommate Lee Jordan, and... Dumbledore.

The elderly man was smiling as he looked at the three of them.

"Bard, you found them! That's wonderful!" Professor McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze falling on Albert, Fred, and George, as if checking if her students were injured.

"It should be said that... it was Mr. Anderson who found the two Mr. Weasley," Professor Broad explained with a smile. "When I arrived, Mr. Anderson had already rescued the Mr. Weasley from a large group of Acromantula who were trapped on the Rowan Tree (Guardian Tree).

"Excuse me, you said a group of... what?" Professor McGonagall's voice rose a few decibels, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "Acromantula, Minerva." Professor Broad turned to Dumbledore. "There should be an Acromantula's nest deep in the Forbidden Forest. These monsters have virtually no natural enemies and have multiplied into a large colony."

"I understand." Dumbledore looked at Albert with curiosity and smiled. "However, I am more curious about how Mr. Anderson found the Mr. Weasley and how he dispersed the swarm of Acromantula. As far as I know, those monsters are not something an ordinary freshman can handle."

Albert looked at Lee Jordan, cleverly avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. Even if Dumbledore didn't use Legilimency, he was an expert in it. Once their eyes met, it would be difficult for Albert to lie to Dumbledore.

"Yes, actually I'm curious about that too." Professor Broad's tone shifted, offering a kind reminder, "But I think the most urgent thing is to get them to the School Hospital first. We used the Portkey when we came back, and they're still... Portkey Sickness."

"You're right, Bard." Professor McGonagall nodded, then stared sternly at the three of them. "Come with me!"

"Excuse me, come and help me get Fred up." Albert ignored Professor McGonagall's stern gaze and said to Lee Jordan. He was exhausted himself and didn't have much strength to help anyone else.

"Oh, right, and this dog, it seems to be Hagrid's pet. Albert apparently used it to find the Mr. Weasley," Professor Broad said, pointing to Fang at his feet. "However, it doesn't seem to be able to Apparition."

"Don't worry, I've already informed Hagrid, and he'll be back soon," Dumbledore said gently.

After a moment, he seemed to notice something, turned his head to look in a certain direction, and said with a smile, "Look, Hagrid is back."

Yes, Hagrid is back, carrying an oil lamp from the direction of Hogsmeade. He's a bit drunk, reeking of alcohol, and strides towards us.

"Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall... Professor Broad?" Hagrid covered a burp, greeted the three professors, and then looked at Albert and the others, relieved to see that they were alright.

"It's so good that they're alright. Those kids always like to sneak into the woods when I'm not looking."

"Alright, Hagrid..."

Dumbledore explained the situation to Hagrid, and the Hunting Grounds said he would take good care of his pet.

After saying goodbye to Hagrid, the group quickly arrived at the School Hospital.

Being woken up in the middle of the night, Madam Pomfrey, who was not in a good mood, still dutifully treated the three of them.

"It's nothing serious. The two Mr. Weasley are just not used to the Portkey and haven't recovered from the Portkey Sickness yet. As for Mr. Anderson, he's just too tired; a good night's sleep will do him good," Madam Pomfrey said after examining the three men.

"They need rest, and they should be fully recovered by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Now, the head nurse is preparing to kick them out.

Unfortunately, even Madam Pomfrey didn't have a good solution for the Portkey Sickness; it would be fine after a day or two of rest.

"Poppy, we need to figure out what happened. It will only take a few minutes," Professor McGonagall said.

"Five minutes at most, the patient needs to rest." Madam Pomfrey frowned and handed Albert a piece of chocolate.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?" Professor McGonagall's tone softened as she stared at the three of them and asked.

Albert briefly explained the situation, saying that when he returned to his dormitory to rest, he found that Fred and George had not returned.

Later, I learned from Lee Jordan that the two of them might have gone into the woods and hadn't returned yet.

Then, Albert explained that he had confirmed through an owl that the two were indeed still in the Forbidden Forest and was preparing to seek Hagrid's help. Ultimately, since Hagrid wasn't there, he had to go into the forest himself to find them, and then sent Lee Jordan back to the castle to ask the professor for help.

"You broke numerous School Rules along the way, so how did you find the two Mr. Weasley, and how did you escape death?" Professor McGonagall couldn't help but ask. "And what about the group of Acromantula that Professor Broad mentioned?"

"At first, I thought Fred and George were just lost. In a place like the Forbidden Forest, it's easy to get lost without a guide," Albert continued, recounting his experiences along the way. Later, he said he encountered Centaurs and, with Centaurs help, found the direction of the Red Sparks.

"The Red Sparks was a reminder Albert gave us in a letter." Fred pulled out Albert's handkerchief, on which was written, "Shoot Red Sparks into the sky. If you need help, ask the Centaurs. They will take you out of the forest."

"Actually, the Centaurs weren't exactly friendly," Albert said with a self-deprecating laugh. "But Centaurs said they never attacked foals, which I suppose meant they wouldn't attack students. Later, I said I was Hagrid's friend and negotiated with the Centaurs, persuading them to lead me to the direction of the Red Sparks, and then I encountered the giant spider."

Dumbledore nodded; he knew the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest.

"How exactly did you defeat the Acromantula?" Professor Broad asked the question that everyone was most curious about.

"Thanks to Fang's warning, I wasn't ambushed by the Acromantula, but the Obstruction Jinx and Stunning Spell had little effect on those giant spiders." Albert lay on the bed, chewing on chocolate as he recalled, "Later I tried to use the Dancing Feet Spell on its feet to restrict its mobility, and in fact, the attempt was very successful."

"Brilliant idea! Your Defence Against the Dark Arts is excellent. I'm very proud of you," Professor Broad nodded.

"Later, after I calmed down, I remembered the Spider Repelling Spell I had seen by chance in the library," Albert said with emotion. "I never expected that this spell would be so effective against those big spiders."

Albert slowly recounted the story of the night, ending by describing how he used the Guardian Tree to defeat most of the Acromantula that had surrounded them...

"It's incredible." Professor McGonagall had already discerned the freshman's courage and wisdom from Albert's account. Whether it was finding the Twins with the help of owls and hounds, or the courage and ability he displayed when facing Centaurs and Acromantula, even entering the Forbidden Forest in the dead of night required immense courage.

"Alright, I understand the situation." Professor McGonagall delivered her final verdict. "Mr. Weasley, you have seriously violated School Rules. Each of you will have one hundred points deducted and a week of confinement."

Fred and George both let out a whistle, startling Lee Jordan beside them. Each of them scored 100 points, Gryffindor's already dwindled points.

"As for Mr. Anderson," Professor McGonagall hesitated, seemingly considering how to handle Albert's situation.

Finally, Dumbledore spoke up, "Mr. Anderson displayed extraordinary courage and wisdom in the process, saving the lives of the two Mr. Weasley. I think that is enough to earn you Special Contribution Award for the school. And—let me think—oh, right, you earned two hundred points for Gryffindor."

Fred and George both breathed a sigh of relief, which offset the points they had lost. However, the thought of being put in solitary confinement made them feel miserable.

"Oh, and one more thing. Mr. Anderson saved me from being ambushed and seriously injured by the Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest," Professor Broad said with a smile. "I think that's enough to earn Gryffindor 50 points."

"Alright, let's go! I think they should get some rest." Dumbledore turned to leave.

"There's one more thing," Professor McGonagall suddenly said.

"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.

"What are you doing in the woods?" Professor McGonagall stared sternly at the Twins brothers.

Under such aggressive coercion, the Twins confessed everything.

"Where's the map?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I left that map in the Forbidden Forest," Albert said, "To prevent them from having another brain fart and going back into the woods to do something reckless."

"Alright, may I take care of my patient now?" Madam Pomfrey came over and brought the three of them sleeping pills.

"Drink it, and it will help you get a good night's sleep."

Albert could guess what it was.

Under Madam Pomfrey's watchful eye, Albert drank the Draught of Living Death. The potion's effects were immediate; he felt his eyelids grow heavy, and Albert irresistibly closed his eyes, enveloped in a dreamless slumber.

"Alright, you should go back to your dorm and rest too!" Outside the School Hospital, Professor McGonagall said to Lee Jordan, "You did a very rational thing, earning Gryffindor 10 points."

After Lee Jordan left, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall both looked at Professor Broad.

"Mr. Anderson is mostly right. However, I'm also quite surprised that he was able to find Mr. Weasley," Professor Broad remarked. "He is undoubtedly a brilliant genius. By the way, there's something I'd like to tell you."

"What's up?"

"I think I should resign in advance. This position really brings bad luck and misfortune," Professor Broad said with a wry smile. "Resigning before the curse causes me any harm is undoubtedly a wise choice."

"What's this about the Secret Treasure of Gryffindor that Mr. Weasley mentioned?" Professor McGonagall suddenly brought up the map, and couldn't help but frown.

"There have indeed been similar legends, but nothing is certain. You know, legends aren't always reliable, even though they may have some historical basis."

"I have heard similar legends," Professor Broad said. "Some people claim that the Four Founders each left behind their own Secret Treasure at Hogwarts, containing priceless treasures, possibly gold, Prophecy, and other powerful magical items."

"There were indeed such legends in Hogwarts Castle, but legends are just legends, and no one has ever found the so-called Secret Treasure," Dumbledore said softly.

All three fell silent. They each possessed their own judgment and naturally wouldn't easily believe so-called legends.

Yes, legends are just legends. Just like the legend of the Chamber of Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts, but no one has ever found the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets left by Slytherin.