A Bad Omen

Since the Wizard Card Club's last promotion, more Hogwarts students have become aware of the Wizard Card game. Several students have even expressed a desire to have cards specifically for their own houses and are willing to join the Wizard Card Club to design brand new cards for Albert.

This will benefit the promotion of Wizard Card. As long as Wizard Card enters other schools, the number of players will definitely gradually increase. Albert believes that it won't be long before more and more students will fall in love with this card game that is easy to pick up, has diverse gameplay, and allows for the free design of various strategies.

The biggest problem with The Wizard Card right now is the number of players. As long as everyone is playing The Wizard Card, others will definitely be curious and follow suit. Albert believes that the charm of The Wizard Card itself can win everyone over.

However, designing and manufacturing the cards remained a problem. Although Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were helping him as much as possible, Albert still had to do it himself most of the time.

That being said, I do have quite a few things to worry about.

The design and manufacture of Wizard Card, magical training and homework for various courses, frequent correspondence with other wizards, weekly borrowing of books from the library, and research into improving the Protective Bracelet are all ongoing. Research into casting spells using Ancient Runes has not yet made progress. He writes articles for "Transfiguration Today," conducts academic research in the Charms Club, occasionally practices the Patronus Charm in his spare time, and searches for books related to Occlumency in the Restricted Section.

Filch was still brooding over what happened last semester, so he increased the nighttime patrols at the castle as soon as school started. Snape would occasionally help with the patrols, which immediately dissuaded Albert from the idea of browsing the Restricted Section late at night.

He didn't want to be the next unlucky guy caught out while out at night. By the way, Gryffindor, having lost Fifty points, was now at the bottom of the class.

If we had to name one good thing lately, it would probably be Albert's small breakthrough in Ancient Runes! Professor Bathilda Professor Babbling is indeed an expert in this field, with a high level of expertise in Ancient Runes.

Every Tuesday afternoon, Albert would audit Professor Babbling's advanced Ancient Runes Advanced Class and stay after class to discuss Ancient Runes with Professor Babbling.

Not long ago, they had studied, analyzed, and discussed McDougal's "Comprehensive Guide to Basic Runes" and "Advanced Runes Studies" together, which greatly increased Albert's Runes experience.

Albert's Runes experience is now more than halfway to level two.

Although Professor Babbling is the Hogwarts Professor of Runes, she doesn't actually live in the castle and only teaches five classes a week. The Advanced Class Ancient Runes class has only four students: two Ravenclaw, one Slytherin, one Hufflepuff, plus Albert, who's just dropping by.

Originally, Ancient Runes was an elective course for third-year students, and even fewer students could pass the O·w·Ls course with good grades. Some students, even if they met the requirements, might not be willing to attend the Advanced Class, which directly resulted in only a handful of students attending the Advanced Class for this course.

Of course, Ancient Runes weren't the worst off; Muggle Studies simply didn't offer any Advanced Class.

As long as you can get a good O·w·Ls Muggle Studies Certificate, you can work Muggle Liaison at the Ministry of Magic.

As for Advanced Class in Divination, Arithmancy, and the Care of Magical Creatures, the number of students is pitifully small, and even fewer actually learn anything from these Advanced Class and put it to good use after graduation.

It is common for graduates to end up in a job that does not match their major.

After the bell rang, the group said goodbye to each other and then left.

Albert did not leave; he would stay and continue his previous conversation with Professor Babbling.

"How are you feeling?" Professor Babbling asked gently. This was one of the advantages of being an excellent student; the two actually had a pretty good relationship.

"It's alright. The content covered in class wasn't too difficult, and I've already grasped most of it," Albert said, flipping through his notes.

"You should already be at the N. E. W. T. level," Professor Babbling remarked softly. Although some people are naturally gifted at learning Ancient Runes, Albert's talent initially surprised Professor Babbling.

"It's easier than I expected," Albert said.

"N. E. W. T. is not that difficult," Professor Babbling explained. "The difficulty lies in how to go further in this area after graduating from Hogwarts. We have only learned the tip of the iceberg, and only a few people have studied it in depth like Mr. McDougal."

Albert nodded in agreement, saying that this was evident from the fact that few people could fully understand "Advanced Runes Studies".

Footsteps sounded outside the corridor of the sixth-floor ancient classroom, and then someone knocked on the door.

Isobel pushed open the door and walked in. She was also skilled in Ancient Runes, and because of her connection with McDougal, Professor Babbling allowed her to participate in this extracurricular exchange.

Professor Babbling waved her wand, and tea, snacks, and cookies appeared on the table for the group. This wasn't a serious lesson, but rather a pleasant exchange.

Enjoying afternoon tea on a comfortable sofa, Professor Babbling was a little tired after teaching two classes in a row.

The conversation began after the three of them finished their first cup of afternoon tea.

"The topic we are studying today Divination Rune Stone. "Runes

"I remember there was Divination class in third grade, and it seemed like they taught how to use Rune Stone for Divination?" Albert looked up at Isobel and asked, "Did you take the Divination class?"

However, after seeing the change in the other person's expression, Albert had already guessed the answer. Clearly, this Ravenclaw genius was very similar to Professor McGonagall, believing that choosing Divination class was a complete waste of time.

"I don't have that talent." Isobel picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced at Albert, and said calmly, "Perhaps you do."

"Sybill is skilled in this area, and I even invited her over." Professor Babbling noticed that the two didn't seem very interested in Rune Stone Divination, so she said, "Rune Stone Divination is an ancient Divination in Britain. It is said to be very accurate, but there are not many wizards who truly understand how to interpret Rune Stone Divination anymore. Fortunately, Sybill has some knowledge in this area."

Albert couldn't help but roll his eyes upon hearing this, and after a brief remark, he said, "I've heard... that Divination requires talent, and only a very small number of people possess that talent."

As far as he knew, most students chose Divination class simply to pass the time; they didn't care whether they could get good grades in O·w·Ls.

After graduation, almost no wizards become Divination. After all, Divination who can't predict the future is no different from a fraud, and no one welcomes such a fraud.

Sybill Trelawney does have the ability to predict the future, but this ability is uncontrollable, and unlike other Divination, she cannot use a crystal ball to make Prophecy Divination and directly see certain Prophecy fragments.

"Sybill should have such an ability." Professor Babbling wasn't quite sure either. She knew that her friend had Prophecy abilities, after all, she was the great-granddaughter of the famous Divination teller Cassandra Trelawney, and Prophecy abilities are often passed down through bloodlines.

As the three chatted about Ancient Runes, Rune Stone, and Runes inscriptions, there was another knock on the door of the Ancient Runes classroom, and the person they had just been talking about appeared outside.

This was Albert's first time getting up close to Sybill Trelawney.

She was a very thin woman, wearing large glasses, and with a bunch of chains and beads hanging around her neck. She looked a bit crazy, perhaps because she didn't want people to know her background.

"Oh, Bathilda, I hope I'm not too late." Trelawney poked her head into the classroom, her gaze landing on Albert and Isobel.

"I've mentioned it to you before." Professor Babbling smiled and invited Professor Trelawney into the classroom. The two did have a good relationship. "We are researching Rune Stone Divination, and I think you can definitely be of great help in this area, after all, you are an expert in this field."

"Oh, Rune Stone Divination, that's an ancient art. There are very few wizards who are truly skilled in Divination these days." Trelawney walked in and sat down next to Professor Babbling, casually pulling an exquisite pouch from her pocket. "... Now, I only briefly mention it in my Divination class. Predicting the future from tea dregs and crystal balls is simpler for most students; at least they can find the answers in books. Of course, for students without the ' Third Eye ' talent, that's all they can do in this subject."

Professor Trelawney wasn't wrong. Divination requires talent. Without talent, one cannot make predictions and will only be regarded as a fraud, receiving no respect whatsoever.

Trelawney opened the delicate bag, poured out the Rune Stone inside, gently stroked the symbols on them, said "thank you" to Professor Babbling who brought her the tea, and continued, "The symbols on each Rune Stone tell the story and mysteries contained in the ancient writing system... and can also be used to seek desired results."

Albert took a bite of a biscuit, listened quietly to Trelawney's rambling, and smiled at Isobel, who was frequently drinking red tea. The latter seemed a little anxious and clearly didn't believe Trelawney's nonsense.

"Hold the bag Rune Stone in your palm, silently ask yourself your question, and meditate." Trelawney muttered as she put the Rune Stone back into the bag. "Remember to keep your mind clear, follow your instincts to feel the guidance of the natural forces, and then take a Rune Stone from the bag and place it in your palm."

Albert and Isobel looked at each other, both of them twitching at the corners of their mouths, but neither of them said a word.

"Why don't we test it out? Who wants to go first?" Professor Babbling said.

"Ladies first!" Albert gestured to Isobel to proceed.

"No, you go first." Isobel didn't actually believe in this Prophecy.

"Okay!" Albert took the bag Rune Stone, silently asked the question in his mind, and then meditated, trying to keep his mind as clear as possible.

He reached into the bag and took out Rune Stone and placed it in his palm.

"What is your question?" Trelawney asked.

"Future financial prospects," Albert said without hesitation.

"I think you have a real talent for Divination," Trelawney said suddenly as she walked up to Albert.

"Thank you," Albert replied politely.

"It's a positive Fehu." Trelawney glanced at the Rune Stone in Albert's palm with a strange expression. "Fehu itself represents wealth and symbolizes material gains, which means you have good fortune. It represents a certain form of success. As long as you hold on to what you have, you can achieve success and overcome the difficulties you encounter along the way."

"I've always been lucky with money," Albert said noncommittally. He put the Rune Stone back in the bag and handed it to Isobel.

"I wonder if I'll run into trouble in the near future?" Isobel asked casually, then took a Rune Stone from his bag.

"A reversed Eihwaz Rune," Trelawney glanced at the Rune Stone in Isobel's hand. "This is a very clear warning, a warning to be very careful... this is not a good sign."