Full of Confidence
"Have you seen these things before?"
In the Defence Against the Dark Arts office on the second floor of Hogwarts Castle, Professor Smith Rowena Smith looked up at Albert in surprise at the contents of the parchment in his hand. This young student had given him the answer immediately after merely glancing at the Ancient Runes on the parchment.
Even if Albert had achieved considerable success in Ancient Runes, Professor Smith didn't believe he could translate it immediately. The only possibility was that he knew of it or had seen it before. After all, Professor Broad and Albert had a good relationship; if that professor had shown Albert something similar, it wouldn't be surprising if Albert could translate it at first glance.
"I've seen it before," Albert readily admitted. "Professor Broad once asked me to help translate something similar, and the content was basically the same."
Professor Smith stared at the parchment in silence. To be honest, he was quite embarrassed because Albert, with his intelligence, had naturally figured out that what he had shown him was actually a fragment of a long Ancient Runes, and he didn't want Albert to know its contents.
"I suggest you show me the whole thing so I can translate it better. Of course, if that's inconvenient, then forget it!" Actually, Albert could guess where those Ancient Runes came from. Even if Professor Smith wasn't willing to share, he would naturally be able to see them once he entered the Ravenclaw Knowledge Vault. So Albert didn't really care whether Professor Smith was willing to share these records of Ancient Runes with him.
"I'll organize them in a few days, and then I'll leave it to you." Professor Smith made a quick decision after a moment of silence. Although he was quite accomplished in Ancient Runes, the gap between him and Albert was simply too large. At least, Professor Smith had spent a long time in that Chamber of Secrets and still couldn't fully understand the meaning of the Ancient Runes left on the walls.
"That would be my honor," Albert said with a smile.
"Go and attend to your own business!" Professor Smith said, seeing the guest out.
Albert stood up, nodded to Professor Smith, and turned to leave the Defence Against the Dark Arts office.
"Did Professor Smith come to Hogwarts for Ravenclaw Knowledge Vault?" Albert murmured, standing at the end of the corridor and gazing at the torrential rain outside.
"When do you think this heavy rain will stop?" Fred's voice rang in my ears shortly afterward.
Who knows?
"If we miss this opportunity, we probably won't have another chance to go into the forest to look for the Flobberworm this year." Lee Jordan looked in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, then turned to look at Albert. Not only him, but the Weasley Twins were also looking at Albert.
"Don't look at me like that. I wouldn't dare venture into the woods in this rain." Albert unwrapped a Hard Candy, popped it into his mouth, and shrugged. "So, you should just give up."
He looked around to make sure no one else was there, and continued, "Then we'll go from Greenhouse 3, or through the Diagon Alley."
Going into the woods to look for something in the rain is something only a crazy person would do. In this kind of weather, Albert would rather go back to the Common Room, sit by the fireplace, warm himself by the fire, read a book, and enjoy a leisurely rainy day. That's the kind of life a person should have.
"The Common Room is packed with people right now," George said with a smile, as if he could read Albert's mind at a glance.
To be honest, this little bit of rain is nothing to a Quidditch player, since all Quidditch players train regardless of the weather.
But... speaking of this...
George suddenly looked at Albert with a strange gaze.
Could this guy... hate rain?
They once suspected that the fundamental reason Albert didn't want to become a full-fledged Quidditch player was... his unwillingness to train at the Quidditch Pitch in the rain.
On rainy days, Albert preferred to stay by the fireplace, warm himself by the fire, and read.
"Let's go to the Great Hall then, and finish this week's homework there," Albert casually reassured him. "Maybe it's just a shower, and it'll stop soon. Before the rain stops..."
Albert regretted saying those words, because his words had indeed come true. It was just a rain shower; the rain came quickly and went quickly, stopping completely around 2 p. m., and the sky began to clear.
Albert, who had only written half of his paper, had no choice but to go out with the three of them into the Forbidden Forest to search for the Flobberworm.
This mushroom held special significance for the four of them. In order to study it, they devoted a lot of time and energy to researching information related to the Flobberworm and looking for ways to catch it and how to transform Flobberworm into Galleon.
Therefore, Fred and his companions, having sacrificed so much, were unwilling to easily give up this conviction.
Like last year's garlic planting, if time drags on, it'll probably be forgotten very quickly!
"Hagrid should be in his Hunting Cabin, but we'd better go around into the woods from the side." Fred mentioned the entrance he used last time he entered the Forbidden Forest, which was farther from Hagrid's Hunting Cabin and less likely to be noticed by Hagrid.
"Don't think we're unprepared," George said mysteriously. "We know of a few places where we might find the Flobberworm."
"Remember the last time we went into the woods?" Fred added, "The route we took..."
"You actually think you can fool me with this nonsense? I followed you deep into the Forbidden Forest last time." Albert put on a pair of rain boots.
It had just rained, and the ground was damp and muddy. Albert didn't want to make a mess, so he pulled up the hood of his cloak to cover his head and avoid getting wet from the rainwater left in the forest.
"We'd better be back before five o'clock; the nights come especially early in winter." Albert glanced at his pocket watch and said to Fred and the others, "We still have two and a half hours."
"We should have enough time, if we're lucky enough."
"Did you bring any Felix Felicis?" Fred asked in a low voice. This was the source of their confidence; Albert, who had drunk Felix Felicis, was incredibly lucky and had no need to worry about not finding the Flobberworm.
"I brought it." Albert said with a sigh. Before he had the ability to concoct Felix Felicis, every drop he drank was a drop less.
"Two or three hours of dosage should be enough," Lee Jordan reassured him.
Albert couldn't help but roll his eyes, taking a small sip. How could anyone be so precise?