Worth Ten Galleons

"I feel there's something wrong with your answer," Katrina suddenly interjected. "'Are you dead?' I think if you asked a ghost that, they would answer 'Yes, I'm dead.'"

Albert was stunned, and opened his mouth, but for a moment he was speechless.

Katrina is right; becoming a ghost means he is dead.

Well, he was just bound by habitual thinking. This is a world of magic, where ghosts exist, so his previous question could actually be answered.

"You're absolutely right. I almost forgot that ghosts exist." Albert readily admitted his mistake; there was no point in stubbornly denying it.

Katrina had expected Albert to continue making excuses, but she never expected him to admit his mistake so readily.

"You'd better hurry," Isobel said to the two of them. "You might still be able to catch Quidditch Match later."

Today's Quidditch Match is between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, but the three players who were supposed to be cheering for their own team are instead playing another match here.

"I actually really hate going out to watch a game on a rainy day," Albert said, looking at Isobel. "Do you guys really like Quidditch?"

"Hey, is it really appropriate for you to say something like that?" Katrina hadn't forgotten that Albert was the formidable guy who had once defeated Slytherin Team on the field, laying the foundation for Gryffindor Team to win the House Cup.

"Is it inappropriate?" Albert countered.

"So, that's why you're only a substitute player?" Katrina thought that Albert probably didn't become Seeker because he was afraid of hardship.

Yes, that's true. I heard that Quidditch training is held rain or shine and is very tough.

"Let's begin!" Isobel interrupted, raising her hand to knock on the wooden door.

The Eagle Beak opened its beak and uttered a riddle: What animal first walked on four legs, then on two legs, and finally on three legs? "I think this is a riddle from the Sphinx. Ravenclaw's Eagle Ring certainly has a lot of knowledge," Albert couldn't help but remark.

"The answer is people," Katrina replied immediately, ignoring Albert's sarcastic remark.

"The Ravenclaw Eagle Ring also has its own thoughts. Similar to the Sorting Hat, it didn't know many riddles at first. Now, some of the riddles were added by the heads of Ravenclaw throughout the years." Isobel took the candy from Albert and answered his question.

"How do you know these things?" Albert asked curiously.

"I've read some related records." Isobel skillfully unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth.

"Eagle Ring, please continue with your questions," Katrina said.

"Do you want some too?" Albert asked, pulling out a candy.

Aren't you afraid of cavities?

"Don't worry, I brush my teeth twice a day," Albert said seriously. "Sugar can stimulate brain activity and make people think better. If you don't want it, then it's fine."

"Who said I don't want it?" Katrina picked out her favorite flavor and was about to unwrap the candy when Eagle Ring spoke up again.

Where are the deceased?

"In my memory," Albert answered first.

"That makes sense," Eagle Ring replied after a few seconds of silence.

"What is your answer?" Albert asked Katrina.

"Are you doing this on purpose? Are you deliberately interfering with me and stealing my question? If you don't intend to let me win, just say so." Katrina looked somewhat angry, staring at Albert with an unfriendly expression.

"Okay, it's my fault."

"You shouldn't interfere with me," Katrina protested angrily.

"I promise I won't interrupt you again," Albert assured him.

Next, Albert stopped interfering with Katrina's riddle-solving. He also discovered that the riddles of the Eagle Ring were of several kinds. One kind was philosophical questions like Phoenix and fire, another kind was letter-guessing in English, and the last kind consisted of riddles from various countries.

Katrina is indeed very talented at solving riddles; even when faced with riddles she has never encountered before, she can still find a solution after careful thought.

Perhaps this is the result of frequent riddle-solving practice! Of course, Albert, who listened attentively, also gained a lot. Most of the riddles and answers were already in his mind, and the Eagle Ring in the Room of Requirement could no longer stop him.

To Albert's surprise, the last riddle was about Phoenix and fire.

"A cycle, with no beginning." After answering the last question, Katrina let out a deep breath and said to Albert, "I've answered the hundredth question correctly."

After saying that, the girl excitedly clenched her fist and announced to Albert, "I won this bet."

"Congratulations." Albert smiled and clapped.

In fact, Katrina answered more than a hundred questions; some riddles were repeated throughout the Eagle Ring process.

"Where's the stuff as agreed?" Katrina reached out to Albert.

"As agreed, you need to give Katrina 10 Galleon," Isobel said softly.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Here, the chips for the bet." With that, Albert took ten Galleon out of his pocket and placed them in Katrina's hand.

"Congratulations again. I'll be going now. See you another day." Albert turned to leave.

"Aren't we going to the stadium to watch Quidditch Match together?" Katrina asked, staring blankly at the Galleon in her hand and watching Albert's retreating figure.

"No, I have something to do."

"Tell me, what was the reason for Albert's bet with me?" Katrina asked Isobel, holding Galleon in her hand, puzzled.

"Perhaps it's all for the 100 riddles!" Isobel thought for a moment and replied. "In his eyes, 100 riddles are worth 10 Galleon. Of course, if you can't answer them, you'll get 10 Galleon for nothing."

"What a weirdo!" Katrina couldn't help but mutter. "Fine, for Galleon's sake... let's go watch the game!"

"Have you considered that Albert has already obtained a ticket to the Ravenclaw Common Room?" Isobel suddenly said. "Although we don't exclude students from other houses, only a small number of non- Ravenclaw students are actually allowed into our Common Room."

"He probably has some ulterior motive!" Katrina stuffed Galleon into her pocket and followed Isobel toward the Quidditch Pitch.

Although she felt that Albert had ulterior motives, she just couldn't imagine that perhaps Isobel knew what his purpose was.

Katrina remembered hearing rumors not long ago that Albert was dating Isobel.

"What do you want to ask? Speak!" Isobel asked calmly, as if his thoughts had been read.

"Nothing?" Katrina said.

"Don't I know you yet?" Isobel said.

"Everyone's saying you two are dating?" Katrina glanced at Isobel and asked cautiously.

"Ninety-nine percent of rumors are false," Isobel, avoiding a direct answer to the question.

"Oh," Katrina responded. "Fake?"

"Rumors? We're just... friends." Isobel glanced at Katrina and said calmly, "It's normal for geniuses to have friends who are also geniuses."