The Bet

Over the next few days, Albert spent a lot of time in the Room of Requirement practicing Advanced Patronus Charm. However, without anyone to teach him or a control panel to help him, getting his Patronus to speak in a short time was no easy task.

However, these days of trials and practice have not been without results; the skill experience for the Patronus Charm has increased rapidly. Unfortunately, the Advanced Patronus Charm just won't appear on the Skill Panel, leaving Albert quite frustrated. He estimates that he needs to upgrade the Patronus Charm skill to level three before he can more easily master the advanced techniques of the Patronus Charm.

Another equally profound Undetectable Extension Charm was directly leveled up to level two by Albert using the experience pool, and he had basically mastered it. He also created a palm-sized Wooden Box, and after casting spells multiple times, its capacity was permanently expanded to be large enough to hold Albert's small suitcase.

Albert put a lot of things inside, and then stuffed the box into the Transfiguration Lizard Skin Bag that Hagrid had given him, so that it was like carrying a shrunken version of a storage bag with him.

The wallet Hagrid gave me is really useful; it's not only theft-proof and discreet, but I also don't have to worry about the Ministry of Magic causing me trouble.

After all, a bag enchanted with Undetectable Extension Charm cannot be openly used.

These days, besides practicing the Patronus Charm, Albert is also practicing how to sew gloves.

Madam Malkin of Diagon Alley has replied, politely declining to make gloves for Albert, clearly not wanting to do the business at all.

Albert wasn't surprised by this; if it were him, he probably would have refused as well.

As for the reason, it's obviously because it's too much trouble.

The Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions has always been doing very well, so there's absolutely no need to waste time and energy on this kind of thing.

Although Albert had some doubts about whether Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions would still be doing well after the start of the school year, after all, clothes are not disposable items, and there are only a handful of wizards in the Wizarding World.

However, there was nothing that could be done about being rejected by Madam Malkin.

Now he has to do tailoring himself. Fortunately, Albert is quite handy. After a few attempts using the tattered robe from the Room of Requirement, he learned the tailoring skill and leveled it up to level 1. He could barely make a rough cloth glove, the kind that he couldn't actually wear.

After discarding more than a dozen gloves, Albert finally made himself a decent template to wear. However, it was already mid-February.

With the Quidditch Match approaching, students can often be heard enthusiastically discussing the outcome.

As the competition drew closer, Charlie became increasingly strict with the players, and training sessions became unpleasant. Albert managed to escape unscathed by saying he had something to do beforehand, while Fred and George would always give him resentful looks after training.

"Don't worry, I'll be there to cheer you on during the game!" Albert patted Fred on the shoulder and reassured him.

"I think if you were willing to participate in the competition, our chances of defeating Slytherin would increase by at least 30%." Fred also looked resentful; Charlie's training had exhausted him.

"You overestimate me."

"Actually, I think if Albert just said Slytherin would definitely lose, our chances of winning would increase by at least half," George said quietly.

However, long ago, Albert had said that he felt Gryffindor have a hard time defeating Slytherin, so the Twins ' fighting spirit was never very high.

"Is anyone running a betting operation?" Lee Jordan suddenly interjected.

"Traitor." Fred and George glared at Lee Jordan in unison; they knew what this guy was up to.

"We should do it together too."

"Let's make money together."

"Are you trying to fix the game?" Albert was speechless.

"Of course we will give it our all, but since failure is inevitable, we don't mind finding some consolation elsewhere. At least, that's another kind of victory."

Where is your integrity?

Albert suddenly felt like covering his face. If even the players themselves lacked confidence, how could the team possibly win the game?

"Hey guys, if you want to place a bet..." an older student next door said to the four of them, "You can place your bets here."

Albert looked up and recognized the man; his name was Kenneth Toller, one of the Hogwarts black market merchants.

Kenneth Toller helped Albert sell the Anti-Swelling Potion back then.

"If I find out you're gambling, I'm going to tell Mom!" Percy glared at his brothers. "And Charlie will be very upset if he finds out you're betting on Gryffindor to lose the game."

"That's not our fault. It's just that Albert said our chances of winning weren't high."

"Yes, yes!"

Fred and George promptly pinned the blame on Albert.

"Ahem, Percy, don't spoil the fun," Kenneth Toller coughed and complained. "It's just a small bet, it's just a form of entertainment."

Percy ignored Kenneth Toller's words and strode away, probably... seemingly going to find Charlie.

Kenneth Toller didn't mind Percy leaving. He turned his head and looked at Albert again, saying in a low voice, "The batch of Anti-Swelling Potion you gave me last time was good."

"Just say what you need to say."

"I heard you have a bottle of Baruffio's Brain Elixir. How about you sell it to me?" Kenneth Toller licked his lips, as if Albert were a delicious meal.

"How much are you planning to contribute?" Albert asked curiously.

"I remember you said ten Galleon last time, how about I give you twelve Galleon?"

"Not for sale."

"Why?"

"That's a prize reserved for the winner of the Wizard Card Competition."

"Oh, okay." Kenneth Toller was a little disappointed, and then asked, "Where did you get that thing?"

"It was a gift from Dagworth."

"Mr. Dagworth?" Kenneth Toller paused, his eyes widening in disbelief as he asked, "The Potions Master, Mr. Dagworth?"

"Um."

"You actually know him!" Kenneth Toller said, half incredulous.

"We met last summer when we went to see an opera in France." Albert wasn't lying; that was indeed when they first met.

"Mr. Dagworth is watching an opera in France?" Kenneth Toller was a little skeptical. "You really know Maestro Dagworth?"

"Don't be surprised, Albert knows many famous wizards in the Wizarding World," Fred said in a low voice.

"Impressive." Kenneth Toller responded noncommittally, then asked in a low voice, "Could you make some more Baruffio's Brain Elixir?"

"That stuff sells very well?"

"Of course, you should know that Hogwarts checks for cheating during exams." Kenneth Toller glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then whispered, "Dragon claw powder and Brain Boosting Potion are easily detected, and even Felix Felicis is sometimes unreliable. But Baruffio's Brain Elixir and Runespoor eggs are exceptions. Although they are prohibited from sale, ordinary students simply cannot obtain them, and the proctors naturally... In short, many wizards who want to get good grades are willing to empty their Galleon for them."

"What's wrong!" As Fred and George listened intently to Kenneth Toller's story, Lee Jordan suddenly nudged their ribs with his elbow.

"There..."

"Which way?" Fred looked in the direction Lee Jordan was looking, and saw Charlie walking toward them in a fit of rage.

The two of them stood up at once, wanting to make a quick getaway, but it was too late. Charlie came up behind them and put his hands on their shoulders.

"I heard from Percy ..." Charlie's face was so dark it was almost dripping with water, "You're planning to bet on Gryffindor Team losing the game?"

Fred and George's faces froze instantly, and they cursed Percy countless times in their minds.

They stiffly turned their heads and argued, "That's not true. We don't even have Galleon in our pockets, so what are we going to use to place a bet?"