A precise rap echoed on the heavy oak door of the Defence Against the Dark Arts office.
Professor Brod opened it, looking utterly surprised to see Albert again so soon. "Albert, is the Apparition lecture over already?"
"Not yet, Professor. I have a peculiar request to make," Albert said, his face grave.
"What could possibly be so urgent?" McDougal asked, looking up from his stack of parchment. He set his quill down, his expression shifting from scholarly annoyance to curious attention as Albert walked into the room.
Albert took a deep breath. "I was hoping to experience the sensation of Apparition firsthand. I need to know what it feels like."
"What on earth inspired this thought, Albert?" McDougal pressed.
"Perhaps you were right earlier, Mr. McDougal. I might be prematurely wasting time trying to master the theory alone," Albert conceded. "But before I set the subject aside for a few years, I need to experience the magic—the Disapparition and Apparition—before I can truly grasp the final conceptual hurdle. I've decided to temporarily abandon the idea of learning it quickly, but I need this data point."
A heavy, calculating silence fell between the two older wizards. They exchanged a look—a blend of confusion and reluctant acceptance. They knew Albert wasn't asking for a thrill; he was asking for research data.
"Apparition is not a comfortable experience for the beginner, Albert; it can be profoundly nauseating," Professor Brod warned. "Some wizards abandon the practice entirely because they simply cannot tolerate the feeling. Are you absolutely certain you want to try this?"
"Yes, I am," Albert insisted, steeling his nerves. He knew he had to risk the physical discomfort to unlock the underlying skill on his system panel. If even this failed, he would accept that the skill was simply locked until he was legally permitted to practice.
"Albert, listen closely," McDougal said, his expression hardening into absolute seriousness. "You are asking for a highly irregular favor. Under no circumstances—and I mean absolutely not—are you to attempt to practice Apparition secretly, on your own, after this, do you understand?"
Albert nodded firmly. "I won't."
"Good," McDougal replied. "Now, come with me. Apparition is forbidden within Hogwarts' boundaries."
"No need, Mog. I'll be the one to guide Albert through the experience. But first, he needs to understand the process clearly," Professor Brod interjected, stepping forward.
Professor Brod began his explanation: "Apparition is actually two distinct magical actions: Disapparition—vanishing from the original spot—and Apparition—reappearing at the destination. Because the spell itself is so complex and unstable, the Ministry restricts its testing until a wizard reaches adulthood.
"The distance you can Apparate is limited, and the difficulty increases exponentially with distance. Crucially, the wizard must have an absolute, vivid understanding of the destination. If the distance is too long, or the destination is poorly conceived, it can result in a Splinch—severe injury, or even death."
"What I will be performing is Side-Along Apparition—a form of Apparition where the guiding wizard uses their own magical momentum to transport a non-Apparating person along with them. It requires the passenger to maintain physical contact and absolute focus."
Albert confirmed he understood.
They quietly left the office and the castle, making their way down the sloping lawns. The Apparition class was still underway in the Great Hall, punctuated by the sharp CRACK of successful attempts and the muffled thud of failures. Albert knew he was doing the right thing; his method was faster, if not safer.
"Hogwarts' protective charms prevent Apparition within the grounds, so we must leave the immediate area," Professor Brod explained as they approached the looming, dark edge of the Forbidden Forest. "This secluded section of the forest boundary is the safest place for this."
"Now, grab my wrist tightly and do not let go under any circumstances," Professor Brod instructed, his voice low and serious. "I will Apparate us only a short distance—a few meters into that clearing. Focus on nothing, just hold on."
Albert gripped the Professor's heavy, tweed-covered wrist. He felt the cold, hard wood of the professor's wand press momentarily against his hand.
Then, everything went black.
Albert was instantly consumed by a sickening sensation of being crushed, squeezed, and compressed into an impossibly small space. It felt as if his entire body, his organs, and even his bones were being forced through a narrow, oily rubber tube, moving at impossible speed. His eyeballs felt pressed into his skull, and the air was violently sucked from his lungs. It was an overwhelming, terrifying loss of control and physical coherence.
And then, just as suddenly, it was over.
Albert found himself standing on soft, damp earth in the small, quiet clearing of the Forbidden Forest. He gasped, taking a huge, ragged breath of pine-scented air.
"I… I feel like I might be sick," Albert choked out, clapping a hand over his mouth as his stomach revolted against the non-spatial travel. He stumbled quickly to a nearby thick oak trunk and doubled over, retching violently against the bark, trying to expel the profound physical and magical shock.
Professor Brod watched him with calm sympathy. "That is a perfectly normal reaction, Albert. You must gradually acclimate to that intense squeezing sensation."
Albert weakly pushed himself upright, wiping his mouth on the back of his robe sleeve. Despite the horrible physical distress, his spirits soared, because when he glanced at his skill panel—hidden entirely from Professor Brod's view—he saw it:
A new, flickering skill icon had appeared: Apparition (Locked). The experience had triggered the recognition!
The nausea immediately began to subside, replaced by a surge of triumphant energy.
"Now do you understand why we insisted you were too young for this?" Professor Brod asked, shaking his head slightly.
"It felt truly awful," Albert muttered, still unsteady. "Do most wizard parents subject their children to this? Surely, that would be disastrous for a young child's nervous system, even for one with high tolerance."
"No, thankfully, most parents don't," Professor Brod confirmed. "They typically rely on far simpler, less invasive means of travel, such as the Floo Network or the Knight Bus. This Side-Along method is considered quite severe for a first experience."
"I can promise you, Professor, I will not attempt to practice this spell haphazardly again any time soon," Albert said with complete sincerity.
"Very wise, Albert. Self-awareness is crucial to safety in this field." Professor Brod was genuinely pleased with Albert's apparent capitulation.
Of course, the professor didn't know that Albert had absolutely no need to practice Apparition. The moment he reached a safe, private location, he could simply pour the required Experience Points into the new, unlocked skill and achieve Level 2 mastery instantly.
As they emerged from the treeline, Albert was immediately spotted and intercepted.
"Albert! Are you trying to sneak into the forest now, too?" an angry voice boomed. Hagrid, the massive Keeper of Keys and Grounds, strode toward them, his crossbow slung over his shoulder, his brow furrowed with suspicion.
"Professor Brod," Hagrid acknowledged, his tone softening slightly. "What are you doin' out here?"
"Mr. Anderson and I concluded a small, necessary magical test out here on the perimeter," Professor Brod explained casually, radiating a confidence that immediately placated the half-giant.
"Ah, I see." Despite the explanation, Hagrid's eyes remained fixed on Albert with a worried intensity. He couldn't help but complain: "Those Weasley twins have been sneaking off into the woods practically every other day lately, and it's drivin' me mad. You two get along, Albert; you oughta warn them not to do anythin' stupid. The deep woods are incredibly dangerous."
"Ahem, I understand, Hagrid," Albert coughed, quickly promising to pass on the stern reminder, even though he knew he had no chance of deterring the Weasley twins' inherent adventurous spirit.
After bidding Hagrid farewell, they continued their walk back to the castle. On the path, Professor Brod paused, seemingly reminded of the dangers Hagrid had just mentioned.
"Hagrid is right to be concerned, Albert. I heard a rather troubling rumor recently. There is purportedly a massive breeding colony of Giant Eight-Eyed Spiders—Aragog's descendants, I presume—established deep within a remote section of the Forbidden Forest," Professor Brod said, frowning slightly. "These creatures are immensely dangerous, especially to students. An explorer once tried to seek out their breeding ground and was utterly lost."
Albert simply offered a neutral "oh," absorbing the information. He knew exactly what Professor Brod was referring to, and he knew precisely whose fault the presence of the deadly Acromantula colony was. The entire dangerous situation in the Forbidden Forest, including the hidden spider infestation, could ultimately be traced back to Hagrid's misplaced affections and secret history.