By the time class ended, everyone was covered in dirt, looking exhausted, as if they had just done hard labor. After they returned to the Castle, showered, changed into fresh robes, and then hurried to Transfiguration Class, the Gryffindor students were collectively late due to the rush.
Professor McGonagall's expression was not pleasant, but it softened after hearing their explanation. Nevertheless, she still deducted five points from the Gryffindor students.
In Transfiguration Class, Professor McGonagall had everyone review important knowledge points from last semester; they needed to transform a beetle into a button.
Compared to the end-of-semester exam last term, which involved turning a mouse into an ashtray, this wasn't actually very difficult. However, most students couldn't do it. Perhaps, after a summer vacation, this part of their knowledge had also gone on vacation and hadn't returned to their minds yet.
Lee Jordan's beetle scurried all over the table, accidentally fell to the floor, and was flattened by Albert. He had to ask for another one, which Professor McGonagall was not pleased about.
Albert once again became the most relaxed student in Transfiguration. He easily transformed the beetle into an exquisite silver button, earning him an additional five points from Professor McGonagall.
"I don't expect you to forget everything you learned last semester just because you've had a summer vacation." Professor McGonagall's gaze sternly fixed on Fred, warning him, "Mr. Weasley, if you continue to torment that poor beetle, I will give you detention."
"Professor, we can't use magic during the summer."
"I didn't expect you to offer a better insight, Young MissFord." Before Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept over, the poor Gryffindor girl had already shrunk her neck. "I hope you all take the time to review properly, so you don't fall behind in the upcoming lessons."
"You should know that Transfiguration is very difficult. If you want to achieve good grades in this subject, it's best to put in more effort."
"Understood," everyone said in unison.
As for how much they actually understood, that remained unknown.
Before class ended, Professor McGonagall called Albertover and told him there was a Transfiguration Clubmeeting that evening.
Of course, as Albert expected, Katrina McDougal was also invited to join the Transfiguration Club. She was one of the few students in their year with a talent for Transfiguration.
"If you don't know the exact location of Classroom 21, you can ask Mr. Anderson," Professor McGonagall told Katrina.
"Congratulations," Albert said to Katrina after Professor McGonagall left.
"Expected, isn't it?" Katrina raised her chin and asked, "I'm ready. When are you free to continue our bet from last semester?"
"Don't you need to prepare a bit more?"
"You haven't forgotten, have you? Or are you trying to… welch?" Katrina scrutinized Albert, trying to determine if he was playing a trick on her.
"Oh, of course not. It's just, I've been a bit busy lately. How about a weekend?" Albert said after a brief consideration. "I need to prepare a bit; ten questions are a bit challenging for me."
"Do you think I'd believe that?" Katrina said with a strange tone. "Rumor has it that Albert Anderson is a liar; five of his ten statements are false, three are nonsense, and two are true."
"Who said that?" Albert said discontentedly. "I'm clearly an honest person, yet someone would call me a liar."
"Who knows?" Katrina brought the topic back, telling Albert, "Remember to have ten galleons ready. You won't say you don't have any Galleons then, will you?"
"Don't worry, I'm definitely richer than you," Albert said with a smile. "By the way, do you know where the Transfiguration Club meets?"
"I do."
"Do you know the Transfiguration Club's custom?" Albert asked again.
"What custom?"
"Using a Transfiguration Spell to conjure a chair for yourself," Albert kindly reminded her. "If you have time, remember to practice it. If you can't conjure a chair then, it will be quite embarrassing."
"That's simple." Katrina couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, clearly not fully aware of this matter.
"That's all for now. If you don't understand, you can ask Isabelle; she's also a member of the Transfiguration Club." Albert finished speaking and prepared to leave.
"Of course I know. Isabelle is also a member of the Charms Club." Katrina asked, puzzled, "Speaking of which, Professor Flitwick didn't invite you to join his Charms Club?"
"Not yet."
"That's strange," Katrina muttered. In fact, Katrina had already received an invitation from Professor Flitwick.
To some extent, Katrina was also a Genius, but she was merely a weaker version of Isabelle. This unlucky younger sister still couldn't escape the shadow of her Genius older sister.
"Perhaps…" Albert suddenly said, "…we haven't had Charms Class yet."
"You… Hmph, of course I know." Katrina huffed discontentedly and turned to leave.
Looking at Katrina's departing back, Albert couldn't help but shake his head, immediately quickening his pace to head to the Great Hall to meet up with his roommates and have lunch together.
When Albert entered the Great Hall, Fred and Georgewere discussing something, and Lee Jordan handed him a parchment.
"For me?" Albert reached out to take the note Lee Jordan handed him, asking in confusion, "Who gave it to me?"
"The sender said it was Headmaster Dumbledore." Lee Jordan was also curious why the Principal would give Albert a note.
"The Principal?" Albert opened the note directly and scanned its contents.
Dear Albert:
I hope to invite you for evening tea at the Headmaster's Office at seven o'clock tonight.
Your faithful,
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I like mead.
"What does Dumbledore want with you?" Fred asked, puzzled.
"Tea." Albert handed the note to Fred.
"Tea?" The three of them gathered around, and after reading it, they all looked bewildered, unable to figure out what the Principal wanted with Albert for tea.
"Is it strange?" Albert retorted.
"It doesn't seem strange for you," George said.
Last semester, Professor Broad often invited Albert to his office for tea, chess, and conversation.
"But what's going on today? Why are all these things happening at once?" Albert, of course, could guess what Dumbledore wanted with him.
Speaking of which, was Hertok Dagworth planning to get the gold card back from him through Dumbledore?
Albert felt this was interesting. He didn't think Headmaster Dumbledore would make him hand over the gold card.
At least, Albert's initial impression of Dumbledore was quite good.
"What about the Quidditch tryouts?" Fred suddenly asked.
"I can only apologize to Charlie," Albert said with a helpless and frustrated expression. "The Transfiguration Club meeting is also at this time. Why is everything crammed together?"
"You're really busy!" Lee Jordan looked at Albert with considerable sympathy. Seeing him stand up, he asked, puzzled, "What are you going to do?"
"Find someone to deliver a message to Professor McGonagall." Albert said, then walked towards the Ravenclaw table, went to Katrina's side, and told her about the matter.
Katrina looked at Albert with a strange expression and muttered, "You really are unreliable, aren't you?"
"You're the first one to say I'm unreliable," Albert said, spreading his hands. "If you don't know where Classroom 21 is, I'll take you there after lunch."
"Alright!" Katrina really didn't know. When she said she knew, she actually meant Isabelle knew. However, she didn't refuse Albert offering to show her the way.
When Albert returned to the Gryffindor table, he saw Fred talking to Charlie about his situation.
"Headmaster Dumbledore wants to have tea with you?" Charlie asked with a bewildered expression.
"Sorry, Charlie, I really have too many things going on," Albert said with an apologetic look. "I might also join Professor Flitwick's Charms Club, so, regarding Quidditch, I'm very sorry. Besides, I think you are Gryffindor's Seeker."
Charlie was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile. He understood Albert's implicit meaning and sighed helplessly, "Alright, I understand. I'll keep the reserve Seeker position open for you."
After speaking, Charlie patted Albert on the shoulder and turned to walk away.
"I can't believe you refused," Lee Jordan said, looking at Albert in surprise. "I think you'd be great as Seeker; your flying is so good."
"I can only say, there's nothing that can be done," Albertsaid, spreading his hands helplessly. "Having special privileges would disrupt team unity."
"What if the Charms Club and Transfiguration Clubmeetings overlap?" Fred asked curiously.
"We'll see then." Albert was very interested in the Charms Club because he also liked "convenience-oriented" magic.
"That's true, you haven't joined the Charms Club yet anyway," George muttered. "By the way, Hogwartsactually has clubs like that?"
"Yes, it does," Albert nodded. "Actually, Hogwarts also has a Wizard Card Club."
"How come I didn't know that?" Lee Jordan was stunned for a moment, not reacting immediately.
"You idiot, it's just the four of us!" Fred couldn't help but cover his face.
"I don't remember when I joined," Lee Jordan said.
"You don't want to? Then never mind," Albert asked, feigning surprise.
"Who said I didn't want to? By the way, when did we form this club?" Lee Jordan mumbled.
"Just now."
"Just now?"
"That's right, just now." Fred had an expression that said, 'How could you not know?'
"It was just now," George nodded in agreement.
"What class do we have this afternoon?" Lee Jordanquickly changed the subject.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," George immediately said. "Don't change the subject."
"And a History of Magic class," Fred added. "I hope the new Professor is as interesting as Professor Broad from last semester."
"I remember it's about fighting a Boggart?" Lee Jordancontinued.
"Fighting? Don't you think that word is inappropriate?" Albert shook his head. "At most, it's to teach us how to repel a Boggart, not to be scared away or faint from it."
"You definitely know how to deal with a Boggart, right?" George suddenly said.
"I do, it's written in the book," Albert said honestly. "The spell is Riddikulus."
"Tell me, did you eat the entire 'Dark Forces: A self-defense guide'?"
"You actually found out." Albert looked at George, feigning surprise.
"With some sauce, right?" Lee Jordan had an 'I knew it all along' expression.
"Don't steal my lines," Albert complained discontentedly.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at that.