Since the start of the Hogwarts school year, Albert's school life had returned to normal.
He no longer stayed up late, went to bed on time, and woke up promptly at seven in the morning.
On rainy days, he would occasionally lie in bed and be lazy.
Yesterday, the weather had finally cleared up, but this morning, a light rain began to fall again. Hmm, he was definitely not making excuses for lying in.
At eight in the morning, Albert went downstairs with his roommates for a meal. The Gryffindor long table was already laden with large quantities of oatmeal, pickled herring, sliced bread, and plates of golden fried eggs and fried bacon.
The pickled herring wasn't fermented; after being pan-fried, its texture was firm and a bit salty, making it suitable to pair with oatmeal.
Of course, the premise was not adding sugar and milk to the oatmeal.
"Good morning. Have you heard about the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class?" Angelina picked up a bowl of oatmeal with milk and sat on the chair opposite Albert.
This topic quickly piqued the interest of the surrounding students, as Defense Against the Dark Arts Class had always been a popular course at Hogwarts.
"What about it?" Albert asked.
"According to the Ravenclaw students, our first class is about how to deal with a Boggart," Angelina was adding sugar to her oatmeal.
"You mean Roger? I just heard him too, he's still bragging about how he dealt with a Boggart," Georgesaid with a disdainful curl of his lip. "As everyone knows, Boggarts are basically no threat; the worst that can happen is getting a fright."
"A Boggart transforms into the creature one fears. It's said that if there are too many people, it won't know what to transform into." Albert recalled that ProfessorLupin only taught how to deal with a Boggart when Potter was in his third year. However, considering Lockhart, that scammer, didn't use "dark forces: a guide to self-protection" to teach the entire semester, it wasn't hard to guess the progress was behind.
"I'm suddenly a little curious about what I'm afraid of?" Albert took a bite of his homemade salted fish sandwich, pondering what he might fear.
"Failing an exam?" Sanna raised an eyebrow and said.
"I don't think he's ever worried about that kind of problem," Lee Jordan said indistinctly, biting into a slice of bread. "I think it's having no money, or becoming a pauper. Yes, that's right, becoming a pauper."
"It's true I like money, but I'm never afraid of becoming a pauper," Albert said in exasperation. After all, being a Wizard and having a system made it very easy to earn money.
"I think it's having no books to read, or becoming a Muggle," Fred said without thinking. "I bet a knut."
"Then you're definitely going to lose." Albert smiled and spread his hands towards Fred. "A knut, anyone else want to bet?"
Fred slapped Albert's hand away and complained discontentedly, "I haven't lost yet."
"No, you're bound to lose." Albert said with a smile. "After all, how could I not know what I'm afraid of?"
"You're cheating?" Fred feigned shock, making everyone burst into laughter.
"I think it's a busy job," George said. "After all, Albertlives more comfortably than anyone, so he definitely wouldn't want to have a busy job in the future."
"This..." Albert stroked his chin, then shook his head in denial: "If I were very rich, I wouldn't have to work, so I wouldn't need to worry about a busy job. Why do most people work? Isn't it for money? People who work with interest are truly rare in reality."
"So... George, hand over the knut," Fred said with a smile.
"Ahem, speaking of which, when do we have Defense Against the Dark Arts Class?" George cleared his throat, changing the subject.
"Don't change the subject," Fred said, displeased.
"I didn't say I was going to bet," George protested. "You misunderstood."
"How could I misunderstand? We're Twins. Don't you think I'd know what you're thinking?"
"The first class this afternoon is Defense Against the Dark Arts Class." Angelina pulled out her timetable from her bag. "However, I'm a little worried that this Professor won't teach for long."
"That's for sure. A smart Professor would resign before finishing teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts Class," Albert said as a matter of course. "Nobody wants to incur a curse and bring a bunch of bad luck upon themselves."
"By the way, what exactly is this curse about?" Sannaasked curiously. "Do you know?"
"You want to know?" Albert showed a mischievous smile. "I've heard some rumors."
"Tell us, don't keep us in suspense," Angelina urged.
"I heard it's related to You-Know-Who," Albertwhispered.
"You-Know-Who cursed that position." Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. "You can't just say things like that, can you?"
"How do you know?" Lee Jordan asked curiously.
"I said it's a rumor," Albert said mysteriously. "There are many other rumors about You-Know-Who, do you want to hear them?"
"Tell us." Fred was also very curious; he knew Alberthad a wide circle of friends, so it wasn't surprising for him to know many strange things.
"Alright, but don't spread it around, okay?" Albert said mysteriously:
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who stole ravenclaw's diadem."
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who can talk to snakes and is Slytherin's great-great-great-...grandson."
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who is immortal."
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who once opened the Chamber of Secrets."
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who was once Slytherin's Head Boy."
"Rumor has it that You-Know-Who was once expected to become the Minister of Magic."
"Rumor has it..."
"I feel like you're getting more and more outlandish," Sanna interrupted. "Let's go, don't be late. This morning's Herbology Class is with the Hufflepuffstudents."
"Fifteen minutes is plenty," Fred said without thinking. "We can even play a game of wizard card."
While Albert watched the two play cards, Charliewalked over and specifically reminded them, "There's Quidditch tryouts this afternoon, don't forget."
"Got it," everyone said in unison.
Charlie greeted everyone and then hurried away.
"You haven't bought a broom yet, have you?" The Weasley Brothers looked at Albert simultaneously.
"Even if I order one, it won't arrive that quickly." Albertspread his hands helplessly.
After Fred and Lee Jordan played another game of wizard card, everyone headed to the Greenhousetogether. Their timing was just right; Professor Sproutwas opening the Greenhouse door. As for the Hufflepuffstudents who arrived before them, they had been waiting in the rain outside the Greenhouse for a while.
Albert and the others followed the crowd into the Greenhouse.
"Today, we're going to repot the Mandrake." Professor Sprout brought a large cardboard box containing over twenty pairs of earmuffs of various colors. She looked around at everyone and asked, "Who knows why we need these earmuffs?"
"Hearing the Mandrake's cry can kill a person." Seeing no one answer, Albert took the initiative to speak. "Of course, a young Mandrake will only cause a person to faint for a few hours."
"Very good, Gryffindor gets five points." Professor Sprout nodded in satisfaction and continued to ask, "Now, who can tell me the characteristics of the Mandrake?"
She scanned the students in the Greenhouse, her gaze finally resting on Albert.
"Mandrake, also known as mandrake root, is a powerful restorative," Albert recited the content from the textbook simply, "used to restore people who have been Transfigured or cursed to their original state. It is also an important component in most antidotes. Of course, Mandrake is very dangerous. It is said that a Wizardonce used Mandrake to defend his garden against an invading Dark Wizard, but because he threw a mature Mandrake, it directly resulted in the Dark Wizard's immediate death."
"Absolutely correct, ten more points. As Mr. Andersonsaid, Mandrake is very dangerous; its voice can be fatal." Professor Sprout noticed everyone's unease and comforted them, "Of course, the Mandrakes here are still very small. Hearing their cry will at most cause a few hours of unconsciousness."
"Did you eat the book?" Lee Jordan joked. He sometimes envied Albert's mind.
"You actually saw that." Albert feigned surprise. "How about it, do you want to try? It tastes even better with some soy sauce."
"No thanks, my appetite isn't as good as yours," he said exasperatedly.
The Twins were snickering beside them.
"Alright, everyone come and get a pair of earmuffs," Professor Sprout told everyone.
Everyone surged towards Professor Sprout's position, and Lee Jordan even grabbed a grey earmuff for Albert.
Albert took the earmuffs and said thank you.
"Now, I suddenly understand why Professor Sprout's wizard card effect is throwing Mandrakes at enemies," Lee Jordan muttered quietly. "But your effect should be changed; maybe it should be 'instant kill all opponents upon entering play'—that would be more appropriate."
"That would break the game's balance." Albert couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"When I tell you to put on your earmuffs, make sure to cover your ears tightly. I don't want anyone fainting because they didn't wear their earmuffs properly," Professor Sprout said, raising both thumbs. She continued, "When it's safe to take off your earmuffs, I will raise both thumbs, just like this."
"These purplish-green plants in front of you are Mandrake seedlings. Your task is to repot them." She pointed to a row of deep trays and said, "Alright, now put on your earmuffs."
After Albert put on his earmuffs, he couldn't hear any outside sounds.
"I wonder if there are recording devices in the Wizarding World." Albert murmured to himself, looking at the Mandrake seedlings in front of him. "If the Mandrake's sound could be stored, it would definitely be an invisible super weapon, even more effective than a stun grenade."
In the Wizarding World, perhaps some people would be wary of a Wizard holding a wand, but absolutely no one would care if you were holding a hand grenade.
Of course, no one would care if you were holding a recording device either.
"Maybe I should find an opportunity to ask."
Professor Sprout had already put on her earmuffs, rolled up her sleeves, firmly grasped the Mandrake's leaves, and pulled it forcefully out of its pot.
A chorus of screams immediately erupted in the classroom.
Of course, since everyone was wearing earmuffs, no one heard anyone else's screams.
What was pulled from the soil was not a root like a beet, but a light green-skinned infant, which Professor Sprout was holding by the leaves on its head.
As soon as the little creature was pulled out, it began screaming at the top of its lungs.
Now, everyone understood what Albert meant by the Mandrake's "cry."
Professor Sprout brought a larger flowerpot, forcefully crammed the Mandrake into it, and quickly buried it with moist compost and soil, leaving only its leaves exposed.
She clapped the dirt from her hands, gave everyone two thumbs up, and then removed her earmuffs.
"I'll emphasize this again: make sure to wear your earmuffs properly later," Professor Sprout reminded loudly. "I don't think you'll want to miss this class. There are plenty of large flowerpots and bags of compost over there for groups of four."
Of course, Albert's group was four people. Only after everyone had their earmuffs on did Professor Sproutsignal for them to begin.
Pulling Mandrakes from the soil was a physically demanding task, not as easy as Professor Sprout made it look.
It was harder than pulling radishes from a field, and the Mandrake was unwilling to be pulled from the soil.
Lee Jordan struggled for a long time without success. In the end, Fred had to lend a hand to pull it out. The worst part was that once it was out, the creature refused to go back, wriggling its body, kicking its legs wildly, and waving its little fists, just like a living person unwilling to be stuffed into a coffin.
"It's really interesting, isn't it?" Fred said with a laugh, poking the Mandrake's cheek with his finger, only to have it bite his finger.
Fortunately, he was wearing dragonhide gloves.
George couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
Lee Jordan didn't laugh; he was wrestling with the Mandrake that was blocking the pot with its feet, absolutely refusing to be stuffed back in.
As for Albert, he resorted to brute force, stuffing the Mandrake into the flowerpot and quickly burying it with moist soil and compost, successfully completing his first repotting.