Chapter 80
Albert said calmly, "The real question is whether a subject is useful to you. You need to analyze each course carefully, and after that, choosing the ones you truly need becomes easy."
He leaned back slightly and continued, "Let's talk about the third-year electives. They include Divination, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies. Everyone must choose at least two courses." He paused, glancing at Hermione, and then went on, "First of all, let's talk about Divination and Arithmancy. There's a bit of overlap in the homework for these two, but personally, I prefer Arithmancy."
"Why?" Hermione asked, genuinely curious.
"Because Arithmancy is essentially a complex mathematical problem," Albert explained, his tone analytical. "It's also extremely useful for studying magical matrices. Many curse-breakers in Britain have mastered it. Divination, on the other hand, is… different. From what I know, Divination is a talent-based skill. If you lack the innate gift, you will learn nothing—just like a student without talent will never become a good Quidditch player. It's the same with Divination."
"And what about the other subjects?" Hermione pressed, clearly considering his reasoning.
"If you plan to work in the field or take on dangerous assignments," Albert said thoughtfully, "then Care of Magical Creatures is vital. Certain Ministry positions require a solid understanding of that subject.
Ancient Runes, however, focuses on the very foundations of magic—the underlying structure behind spells themselves. It's one of the most valuable courses in the Hogwarts curriculum, absolutely essential for anyone with academic ambitions." His eyes gleamed with quiet enthusiasm. "It's pure gold."
"As for Muggle Studies," he added with a small shrug, "it's the complete opposite. Except for a few very niche Ministry positions, the course is practically useless for someone like you—or Harry—who grew up in the Muggle world. I've always thought it's a bit absurd to waste time drawing a duck or describing how Muggles move objects without magic."
Albert's expression turned more serious. "The biggest difference between the magical world and the Muggle world is that the magical world places tremendous value on personal power. Take Dumbledore, for example. He is the true representative of the British wizarding world, not Cornelius Fudge. Why? Because Dumbledore is widely regarded as the greatest wizard in the world.
If you want to change the wizarding world, personal strength is essential—at the very least."
Hermione nodded silently. Albert knew he didn't need to say any more; she was stubborn and thoughtful enough to reach her own conclusion.
When course selections were submitted on Monday, Albert noticed that Hermione had chosen exactly the same electives he had advised: Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures.
In general, few Gryffindors chose the more demanding subjects of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Most, like Harry, Ron, and Neville, opted for the simpler combination of Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.
Albert himself chose these challenging electives for practical reasons. Arithmancy, though mathematical, required no more than the equivalent of a basic college entrance exam in mathematics; it wasn't insurmountably difficult. But it was incredibly useful for breaking magical constructs and wards—something that could prove invaluable on adventures.
As for Ancient Runes, Albert's family library contained numerous old magical texts. After reading one at home, he realized that the content was beyond the standard Hogwarts curriculum. In his mind, studying this subject was both compelling and strategically advantageous.
Hermione, on the other hand, chose the same courses out of her genuine, insatiable thirst for knowledge. She wanted to learn everything she could.
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As the academic year moved on—one blissfully free from any Basilisk-related crises—life at Hogwarts settled into a more predictable, almost peaceful rhythm.
Before long, it was time for another Quidditch match: Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff.
On Saturday morning, Albert followed the Gryffindor team to their table for breakfast.
"This is perfect Quidditch weather!" Captain Wood said enthusiastically, piling hard-boiled eggs onto each player's plate—especially Harry's.
"Eat up, Harry. Quidditch is hard work. You need the energy to last the whole game."
Harry, however, looked slightly uncomfortable. He couldn't shake the memory of the last match, when a rogue Bludger—thanks to Dobby—had chased him relentlessly across the pitch.
As he was lost in thought, a hand landed gently on his shoulder. He looked up to see Albert, with Hermione and Ron standing beside him.
"Don't worry," Albert said reassuringly. "Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick will be watching the match this time. The other professors will sit closer to the stands, and if anything goes wrong, they'll call Dumbledore immediately."
That reassurance eased Harry's nerves considerably.
During the match, he managed to catch the Golden Snitch and lead Gryffindor to victory by nearly two hundred points.
It seemed Dobby hadn't interfered this time—likely because the Malfoys were preoccupied elsewhere. During the post-match celebration, Ron shared his suspicion aloud.
And Ron was right. The next day, The Daily Prophet reported that Arthur Weasley had conducted a surprise inspection of the Malfoy estate and uncovered a hoard of Dark artifacts hidden in a secret room.
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Albert couldn't help but think this might have something to do with the Sneeze Powder experiment he had been working on with the Weasley twins. The twins had complained that their father was constantly working overtime, yet the Ministry still hadn't discovered all the contraband pure-blood families were hoarding.
Albert, amused, had shared every trick he knew for hiding valuables in a room—including secret compartments and magical camouflage. He had even joked that the Malfoys probably kept their secret stash beneath the living room floor, since the most dangerous place was often the safest.
The twins had, of course, scribbled everything down in a letter to their father. Later that night, during one of their experiments, they came running to thank Albert for his clever suggestions—swearing not to reveal the true source of their "brilliant idea."
Moments like that, Albert thought, were why the twins were destined to build a wildly successful business one day. They understood the value of inspiration and friendship—and the importance of giving people a reason to smile.
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That night, everyone was in high spirits. Together, they successfully brewed a fever-inducing potion that was harmless to the body. Thanks to Albert's medical knowledge, many dangerous raw ingredients were rejected, sparing the twins the agony of repeated human trials.
The next step would be solidifying the liquid and adding a few irrelevant agents to obscure the formula. Based on Albert's assessment, the final product could be ready by summer.
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Note from the Author:
Honestly, this chapter nearly drove me mad. I spent four hours thinking through the events, the synonyms, and the phrasing to make sure it flowed well. If you're enjoying it, a kind comment like your beautiful smile would be all the encouragement I need to keep going.
To be continued …