Chapter 81
With Albert's involvement, the Weasley twins' dream seemed to accelerate at an incredible pace. Albert could already picture the countless Galleons that would one day pour into their pockets.
Even though he himself possessed enough wealth to buy an entire school and still have plenty left over, there was a certain pride in seeing money earned through his own effort—sweat from his own brow rather than inherited fortune.
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In the last Quidditch match, buoyed by Gryffindor's previous victories, their sheer skill, and the barrage of goals scored by his teammates, Ravenclaw had once again been crushed by a massive margin.
That evening, during the victory celebration in the Gryffindor common room, Albert found himself unable to enjoy the wild crowd that constantly surrounded Harry Potter.
Instead, he and Hermione slipped into a quiet corner, sipping pumpkin juice while discussing the finer points of Ancient Runes.
It was then that Ginny approached them, looking more nervous than Albert had ever seen her.
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"Harry won the Cup today," Hermione teased with a small smile. "Shouldn't you be over there congratulating him?"
Everyone in the common room knew about Ginny's obvious crush on Harry; it was hardly a secret.
"I… I need to ask you something," Ginny whispered, her cheeks turning pink.
"What is it?" Hermione asked kindly. "If it's something we can help with, we will."
Ginny opened her mouth but no words came out. Albert immediately sensed her nervousness and leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"Relax," he said gently. "Whatever you tell us stays between us. We won't breathe a word."
The reassurance seemed to help. Ginny took a deep breath and blurted out, "I like Harry… How do I get him to kiss me?"
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Albert froze mid-sip, his pumpkin juice hovering halfway to his lips.
Of all the questions he'd expected, this one had never crossed his mind. He'd lived two lifetimes and remained single through both—he was hardly an expert in romance.
Hermione, on the other hand, flushed a deep shade of red and looked at Albert as if begging him to handle the situation.
It was clear why Ginny had chosen them for this question. Ever since the informal evening study sessions they'd started, Albert and Hermione had become something like dependable older siblings to the younger Gryffindors. And, of course, they were both close to Harry.
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By the time Albert managed to recover his composure, Hermione had already begun giving Ginny advice, speaking in a careful, bookish tone that sounded suspiciously like something she'd read in a guide.
Ginny, inexperienced and desperate for guidance, nodded repeatedly as if absorbing every word.
Albert, after a moment's thought, decided to add his own counsel.
"Honestly," he said, "Harry isn't as emotionally mature as you might think. If you suddenly confessed or pushed him, it might just scare him off. Right now, what you should do is focus on yourself—improve your skills, your confidence—and interact with Harry naturally. One day, he'll see what's in your heart for himself."
Ginny absorbed his words with a determined nod, though her ears remained scarlet.
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The celebration eventually wound down only when Professor McGonagall arrived and firmly instructed everyone to head to bed.
When Albert finally lay down in his own four-poster bed, he didn't sleep immediately. Instead, he began training once again with the spell he had been obsessing over: the Piercing Charm.
This spell, once mastered, would become his ace in the final war against Voldemort and his followers.
The Piercing Charm was not just capable of tearing through strong barriers or shattering defensive enchantments. Its true, terrifying potential lay in its lethal application—capable of penetrating the body of an enemy as cleanly and swiftly as a beam of light.
Albert likened it to the laser vision of Homelander from The Boys or Superman's heat vision: a magical strike that could burn straight through anything. Of course, this ultimate form of the spell could only be unleashed once he had achieved the sixth and final level of mastery.
For now, he was only at Level Three. Three more levels stood between him and perfection.
And Albert was determined to reach it.
To be continued …