"I never expected Professor Brood to give you such a high evaluation." Katrina's expression was complicated—more than anything, she was unconvinced.
At home, her older sister Isabelle had always been kind, but Isabelle was a true magical genius. Growing up under the shadow of her sister's brilliance, Katrina had felt constant pressure.
When she finally came to Hogwarts, she thought she could display her own talent and escape Isabelle's aura.
Katrina's magical ability was genuinely high, and she studied diligently, putting effort into every subject. If Albert hadn't appeared, she would have been the outstanding first-year, admired by her peers—even Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff couldn't compare.
But there was no "if."
Albert had appeared out of nowhere, eclipsing all of Katrina's brilliance. Even Isabelle, Ravenclaw's prodigy of the century, seemed inferior.
Katrina, once confident, grew disheartened.
In talent, Albert was stronger. In effort, his dedication matched hers. And worst of all, she had believed that even if she lost, the gap would be small. She had always studied hard, ready to surpass him.
The reality was far harsher than she imagined.
When Albert was invited by Professor McGonagall to join the Transfiguration Club, Katrina consoled herself that she would surely be invited next year.
Later, Albert displayed extraordinary flying talent on the Quidditch pitch, helping Gryffindor defeat Slytherin. Since Katrina wasn't athletic, she told herself she would surpass him in other areas.
But Isabelle herself rarely praised anyone—and she admitted Albert's talent in Transfiguration.
Katrina resisted believing it, until Albert's paper in Transfiguration Today confirmed his brilliance.
And now? Ancient Runes?
It was a third-year elective, yet Albert had taught himself.
Self-taught?
The revelation stunned Katrina. From Brood's expression, it was clear Albert's level was far higher than she imagined.
"Did I choose the wrong opponent?" she thought. Though used to being outshone by Isabelle, Katrina wasn't ready to admit defeat.
She hadn't lost yet.
Albert was also skilled at wizard chess. Then…
"Play wizard chess with me," Katrina said suddenly.
"Wizard chess?" Albert was surprised. They knew each other, but only in passing.
"You and me?" he asked, pointing between them.
"Yes. Let's play to decide the winner!" Katrina needed to regain confidence. Chess was one of the few things she could beat Isabelle at, and Brood had praised Albert's skill.
Albert felt bewildered.
And then his quest panel appeared:
Complete Domination Someone sees you as a competitor and challenges you. Defeat her in wizard chess and show she will never be your opponent.
Reward: 200 experience
Katrina MacDougal Favorability +1
Isabelle MacDougal Favorability +5
The reward was meager, and the favorability points odd—why was Isabelle's higher than Katrina's?
Still, Albert wouldn't ignore it.
"Play wizard chess? In the Great Hall?" he asked, feigning surprise.
"Yes. Three games," Katrina nodded.
"Alright. If you want to, I don't mind." Albert thought the red-haired girl looked rather pitiful. Competing against someone with a cheat, she had chosen the wrong target.
"By the way, is that notebook for Professor Brood?" Albert asked.
"Ah, I almost forgot!" Katrina exclaimed, noticing the notebook in her hand. "Professor Bathsheda asked me to deliver this." She hurried into the office.
Albert shook his head at her persistence. She had even borrowed wizard chess from Brood.
Their match in the Great Hall drew curious onlookers.
In the first game, Albert lost. Katrina's chess was formidable, and she caught him off guard, defeating him swiftly.
Albert didn't mind. Winning or losing wasn't important; he enjoyed the game. The quest wouldn't fail—it would simply remain incomplete, waiting.
In the second game, Albert won narrowly. He played quickly, forcing Katrina to match his pace. Perhaps her easy victory in the first game made her careless, and Albert exploited a loophole.
The third game ended in a draw. Katrina gave no openings, and Albert chose to exchange pieces steadily. By the end, both sides had traded everything, leaving no winner.
There was no fourth game. They had agreed on three, though Katrina wanted a decisive result. Albert simply conceded, declaring her the winner of the fourth.
He suspected that if they played again, he might suffer a crushing defeat. Better to yield.
Katrina was dissatisfied, but she ended the match with a draw, vowing to practice and challenge him again.
"What's wrong with your sister?" Albert asked Isabelle, who had watched silently.
"She's under a lot of pressure, but her desire to win is strong," Isabelle said calmly. "She knows she can't catch up to you in magic, so she wants to defeat you in her own strengths."
"I think you've put too much pressure on her," Albert murmured. "Having a genius sister… it's tough."
He fell silent, thinking suddenly of Nia.