"George, George, where are you, come over and read the headlines in today's Daily Prophet." Fred's voice rang out in the kitchen.
"Don't be yelling over there so early in the morning." Mrs. Weasley, who was feeding chickens in the yard, put her hands on her hips and glared at her impatient son.
"Mom, take a look at the headlines of today's Daily Prophet." Fred excitedly handed the newspaper to his mother and said excitedly, "Albert actually won the Barnabus Finkley Award for Outstanding Spellcasting Skills. Do you know what that award is?"
"It would be great if you could be as worry-free as Albert." Mrs. Weasley took the newspaper, looking disappointed.
"You should compare your precious son Percy with Albert." Fred pouted and said, "George and I were just picked up from the flower bed by you."
"How dare you talk back? Do you want to piss me off to death?"
Mrs. Weasley looked at Fred who disappeared in a flash, and her eyes fell on the newspaper in her hand, which read: The youngest winner of the Barnabus Finkley Gold Medal for Excellent Spellcasting Skills in history is born.
Below the headline was a photo showing Albert holding the trophy in both hands, a medal around his neck and a confident smile on his face.
"Mom, have you seen today's newspaper?" Percy's voice came from the kitchen.
"Here it is? Fred took it out just now." Mrs. Weasley walked to the kitchen window and stuffed the newspaper in.
Percy took the newspaper, glared at George who was snickering beside him, and glanced at Fred who just turned a corner into the kitchen.
"Oh, you should talk less about Albert in front of mom. She always likes to compare us with him." George reminded his twin brother gloatingly, "Always talking about other people's children."
"I should have studied harder earlier." Fred felt a little regretful. Ever since their OWLs scores were sent home, their summer vacation had become terrible.
Albert once reminded them that if they didn’t perform well in OWLs, their summer vacation might not be easy.
Oh, next time I must shut that guy's mouth before he opens his mouth. Every time he says those crap, he gets hit by whatever he says. It's really bad luck.
"I wonder how much prize money this time for the champion is?"
George walked behind Percy, stared at the newspaper for a long time and said, "Actually, I'm more curious about how much he made this time."
"It shouldn't be much, maybe one or two thousand Galleons at most." Fred had heard Albert talk about the prize money, and most of the international champions could get a good prize money.
"No, you must not have noticed it just now. The newspaper said that the Spanish Bullfighting Daily lost tens of thousands of Galleons in gambling." George read it carefully several times and said, "Do you think that with Albert's character, he would give up this opportunity? I dare say he will definitely bet on himself to win the championship. God knows how many Galleons he won."
Percy's eyes fell back on the front page news, and he found the records of the interviews with the reporters. For example, some people were preparing to file a formal complaint with the International Confederation of Wizards, and had even falsely claimed that someone had used Felicis during the competition, all in an attempt to prevent young British wizards from winning the prize.
Perhaps what attracted the most attention of British wizards was the gossip about Albert. Those shameless reporters processed Albert's answers and even distorted their meaning.
Percy put down the newspaper. He felt that the best thing Fred and George had ever done in their lives was to meet Albert. Albert, who had always been generous to his friends, reached out to them and helped them. At least their future would not be too bad.
In fact, from Fred's words that it was only one or two thousand Galleons at most, it was not difficult to see their changes in attitude towards money. Unlike poor Ron, he was still struggling with that few Galleons.
"This is an international award, a very important one. It is said that it is easy to win the championship, but it is difficult to win the gold medal. And all wizards who win the gold medal eventually become outstanding wizards." Percy recalled, "It is said that Dumbledore once won this award."
"It's Albert indeed." George couldn't help but sighed, "I always feel that winning an award is as easy as drinking water for him."
"He's going to attend the International Alchemy Conference. Maybe he can win another award then." Fred has confidence in Albert.
…
"What's wrong Hermione?" Mrs. Granger noticed her daughter frowning at the newspaper.
"Albert won the award." Hermione spread the newspaper on the table, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger leaned over to read the headlines.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger still remember that their daughter once said that the handsome young man in the photo was a senior who took good care of her at school, and was also the first real friend Hermione made at school.
"You should be happy for him." Mr. Granger was a little confused, not understanding why his daughter frowned.
"The newspapers are making nonsense reports again," Hermione pointed out Albert's gossip. "I remember the last time he won the International Wizard Chess Championship, those reporters also wrote nonsense gossip in their articles."
Somehow, Hermione got angry every time she saw those reporters reporting Albert's gossip in the newspapers.
The whole school knew that Albert had a girlfriend and that they were close.
"You have to know that those newspapers dare to write anything in order to sell their newspapers, because many people like to read these gossips." Mr. Granger looked at his daughter, blinked his eyes and said, "He is indeed a very good boy."
"Excellent, no, I think genius is more appropriate," Hermione corrected.
"I remember that Mr. Anderson often gave you gifts." Mrs. Granger smiled. She thought Hermione might like the handsome boy.
Genius, handsome, rich, and gentle, who wouldn’t like such a boyfriend
Hermione suddenly noticed that her family was looking at her and asked in confusion, "Why are you staring at me?"
"I remember you guys seem to be buying dresses this semester. You should be holding a dance. He might invite you to dance." Mrs. Granger reminded with a smile, "Seize the opportunity."
"What are you thinking about? Albert already has a girlfriend." Hermione looked at the handsome boy in the newspaper, not knowing what she was thinking.
…
"What are you looking at me for?"
Isobel found that her sister was staring at her with a strange look.
"You actually dressed up so carefully?" Katrina looked at the beautiful Isobel, not understanding why she dressed up so carefully. "Are you going on a date with Albert?"
"No, I didn't sleep last night, so I just dressed up a little." Isobel asked, "Do you want to come with me to pick up Albert?"
"What are you doing picking him up for?" Katrina asked in confusion.
"Didn't you read today's newspaper? He's just back from Spain," said Isobel.
Katrina picked up the Daily Prophet on the table and immediately saw the guy holding the championship trophy. She quickly glanced at the content of the headlines and looked up and asked, "Aren't you angry? That guy obviously has you, but he is still hooking up with other women outside."
"That's just something the reporter made up to sell newspapers," Isobel said nonchalantly. "I was chatting with him last night."
"I'm not going." Katrina wasn't interested in making herself unhappy.
"Then I'm leaving."
Katrina looked at Isobel's departing back, then picked up the newspaper on the table and began to study it. "Intentional? Not necessarily. If there was really nothing wrong, those reporters would definitely not write it like that."
Albert had no idea that he was being framed by the reporters again.
Just after walking out of the International Floo Network fireplace, he felt the food in his stomach churning. After not sleeping for a night, Albert felt very uncomfortable, as if he was carsick.
"Are you okay?"
Bud noticed that Albert looked a little pale and asked worriedly.
"Nothing. I stayed up late last night and now I'm using this thing. I feel a little uncomfortable." Albert waved his hand to show that he was fine. He said to Bud, "I have to go to the Leaky Cauldron first. Isobel is waiting for me there."
"You can use the fireplace over here and go straight to the Leaky Cauldron!" Bud said to Albert with a smile, "No need to waste time walking there."
"Then I'll go back first. See you another day, Mr. Bud. Thank you so much for this time." After Albert thanked Bud again, he took out the Floo powder from the jar and sprinkled it into the fireplace, then went straight to the Leaky Cauldron.
When Albert came out of the rotating fireplace again, the dizziness from the spinning almost made him fall.
In a trance, it seemed that someone reached out and supported Albert. When he came to his senses, he found that the person was Isobel.
"I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?" Albert asked.
"No, I've only been here five minutes." Isobel reached out and hugged him, "Welcome back."
"You're wearing makeup?" Albert asked in surprise.
"Does it look good?" Isobel asked.
"It looks better than before." Albert said honestly.
"Are we going to Hogsmeade now?" Isobel asked, holding Albert's hand.
"Well, it's faster to go back that way. The aftereffects of using the international Floo Network are a bit severe. I need to lie down and rest for a while."
…
"Don't make any noise, let me sleep a little longer?"
Albert opened his eyes tiredly and found Nia sitting beside his bed holding Tom, sweeping his face with her cat tail from time to time.
"Get up and eat." Nia asked doubtfully, "Didn't you sleep last night?"
"Um, I talked to Isobel all night." Albert covered his yawn again, got up lazily from the bed, glanced at the trophies and medals on the table, and said to his sister: "I brought you a gift, did you see it?"
"Are you talking about records?" Nia asked back.
"Well, it is said that she is a very famous singer in the European magic world." Albert pointed to the door and motioned Nia to go out as he was going to change his clothes.
"The singer is okay, and her voice is nice, but the song is not good." After Nia left the bedroom, she leaned against the wall next to the door and talked to Albert, "I feel that the aesthetics of the magic world are quite average."
She did not forget the last time Albert gave her a record, which was said to be a very famous song in the wizarding world, and it seemed to be called "You Stole My Pot, But You Can't Have My Heart". Since that time, Nia no longer had high expectations for the songs of the Ministry of Magic.
"This is the disadvantage of having a small number of people. If the number of people is large, more or less excellent works will emerge." Albert said with a smile: "If there are no songs I like, I will give them to others."
"Well, I'll keep one, and you can give the rest to others!" As Nia followed Albert to the restaurant, she suddenly asked, "What is your relationship with Miss Yanila? Why did the newspaper say..."
Before Nia could finish her words, she was interrupted by Albert.
"Newspapers need to sell themselves, so those reporters always like to make up all kinds of news that attract people's attention." Albert looked at his sister and said, "I remember telling you about this before. You have to use your brain when reading newspapers, otherwise you will easily become a fool."
"I remember you once said that if a lie can deceive others, there must be some truth in it." Nia stared at Albert and asked, "I'm more curious, which parts of this newspaper are true? Besides, aren't you afraid that Isobel will be angry and jealous?"
"Isobel is a smart girl, and smart girls are usually good at making their own judgments and won't easily believe these rumors." Albert greeted Luke and Sansa and began to sit down to eat. "That Miss Yanila is actually the daughter of a bar owner, and the game was held in that bar."
"Why is the competition being held in a bar?" Nia was confused and obviously didn't understand what was going on.
"It's more of a hotel than a bar." Albert added, "The owner of the bar, Ms. Diana, donated money to the competition. The gold medal was sponsored by them. The bar owner's daughter happens to be a famous singer, so she was invited as a special guest to present the award to the champion."
"Advertisement?" Nia understood, "But what does this have to do with you marrying him?"
"It has to do with some rumors about the bar. It's said that it's a bar owned by a vampire."
"Wait, are you saying that Miss Yanila is a vampire?" Nia was surprised.
"There should be vampire blood, but it should be very weak." Albert continued while eating, "Rumor has it that the descendants of that bar are basically all women, and they like to find gold medal winners as their partners, so there is the news in the newspaper."
"Really?" Nia asked curiously.
"Really." Albert nodded and said, "But I refused. After all, I already have a fiancée."
"Does Isobel know about this?" Nia felt that these vampire ladies were really special. Most of the wizards who could win the award should be very old. People like Albert were definitely endangered species.
"She knows," Albert said calmly.
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room, petting cats, watching TV, and chatting about what was happening in Spain. It was not until late at night that everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
Albert asked Sheila, who had just returned from foraging, to send gifts to Fred and George. He actually also bought a set of songs, and the signed record that Champion gave him was given to Isobel.
The others were given a record each.
After watching the owl fly away, Albert walked into the Vanishing Cabinet and went to the house in Hogsmeade, and then took out the time turner to go back a few hours ago.
When he arrived in the hall, he found Isobel in her nightgown, listening to music and flipping through the latest issue of The Daily Prophet, waiting for him to come.
"You still look sleepy."
"It's because I talked to you all night last night, and I went to pick you up today. I lay down for a while in the afternoon and basically didn't get any sleep." Isobel suppressed a yawn and rested her head on Albert's shoulder.
"Then go to bed early!" Albert felt that he was also infected by Isobel's sleepiness, and couldn't help yawning.
"That Miss Yanila is such a pretty girl," Isobel whispered.
"She is part Veela, so it's normal for her to be beautiful." Albert picked up Princess Isobel.
"However, Miss Yanila's charm is not as great as imagined." Isobel said softly, "Or maybe she herself is actually quite reluctant to do that. After all, she is a stranger whom she has only known for a few days."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because if she hadn't hesitated, she would have definitely taken the initiative!" Isobel hugged Albert's neck and put her mouth close to his ear, "She would never give you any chance to refuse. She would have pushed you down first. After all, that's what her family did. How could she not be able to handle you in her own place?"
"You're right." Albert suddenly felt that what Isobel said made sense.
"She would actually prefer you to take the initiative. After all, there are not many bold girls. If you take the initiative, she will agree half-heartedly." Isobel said, "But, I'm actually more curious about the reason why you rejected her."
"Why do you want to know this?" Albert asked.
"It's pure curiosity. After all, it's delivered to your doorstep. It should be difficult for most men to resist." Isobel was really curious. When Albert told her about this, she was really surprised.
"You're not angry."
"I'm actually quite angry." Isobel's arms were still around Albert's neck and she asked, "Why?"
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" Albert asked after putting Isobel down.
"That's a lie," said Isobel.
"Because I thought of you and didn't want to make you sad."
"I like that answer." Isobel kissed his cheek and giggled. "What's the truth?"
"To be honest, I don't think it's worth it." Albert was silent for a moment and said, "If I had any relationship with him, I might lose my fiancée. I might only meet someone I'm satisfied with in my lifetime."
"Besides, you're so smart. I think even if I can hide it from you for a while, I can't hide it from you forever. We're going to live together in the future, so there's no need to mess it up. What's more, you're very beautiful. I don't think I need to take this risk, although Yanila is indeed very beautiful and makes my heart beat a little."
"That's exactly what you would say. Rational, and you like to weigh the pros and cons." Isobel curled up in Albert's arms like a kitten and fell asleep.