Albert found a charming item in the catalog: a delicate silver Phoenix badge. It was a bit expensive—one Galleon—but he still planned to order it by owl as a Christmas gift for Nia.
Closing the catalog and slipping it back into his bag, Albert shut the thick book on the table and prepared to return it to its shelf. As he passed the bookshelf, he was surprised to see a familiar face.
"You've been running into a lot of trouble lately," Truman said, lowering his voice with a hint of admiration. "But… well done."
"Thanks." Albert slid the book back into place, then asked curiously, "What are you looking for?"
"Curses. Useful curses," Truman muttered. "I'm going to duel Nocchi, the Ravenclaw Prefect."
Albert froze. What kind of madness is this?
"You and the Ravenclaw Prefect… dueling?" he asked quietly.
Truman nodded.
"What's going on? Is this a friendly spar, or are you resolving a conflict?" Albert already suspected the latter. If it were friendly, Truman wouldn't be hunting for curses. "The school won't be happy. They don't want students settling disputes with duels, and…"
Albert thought Truman's chances of winning were slim. A Ravenclaw Prefect meant strong grades and skill—there would be a gap in their mastery of magic.
"Nocchi insists Bridget Wenlock was from Ravenclaw," Truman said, annoyed.
"Bridget Wenlock?" Albert asked, puzzled.
"She was a famous Arithmancy expert in the thirteenth century—the first to discover the magical properties of the number seven," Truman explained. "I was talking about her while studying Arithmancy. Nocchi overheard and claimed she was Ravenclaw. I argued, and it escalated into this."
"So, Bridget Wenlock was from Hufflepuff."
"Of course. It's on her chocolate frog card." Truman pulled one out and handed it to Albert.
After reading it, Albert asked, "Why didn't you show him this?"
"I got it later from a friend. And even if I had, he wouldn't admit it. He knows he's wrong—he just won't concede."
Albert understood. A simple argument had spiraled into a duel.
In his previous life, he'd seen this countless times online—arguments escalating until both sides were red-faced, unwilling to admit mistakes. The difference was that online, people couldn't crawl through the screen to fight. Here, they could.
Truman believed he was defending Hufflepuff's honor. Their house finally had a famous figure, and Nocchi was shamelessly trying to claim her for Ravenclaw.
"Do you want a suggestion?" Albert whispered.
"Oh, yes!" Truman's eyes lit up.
"Don't call it a duel. That'll get you into trouble," Albert warned.
Truman looked disappointed.
"You don't want detention, do you?" Albert pressed.
"No," Truman admitted quickly.
"Do you know Expelliarmus?"
"No," Truman said, dejected.
"Come with me." Albert gestured for him to leave the library. Madam Pince was already eyeing them, and Albert didn't want to be chased out with a feather duster.
Outside in the corridor, Albert explained, "The spell is Expelliarmus. It disarms your opponent."
"You mean, disarm Nocchi?" Truman's voice rose with excitement. Losing a wand was like a tiger losing its claws.
"Yes. But you must cast it first. You'll probably count one, two, three before starting, right? Cast on one. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance."
"But…" Truman hesitated.
"This isn't a duel, remember?" Albert said lightly. "Once you disarm him, while he's stunned, use Petrificus Totalus. You know that one?"
"Yes." Truman nodded.
"Then beat him. Beat him until he admits he's wrong." Albert mimed a punch.
"With fists?" Truman asked, bewildered.
"There's a saying: truth lies in the fist," Albert said firmly. "He's stubborn, won't admit his mistake, and wants to teach you a lesson. Don't forget—he's older and knows more magic."
Albert's gaze shifted to a red-haired Ravenclaw girl. "You know Isabelle, right?"
"I've seen her in the same club."
Albert leaned closer. "There's another saying: you can't wake someone pretending to sleep. The best way to wake them is to…"
"Beat him hard!" Truman exclaimed, suddenly convinced.
Albert nodded. "Remember—no dark curses. They're worse than fists. If you're caught, tell Professor Sprout it was a fight, not a duel. She won't punish you—you're fighting for your house's honor."
Truman was dumbfounded, but already believed most of it. He was fighting for honor.
Then he realized: he didn't know Expelliarmus.
"Come with me. I know what you need—a collection of self-defense spells," Albert said. "Find someone to practice with. Not me—I don't have the time. Ask a Hufflepuff friend."
"Alright, thank you. Remember to come watch the duel this weekend," Truman grinned. "On the lawn near the Black Lake."
"I will." Albert nodded, watching him leave. Then his gaze fell on his quest panel.
Enthusiastic Help
Your friend Gabriel Truman is in trouble.
As your first wizard friend, help him resolve it.
Reward: 100 experience, Gabriel Truman's favor +10
Distant Victory
Your friend has no advantage in the upcoming duel.
Find a way to help him turn defeat into victory.
Reward: 1000 experience, randomly acquire a skill from Gabriel Truman, favor +10
Albert was intrigued by the chance to acquire a random skill.
When he returned to his seat, Sanna, who had just finished her homework, asked curiously, "What were you doing just now?"
"Nothing. Just met a friend and chatted." Albert noticed Madam Pince watching, quickly closed his mouth, checked his homework, and put it away.