Madam Pince had not yet noticed that three books from the Restricted Section had been quietly "borrowed."
Albert worried about it constantly. Each time he went to the library to do homework, he checked for any reports of missing books.
In truth, he was overthinking. The Restricted Section's books were chained to the shelves with protective magic. Ordinary students couldn't break those chains. At most, someone might sneak in to read a book at night, but stealing one was nearly impossible.
Compared to Albert's concern, another story was already spreading through Hogwarts.
Rumor had it that a student out for a midnight stroll had thoroughly tricked Filch during his patrol.
The caretaker had looked gloomier than usual these past few days—though, to be fair, Filch usually looked that way.
The tale began when a student overheard him muttering:
"I'll catch you, I'll hang you up and whip you…"
Everyone quickly concluded that Filch had once again failed to catch his quarry.
For Hogwarts students desperate for entertainment, this was perfect gossip. Soon, the story spread everywhere.
Filch, bombarded by whispers, glared at every passing student, trying to identify the culprit. His ferocity only frightened younger students.
He had no idea that the guilty party was currently outside, enjoying a snowball fight.
George watched a snowball frozen mid-air and exclaimed, "You've mastered the Impediment Jinx?"
"Yes. I learned it not long ago," Albert said. "It's not too difficult."
Fred scoffed. That was one of Albert's lies: not too difficult.
"It's not easy to hit a moving target," Lee Jordan said, poking the suspended snowball. "How did you practice your aim?"
"Be careful," Albert warned.
"Careful of what—"
Before Lee could finish, the snowball splattered across his face.
"I warned you," Albert said innocently, spreading his hands. "The Impediment Jinx only pauses a target briefly."
If used with ill intent, it could repel an enemy, depending on the caster's power.
The three burst out laughing.
Then George, still laughing, was hit squarely in the face. Snow even fell into his mouth. He wiped it off and hurled a snowball back at Lee.
"I bet not many first-years can use the Impediment Jinx," Fred said, throwing a snowball at Albert.
But Albert froze it mid-air with a blue-green spark, as if pressing pause.
"Nice effect." He flicked it aside, and it landed harmlessly in the snow.
"No magic in a snowball fight!" Fred protested. "You're cheating!"
He envied Albert's speed at learning spells. They were all practicing the Impediment Jinx, but only Albert had mastered it.
Learning spells required time and effort. First-years were still growing their magical power. Albert's progress seemed unfair.
"Alright, no magic." Albert pocketed his wand, bent down, and molded a snowball. He splattered it across Fred's face mid-sentence.
"Let me finish!" Fred protested—only to be hit again, this time by Lee.
"You want to practice the Impediment Jinx with snowballs?" Albert raised an eyebrow. "Good idea."
Before Fred could reply, George hit him with another snowball.
"You scoundrels!" Fred shouted.
"Who goes first?" Albert asked.
"He does," George and Lee said together, pointing at Fred.
"Fred, get ready!" Albert shouted, molding a snowball.
"Ready for what—" Fred began, before another snowball hit his face.
"To practice the Impediment Jinx, of course!" Albert said cheerfully.
Lee and George nodded. "Exactly. We gave you the best chance."
Fred glared. "I don't want this kind of opportunity!"
"Him," the two said again, pointing at Albert.
"No, George!" Fred snapped, annoyed his brother had betrayed him.
"Alright, me then," George said easily. "But let's agree—ten tries each. No dodging. Only the Impediment Jinx."
"I have no objection," Albert said.
"Of course you don't…" Fred muttered.
As expected, none of them managed to block the snowballs. They were hit one after another, aiming gleefully for each other's faces.
Lee brushed snow off his face. "Let's all three go at Albert together."
"Whose fault is it you can't use the Jinx?" Albert said, freezing three snowballs mid-flight and stepping aside so they missed.
"What are you doing?" Sanna asked, passing by—just as the snowballs hit her.
"It's Albert's fault for dodging!" Lee said immediately.
"Exactly!" Fred and George echoed.
"Hit them instead. I'll help," Albert offered.
"Ahem, Sanna, want to join?" Fred asked, splattering Albert's face with a snowball while he was distracted.
"Albert cheats, using magic in a snowball fight!" George declared solemnly.
Albert rolled his eyes. "We're practicing magic."
"What magic?" Sanna asked curiously.
"The Impediment Jinx," Albert said. "These scoundrels even tried to ambush me."
"I was giving you a chance to practice," George argued.
"Want to try it too?" Fred invited.
"No, I'm going ice skating by the lake," Sanna said, holding up skates. "I brought them from home over Christmas."
"Ice skates?" Albert blocked another snowball and asked, "Going alone?"
"Angelina and the others don't know how. Most wizards only care about Quidditch," Sanna said. "Do you know how to skate?"
"I do, but not well," Albert admitted. "I thought you didn't like sports."
"That's rude," Sanna said, raising an eyebrow. "I skated all holiday. Want to come?"
"Is it fun?" Fred asked.
"I think so. Lots of people are skating at the Black Lake," Sanna said.
"Let's go see," George said, intrigued.
"You don't have skates," Albert pointed out. "Why bother?"
Ice skating wasn't easy. Beginners would fall constantly, and blades were dangerous.
"Don't we have you?" Lee said, tugging Albert's sleeve. "You can Transfigure shoes."
"That's harder than you think," George countered. "Better to borrow skates and use the Duplication Charm."
Albert was dumbfounded. Everyone around him was a genius.