"Here, this is the Developing Potion."
During a break after lunch, Albert handed Sanna a small glass bottle. "You know how to use it, right?"
"I do, thank you." Sanna accepted it gratefully. "But I'm curious—when did you brew it?"
"A few days ago," Albert replied without hesitation. "I've already tested it on photos. It works."
"Thank you," Sanna repeated.
Given her current skill level, brewing Developing Potion herself was unrealistic. She could only buy it, but even if she had Galleons, she wouldn't know where. As a Muggle-born, her impression of the wizarding world was still limited to Diagon Alley and Hogwarts.
"You're welcome," Albert said lightly. He had reserved enough for himself; the bottle he gave Sanna was just a share.
"Albert! Albert!" George and Fred burst into the Great Hall, running straight toward him.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the library writing your History of Magic homework?" Albert asked, puzzled.
Before he could say more, the twins grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out.
Lee Jordan followed, smiling awkwardly at the others as he packed Albert's belongings before hurrying after them. Curious students watched them leave.
"What's wrong with you two?" Albert demanded once they reached a secluded corner.
"Look what we found in the library!" the twins said together.
"What did you find?" Albert asked, playing along.
"Ta-da!" George produced a parchment with dramatic sound effects and handed it over.
Albert scanned it. His face twitched at the bold words: Gryffindor's Secret Treasure.
On the reverse side was a crude map: trees, the number 1, a bonfire, and a cross.
Albert looked up. "What is this?"
"Gryffindor's Secret Treasure," Lee Jordan said excitedly.
"What treasure?" Albert pressed.
"Gryffindor's Secret Treasure," Lee repeated solemnly.
Albert sighed. "Alright. I admit this is interesting. But if you take it seriously, it's just foolish."
"We found it hidden in a book's interlayer," Fred explained.
"It was very well concealed. We only noticed by chance," George added.
"By chance?" Albert scoffed. "I could create a hundred such coincidences if I wanted."
"So… you're going treasure hunting?" Albert guessed. They didn't care if the treasure was real—they just wanted adventure.
Adventure was fun, but what if they discovered it was all a prank?
"This was probably planted deliberately," Albert said, frowning at the map. "And I don't believe Gryffindor hid treasure in the Forbidden Forest."
The trees clearly referred to the forest beside Hogwarts.
"It's in the Forbidden Forest," the three said together.
"The trees mean the forest. The number 1 corresponds to the unicorn rune. The bonfire means human habitation—likely the centaurs. And the cross marks the supposed treasure." Albert deciphered the symbols instantly.
"Wow, you just cracked it like that," Lee Jordan said, astonished.
"The treasure?" the twins asked eagerly.
"It might be near the centaur camp," Albert sneered. "But even I don't believe that."
If Gryffindor had hidden a treasure, it would be inside Hogwarts, not the forest.
The three fell silent. They had suspected the same.
"What are you doing here?" Filch's voice cut in. He had been watching them suspiciously.
"Nothing," Albert said calmly.
"Then stop whispering and move along," Filch snapped, shooing them like flies.
"Don't believe this nonsense," Albert told the others firmly. "It's like borrowing a book, scribbling inside that treasure is hidden somewhere, and when someone finally finds the box, it's just dungbombs."
The three exchanged glances. Albert's reasoning made sense. It was probably a prank.
"Oh, one more thing," George said, scratching his head.
"What?" Albert asked.
"The parchment was hidden between two pages of a book. And… well, you can guess." George gave a wry smile.
"Don't you know how to use Reparo?" Albert asked, incredulous.
Two-thirds of the year had passed. Everyone had learned Reparo.
"That…" George looked embarrassed. "We couldn't repair it."
Fred pulled Ulick's Biography from his bag—their History of Magic homework.
"It was hidden so well we almost missed it," Fred explained.
Albert flipped to the damaged page and sighed.
"Put it away. We'll look at it tonight in the dormitory," he advised. "Don't let Madam Pince see it."
"She'll kill us," George muttered.
"Why us, not you?" Fred asked irritably.
"Because you're twins, you idiot!" Albert shot back.