Chapter 149: Secret Treasure

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Albert looked up and, illuminated by the white light at the tip of his wand, vaguely saw Professor McGonagall walking quickly towards them. Following behind her was their fellow student, Lee Jordan, and... Headmaster Dumbledore.

The elderly man smiled as he gazed at the three of them.

"Bard, you found them. That's excellent!" Professor McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze falling on Albert, Fred, and George, seemingly checking if her students were injured.

"Actually... it was Mr. Anderson who found the Weasley twins," Professor Brode explained with a smile. "By the time I arrived, Mr. Anderson had already rescued the Weasley twins from a large group of Acromantulas trapped in the Yamanashi Tree (Guardian Tree)."

"I'm sorry, did you say a group of... what?" Professor McGonagall's voice raised slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Acromantulas, Professor McGonagall," Professor Brode turned his head to look at Dumbledore. "There should be an Acromantula nest deep in the Forbidden Forest. These creatures don't have many natural predators and have multiplied into a large colony."

"I see," Dumbledore said curiously, looking at Albert and smiling. "But I'm more curious about how Mr. Anderson managed to find the Weasley twins and drive away that group of Acromantulas. From what I know, those creatures are not something an ordinary first-year student can handle."

Albert looked at Lee Jordan, deftly avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. Even if Dumbledore didn't use Legilimency, he was an expert in the field, and it would be difficult for Albert to lie in front of him.

"Yes, indeed, I'm also curious about that," Professor Brode interjected with a friendly reminder. "But I think the first thing we should do is to take them to the hospital wing. We used a Portkey to return, and they are still under the effect of the Portkey's disorientation."

"You're right, Bard," Professor McGonagall nodded, then sternly looked at the three of them. "Follow me!"

"Excuse me, come help me support Fred," Albert ignored Professor McGonagall's stern gaze and said to Lee Jordan. He himself was exhausted and didn't have much strength to help others.

"Oh, right, and this dog. It seems to be Hagrid's pet. It appears that Albert relied on it to find the Weasley twins," Professor Brode pointed to the dog named Fang beside his foot. "However, it seems that Fang can't adapt to the Disillusionment Charm."

"Don't worry, I've already informed Hagrid. He'll be back soon," Dumbledore said gently.

Moments later, Dumbledore seemed to notice something and turned his head, smiling. "Look, Hagrid has returned."

Indeed, Hagrid had returned, holding a lantern and walking back from the direction of Hogsmeade. He seemed a bit tipsy, emanating a strong smell of alcohol. He walked briskly towards them.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall... Professor Brode?" Hagrid burped and greeted the three professors, then turned his gaze to Albert and the others. Seeing that they were safe, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's good to see that they're fine. These little ones always sneak into the forest when I'm not looking," Hagrid chuckled.

"Alright, Hagrid..."

Dumbledore explained the situation to Hagrid, and the gamekeeper promised to take good care of his pets.

After bidding farewell to Hagrid, they quickly arrived at the hospital wing.

Being awakened in the middle of the night didn't sit well with Madam Pomfrey's temper, but she still dutifully treated the three of them.

"There's nothing serious. The Weasley twins are just not used to the Portkey, and they haven't fully recovered from its effects. As for Mr. Anderson, he's just exhausted. A good rest will do him well," Madam Pomfrey gave her diagnosis after examining them.

"They just need some rest, and by the day after tomorrow, they should be fully recovered."

Now, the matron was ready to shoo them away.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the effects of the Portkey, even Madam Pomfrey doesn't have a perfect solution. Resting for a day or two should help recover.

"Bobby, we need to understand what happened, just a few minutes will do," Professor McGonagall spoke up.

"At most five minutes. The patients need to rest," Madam Pomfrey frowned and handed Albert a piece of chocolate.

"Tell us, what exactly happened?" Professor McGonagall's tone softened a bit as she stared at the three of them.

Albert briefly explained the situation. When he returned to the dormitory to rest, he discovered that Fred and George hadn't come back.

Later, he learned from Lee Jordan that the two of them might have entered the Forbidden Forest and hadn't returned yet.

Then, Albert talked about how he confirmed through his owl that the Weasley twins were still in the Forbidden Forest and planned to seek Hagrid's help. But since Hagrid was not around, he had to go into the forest himself to find them and asked Lee Jordan to go back to the castle and seek help from the professors.

"You have violated numerous school rules along the way, but how did you manage to find the Weasley twins and survive?" Professor McGonagall couldn't help but ask. "And what's this about a group of Acromantulas that Professor Brode mentioned?"

"At first, I thought Fred and George were just lost. It's easy to get lost in a place like the Forbidden Forest without a guide," Albert continued narrating his journey. He mentioned encountering a Centaur and how, with the Centaur's help, he found the direction illuminated by red sparks.

"The red sparks were a reminder from Albert," Fred took out Albert's handkerchief, which had the instructions written on it: Shoot red sparks into the sky and seek help from the Centaurs. They will lead you out of the forest.

"In fact, the Centaurs are not exactly friendly," Albert chuckled. "But they said they never attack foals, which I assume means they don't harm students. Later, I claimed to be a friend of Hagrid's and negotiated with the Centaurs, convincing them to guide me in the direction of the red sparks. Then I encountered the giant spiders."

Dumbledore nodded; he was acquainted with the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest.

"How did you manage to defeat the Acromantulas?" Professor Brode asked the question that everyone was curious about.

"Thanks to Fang's warning, I wasn't ambushed by the Acromantulas. But jinxes like Impedimenta and Stupefy had little effect on those giant spiders," Albert lay on the bed, chewing on the chocolate, recalling his experience. "Later, I tried using the Dancing Feet Charm on their legs to limit their movements, and it turned out to be quite successful."

"Ingenious. Your defense against Dark Magic is excellent. I'm proud of you," Professor Brode nodded approvingly.

"Then, after I calmed down, I remembered a Spider Repelling Charm I had come across in the library by chance," Albert sighed. "I didn't expect that charm to be so effective against those giant spiders."

Albert slowly recounted the events of tonight, concluding with how he relied on the Guardian Tree to defeat the approaching Acromantulas...

"Incredible," Professor McGonagall could already tell from Albert's account that this first-year student possessed courage and intelligence. Whether it was finding the Weasley twins with the help of his owl and the hunting dog, or facing the Centaurs and the giant spiders, it took immense courage to enter the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night.

"Alright, I think I have a general understanding of the situation," Professor McGonagall gave her final judgment. "Weasley twins, you have seriously violated school rules. Each of you will lose 100 points and be given a week of detention."

Fred and George groaned, and Lee Jordan beside them was also startled. Losing 100 points each would nearly wipe out the few points Gryffindor had.

"As for Mr. Anderson," Professor McGonagall hesitated, seemingly considering how to handle Albert's case.

In the end, Dumbledore spoke up, "Mr. Anderson has shown extraordinary courage and wisdom throughout this ordeal, saving the lives of the Weasley twins. I believe that deserves the Special Contribution Award to the school, and... let me think... yes, you have earned 200 points for Gryffindor."

Fred and George breathed a sigh of relief, as the points they lost were offset. But then they remembered they still had to serve detention, and their faces fell.

"Oh, one more thing. Mr. Anderson, while in the Forbidden Forest, you saved me from being attacked and seriously injured by the Acromantulas," Professor Brode said with a smile. "I think that's worth 50 points for Gryffindor."

"Alright, let's go now! They need to rest," Dumbledore turned around and prepared to leave.

"One more thing," Professor McGonagall suddenly spoke.

"What is it, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.

"Why did you go into the forest in the first place?" Professor McGonagall sternly stared at the Weasley twins.

Under the menacing pressure, the Weasley twins confessed everything.

"What about the map?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I threw the map in the Forbidden Forest," Albert replied. "To prevent them from doing something foolish and going into the forest again."

"Alright, can I take care of my patients now?" Madam Pomfrey walked over and brought sleep potions for the three of them.

"Drink it, it will help you sleep well."

Albert could guess what it was.

One dose of Draught of Living Death.

Under Madam Pomfrey's gaze, Albert drank the potion. Its effects were immediate. He felt his eyelids becoming heavy, and he couldn't resist closing his eyes. He fell into a dreamless sleep, enveloped in a deep slumber.

...

"Alright, you should go back to the dormitory and rest too!" Outside the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall said to Lee Jordan, "Your actions were sensible, and Gryffindor earns 10 points."

After Lee Jordan left, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall both looked at Professor Brode.

"Mr. Anderson's account is mostly accurate. However, I'm also shocked that he was able to find the Weasley twins," Professor Brode exclaimed. "He is undoubtedly a talented genius. By the way, there's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"I think I should resign in advance. This position really brings misfortune and unhappiness," Professor Brode sighed. "Resigning before the curse causes me harm is undoubtedly a wise choice."

"What about the secret treasure of Gryffindor that the Weasley twins mentioned?" Professor McGonagall suddenly brought up the topic of the map, furrowing her brow.

"There have indeed been similar legends, but nothing can be confirmed. You know, legends aren't always reliable, even though they may have some historical basis," Professor Brode replied.

"I have heard similar rumors," Professor McGonagall said. "Some people claim that the Four Founders left behind their own secret treasures in Hogwarts, containing priceless items such as gold, prophecies, and other powerful magical artifacts."

"There have been such legends about Hogwarts Castle, but legends are still just legends. No one has ever found the so-called secret treasures," Dumbledore said softly.

The three fell silent. They each had their own judgment and were not easily swayed by legends.

Indeed, legends were just legends, like the Chamber of Secrets that was rumored to exist in Hogwarts. But no one had ever found the Chamber left by Salazar Slytherin.

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(End of this chapter)