Chapter 55: Normal Phenomenon

When the four of them left the kitchen, their stomachs were already filled with cream cakes and milk tea. The pockets of their robes were also filled with cookies and pies that the house-elf had handed to them.

"We'd better hurry back to the common room before the curfew starts in ten minutes."

Just as they passed through the entrance hall, they were spotted by Filch's cat. It didn't take long for Filch himself to appear in front of them, not long after Mrs. Norris had run off.

For some reason, Fred and George felt an inexplicable guilt when they saw Filch approaching.

Fred instinctively reached into the pocket on the right side of his robe, where they had hidden the live map they had stolen from the caretaker's office.

"You two..." Filch called out to the Weasley twins, smirking mischievously. "Detention tomorrow night at seven. Your task is to clean all the trophies in the Trophy Room. I hope this lesson will instill some sense of house pride in you. By the way, Gryffindor's score has fallen to last place again."

The four of them remained silent, standing there quietly as Filch finished speaking.

Of course, someone's mouth was still stuffed with a piece of pie, which seemed to affect the atmosphere a bit.

"Now, return to your common room. Don't let me catch you wandering around the castle after curfew. Otherwise, it won't be as simple as detention," Filch threatened before turning and walking away.

"What an annoying old git," George muttered and made a rude gesture towards Filch's retreating figure.

"I remember you were planning to teach us the Scouring Charm," Fred turned his head to look at Albert and winked.

"No time for that now. You guys won't be able to learn the Scouring Charm in just one day," Albert said, checking the time on his pocket watch and heading towards the moving staircase.

"Don't worry, you're just cleaning the trophies in the Trophy Room. It's better than washing bedpans, isn't it? Think about poor William. Besides, there are two of you, so you'll finish quickly," Jordan reassured George, patting his shoulder.

However, her tone seemed to carry a hint of schadenfreude.

"Get lost, you scheming person!" Fred glared at Jordan irritably, then turned his head to Albert and said, "Can't you help us with the Scouring Charm?"

"Duelling Club," Albert suddenly interrupted.

"What?" Fred didn't understand for a moment.

"He means the Duelling Club is tomorrow night at seven. So, give up your futile struggles!" Jordan hugged Fred's shoulder and comforted him, "Therefore, let go of the Scouring Charm!"

As they spoke, the four of them reached the third floor via the moving staircase, then went through several secret passages, twisting and turning until they reached the eighth floor of the castle.

At one corner, they almost collided with Professor Bade Brode from the Dark Arts Defense class.

"Good evening, Professor Brode," Albert greeted the professor first.

"Good evening, Mr. Anderson," Professor Brode's gaze scanned over the four of them before resting on Albert. He scrutinized him for a moment before continuing, "Curfew is approaching. I suggest you return to the common room as soon as possible."

"Professor Brode knows you!" Fred exclaimed in surprise after the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor left.

Professor Brode was quite old, and yet he could remember Albert in such a short time. After all, they had only met a few times.

"I'm not sure either," Albert said skeptically, glancing towards the spot where the Room of Requirement was supposed to be. He seemed to... see a slight change in the wall just now.

Moreover, the way Professor Bade Brode had looked at him earlier was a bit strange, as if he were scrutinizing something.

"On another note, there's no secret passage behind this tapestry," Jordan pointed to the tapestry depicting the giant clubbing Babban dumbstruck, "I even specifically checked it at noon, but I found nothing."

It wasn't surprising that Jordan would come up with such an idea. After all, most of the tapestries in Hogwarts concealed secret passages.

In fact, Jordan's speculation was not entirely wrong. The tapestry did hide a secret, but it wasn't behind the tapestry itself. It was on the opposite wall, where the Room of Requirement was located.

However, most students were unaware of its existence.

Arriving at the end of the corridor on the eighth floor, they were surprised to find the Fat Lady in her portrait humming a song softly.

"Gibberish," George said the password.

The Fat Lady didn't open the portrait but continued humming. Was she planning to make them listen for free?

"Gibberish," Fred repeated.

The Fat Lady glared at them with displeasure, seeming annoyed by the interruption. Reluctantly, she opened the entrance to the common room.

"I dare say she has no talent for singing," Albert couldn't help but comment as he entered the common room.

There were a few scattered individuals still doing their homework in the common room at this time.

"Where have you been just now?" Charlie, wearing pajamas, approached them and asked, "We have Quidditch training tomorrow afternoon. You can come to the Quidditch pitch after 6:30 PM. I'll give you half an hour for extra training."

"Sorry, Charlie, but we can't go," George said helplessly.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

"We need to go to detention with Filch!" Fred said, looking utterly miserable.

"What about you, Jordan?" Charlie looked at Lee Jordan, thought for a moment, and sighed, "Never mind, come next time then! If you want to officially join the Quidditch team next year, you should practice hard and make sure you have an advantage over others."

Charlie hadn't been gone for long when Percy arrived. He had just finished his homework.

"Don't nag, Percy. Charlie already told us," George snapped at his older brother irritably.

"We're leaving," Albert said, bidding farewell to Lee Jordan and heading towards the stairs.

"Don't provoke Filch. It won't do you any good!" Percy Weasley glared at Fred and George. "You caused our House points to drop to last place..."

"...If you continue to be mischievous like this and roam the castle during curfew, I'll write a letter to Mum." George imitated Percy's voice, jokingly recounting the incident to their friends.

"As far as I know, Gryffindor hasn't won the House Cup in years, and it's our fault for losing points," George said.

"Isn't it normal for Gryffindor not to win the House Cup?" Albert said seriously.

"Wow, you think the same way," George laughed and looked at Albert as if to say, 'See, he gets us too.'

"Don't look at me like that, it's the truth!" Albert couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Unless we win the Quidditch Cup three times, the House Cup is a distant dream."

"You make a valid point," George nodded in agreement.

"Percy definitely knows that. He just wants an excuse to teach us a lesson!" Fred snorted, clearly unimpressed.

Albert glanced at the newly appeared task prompt:

"Gryffindor's Glory."

Gryffindor House has been without the House Cup for five years. It's time to show your true strength and help Gryffindor win the House Cup.

Reward: 1 skill point.

After reading the task, Albert's mouth twitched involuntarily. Was this even a task for completion?

Hmm, it seems there's no time limit.

Albert could just wait until the chosen one, Harry Potter, appeared and lie low.

Not a bad idea.

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(End of this chapter)