Chapter 57
After leaving the Emerald Dream and returning to reality, Albert opened his pocket watch and was surprised to find that although he had spent nearly an hour inside the Dream, less than ten minutes had passed in the real world.
It was then that Albert realized he had truly discovered a realm where time could be used far more effectively—perfect for training and study. If he mastered something within the Emerald Dream, it would appear to others in the real world as though he had progressed at an astonishing pace. But in truth, he was simply spending much longer periods in the Dream than what was perceived externally.
Although the night was still young, Albert felt he had gained enough for the evening. He bid farewell to Betty and returned to the castle to rest—his mind full of thoughts.
Before he left, Betty informed him that the herd was planning another operation soon to cleanse the forest of the eight-eyed giant spiders. She also asked that Albert try to enter the Emerald Dream once a night, so she could send him messages when needed.
In fact, after learning the proper method to enter the Dream, Albert had already planned to make it a daily habit. Not only did the serene environment soothe his nerves, but the Dream also allowed for extra hours of learning. He resolved to spend time there refining the magic he had already mastered, completing school tasks, and deepening his connection to the forest.
However, something troubled him: with his current abilities, Albert could not remain in the Emerald Dream for more than two hours per visit. Beyond that limit, he would be forcibly ejected. (This limitation wasn't due to magical power, but rather his still-beginner level of control over the Dream itself.)
Betty was genuinely surprised when she learned Albert could last that long. In her experience, most novices couldn't endure even half an hour within the Dream.
Albert suspected the reason lay in his soul—specifically, the mental training he had received through Occlumency, and perhaps because he had lived two lives. His dual existence seemed to grant him an edge, a deeper spiritual resilience that prolonged his time in the Dream.
After parting with Betty, Albert slowly made his way back to the dormitory.
Over the next few days, Albert returned to his usual school routine—attending classes, completing assignments, and in the evenings, acting as a mentor in the common room's homework support group. Notably, when Ginny and Colin learned that Harry Potter also participated in this group, they eagerly asked to join.
To avoid disturbing others, Albert had to organize three separate sessions for them.
This kind of gentle authority worked especially well with younger students. Even someone as obsessed as Colin—who had once installed magical cameras in the dormitory—kept his behavior in check. Albert had made it very clear: if Colin dared to annoy anyone in the study group, he'd be expelled from it immediately.
Unlike last year, the group now included several new first-years. As such, the second-year students weren't just discussing their own coursework—they were often tutoring the younger students as well. It wasn't mandatory, of course, but many of them, especially Hermione, volunteered eagerly. She believed it helped first-years better absorb previous years' material.
Realizing this, Albert couldn't help but conclude that learning was a never-ending, brutal task. Ironically, he now looked forward to anything that might improve his capacity to learn. He noticed that his practice with the Emerald Dream—especially the mental clarity it promoted—had improved his memory, analysis, and concentration. Still, he couldn't quite match Hermione.
Lately, Albert had been returning to his dorm earlier than usual each night, claiming to be tired. In truth, he was entering the Emerald Dream for training.
Then, on Thursday night, as he entered the Dream, a glowing green light drifted toward him. It was a message from Betty. She informed him that the battle against the spiders was scheduled to begin on Saturday and urged him to prepare accordingly.
Albert didn't hesitate to grab the glowing message—he knew he was currently in a protected zone within the Dream, a place guarded by special magic that prevented malicious entities from approaching.
As he fully stepped into the Emerald Dream, Albert found himself atop a towering spire, still wrapped in a protective violet shield.
There, he discovered an engraved plaque stating that if Hogwarts students ever managed to enter the Emerald Dream, this tower would serve as their sanctuary within it.
What truly astonished Albert, however, were the names etched beneath the inscription: the names of the Four Founders of Hogwarts.
Of course—those legendary figures. Their power was so immense that not only did they leave imprints across the magical world, but they had also created a space within the Dream to aid future generations. (To clarify, even when Albert left the Dream, Betty remained within it to train and prepare. Thus, Albert had the power to bring others into the Dream. This towering refuge had been constructed to shelter all of Hogwarts, should it ever need protection.)
While inspecting the tower, Albert came across a stone tablet at its base. It recorded the names and arrival dates of all wizards who had managed to reach this point in the Dream.
Many had used pseudonyms, but some real names remained—and among them, one in particular made Albert's heart skip a beat: Merlin.
Based on the dates etched above, Albert drew another conclusion: since the time of the Founders, fewer and fewer Hogwarts wizards had managed to enter the Emerald Dream. In the past, maybe two a year could do so—but in more recent times, there had been years without a single visitor. The last name recorded before Albert's was from 1861.
It seemed that as human civilization advanced, its ability to attune with nature had waned. Fewer wizards now could grasp the ancient harmony required to access the Dream. Whether this was a sign of progress or loss—Albert wasn't sure.
After several visits, Albert noticed he always entered the Dream from the tower. When he began exploring the surroundings, he realized the violet barrier didn't restrict his movements. As long as he was recognized as a Hogwarts student, the barrier would not hinder him.
Beyond training, Albert also spent time in the Dream collaborating with the horse-folk, helping strategize for the upcoming battle. The Dream allowed for communication without fear of discovery.
After revising one of the knight's strategies, Albert pulled a floating leaf from the air. With a quick motion of his finger, a line of writing appeared across its surface. He then snapped his fingers—the leaf folded into a paper plane and soared into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
This was the first nature-based spell Albert had learned—one that allowed him to send messages within the Dream over short distances. In her earlier messages, Betty had subtly begun teaching him aspects of natural magic. It had started on the very first day of their contact.
Albert discovered that both natural magic and dark magic shared something in common: they required a deep well of inner strength and would subtly influence the user with each use.
He suspected that Betty had taught herself natural magic—a quiet invitation to draw him further into her world. But Albert didn't resent it. In fact, he welcomed it.
More importantly, Betty believed that the actions of intelligent beings were part of nature's cycle as well. She didn't reject artificial constructs. Unlike many of her kind—who clung to bows and arrows and distrusted wizardkind—Betty's faction was far more balanced.
After dealing with his messages and plans, Albert returned to studying magic. Saturday was fast approaching, and with it, the battle. He wanted to be ready.