The weekend was sunny and bright.
A gentle breeze brought the coolness of autumn, and looking out from the windows of the Gryffindor Tower, one could see students playing and frolicking on the lawn.
The door to the common room opened with a swivel, and Lee Jordan, who had just climbed in from the passageway, looked around and his gaze fell on Albert by the fireplace. He strode over and said as he walked, "Albert, I heard you beat up a Slytherin student."
As soon as these words were spoken, many people in the lounge turned their heads and looked over, seemingly very interested in the topic.
"Oh." Albert stopped what he was doing, looked up at Lee Jordan who was walking towards him, and asked with a puzzled look, "What do you mean I beat up a Slytherin student?"
"The literal meaning."
Just then, the entrance to the Gryffindor common room was opened again, and Fred and George hurriedly climbed through the passageway.
"I heard you beat up some Slytherin guys." The two men looked Albert up and down as soon as they entered the common room, and after a long while said, "Well done. Remember to call us next time."
"What happened?" Albert asked.
"You don't know?" George looked at the people around him in confusion.
"I don't know," Albert shook his head. "I've been practicing the Cutting Charm."
"But everyone's talking about it!" Fred, seeing the confusion on his friend's face, realized something was wrong. "Just now, they said…"
"Stop, I don't remember ever hitting anyone," Albert immediately stopped them. "Besides, look at my skinny arms and legs, do I look like someone who's good at fighting?"
After saying that, Albert patted his wrist, giving him a look that said, "Are you kidding me?"
On the surface, Albert is not exactly strong; at best, he's not thin.
"It's already good enough that they're not attacking me," Albert said irritably, seeing the astonished expressions on their faces.
"You cast a spell on them?" Actually, George also felt that the rumors were not very reliable. It would be more believable if Albert had cast a spell on someone and knocked down the Slytherin students.
After all, the guy in front of him was indeed far more skilled in magic than the other freshmen in the same year.
"Watch out, or I'll sue you for defamation." Albert glared at George, then pointed to the armchair next to him, gesturing for the three of them to sit down and listen to him.
"So what exactly happened? Why are so many people saying that you..."
"Shut up, you actually believe rumors?" Albert said irritably. "Believe it or not, I'll go find a bunch of people and spread the word that you like to hum and dance in the shower."
"Is this true?" Lee Jordan's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Watch out, or I'll beat you up. Albert said it's just a rumor," Fred said irritably.
"Tell me, what's going on? Rumors don't come without reason." George gestured for the two to be quiet and let Albert speak.
"You know, after breakfast on weekend mornings, I often take my camera and wander around, taking a few photos along the way." Albert began to recall what had happened not long ago. "In the second-floor corridor, I encountered a few Slytherin students who were walking towards me side by side. I stepped aside to let them pass, but one of them bumped into my shoulder. I don't know what happened, but the person who bumped into me fell to the ground, clutching his shoulder and looking like he was in pain."
Speaking of this, Albert looked completely innocent. "Later, I reached out and pulled him up from the ground, and then he inexplicably let out a scream, this time clutching his hand. I didn't even understand what happened."
"That's it?" The three of them looked completely bewildered.
"Why do people say you beat that Slytherin student so badly he ended up in the school hospital?" George asked with a strange look.
"How could I possibly know?" Albert thought for a moment and said seriously, "It was probably me who advised those Slytherin students to take that person to the school hospital for a checkup."
Especially after hearing Albert's description, he himself was the most innocent victim, as if he had encountered an undeserved disaster.
The three looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.
Honestly, if you didn't know Albert, you might actually believe him. But when this guy is fooling people, what he says is really easy to believe, and things might actually be as he says.
The actual version is:
Albert had just finished breakfast and was about to go for a walk and take some photos when he encountered several of his fellow Slytherin students walking towards him side by side.
At that moment, Albert actually stepped aside to make way for them, but those guys deliberately tried to cause trouble and were about to bump him with their shoulders.
Albert hadn't expected to encounter such a mess, but he wasn't one to be trifled with. He wasn't afraid of trouble, whether it was direct confrontation or using his wand.
To others, it was a Slytherin student clutching his shoulder as he fell, and a bewildered Albert.
It goes without saying whose fault it is.
Then, Albert gentlemanly reached out and helped the other person up, asking if they were injured or something.
The man probably intended to pull Albert to the ground, but when he grabbed Albert's hand, it was squeezed hard, causing him to cry out in pain.
To those who witnessed it firsthand, Albert looked utterly helpless and innocent, but somehow the story spread that Albert had beaten up a Slytherin student.
"That man went to the school hospital, and it's said that Mrs. Pomfrey cured him."
"Actually, my shoulder is injured too," Albert suddenly said in a serious tone.
The three of them rolled their eyes in unison.
"Anyway, I'm a victim in this too. Who knew he was like a fragile porcelain piece that would break at the slightest touch."
Those who were eavesdropping couldn't help but laugh when they heard Albert describe the Slytherin students as fragile porcelain.
The students of Gryffindor and Slytherin have never gotten along.
"What are you doing?" Li Qiaodan stopped dwelling on what had just happened and watched Albert cutting a piece of wood.
"Didn't I just say that I was practicing the Cutting Charm?" Albert picked up a wooden cross, with several circular objects next to it.
"This looks like the wood of the Guardian Tree!" George suddenly said.
"Yes, I got it from Hagrid a while ago. It's perfect for practicing the Cutting Charm," Albert nodded matter-of-factly.
Fred took the cross and commented, "However, the workmanship is really rough. You intend to give it as a talisman?"
"If I were to make it into a talisman to give as a gift, I would definitely make it more exquisite," Albert said irritably.
"Are you sure items made from the Guardian Tree can protect people from dark creatures?"
"Who knows?" Albert wasn't sure if the thing in his hand would work, but figuring it out wouldn't be difficult; he could just ask someone.