The return journey through the Forbidden Forest was far quieter than the trek in. As the first streaks of dawn began to bleed through the canopy, four exhausted but exhilarated Gryffindors glided toward the castle on their broomsticks. They flew in a tight formation, the cool morning air whipping against their faces, helping to wash away the lingering grime of the troll den.
Technically, they hadn't brought back a single gold coin. There were no bulging sacks of galleons tied to their broomsticks, and the legendary silver sword remained exactly where its master had left it a thousand years ago. Yet, as they touched down on the damp grass near the Quidditch pitch and began the long walk back to the common room, none of them felt like they had failed.
"I feel... different," Lee Jordan muttered, glancing back toward the dark treeline. "Usually, after a night like that, I'd be a nervous wreck. But right now? I feel like I could walk right back in there and kick another troll in the shins."
Albert smiled to himself. He knew exactly what Lee was talking about. Inside his mind, a notification from his system had flickered to life the moment they stepped out of the hidden chamber. The quest for Gryffindor's Secret Treasure had updated to "Complete," and in the rewards section, a new entry had appeared: Braveheart (Special Passive Ability).
It wasn't a skill he could level up with experience points, but the description was clear: Maintains mental clarity and emotional stability when confronted with overwhelming odds. Enhances natural courage.
It was the "Meat of the Brave" from the Giant's Cauldron. By sharing that meal, Albert realized that Godric Gryffindor hadn't left behind gold for his students—he had left behind a way to forge them into the heroes they were meant to be. He looked at Fred and George, who were walking with a bit more swagger than usual, their eyes bright despite the lack of sleep. They probably didn't have a "system" to tell them what they'd gained, but the fire of the Lion was clearly burning a little brighter in their chests today.
"It's a shame about the sword, though," Fred sighed as they climbed the marble staircase. "Imagine the look on the Slytherins' faces if we'd marched into the Great Hall with that thing. We'd have won the House Cup on the spot."
"The sword belongs to the House, Fred, not a display case," Albert reminded him. "Besides, if we'd brought it back, everyone would know about our new clubhouse. I'd rather have a secret base than a trophy that Dumbledore would just lock away in his office anyway."
"Fair point," George conceded. "A secret base deep in the forest... we're going to need a lot of snacks for the next trip."
The following days were a blur of post-exam relaxation. The tension that had gripped the castle during the testing period snapped like a dry twig, replaced by the lazy, sun-drenched atmosphere of late June. Since the exams were over, the professors were lenient, and the students spent most of their time sprawled on the lawns.
Albert and his crew had claimed a prime spot under a large beech tree. They had a picnic blanket spread out, several bottles of iced pumpkin juice they'd "borrowed" from the kitchens, and a deck of Wizarding Cards that was currently seeing heavy use.
"I'm actually starting to miss Tom," Albert remarked, leaning back against the tree trunk. He pulled out a wizarding photograph of his cat and showed it to the girls.
Alicia Spinnet took the photo and immediately let out a gasp. "Albert! What have you done to him? He's not a cat, he's a furry ottoman! Look at those cheeks!"
"He's well-loved," Albert defended himself, though he couldn't help but chuckle. "I tried putting him on a diet before I left for school, but my sister Nia is a soft touch. Every time he meows, she thinks he's starving to death."
"I think he's just big-boned," Angelina Johnson chimed in, though she was giggling. She had just lost a round of cards to Shanna and was looking for a distraction. "But seriously, why didn't you bring him? Everyone else has owls or toads."
"Tom isn't exactly 'travel-sized,'" Albert admitted. "Plus, he's a bit of a homebody. He prefers sleeping on a radiator to hunting mice in a drafty castle."
The conversation was interrupted by a sudden movement near the castle gates. A crowd of students began to huddle together, whispering urgently.
"Oho! Drama!" Lee Jordan said, leaping to his feet. "I'll be back in ten minutes with the full report. Don't touch my cards!"
He sprinted off toward the castle, his robes fluttering behind him. The rest of them stayed put, enjoying the shade. About fifteen minutes later, Lee returned, looking breathless and triumphant.
"You won't believe it," Lee panted, dropping back onto the blanket. "Kenneth Towler was just found in the boy's lavatory on the third floor. He looked like he'd been hit by a Jelly-Legs Jinx and a Confundus Charm at the same time. Rumor has it a Slytherin caught him trying to sell more of that 'Brain Potion' and decided to give him a refund in hexes."
Albert didn't look surprised. "I told him to drop it. Kenneth's greed was always going to catch up with him. You can't sell fake luck to people with wands and expect a thank-you note."
"Wait," Shanna said, looking at Albert suspiciously. "Was that 'Brain Potion' actually real? The stuff you were drinking during the exams?"
Fred and George erupted into laughter. "Real?" Fred choked out. "The only thing 'real' about that potion was Albert's acting! He spent the whole week drinking flavored water and pretending he was seeing into the future just to mess with everyone's heads."
"Except for that one bottle he actually sold," George added, winking at Albert. "The 'authentic' Baruffio's Elixir. I heard the Ravenclaw who bought it spent three hours trying to memorize the dictionary before his stomach gave out."
"If you two keep talking, I'm going to start charging you for my secrets," Albert grumbled, though he was smiling.
The girls shook their heads, half-impressed and half-annoyed by Albert's ability to turn even a stressful exam week into a profitable venture. It was this resourcefulness that had funded their Wizarding Card tournament and kept them in high-quality snacks all term.
The last few days at Hogwarts were spent in a whirlwind of letter-writing. With the help of Isabelle, Albert managed to clear through a mountain of correspondence from his various contacts—potioneers, researchers, and family friends. He didn't want to rely too much on his owl, Sheila, over the summer; the poor bird deserved a break from the constant back-and-forth across the country.
The End-of-Year Feast was a bittersweet affair. The Great Hall was draped in green and silver, as Slytherin had narrowly clinched the House Cup after Gryffindor's points were docked for various "late-night excursions" (most of which involved the Weasley twins).
During the feast, Dumbledore stood up to give his usual closing remarks, but he added a somber note. "I must also inform you all that, despite extensive efforts by the Ministry and the school, Rowena Smith remains missing. We ask that if any of you have information, no matter how small, you come forward."
The hall went quiet for a moment, but the tragedy felt distant to most. Rowena had always been a solitary figure, and as the summer holidays loomed, she was already fading into a footnote in Hogwarts history. Albert, however, caught Dumbledore's eye for a fleeting second and saw a shadow of genuine worry there.
On the final morning, the exam results were posted in the common room. Albert sat at the top of the list for his year, his grades a flawless string of "Outstandings." Fred, George, and Lee had also done remarkably well, their scores significantly higher than anyone expected given their reputation for mischief.
"Look at that," Fred beamed, pointing to his 'Exceeds Expectations' in Charms. "Mom might not even scream at us this year."
The journey back on the Hogwarts Express was filled with the usual excitement. The four boys shared a compartment, the table between them cluttered with card games and half-eaten Chocolate Frogs. They spent hours discussing the "Secret Base" in the woods.
"I'm thinking we should set up some wards that only trigger for Gryffindors," George suggested. "Make it a real initiation. If they can't pass the inversion corridor, they don't get the password."
"We could hide treasure maps in the library," Lee added, his eyes sparkling. "Stuffed inside old, boring books that nobody reads. Imagine some kid in ten years finding one and starting the whole adventure over again."
Albert listened to them plan, feeling a sense of satisfaction. They were already thinking like the next generation of Marauders.
As the train pulled into King's Cross, the reality of the "muggle world" began to sink in. Fred and George invited Albert to the Burrow for later in the summer—an invitation he accepted with genuine curiosity. He had a visit to Professor Broad's manor planned as well, but a trip to the Weasley household sounded like exactly the kind of chaos he enjoyed.
Stepping onto Platform 9 3/4, Albert spotted his family immediately. Herbert was leaning against their car, looking every bit the proud father, while Daisy was waving enthusiastically. And there, pressed against the back window, was a very round, very grumpy-looking cat face.
"He's gained weight," Albert noted the moment he reached the car.
"He missed you," Nia said, jumping out of the car to give Albert a quick hug before immediately grabbing Tom by the scruff to keep him from escaping. "And I might have given him a few extra treats. He was very convincing."
"Meow," Tom agreed, jumping into Albert's lap the moment he sat down. The cat was indeed much heavier, feeling like a warm, purring sack of flour.
As they drove away from the station, Nia looked at Albert, her expression shifting from excitement to a quiet, lingering sadness. "I'm eleven now, Albert," she whispered. "My birthday was last month."
Albert looked at his sister. He knew what she was asking without her having to say it. She hadn't received a letter. There had been no owls, no flickering lights, no accidental magic.
"I know, Nia," Albert said softly.
"Do you think... do you think she hates me?" Nia asked, nodding toward Daisy. "Because I'm not like you? Because I'm just... normal?"
Albert reached over and ruffled her hair, ignoring her indignant huff. "Nia, look at me. The wizarding world is full of rules and limitations. Being a wizard is fine, but there are things I can't do, places I can't go, and secrets I have to keep. I'm going to need someone on the 'outside' who knows the truth. Someone smart, someone I can trust."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better," she grumbled, though she leaned into his shoulder.
"I'm saying it because it's true," Albert replied, his voice firm but kind. "I'm your brother. That's a permanent job. And trust me, once I start my own businesses, I'm going to need a manager who doesn't solve every problem with a wand. You're the only one for the job."