"So, you guys want to… sneak out tonight?"
At nine o'clock in the evening, Albert, who was halfway through a letter to his family, froze mid-sentence. His expression twitched as he overheard the Weasley twins' hushed but excited conversation.
Wait—didn't he have a task related to sneaking out?
No.
Absolutely not.
Not yet.
Albert lightly patted his cheek to snap himself out of it. Sneaking out now was the fastest way to get caught by Filch.
"Albert, want to come with us?" the twins asked in perfect unison.
"I heard," Albert said, setting down his quill and turning toward them, "that the caretaker, Filch, knows most of the secret passages in the castle. Meaning, he could easily catch you two, who know nothing about Hogwarts yet."
He leaned back and added, "If you don't want detention before term even officially starts, I suggest you don't take that risk."
"That's exactly what I said!" Lee Jordan quickly agreed, switching sides in an instant.
Albert shook his head. "No, that's not the main issue. If you are going to sneak out, at least be prepared. Gryffindor courage isn't the same as reckless stupidity. You should at least master the Lumos Charm first."
He tapped his wand on the desk. "Carrying an oil lamp would be too clumsy. Try running with one of those in your hands."
Albert pointed to Nineteenth-Century Charms Selections, lying open beside him. "There's a spell in here called the Disillusionment Charm. Once you learn it, Filch won't catch you so easily."
"So you are coming with us?" The twins grinned and clapped hands as if celebrating a victory.
Albert's mouth twitched. "You two… really don't listen, do you? It's not impossible, but not now. I'd rather not be caught by Filch on my first week here. Learn a few useful spells first—then we can talk."
"That's great! With you joining us, we'll have way more confidence sneaking out!" George said, looping his arm around Fred's as they started doing an impromptu dance.
In the twins' eyes, their roommate was already a legend in the making.
"Tomorrow," Fred said, "George, Lee, and I are planning to go to Hogsmeade again. You want in? Only third-years are allowed, but there's a secret passage that leads straight there. It's the only all-wizarding village in Britain!"
"I didn't bring any money last time," George added eagerly. "I want to buy something from Zonko's Joke Shop."
Lee was just about to agree when Albert interrupted, "I'm not particularly interested in prank items, but… it might be fun to see a wizard village."
As he spoke, he instinctively opened his panel—and froze.
Quest: Beginning of Adventure
This is the beginning of a great adventure. Go to Hogsmeade through the secret passage and experience the thrill that comes with it.
Reward: 100 experience points
+5 Favorability with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan
Favorability?
What was this, some kind of friendship simulator?
If it hit 100, would they become "Legendary Best Friends"? Albert shuddered at the thought.
Nope. Not going there.
"Fine," he said at last. "We'll go after breakfast."
He returned to his letter, describing Hogwarts life to his family in detail. Writing had once been his livelihood—it came naturally.
Meanwhile, Fred and George were flipping through The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1, searching for useful charms. Albert's advice had struck home—carrying lamps was impractical.
A few minutes later, the smell of burning paper filled the room.
Albert turned, horrified, to see the Daily Prophet on fire while the twins frantically tried to stamp it out.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing?!" He tossed his unfinished letter aside, hurried over, and threw open the window to let the smoke out.
"George was testing the Fire-Making Spell," Fred coughed. "It worked."
"You nearly set the carpet on fire!" Albert scolded. "No more spells in the dormitory unless you want the entire tower to burn down."
"I think I might be talented with spells," George said proudly.
"How'd you do that?" Lee asked, eager to try.
"Don't even think about it here," Albert said, pointing toward the common room. "Go practice near the fireplace."
Troublesome bunch.
"If you still plan to sneak to Hogsmeade tomorrow, at least learn Lumos first. I'm not carrying a lamp through that tunnel—and I'm definitely not carrying one for you."
"Good idea," said George. "Let's practice the Lumos Charm."
They tried. And failed. And tried again.
Albert watched, correcting them between attempts. "You're not focusing. Channel all your intent into your wand. Don't hesitate—say the spell clearly and flick your wrist with confidence. Willpower is everything."
Fred chuckled. "You sound like a professor. Maybe that's your future."
Albert laughed. "Pass. Teaching's too tiring—especially dealing with mischievous brats like you. I don't have the patience."
He sat on the bed, picking up a colorful cube from his desk.
"What's that?" Fred asked immediately.
"A Rubik's Cube. Muggle toy. Good for training memory, reaction time, spatial thinking," Albert said casually, twisting the layers. It helped him relax—and, technically, earned a trickle of experience.
By the end of the night, all three had finally managed to cast Lumos. The light from their wands flickered unsteadily, but it was light nonetheless.
Effort always paid off—especially for those willing to try.