83 Chapter 83
All three young wizards were well acquainted with the name Miranda Goshawk. In the wizarding world, her fame was widespread, and it was nearly impossible to find a wizarding family that hadn't heard of her. Miranda Goshawk had authored the renowned "Book of Spells," a tome that had been translated into a staggering 72 languages and was available to aspiring witches and wizards across the globe.
However, as time passed, certain controversial dark spells contained within the "Book of Spells" sparked a considerable uproar. The Ministry of Magic stepped in, urging Miranda Goshawk to revise her work. As a result, the "Standard Spells" series became the new curriculum for Hogwarts students, replacing the contentious content.
The rumour mill had it that Miranda Goshawk did not approve of this intervention.. She vehemently denied any involvement in creating the "Standard Spells" series and insisted that the original book did not include any dark spells. According to her, the textbook merely contained moderately offensive spells, intended to dissuade students from resorting to more dangerous magic when resolving disputes.
Albert sympathised with Miranda Goshawk's viewpoint. He believed that including moderately offensive spells in the book served a purpose, acting as a deterrent and encouraging responsible spell casting.
As they strolled through the corridors of Hogwarts, engrossed in conversation, the trio arrived at Barnabas's tapestry on the castle's eighth floor. Albert couldn't help but notice the twins' fascination with the tapestry and understood their intent — they were in search of the elusive Room of Requirements. Or, in their case, the broom closet.
"We've been here several times," George whispered to Albert, ensuring no prying ears were nearby. "We believe you might help us find the broom closet."
Curiosity flickered in Albert's eyes, betraying his peculiar expression. He possessed the knowledge of accessing the Room of Requirement, which might aid the twins in their quest. However, he had no intention of revealing this secret at the moment.
"Well, I must admit that I'm interested," Albert admitted with a nod.
Albert walked over to the wall and pretended to knock on the opposite side of the tapestry. Turning towards the twins, he inquired, "When you discovered the door of the vanishing broom closet, what did you do?"
"We noticed it shouldn't be there, but Filch was on our tail. With no other choices, we went into the closet and stayed there until the coast was clear," George said.
"That's right," Fred confirmed, nodding.
"There was nothing here. Then, as you passed by, the door just materialised? Out of thin air?" Albert continued with a hint of intrigue in his voice. "Are you certain it wasn't another door? Or you were on another floor."
George responded, "I'm pretty sure it was on this floor. I clearly remember passing that tapestry multiple times."
"So, the primary motivation was to evade Filch's detection," Albert probed further.
"Indeed, we were desperate to find a hiding place," George confirmed.
"Now, face this wall and concentrate on finding a suitable hiding spot. Give it a try," Albert suggested, beginning to guide their thought process.
The twins exchanged a quick glance before complying with Albert's instructions. With determination etched on their faces, they focused on the wall.
Unfortunately, their efforts proved fruitless.
"It seems our attempts have been in vain," Albert murmured. "Perhaps this vanishing broom closet is nothing more than a mobile object within the castle, or... does it only appear when genuinely needed?"
Albert's words carried an enigmatic mix of truth and deception, obfuscating the truth and leaving others puzzled.
A fleeting hint of disappointment crossed Fred's eyes. Despite their repeated attempts, the enigmatic vanishing broom closet remained elusive. They had brought Albert along, hoping that his knack for problem-solving would reveal the secrets within.
In their opinion, Albert's analysis held a certain plausibility. Could there truly be a vanishing cabinet that roamed the halls of Hogwarts? Could it be a cabinet that manifested solely when its presence was desperately required? A vanishing broom closet that emerged at specific moments?
Fred and George, however, were not fixated on the matter. To them, it was a vanishing broom closet that could be a figment of their imagination — a mere curiosity to satisfy their unyielding curiosity. Yet unravelling the secrets behind this peculiar artefact seemed increasingly challenging.
"Perhaps your focus shouldn't be on the vanishing broom set itself," Albert suddenly interjected, piquing their interest. "A mobile vanishing broom closet doesn't strike me as a school secret that would be so straightforward."
George inquired, seeking clarification. "What do you mean?"
Albert reminded them of their previous conversation. "You mentioned it earlier. The door isn't the entrance to the vanishing broom closet; rather, the vanishing cabinet is concealed within the door."
"That's correct," Fred affirmed.
"In that case, what lies beyond that door might be a room — a mysterious room." Albert extended his hand towards the wall, his voice an audible whisper. "When you were seeking a hiding spot, the room provided you one — a sanctuary. So you could hide from Flich and Snape."
The twins' eyes widened with realisation. They couldn't help but ask, their curiosity piqued: "Are you suggesting that the room transforms based on the needs of the individual?"
Albert nodded, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. He couldn't resist adding a playful suggestion. "Perhaps, on a day when your bladders are on the verge of bursting, pay this place a visit. Who knows, you might find a lavatory or something of the sort?"
Lee Jordan erupted into laughter, clutching his belly. "I must admit, Albert's suggestion has its merits."
"The glorious task lies with you." Fred entrusted George with the mission.
George rolled his eyes in response, chiding, "Why not take it upon yourself?"
Their conversation was interrupted when Percy Weasley emerged from nowhere, his gaze fixed on Fred and George. "What are you doing here? I've heard rumours that Gryffindor students were found wandering the castle late at night, evading Filch's grasp."
"Oh, those fellows were impressive," Fred praised.
"Was it you?" Percy accused him, his tone laced with suspicion.
Upon hearing of Gryffindor students wandering the castle after hours, Percy's mind settled on Fred and George as the primary culprits.
"Percy, if you wish to accuse someone, you must present evidence. Be cautious not to slander others," George cautioned, drawing from Albert's teachings and invoking the importance of evidence.
"Evidence? I've heard that you skipped two herbology lessons on Tuesday." Percy's eyes narrowed, and his tone grew stern. "I don't care whether or not you were involved, but I suggest you not engage in any more foolish endeavours."
Albert cleared his throat softly, seizing everyone's attention. "I've heard that Filch possesses extensive knowledge of the castle's secret passages. No student can escape his watch while travelling the corridors at night."
Albert pointed out the glaring loophole. "Considering Fred and George's account of their nocturnal adventures, it is improbable that they eluded Filch. After all, they have only arrived at Hogwarts and remain unfamiliar with its layout."
The reasoning was sound, and even Percy had to acknowledge its validity.
"It's impossible for first-years to outwit Filch's searches. Only older students, who have spent several years at Hogwarts, might achieve such a feat," Albert said, shifting the suspicion onto the senior students.
Upon hearing Albert's analysis, Fred and George nodded in agreement, addressing Percy, "Refrain from casting aspersions on your own brothers."
Lee Jordan, barely suppressing a grin, stole a quick glance at Albert before averting his gaze. How could Albert speak such confident nonsense?
Yet, despite its absurdity, there was an uncanny element of reason woven into his words.
After all, we knew Fred and George for their penchant for mischief.
