"After all these years, Luke has come to terms with it," Luke said softly. "Because I had no magical ability whatsoever—what they call a Squib—my family sent me away when I was eleven, to be raised by an ordinary, distant relative."
"How could they do that?" Herb asked, bewildered and angry. He felt his father's family had gone much too far.
"To a wizarding family, a Squib is a disgrace," Luke said quietly. "They hide the secret as much as they can, and even pretend that person never existed."
"Don't be sad, don't be sad," Nia comforted him.
"After all these years, I've let it go and completely cut ties with that side of the family," Luke said, picking Nia up and setting her on his knee with a smile. "Still, Albert becoming a wizard came as a bit of a surprise to me. When Herb didn't receive an invitation letter back then, I had already given up all hope."
During the chat, Albert demonstrated more new spells for them, such as the Wand-Lighting Charm, the Mending Charm, the Cleaning Charm, and the Alohomora Charm. These were the four spells he had mastered so far, which he really owed to his Wizard Bloodline reaching Level 2.
Though he was far from proficient, it was still quite startling to watch a cracked teacup slowly repair itself, or a puddle of spilled tea on the table wipe itself away without warning.
"I want to do it too," Nia said, acting spoiled as she looked at her grandfather and muttered, "I want to learn magic too. Albert is so sly."
Luke looked at his grandson, asking for his opinion. He knew Albert had a mind of his own and wouldn't make decisions lightly on certain matters.
"You can only do exactly as I say," Albert said, looking down at his younger sister. In truth, he was quite curious to see if Nia had any magical talent.
"I will, I promise," Nia nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.
"You agreed too quickly, so never mind. You weren't listening to me at all," Albert stared earnestly at his sister.
"No I wasn't! I was listening carefully," Nia hastily protested.
"Repeat after me: Lumos."
"Lumos," Nia hurried to echo, knowing this was the incantation.
"Say it slowly a few times, and don't get it wrong. Otherwise, nobody knows what might happen," Albert instructed. "I'll lend you my wand in a moment, but don't go poking things with it at random, don't point it at people, don't babble spells, and if you can't produce any magic, you are not allowed to throw a tantrum."
"Got it," Nia said, sounding a bit impatient.
"What did I just say?" Albert suddenly asked.
"Don't poke things with the wand at random, don't..." Nia forgot the rest, pouting as she complained, "I'm not you! How am I supposed to remember all that stuff?"
"If you can't remember, I can't give you the wand," Albert said seriously.
"But... fine, say it again," Nia compromised.
Seeing how thoroughly Albert had Nia wrapped around his finger, the Anderson family couldn't help laughing. Kids would be kids—they always loved acting mischievous, and Nia was no exception.
However, Albert had his own ways of dealing with her mischief.
Only after Nia memorized every word did Albert finally hand her his wand.
Nia took the wand excitedly, and only straightened up and behaved after receiving a glare from Albert, obediently chanting the incantation to try the Wand-Lighting Charm. However, the spell did not work.
"Take a deep breath, concentrate, and try again," Albert said softly, placing a hand on Nia's shoulder.
The Wand-Lighting Charm was one of the simplest spells; if she couldn't manage it, it most likely meant Nia lacked the talent to become a witch.
"Lumos." Nia tried a few more times, but not a single attempt succeeded.
"You're rushing. Don't rush—the more anxious you are, the easier it is to fail." Albert stroked his sister's hair, then turned his head to look at his grandfather.
Luke shook his head at him, and Albert knew all too well what that meant.
"Do I not have the talent to be a witch?" Nia asked with a long face, looking devastated.
"I don't know," Albert comforted her. "Perhaps it's simply because you're still young."
"Hate you! Albert always loves to trick people. I definitely don't have what it takes to be a witch." Nia tossed the wand aside and ran off.
With a helpless expression, Albert picked up the wand, stared in the direction Nia had fled, and prepared to go after her.
Kids were such a pain.
"I'll go find Nia," Luke said, standing up and walking toward his granddaughter's direction. He understood her mood right now.
Chapter 9: An Unprovoked Disaster
Who knew how Luke managed to soothe Nia and pull his sulking granddaughter out of her foul mood.
Over the next few days, Herb and Daisy went back to work, while Albert and Nia continued staying on Charles Street for the summer holiday.
Albert shared the contents of History of Magic and other books with the two old folks, performed the spells he had mastered right in front of them, and even spent a few Galleons ordering a set of Wizard's Chess from Wintringham's, studying how to play with Nick.
At first, Nia had been startled by the Wizard's Chess, but she quickly grew fond of the game.
Of course, the end result was that no one would play chess with Albert anymore, because his skill level had clearly surpassed everyone else's.
Wizard's Chess was essentially the same as Muggle chess, except that the pieces were alive. You usually had to command the pieces with verbal orders, making it feel more like leading an army in battle.
If you tried to pick them up with your hand, the pieces would stab your fingers with their weapons.
Of course, ordinary people could use them too, but they couldn't command them very well. The pieces seemed to possess self-awareness, constantly chattering and complaining with remarks like, "Do you even know how to play chess? Don't send me there, send the pawn instead—sacrificing it doesn't matter," and so on.
Albert's learning progress was extremely fast. During this period, he even completed the "Luke's Regret" quest, earning 1500 experience points.
His experience pool had built back up to thirty thousand. Though the pool looked large, it was actually exhausted in no time at all.
The higher the skill level, the harder it was to improve that skill; in the later stages, one could only rely on burning the experience pool or skill points to level up.
"Albert, are you sure this leaf is going to float?" Nia kept staring at the leaf, but it showed no reaction at all.
"I think the hand movement was wrong." Albert felt a minor pang of frustration. When casting spells, wrist motion was equally important; sometimes a single mistaken gesture or a botched incantation could cause the magic to fail, which was a common blunder for beginners.
With no one to teach him, he could only fumble his way through slowly on his own, or use experience from his experience pool to push the skill straight to Level 1 and master it instantly.
Albert would always choose the former, only considering the latter when a skill proved truly impossible to grasp. As for the Levitation Charm, he wasn't too bothered—mastering this kind of spell wasn't all that difficult to learn.
"Turns out magic really isn't that easy to learn." Nia felt a measure of respect for Albert's patience, though she certainly didn't have that much patience to spare on it.
"Of course. It's just like learning mathematics—you have to take it step by step," Albert said offhandedly as he pushed his sister on the swing, offering words of comfort. "Don't give up until the very end."
"Ugh, more of these comforting clichés. I'm sick of hearing them." Nia curled her lips, though she was still quite happy.
Actually, Nia suspected she might genuinely lack the talent to be a witch; after talking with her grandfather last time, she didn't care nearly as much about it anymore.
When the park was mostly empty, Albert tried the Levitation Charm one more time. This time, he succeeded. The moment he finished chanting *Wingardium Leviosa*, the leaf successfully drifted up into mid-air.
At that moment, Albert sensed someone watching this side. He put away his wand, followed his instincts, and fixed his gaze on the person looking over—a boy a little older than himself.
"Something the matter?" Albert raised an eyebrow and asked the boy. Albert wasn't afraid of trouble in the least; his karate had reached Level 2, meaning he could knock down an ordinary person even without using a wand.
Albert had learned karate when he was eight years old to deal with rowdy kids who liked to cause trouble. In particular, after he made three kids cry at school last time, everyone in the school knew that Albert Anderson knew karate, and that he was very good at it.
Because of this, Daisy had been called to school by a teacher and given a lecture, but she stood firmly by Albert's side and even called her husband over on the spot.
Exercising their full talents as lawyers, the husband and wife argued everyone into speechless silence.
What else could be done? All three boys were older than Albert—if you couldn't even beat him in a fight, you had the nerve to run crying to the teacher?
In the end, the matter was dropped without further ado.
It was also around that time that Albert truly accepted this family.
"You're a Hogwarts first-year, right? Don't try magic in a place like this—someone will see. Ordinary people are terrified of magical power." The boy looked at the leaf floating in mid-air with a face full of astonishment, never expecting that he'd run into an incoming first-year student who could actually make a leaf float.
"Thanks, I'll be careful." Sensing the boy bore no malice, Albert thanked him and prepared to leave with his sister.
"I'm Gabriel—Gabriel Truman, a student in Hufflepuff House. I live around here." Gabriel Truman offered a friendly handshake to Albert. "You're a first-year, right? I hope you end up in Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff?" Albert feigned confusion.
"Oh, right, you probably don't know about the four houses and the Sorting Ceremony yet." Truman was about to say more when he saw an owl flying toward them, dropping a letter right at his feet.
"How is there an owl here at this hour?" Truman asked, bewildered as he picked up the letter. The moment he opened it in front of Albert, his expression froze and his face turned ghastly.
Nia also sensed the change in atmosphere and quickly hid behind Albert's back.
"What's wrong?" Albert felt something was amiss and asked tentatively.
"I've been expelled! Why would this happen? Why?" Truman's face was a mask of confusion and rage, looking on the verge of madness. He couldn't comprehend why the Ministry of Magic would send a letter stating he was expelled for performing a Levitation Charm in front of a Muggle.
"Ah—it was you! It must have been you!" The moment Truman caught sight of Albert, everything clicked into place. He lunged like a madman toward the first-year, only to suddenly feel the world spin around him as he was effortlessly brought down by a kid younger than himself.
The next instant, Truman felt a sharp pain in his wrist and let out a shriek.
"Calm down. Things aren't as bad as you think." Albert had already guessed the reason from Truman's words: this poor dope had just gotten himself expelled by the school.
"I didn't use a Levitation Charm at all!" Truman bellowed furiously. "I didn't even bring my wand!"
"I know. It was me who used the spell," Albert calmly reminded him. "Perhaps we should write a letter to the school to explain the situation. I'll testify for you if necessary. Don't worry, they won't expel you over nothing. We'd better write right now—one letter each—to explain the current situation to the Headmaster. Do you have an owl?"
"No." Truman felt thoroughly depressed, realizing he was far less composed than this kid.
"Brother, it's Shera." Nia pointed at the owl flying toward them.
"Looks like Shera knew we needed her. Owls really are miraculous creatures," Albert couldn't help remarking.
Chapter 10: My Family Does This Professionally
Gabriel Truman didn't have any better options, so he accepted Albert's proposal. Being expelled from Hogwarts was an outcome he simply could not accept no matter what.
After finishing the letter, Truman watched the owl fly away, then turned to Albert and asked, "Will this really be enough?"
"The school's probably given quite a start by this too. I imagine they won't expel a student casually; at least they'll figure out what actually happened," Albert comforted him. Only then did the freckle-faced boy calm down a bit—or rather, he had been infected by Albert's composure.
"Can I take a look at that letter?" Albert asked.
"Oh, here, take it. Talk about an unprovoked disaster," Truman said with a bitter laugh. "I was given an official warning by the Ministry of Magic during the summer after my first year because I used magic in front of my family."
Handing the letter to Albert, he explained, "Hogwarts students aren't allowed to use magic outside of school."
"Then why didn't Albert get a warning after using magic?" Nia asked, deeply puzzled.
"Most likely because he hasn't started school yet," Truman admitted, not entirely sure himself.
"It must be some kind of loophole." Albert began reading the contents on the parchment:
*Dear Mr. Truman: We have received intelligence that at 10:40 a.m. today, in a Muggle-inhabited area, you performed a Levitation Charm in the presence of a Muggle.*
Reading this, Albert experienced a rather complex wave of emotions. He knew who the "Muggle" mentioned here was. Taking a deep breath to steady his complex feelings, he continued reading:
*This act constitutes a severe violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. Consequently, you have been expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.*
*Representatives from the Ministry will arrive at your residence shortly to destroy your wand.*
*In view of your previous formal warning for violating Clause 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that you must attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 10:00 a.m. on August 17th.*
*Yours faithfully, Mafalda Hopkirk, Misuse of Magic Office, Ministry of Magic.*
"My advice is, once this matter is settled, you should file a claim against the Ministry for emotional distress." Everyone in Albert's family was a lawyer, so he had picked up a thing or two about how to exploit legal loopholes.
Truman was left staring blankly, barely processing what had just happened before the kid coolly suggested he sue the Ministry for emotional distress?
"I'll bet you anything the Ministry has some way of monitoring this area, but they couldn't figure out who actually cast the spell," Albert continued. "My sister and I only came here for the summer a few days ago. Because you happened to cross paths with us, the Ministry jumped to the conclusion that you cast the Levitation Charm and prepared to expel you. In reality, this is a gross negligence on their part. Furthermore, this letter gave you the fright of your life, didn't it? You nearly lost your head just now. They absolutely owe you compensation for emotional damages."
"That's right, that's right! Demanding compensation for emotional distress is completely reasonable," Nia chimed in.
"My family are all lawyers, so I know about these things better than you do," Albert continued egging him on. "Somebody is definitely going to show up soon—or at least someone will write back. First off, we clear your name completely. Then, we file a complaint against the Ministry's blunder, demanding compensation for the trauma they caused you. Hit them for 100 Galleons."
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Truman was startled by Albert's exorbitant demand.
"That's how bargaining works," Albert said without missing a beat. "At the very least, 50 Galleons isn't excessive. If it's any lower than that, reject it—otherwise they'll just think they can brush off a kid. Adults are all like that; they think children are easy to dismiss."
"If the Ministry refuses to pay, I can write a letter for you and have the *Daily Prophet* leak this anonymously. I'm sure they'll be willing to pay you 50 Galleons to keep quiet. Of course, you'll have to give me half the money you get as my writing fee." Albert's words made Truman think this kid was simply too ador... no, terrifyingly capable.
***
At Hogwarts, in the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore had just received notification from the Ministry stating that Gabriel Truman had been expelled by the Ministry for using a Levitation Charm in front of a Muggle.
This was hardly good news. Truman had a record; during the summer after his first year, he had already received a warning from the Ministry for using magic in front of his family.
Just as Dumbledore was preparing to head to the Ministry to verify the situation, an owl arrived bearing a letter that left him exceptionally surprised.
The letter stated that Truman had nothing to do with the incident; he had merely run into an incoming first-year student practicing the Levitation Charm in a park, and the "Muggle" in question was actually the boy's younger sister.
This didn't sound like a lie, because enclosed within was another letter bearing the name of its author: Albert Anderson.
In his letter, Albert expressed regret for the unprovoked trouble he had caused Truman and stated that he would gladly testify on his behalf if necessary.
Dumbledore searched his memory for the name. Indeed, he was an incoming first-year student from a Muggle family.
Dumbledore couldn't help letting out a breath of relief. He felt that this explanation likely reflected the truth of the matter. Expelling a student was certainly not an outcome he, as Headmaster, wished to see.
Dumbledore immediately set off for the Ministry, discussing the letter and the situation with personnel from the Misuse of Magic Office. The affair had not reached a point requiring a formal hearing; if it was merely an accident, the Ministry risked becoming a laughingstock.
After all, both Dumbledore and the people at the Ministry were well aware of the flaws inherent in the Trace.
Things played out much as Albert had guessed. Ministry representatives were dispatched, and Dumbledore came along as well, the old man watching with a gentle smile as the two children conversed in the park.
"It appears this was merely a misunderstanding," Dumbledore said with a smile to the Ministry employee beside him.
"I take it you must be Headmaster Dumbledore," Albert said, sizing up Dumbledore and offering a handshake. "You look just like your Chocolate Frog card."
"Mr. Anderson?" Dumbledore looked Albert up and down with an amused smile. "We received your letter, my boy. Might I borrow your wand for a moment?"
"Oh, of course, no problem." Knowing what Dumbledore intended to do, Albert handed over his wand anyway.
True to form, the Headmaster cast a diagnostic spell to check the magic performed with the wand over the past few days.
He stared at Albert with a hint of surprise, astonished that this boy had managed to master five spells in the span of just a few days.
"Truman was just correcting my posture for the Levitation Charm. I only just mastered it," Albert explained.
"And where is your wand?" the Ministry wizard asked, turning to Truman.
"I didn't bring it. It's at home. If you need to inspect it, you can come back with me to get it," Truman answered boldly, having nothing to fear from an inspection.
"It would seem this is indeed a misunderstanding, Nottage," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Yes, I suppose so," Nottage nodded. "I'll need to rewrite my report."
Chapter 11: Stirring Up Trouble
"Sir?" Truman took a deep breath and raised his voice. "Is that it? You're just leaving?"
"Is there something else?" Nottage asked, looking back at Truman in bewilderment.
"Does that mean I'm in the clear?"