Bab 118: Love Affair
Alex's mind raced as he recalled an article he'd read in Transfiguration Today. There were only seven registered Animagi in the British wizarding world, and none of them turned into a beetle. "An unregistered Animagus, then?" he speculated, glancing at the house the woman had emerged from. The plaque by the door read Urquart.
He frowned, puzzling over the mystery. 'Was she a thief? A secret lover sneaking around?' Shaking his head, Alex decided it wasn't his business. He brushed off the encounter and continued to the Three Broomsticks.
Inside the cozy pub, Higgs and Vivian were already waiting for him, a frothy glass of butterbeer set at his usual spot. Alex joined them, letting the warmth of the room and the company melt away his lingering tension. As they chatted, Vivian excitedly recounted gossip from her Quidditch team and poker club. Alex found himself relaxing, enjoying the mundane yet comforting atmosphere.
The weekend passed peacefully, and Alex felt rejuvenated. However, on Monday morning, as he unfolded the latest issue of the Daily Prophet, he froze. The headline sent a chill down his spine, reminding him of the mysterious beetle Animagus he'd seen just days before.
The headline on the Daily Prophet caught Alex's eye: "The Secret Love Story of a Senior Law Enforcement Officer and Hogwarts' Transfiguration Professor!"
Alex stared at the article, processing the implications. "So, that house I passed the other day belongs to Professor McGonagall? And the illegal Animagus I saw was probably Rita Skeeter, sniffing out gossip to write this report. A reporter using Animagus transformation to dig up dirt—she's really something else."
The article revealed that Professor McGonagall had recently married Elphinstone Urquart, a retired senior official from the Ministry of Magic. Urquart had been her boss when she worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement years ago. Apparently, after years of persistence, Urquart finally won McGonagall's heart, and the two married the previous summer. To make it easier for McGonagall to commute, Urquart had bought a house in Hogsmeade, close to the school.
The Daily Prophet spared no effort in dramatizing the story. It painted Professor McGonagall as a regal but cold-hearted "queen" and Urquart as a devoted admirer who had pursued her for years. They even criticized McGonagall's decision to keep her maiden name, claiming it was a sign of her "unyielding pride."
"Rita Skeeter really has no fear, does she?" Alex muttered with a smirk. "She's lucky McGonagall doesn't hex her into oblivion for this. Though, I bet Skeeter's more worried about being exposed as an illegal Animagus."
Despite his accidental discovery of Skeeter's secret, Alex decided to keep it to himself for now. Having that kind of leverage might come in handy one day. The scandal became the talk of Hogwarts. Students whispered about it in corridors and common rooms, but no one dared mention it within earshot of McGonagall, whose thunderous mood that week was enough to deter even the boldest pranksters.
While the rest of the school buzzed with gossip, Alex had more pressing matters on his mind. In his cabin at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Alex sat at his desk, his notes scattered around him. He was deep in thought, scribbling ideas and crossing out failed ones. "Measuring magical reserves isn't as simple as I thought," he muttered, flipping through his notes. "Output doesn't directly correlate with overall reserves, so where do I even start?"
Over the past weeks, Alex had been experimenting with a new alchemical device he'd created to measure magic output. His tests showed that each wizard could produce different amounts of magic per second, depending on their physical condition and training. However, he hadn't been able to link this to their total magical reserves.
"Magic output depends on physiology and training, not the reserve itself," he concluded with frustration. "I need a fresh perspective—someone more experienced than me."
After a moment's thought, Alex pulled out a sheet of parchment and began drafting letters to several scholars in the field of spell research. Since publishing his paper on the Echo Spell, Alex had built connections with a number of experts, including Pandora Lovegood, a well-known charms scholar and wife of The Quibbler's editor.
"Mrs. Lovegood might have some ideas," Alex mused, carefully outlining his theories and the challenges he was facing. "She's brilliant with unconventional approaches." As he finished writing, Alex turned to his owl, who was perched nearby. "Alright, time for you to earn your extra snacks. These letters need to go out today," Alex said, holding up the stack of envelopes.
His owl, known for being temperamental, hooted disdainfully and refused to budge. "Don't be lazy. I'll throw in a double portion of treats when you get back," Alex bargained. Reluctantly, the owl extended its claws, allowing Alex to secure the letters.
Just as Alex was about to send it off, a knock sounded at the cabin door. He opened it to find Charles and Higgs standing there, looking eager. Alex raised an eyebrow at the pair. "What's going on? Your training is self-directed now. I didn't think you needed me to check in anymore."
Charles and Higgs exchanged glances before Higgs spoke up. "We've been training for months now, and we think it's time for a proper duel. We want to see how far we've come."
Alex folded his arms, studying their determined faces. He could see the fire in their eyes and the subtle tension in their postures. Clearly, this wasn't just a friendly spar—they were itching to prove something.
"Alright," Alex said after a moment. "Let's see what you've got."
The two young wizards lit up at his agreement. Higgs, who was two years ahead of Charles, had been nursing his pride since losing to him in their last duel. He was determined to reclaim his honor. Charles, on the other hand, was brimming with confidence, eager to prove that his previous victory wasn't a fluke.
The three stepped out of the hut and headed to the open area nearby. Vivian, Bill, and David were already there, lounging by stools they'd set up with candy and drinks, clearly ready to enjoy the spectacle.
Alex sighed, shooting them an exasperated look. "You three shouldn't be treating this like a show. Pay attention—this is a good chance to observe. Once your training progresses, I'll be pairing you up for practice duels too."
"Yeah, yeah," the trio replied dismissively, though their eyes sparkled with excitement. Bill even pulled out a large lollipop and began chomping on it noisily.
Alex rolled his eyes, muttering a silent vow to ramp up their training later. Turning his attention to Charles and Higgs, who stood ready in the dueling area, he gave his instructions.
"There are no restrictions for this duel," Alex announced. "But be careful. Now, salute!"
The two competitors nodded and drew their wands, exchanging the traditional dueling salute with a touch of seriousness. Their postures shifted slightly, reflecting their mutual respect—they both clearly saw the other as an equal.
"Silencio!"
"Impedimenta!"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone