THE ALCHEMIST OF HARRY POTTER

The Gryffindor common room was packed with students that afternoon, the warm glow of the fireplace casting flickering shadows on the red and gold tapestry-lined walls.

The plush armchairs and well-worn sofas were occupied by chattering students, some playing Wizard's Chess, others flipping through spellbooks or laughing over a copy of *The Daily Prophet*.

The common room's seating was limited, and with the influx of eager first-years and returning students, the space was overcrowded and noisy.

Albert, uninterested in staying amid the commotion, made his way to the bulletin board, pinning up the first-year class schedule next to the list of Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts and notices about Hogsmeade visits.

He also added some photos he had taken with his camera before retreating from the lively atmosphere. Deciding against lingering in the dormitory, he headed straight for the Hogwarts Library on the fifth floor.

The library was nearly deserted, its high-arched windows letting in streams of golden light that reflected off the towering shelves of books. Even the notoriously studious Ravenclaws had yet to arrive—most students wouldn't be caught in the library before classes had officially begun.

Madam Irma Pince, the ever-vigilant librarian, sat alone behind the counter, her sharp eyes scanning the pages of a thick tome bound in deep emerald leather. She looked up in mild surprise when Albert approached.

"Madam, excuse me. I'm looking for some books on spells. Do you know which shelf they are on?" Albert inquired softly, knowing full well that asking would be quicker than searching blindly through the labyrinth of shelves.

Pince narrowed her eyes slightly before pointing a thin, bony finger toward a row of wooden bookshelves. "Section C, fifth shelf," she said curtly before returning to her reading.

Albert followed her direction, his eyes lingering briefly on the rope cordoning off the Restricted Section. He pushed forward, scanning the spines of numerous books until his fingers hovered over one in particular. As soon as his touch grazed the spine, an unexpected message flashed before his eyes.

**Reading Enthusiast.**

As a devoted reader, how can you miss the largest magical library in Britain?

**Task: Read 100 books of at least one-inch thickness.**

**Reward: Master three spells at Level 3.**

**Progress: 0/100.**

Another message followed immediately after.

**Forbidden Knowledge.**

Hogwarts' Restricted Section holds many secrets. As a seeker of magic, how can you resist? Borrowing even a few books could significantly enhance your abilities.

**Task: Persuade five professors to permit you to borrow five Restricted Section books.**

**Reward: Increase one skill level.**

**Progress: 0/5.**

Albert exhaled slowly. Both missions were formidable. Reading a hundred books—each the size of *Magical Drafts and Potions*—would take years. And persuading five professors? That was nearly impossible. The easiest target might be Gilderoy Lockhart, but the challenge remained immense.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Albert selected *Selected Curses of the Eighteenth Century* from the shelf and flipped to the table of contents. The book detailed thirty-three spells, each meticulously chronicling its inventor, proper wand movements, and the historical significance of its creation.

Skimming the list, Albert frowned. The spell he sought—the Disillusionment Charm—was absent.

He replaced the book and grabbed another: *Achievements in Charming.* This one, thankfully, included the spell. However, it lacked practical instructions, merely outlining various attempts to perfect the magic over centuries.

Undeterred, Albert found a reference leading him to *Selected Curses of the Nineteenth Century* and wasted no time pulling it from the shelf. He settled at a wooden table, flipping pages eagerly.

The invention of the Disillusionment Charm was inspired by chameleons. It allowed a wizard to blend into their surroundings, rendering them nearly invisible. However, the spell wasn't flawless—observers with keen eyes could still detect an odd shimmer where the spell was cast.

As Albert absorbed this knowledge, someone pulled out a chair opposite him. Looking up, he recognized the Ravenclaw girl he had met in the Great Hall that morning. She nodded at him before immersing herself in a thick volume.

"Ravenclaw. Figures," Albert murmured, smirking slightly before returning to his reading. Mastering the spell required focus, but an essential component was knowing how to reverse it. The book failed to detail this information, but Albert found a reference to the counter-spell in *Achievements in Charming.*

Grabbing *Selected Curses of the Nineteenth Century*, he walked back to Madam Pince to check out the book. He then stepped outside, picking up a small stone near the castle entrance to use as his practice target. Testing the spell on himself without proper mastery would be foolish.

Just as Albert debated where to conduct his practice, the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan burst into the corridor, panting heavily.

"Where did you go at noon?" Albert asked, eyeing their flushed faces.

"Fifth floor—mirror passage," George huffed, still catching his breath.

"Where does that lead?" Albert asked, intrigued.

"Outside the castle—to Hogsmeade!" Fred exclaimed, grinning. "First day at Hogwarts, and we've already found a secret passage out!"

Albert raised an eyebrow. "So… you spent the afternoon in Hogsmeade?"

"Nope. That passage is long—we walked for at least an hour," Fred admitted.

Albert blinked. "An hour? You walked an entire hour through a secret tunnel?"

Fred nodded, beaming with pride.

Albert exhaled. "Impressive. But personally, I prefer reading in comfort over trekking through musty tunnels."

He held up his newly borrowed book. "Speaking of which, I found the spell."

Fred's eyes gleamed with understanding. "The Disillusionment Charm?"

"That's the one. Though," Albert added, "it's not easy to master. If you want to learn it, be ready for some serious practice."