Although the two had said so, Robert didn't dare let them recklessly run into danger.
"Look, the location marked on this map is deep in the Forbidden Forest. We've all been to the outskirts, so that's fine," Robert said, noticing that the twins didn't object. "But if we go deeper, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle any unexpected situations."
"It'll be fine, Robert. The other party has marked the route for us. As long as we follow it, we won't encounter any danger," Fred said confidently.
Robert felt compelled to share some inside information. "Then I must tell you, there are spiders in the Forbidden Forest—very large spiders—and Mandrakes."
The twins exchanged glances. "Only Ron is afraid of spiders. As for Mandrakes, what are those?"
Robert shook his head. "I think once you see those spiders, you'll realize it's not just Ron who's scared of them. After all, they're XXXX-level magical creatures, and most importantly, they live in colonies."
"What?!" the twins exclaimed in shock. "How is that possible? Why would the Forbidden Forest have such things?"
Robert facepalmed. "You don't think Hagrid's titles of Keeper of Keys and Grounds Keeper are just for show, do you? He lives next to the Forbidden Forest to prevent young wizards from getting into trouble there."
The twins felt a chill run down their spines, their confidence suddenly dampened.
"I think it's best if we wait until next spring to go in," Robert suggested. "Magical creatures don't hibernate, and the heavy snow in winter isn't very friendly to wizards. Getting lost would be even worse."
"So you agree to come with us?!" the twins exclaimed excitedly. "If Robert's with us, there's no problem! You're the best wizard in our year!"
Robert rolled his eyes. "It's just scouting the area. Besides, being the best in our year isn't something to be proud of—we're still rookies!"
Moreover, we don't have any protagonist plot armor. One wrong move, and we're done for. The dangers of the wizarding world are no joke.
Robert silently thought about this, already compiling a mental list of essentials for forest exploration.
---
The next day, in a classroom at Hogwarts.
"I never thought we'd be doing broomstick training indoors," Cedric said, staring blankly at the scene before him. The classroom was filled with mud, and since it wasn't a regular classroom, there were no desks.
Wait, no. Cedric looked down at the ground beneath his feet, suspecting that the mud was actually the remains of the desks.
"Alright, Ced, stop spacing out," Robert said enthusiastically. "We'll start with the simplest exercises."
"The simplest?" Cedric asked, confused. Then he saw a metal ball.
Robert struggled to lift the heavy ball and tapped it with his wand. The ball slowly rose into the air, hovering in place.
"What's this for?" Cedric asked.
"Well, simply put, it's to help your eyes adjust to the speed of the Golden Snitch," Robert explained, pulling out a baseball next. He tapped it with his wand, and it too floated into the air.
"We'll start with larger balls. Your task is to catch this baseball," Robert said. "And I'll use this metal ball to interfere. Be careful—getting hit by it is no joke."
"This seems way too easy!" Cedric laughed. "Our usual training is much harder than this."
Robert shrugged. "Don't be so sure, Ced. How about a bet? If you catch the baseball, I'll help you pursue that Ravenclaw girl. She's quite charming, isn't she? You should make your move first."
Cedric blushed and stammered, "N-no, that's not necessary…"
"If you fail, we'll make things harder for you!" Robert said with an evil grin, resembling the twins. "We'll make sure you don't get her! Trust me, I understand girls better than you do."
Cedric gave Robert a puzzled look, but seeing his confidence, he quickly backed down.
"Please don't!" Cedric pleaded. "I'm very serious about Cho!"
"Wow!" Robert said, surprised. "That's admirable. But that's all the more reason you need our help, like creating opportunities for you two to be alone. You know, hormones can make young wizards do things you'd never expect—like public confessions of love."
Cedric's ears twitched, as if he was considering it.
"But don't you dare try that," Robert warned.
Cedric was confused. "Why not? I remember my mother saying she agreed to marry my father because he proposed to her in front of everyone, holding a bouquet of flowers, surrounded by friends' applause and blessings. She said it was the most romantic moment of her life."
Robert's eyes widened. "Good heavens, Ced, are you joking?"
"What?" Cedric was baffled, unsure what he'd said wrong.
"That was your father's way of pursuing your mother—how many years ago was that?" Robert said incredulously. "That method is so outdated, and you're still using it?"
"Is it… really that outdated?" Cedric scratched his head. "I don't think so."
Robert rolled his eyes. "Trust me, if it weren't for your good looks, you'd get punched every time you tried that."
Cedric shrank back, looking terrified.
"Think about it! If the confession succeeds, great. But if it fails…" Robert said, and Cedric imagined the social humiliation, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"It would be so awkward," Robert said bluntly. "Besides, how do you know the girl didn't just not reject you to spare your feelings in public?"
"Huh? Huh?" Cedric was dumbfounded. If she didn't reject him, didn't that mean she accepted? And isn't rejection just a simple matter of saying no?
"Not rejecting just means the girl is kind-hearted and didn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone. A more assertive girl would've thrown you against the wall without a second thought," Robert said, looking at Cedric with disdain. "Here's some advice: if you want to confess to Cho Chang, find a quiet, scenic spot."
Cedric seemed overwhelmed by the information, muttering, "Why?"
"Girls are emotional creatures. If they see a beautiful view, their mood improves. And when they're in a good mood…" Robert said matter-of-factly, "they might just agree to your confession on a whim."
(End of Chapter)