Chapter 673 On the importance of thick skin
In the early morning, the weather was sunny, the breeze gently fluttered the curtains, and the sunlight penetrated into the room through the gaps, shining on the face of the sleeping girl. For a moment, Isobel opened her eyes in a daze, raised her hands to block the dazzling sunlight, turned her head and looked at the big boy who was still sleeping beside her, blinked her eyes, secretly stretched out her hands, and gently pulled Ai Burt's sleeping face.
Even though she is not yet an adult, her style is extremely mature. That is to say, when she falls into a deep sleep, her innocent and cute sleeping face makes the girl feel that she is older than the other person.
It has obviously been several years since the confession, to the confirmation of the relationship between boyfriend and girlfriend, and then the two started dating and falling in love, and now they have even begun to talk about marriage. However, Albert was still underage, and it was incredible to think about it. What was even more absurd was that he had actually agreed to the other party's proposal.
Albert moved slightly and slowly opened his eyes.
The eyes of the two people met at close range.
Isobel was startled and backed away in a panic. She sat on the bed and looked at the boy who had just sat up.
"Good morning!"
Albert rubbed his eyes, stretched lazily, turned to look at Isobel next to him, and said gently: "If you are not satisfied yet, even in the morning I will..."
Before he could finish his words, a pillow hit his face, making him shut up.
"It's time to get up. I overslept today and it's all your fault." Isobel got off the bed and started to pick up the clothes that were thrown away last night. Then she took out a beige dress from the suitcase and covered Albert with it. on his head, obviously dissatisfied with the guy who kept staring at him.
“I’ve seen them all.”
Albert curled his lips, reached for his clothes, and after Isobel put on her nightgown and took the change of clothes to the bathroom, he also got up from the bed and started to put on clothes.
When they woke up in the morning, it was already very late, and the Lemays left breakfast for the two of them: fried eggs, milk, croissants, and a cup of fragrant black tea.
"You can take advantage of today to go shopping. There are many charming places in France. Don't miss it since you are here." Mrs. Perenal said with a smile: "Besides, it is easy to get tired when you stay at home and study."
When leaving Flamel's house, Isobel's cheeks were slightly red, she glared at Albert, and whispered: "They noticed!"
"They had guessed it when we lived in the same room." Albert looked at his slightly annoyed girlfriend and felt that the other party was still not thick-skinned enough. Maybe it was because he was in someone else's home, but it should be done in his own home. Let it go.
I really don’t know how the enthusiastic French people can just find a place at will.
Is it more exciting to do that?
“You have tried so hard to take advantage of me.” Isobel found depressingly that she had accidentally fallen into Albert’s trap.
“What do you think of me like this?”
"The French are more enthusiastic than you think, and they won't care." Albert comforted softly.
"I'm not as thick-skinned as you." Isobel reached out and pulled Albert's cheek angrily, as if intending to see how thick-skinned he was.
"If you are not thick-skinned, how can you pick up a beautiful girl?" Albert was not annoyed, and smiled and reassured, "Okay, don't be angry, it's rare for us to go to a foreign wizard village, so we should walk around. Came on vacation.”
It’s just that at the end of the day, I felt a bit lacking in confidence.
During this period, Albert has been focusing on studying and has no time to take Isobel around.
"I thought you had forgotten that we are actually here for vacation?" Isobel was also a little depressed. This period of time was more tiring than at school.
“Well, it’s my fault.”
As he spoke, Albert took out a small bag of French magic currency from his pocket, put it on Isobel's palm, and said with a smile: "I will go shopping with you today, and I will go to the Wizarding Street in France to buy some things. , it’s a celebration that we won the grand prize.”
“You are generous and don’t treat money as money.”
Isobel couldn't help rolling her eyes, stuffing the money bag back into Albert's pocket, and asked, "Didn't you say that the money can't be converted into magic world currency? Where did you get the money? Over there given?"
“Of course I earned it myself. My Uncle Charlie in the Muggle world took my plan and opened a milk tea shop, and he will give me a share every year. Although it’s not much, the money is enough.”
Albert took some pounds to exchange for galleons. Wizards still need Muggle currency after all, but goblins usually don't need much foreign exchange, so this thing is enough.
As for the bag of French gold coins in his pocket, it was actually the prize he received from winning the International Wizard Chess Championship a while ago.
“Okay, you’re great.”
The two held hands and walked along the streets of Nikolai Village.
This place is different from Hogsmeade. The village is very clean and the streets are paved with bricks. They are not as narrow as the previous streets. The only problem is that there are no shops here, most of them are residents, there is only a magic grocery store and a tavern.
Oh, by the way, there is also the former residence of Mr. and Mrs. Flamel.
There are some stone carvings and clay tablets, some ancient experimental equipment, parchment, notes or some old books in the old residence.
In short, it looks a bit like a museum.
The stall at the door is selling various peripherals related to the magic stone, and even the formula for the elixir of life has been worked out.
The middle-aged uncle saw that the two of them looked unfamiliar, so he secretly told them in a low voice that the Nico couple lived in seclusion in Nikola Village.
As for where he lives, no one knows.
Albert wanted to laugh a little when he heard this. He knew that this was the other party's routine.
“That man is just full of lies.” Isobel couldn’t help but say after walking a hundred meters.
"I know, there is no shortage of guys like this anywhere." Albert didn't care, he had seen this kind of thing many times in his previous life.
After visiting Nicolas Village, the two passed through the fireplace near the square and headed to Paris's Rue de la Sorcerer.
It’s more suitable for dating or shopping there.
Albert came to France and had to buy some souvenirs for his family.
Wizards Street in Paris is similar to Diagon Alley in London, but it is cleaner and tidier than Diagon Alley. The streets are very spacious and paved with bricks. The shops on both sides not only have signs hanging outside, but also some sundries are placed outside. , as if telling customers what kind of store this is.
“It’s so lively here!”
Isobel looked at the surrounding shops curiously.
The nearest store to them is a shop selling crucibles, and further away there is a bookstore, which seems to be holding a book signing event.
It’s probably halfway through the summer vacation, and most students come to Wizard Street for shopping.
The two of them just looked outside the bookstore without queuing up. The person doing the signing was a handsome wizard, which reminded him of Lockhart who was still being treated at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Maladies.
Isobel was not interested in this and took Albert to go shopping in a clothing store, so they went directly to Tuofan Clothing Store. There was already a customer in the store, a pair of young sisters.
Beautiful girls with Veela blood always impress people.
"Long time no see, Miss Delacour?" Albert greeted the other party politely.
“Oh, hello.” Fleur said stiffly, her eyes swept over Albert, and she looked at the red-haired woman next to him again, raising her eyebrows slightly.
This woman is more beautiful than last time.
“Hello, Mr. Champion.” Gabrielle remembered who this person was and greeted Albert shyly.
“I prefer you to call me brother.”
Albert took out the candy he bought not long ago from his pocket, squatted down and corrected, "I'm still very young, and it's weird to be called sir."
“Okay, Mr. Champion.” Gabrielle said, taking the candy with a smile.
"champion?"
The store manager Abel looked at Albert up and down after hearing this. He couldn't remember who this person was for a moment, but he just felt that he looked familiar.
"We should go, Gabrielle." Fleur said and nodded towards Albert, then took her sister's hand and prepared to leave.
“Sister, can I go to cousin Louise’s shop?” Gabrielle begged.
“Oh, of course, we can go and cheer her up, otherwise Louise will be too pitiful.”
“What kind of champion are you?” the store manager asked curiously.
“That was just a joke.” Albert changed the topic and asked, “Can you bring that hat over and show me?”
"Oh, okay." The store manager was immediately diverted and took a hat that looked like a beret from the shelf.
“I think this hat matches you very well, and it looks good with a skirt.” Albert smiled and put the hat on Isobel’s head, nodding with satisfaction.
Isobel raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn’t have the habit of wearing a hat.
However, she probably guessed that Albert wanted to buy a hat as a gift for his sister, so she helped pick out the hat.
“I think girls will prefer this style. It suits Nia very well. And you forgot to buy it for yourself.” Isobel picked out a men’s hat for Albert.
Finally, when they left the Tuofan clothing store, Albert took three packages, Nia's hat, Isobel's skirt, and a slightly larger dress robe.
“Why did you buy the dress?” Isobel asked in confusion.
"It will come in handy in the sixth grade." Albert sighed and said regretfully, "Unfortunately, you will have graduated by then, and I will have to find another dance partner by then."
“Are you afraid that you won’t be able to find a dance partner?” Isobel said angrily.
“By the way, you can pretend to be Katrina and sneak into the school to attend the Christmas dance. Anyway, you sisters look alike, so no one will recognize her.”
“Did you predict something again?” Isobel asked with raised eyebrows.
“Well, a very lively Christmas ball.”
With that said, the two of them turned into a cold drink shop and found that the boss here was actually an acquaintance.
“Louise, I really didn’t expect to meet you here.” Albert looked at Miss Veela in front of him in surprise.
“No, I opened this store.” Louise asked with a smile, “What do you want?”
“Two strawberry ice creams.” Albert looked at Isobel and said to Louise, “Why do you want to open a cold drink shop?”
"I didn't think about what to do for the time being, so I just found something for myself." Louise brought two large cups of strawberry ice cream in front of the two of them, then stood next to Albert and said, "How come you came to France?" You didn’t tell me that I could be your tour guide for a few days.”
“No, thank you.” Isobel said calmly, “We are here to see Albert’s teacher and invite him to be our witness.”
“Witnesses?” Louise asked dumbfounded, “You are getting married. Isn’t that right? I remember that Albert is not yet an adult?”
“No, we are just getting engaged first.” Isobel took a bite of ice cream and explained calmly, “We have to wait until we get married.”
"By the way, do you have a newspaper here?" Albert quickly changed the subject. He felt like he might be killed if he continued talking.
“Congratulations.” Louise said tentatively.
“Thank you.” Albert said as he took the newspaper.
Louise walked away angrily. She didn't believe it. Neither of them wore rings on their hands. Isobel was obviously lying.
Isobel looked up at Louise who was walking away, then at Albert who was flipping through the newspaper, and said softly, "You are so popular."
"You know, I actually don't want to either." Albert changed the topic again, "Look here."
In a certain section of the newspaper, Albert saw members of the International Confederation of Wizards criticizing Fudge for not informing the Muggle Prime Minister about Black's escape.
“Blake has escaped from prison.” Albert handed the newspaper to Isobel.
"So, your prediction has come true again?" Isobel raised an eyebrow and said, "No one has ever escaped from Azkaban Prison. It is not a good thing to have such a precedent."
“Don’t worry, it’s not a big problem.” Albert comforted softly.
“You seem to have predicted a lot of things?” Isobel held Albert’s face with both hands and rubbed it vigorously, “It’s always mysterious.”
"Blake's target should be Potter?" Albert scooped up a scoop of ice cream and stretched it out in front of Isobel, "Whenever weird things happen, they have something to do with Harry Potter, things that are incomprehensible. Just put it on Potter."
…” Isobel.
“Oh, it’s you indeed.”
A voice suddenly sounded from outside.
The two of them turned their heads and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw Hutok walking this way.
"Mr. Hutok, why are you here?" Albert looked at the acquaintance sitting opposite them with some surprise.
"I came to France for some business. When I was passing by, I thought it looked familiar, so I came in to take a look." Hutok suddenly said, "By the way, do you want to join the Association of Extraordinary Pharmacists?"
“Isn’t it true that ungraduated wizards cannot join?” Albert asked doubtfully.
"This used to be true, but the conditions for membership were changed a while ago. As long as you are invited by an association member and pass the entrance examination, you can become a member of the Extraordinary Pharmacist Association." Hetok said with a smile, "Okay, come with me. Bar!"
The two looked at each other, and after saying hello to Louise, they followed Hutok to the Extraordinary Apothecary Association.
(End of this chapter)