When Alex had to choose electives for his third year, he picked A Runes and Care of Magical Creatures. His prior study of runes practically guaranteed him good grades, and thanks to his time spent with Hagrid, he’d learned a lot about magical creatures. He figured this knowledge might help with his alchemy studies.

  For safety reasons, and with approval from Professonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore, Alex decided to stay at Hogwarts during the summer. He settled in a small he Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was thrilled, and Alex was just as excited to have uninterrupted time to focus on his research.

  “I’m not heading back with you this year, Charles. Make sure to stick to the training pn—your progress has been gging tely,” Alex said as he said goodbye to his friend.

  Vivian smiled warmly in support, while Charles winced, clearly less thrilled about Alex’s interaining regimen. After waving them off, Alex returo the castle, unaware that he was being watched from a distance.

  “Damn it, the kid’s staying at the school. Now what?” Wilkes grumbled, gring out of the window of a nearby carriage.

  “It’s your fault for being so obvious. He’s probably onto us by now,” Yaxley sneered, rubbing the few whiskers on his . “You should’ve been more subtle. It was only supposed to be a warning.”

  “And what if he keeps dodging us year?” Travers muttered darkly.

  “Don’t worry about that. Bones is gone, and Vanessa’s graduated. year, I’ll be in charge of Slytherin, and I’ll make sure that Mudblood knows his pce,” Yaxley said with a cruel grin.

  Wilkes smirked. “Yeah. The nerve of that Mudblood, standing up to us.”

  “I swear, if I see those eyes of his again, I’ll gouge them out,” Travers hissed, his voice full of venom as he recalled an unpleasant memory.

  “Keep your head on straight. No killing—not in school, anyway. The sequences would be too big,” Yaxley warned sharply.

  “Holy, I don’t even know why they let filthy Mudbloods in here. Dumbledore must be out of his mind,” Travers added with a scowl.

  In the er, Rozier stayed quiet, listening to the others. A part of him wished they’d get rid of Alex; it would free him from the boy’s influence. But another part of him worried—if Alex exposed him for providing help, the fallout could be disastrous.

  “Have any of you heard anything from your families? What’s the test on that Potter boy or the Dark Lord?” Yaxley asked, shifting the topic.

  “Not much,” Travers replied. “But my uncle’s sure the Dark Lord isn’t dead. He’s vinced he’ll e back.”

  Yaxley eyed Travers, whose family had a reputation for blind loyalty to Voldemort, then turo Rozier. “What about your family?”

  Rozier hesitated, his voice shaking slightly. “I—I don’t know. My father’s irely vihe Dark Lord will return.”

  Yaxley scowled and rolled up his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark on his forearm. The bck skull with a twisting serpent seemed to writhe faintly, sending ripples of unease, admiration, aement through the group.

  “As long as this mark remains, so does he,” Yaxley said firmly. “Remember, betrayal starts with doubt. vince your father. We all share the same goal—proteg the purity of our bloodline.”

  Rozier nodded nervously as Yaxley’s intense gaze lingered on him. “I uand. Actually, Yaxley, I might have an idea for you.”

  Rozier’s stomach twisted with ay as Yaxley’s earlier ent about betrayal repyed in his mind. But he leaned closer, f a smirk, and whispered something into Yaxley’s ear.

  Yaxley’s eyebrows furrowed as he listehen lifted slightly, a flicker of approval crossing his face. Across from them, Travers sighed. “Sihe Dark Lord vanished, everything’s gone downhill. That Millit woman is watg us like a hawk, and the Lestranges are a mess. They’ve even been arrested. I heard they were pnning to go after Professor Bohis summer, but it’s a shame she got away.”

  “The glory of pure-blood wizards will never fade,” Yaxley said fidently. “Those who dare to challenge us, like that Mudblood, will pay the price. I’ve already e up with a clever pn for year.”

  He gestured for the group to gather closer and began outlining his scheme.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Alex had returo his in the Forbidden Forest, stig to a strict daily routine. He spent his days practig spells, researg alchemy, tending to a small vegetable garden, cooking meals frid, and writiers to friends.

  Charles worked hard on his training with Alex’s guidance from afar, while Vivian traveled with her parents. Alex also kept in regur tact with Professor Bones, who had resigned, exging ideas on alchemy and spell theory.

  At the Longbottom home, Augusta kept the family together with her usual steely resolve. She had hoped Alex would visit, especially after they’d spent a summer together before. But Alex deed, worried that his presence might put her in danger. He promised to visit when things calmed down.

  The Weasleys also stayed in touch. Molly had grown fond of Alex after his help the previous year. With her son Bill set to start Hogwarts soon, she asked Alex to look after him. She assumed Bill would end up in Gryffindor, and Charles was expected to watch over him too.

  Alex smirked at the thought. Should he include Bill in his training regimen? After w with Charles, he realized his intense program could be other young wizards who were still growing and developing their magic.

  The summer flew by, and soon it was time for the new school year. On the evening before term started, Hagrid prepared to head to the train station to wele the first-years. Outside the , Alex stepped out in his Hogwarts robes.

  He wore polished leather boots with simple bck trousers tucked into them, a silver belt buckle engraved with an ouroboros, and a leather bag at his waist filled with potions. His high-colred bck shirt was fastened with a tie in house colors, and over it, he wore a silver-and-bck waistcoat bearing the school crest and a silver snake-shaped brooch. His shoulder-length bck hair was ly bed back, and a bronze moh a thin silver rested below his sharp brows. On his hand, he wore a smooth silver ring with faint engravings.

  “I’m off to fetch the udents. Make your way to the Great Hall,” Hagrid said, lifting his ntern.

  “Got it,” Alex replied, adjusting his monocle.

  He made his way along the familiar paths through the castle’s quiet corridors until he reached the Great Hall. Floating dles illumihe room in a warm glow as Alex took a seat, waiting for the S Ceremony to begin.