Wilkes squi the speaker and sneered. "Well, well, Welen Higgs. A pure-blood wizard who thinks like a Muggle-loving fool. You want to report me? Let me remind you, my prefect status roved by Professor Snape himself. Going against me means going against Slytheriray your house, and you’ll face the sequences."

  "You don’t represent Slytherin! You’re nothing but remnants of You-Know-Who’s twisted ideology!" Welen shouted back. Before he could say more, Yaxley stepped forward and kicked Higgs doweps. As he tumbled, several younger pure-bloods crowded around him, kig and stomping on him until he cried out in pain.

  Yaxley sneered, standing gs. "Don’t you dare question us again. You’re nothing. And don’t even think about running to a professor—Slytherin business stays within Slytherin. Step out of line, and you’ll regret it."

  Vivian, shaking with anger, pushed through the crowd with Alex to reach Higgs. Together, they pulled him away from the jeering students.

  Yaxley didn’t bother stopping them. With a mog smirk, he dismissed the gathering. "We’re done here. Go back to your dorms."

  The crowd dispersed quickly. Some students snickered as they passed Higgs, while others, especially the frightened half-bloods, hurried back to their rooms.

  Vivia beside Higgs, brushing dust from his robes. "Senigs, are you okay?" she asked, her voice tight with .

  "Cough... I’m fine," Higgs replied, though his voice was strained. "These people are despicable. I ’t believe Vanessa handed trol over to these thugs after she graduated. No! I’m going to Head of House. If he doesn’t act, I’ll ght to the Headmaster!"

  Alex’s expression darkehis wasn’t part of the pn. He couldn’t allow Higgs to ruin the opportunity to act. Calmly, he pced a hand on Higgs’ shoulder. "It’s useless, Senior," Alex said. "Hogwarts has always been about house autonomy. Unless something truly catastrophic happens, the Headmaster won’t intervene. As for Head of House, do you really think Wilkes became prefect without his approval? Rep them will only put you in their crosshairs, and they’re itg to make an example of someone."

  Higgs hesitated, his anger momentarily giving way to doubt. "Then what are we supposed to do? We ’t let them destroy Slytherin like this. If this tinues, I ’t even imagine what will happen to the half-bloods... Alex, you’re Muggle-born. You’ll be their arget!"

  Alex smiled faintly. "There has to be resistance. But relying on professors won’t solve this. It’s up to us to ge things."

  "Resistance?" Viviaed, her brow furrowed. "You’re talking about fighting back, aren’t you?"

  Alex sneered, gng at the two before speaking. "I've been fed up with them fes. They’re still trying to fiscate your card set and shut down your poker club. Of course, I’ll back you up!" His tone was casual, but the fire in his eyes betrayed his resolve.

  Vivian blushed slightly, partly from anger and partly from the excitement in Alex’s words. Meanwhile, Higgs hesitated. Looking at the two in front of him, their pn seemed ht ridiculous—like ants plotting to topple an elephant. “It seems you’re still on the fence, senior. That’s fine. As long as you keep this a secret, you don’t have to join us,” Alex said calmly when Higgs didn’t immediately respond.

  The day, Higgs found himself struggling with his thoughts. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Higgs asked himself aloud. He was questioning his sanity for even sidering the young man’s bold pn.

  Alex, as if reading his mind, offered a fident smile. “Absolutely. I may not be good at everything, but when it es to a fight? That’s my specialty. Those guys? They’re nothing to me.”

  Higgs looked at Alex, searg his expression for any trace of doubt or fear, but there was none. Instead, all he saw was fidenyielding and almost reckless. “In that case,” Higgs said, his tone firm, “prove it to me. Show me you have the strength to back up your words. If you ’t, I’ll have no choice but to stop you. Your recklessness could endanger not just you, but Vivian too.”

  “As you wish,” Alex replied without hesitation. “Tomorrow afternoo me at Hagrid’s by the edge of the Forbidden Forest. You know the pce?”

  “I do. The gamekeeper lives there,” Higgs replied with a nod.

  “Good. Vivian, you e too.”

  “Alright, I’ll be there,” Vivian said, knowing full well Alex had been staying near Hagrid’s pce for some time. She often stopped by to keep him pany.

  “Then it’s settled,” Alex cluded. With that, the three parted ways, and Alex returo his dormitory.

  The afternoon, after finishing their csses, Higgs and Vivian made their way to Hagrid’s . To their surprise, someone had beatehere—Charles.

  Charles, a Gryffindor student, had made a habit of running to the every afternoon as part of his warm-up. As usual, he was stretg and preparing for his training wheiced Vivian and Higgs approag.

  “Alex, someone’s here for you!” Charles called toward the , reizing Higgs as a Slytherin senior and guessing they were here to meet Alex. Moments ter, the door creaked open, and Alex stepped out, greeting Higgs with a nod.

  “Alright, Alex,” Higgs began without preamble. “Like I said, if you wao trust you, you’ll o prove your strength. Show me you’re capable of going against them. Otherwise, I won’t just stand by a you charge into danger.”

  “Fair enough,” Alex replied smoothly. “Let’s have a duel. Sound good?”

  Higgs nodded, appreciating Alex’s straightforwardness. He moved to an open spot beside the , drawing his wand. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  Alex g Charles, atg curiously. “Actually, why don’t you duel him instead?”

  “What?” Both Higgs and Charles looked at Alex in disbelief.

  “You’re joking, right?” Higgs said, his voice tinged with skepticism. “I’m a fifth-year with straight A’s. You really expect a Gryffindor junior to duel me?”

  “Charles has been training with me for a year now,” Alex said matter-of-factly. “This is a good ce to test his progress.”

  Charles scratched his head, unsure. “You really think I do this?”

  “You’ll be fine. Just remember, only use the Disarming Charm,” Alex instructed.

  “What? Just the Disarming Charm? How am I supposed to defend myself?” Charles protested. “Shouldn’t I at least use a Shield Charm?”

  “You ’t cast the Shield Charm properly yet, and your Stunning Spell is shaky at best. Stick to the basics. You dodge or deflect spells with your wand, like we’ve practiced,” Alex said, his tone firm.

  “But—”

  “No buts! Just do it,” Alex snapped, frowning.

  Vivian chimed in with a smile. “You’ve got this, Charles. I believe in you!”

  Higgs, growing impatient, crossed his arms. “Are you do? If not, I’ll take both of you on at oop wasting my time.”

  With no way out, Charles took a deep breath and stepped forward, stopping about teers away from Higgs. He adjusted his stance, drawing his wand.

  “I’m ready,” he said firmly.