Through the noise, he mao pick up fragments of versation.

  "Tomorrow night… Charles… hahaha… make him look like a fool..."

  The voices were quiet, and there were other sounds muffling the versation, but Alex uood enough.

  After listening for a few more minutes, Alex celed the spell. The strain had already made him dizzy, but he had heard enough to piece things together. There were about five or six people inside. One of the voices beloo Travers, a familiar face, though Alex couldn’t identify the others. From what he gathered, they were plotting something—likely against Charles or someone from Gryffindor.

  'Are they pnning to start trouble at Hogwarts? With the headmaster out of the school so often, maybe they think it’s a good time to stir things up.'

  He didn’t have the power to intervene directly in inter-house feuds, but since Charles was his friend, he decided he would warn him.

  With that thought, Alex hurried on to the Great Hall.

  When he arrived, dinner had already begu down at the Slytherin table and sed the room. He noticed that several key members of the pure-blood families weren’t present, whily firmed his suspis. Gng over at the Gryffindor table, Alex saw Charles ughing with his friends.

  After a short while, Alex noticed some of the missing Slytheriurn to the hall, sitting down to eat as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Charles and his friends were finishing their meals and preparing to leave. Seizing the opportunity, Alex quickly packed his things ahe hall ahead of them, positioning himself he exit.

  As expected, Charles and his group soon came out.

  "Charles!" Alex called quietly.

  When Charles saw him, he waved goodbye to his friends and walked over to Alex.

  “What’s up, Alex? Why all the hush?” Charles asked, clearly puzzled as Alex pulled him into a er.

  “I o ask—do you have any pns for tomorrow night?” Alex whispered, watg Charles closely.

  Charles hesitated, then replied, “Yeah, actually. It’s one of our prefect’s birthdays, so we’re pnning an adveo the Astronomy Tower. Why?”

  Alex’s suspis were firmed. Travers and his group were likely pnning to cause trouble for the Gryffindors during their celebration.

  “Listen,” Alex said urgently. “I overheard something—there might be trouble tomorrow night. I’d advise you to cel your pns or at least warn your friends to be careful.”

  Charles stared at Alex, trying to process what he was hearing. He trusted Alex enough to take him seriously but wasn’t sure how to react.

  “Are you sure?”

  Alex nodded. “Don’t tell anyone you heard it from me, but just be careful.”

  With that, Alex turned a before Charles could ask any more questions. He had done what he could. Whether Charles listened or not to him. After all, this was Hogwarts; Alex doubted anyone would actually be in life-threatening danger. If Gryffindot themselves into trouble, they’d have to deal with the sequences.

  Charles stood in the hallway for a moment, thinking hard about what Alex had said. He trusted Alex enough to know he wouldn’t lie about something like this. With that in mind, he walked off to resider the day’s pns.

  Meanwhile, Alex headed back to his dorm room, not b himself with the brewing inter-house flicts. After his st css of the day, a dull History of Magic lesso down with the test issue of The Daily Prophet to catch up oside world.

  "It seems like the new Minister, Millit Bagnold, is taking a strong stance," Alex murmured to himself as he read the front page. The Minister had made a public speech, vowing to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. More troversially, he had granted Aurors permission to use Unfivable Curses oh Eaters.

  'Looks like things are getting serious.'

  Hogwarts might be peaceful for now, but the world outside was ging rapidly. The ongoing flict between the Ministry of Magid the Death Eaters was bound to escate—Alex could se.

  After closing The Daily Prophet, he leaned ba his chair, thinking. 'But for now, those troubles don’t me. Without enough strength, all I do is watch from the sidelines.'

  After a few moments, Alex put the neer aside, ready to dive bato his spell research. But first, there was something else he o take care of—replying to Lily and Sirius. He had received their letters days ago but had been too absorbed in his spell practice to respond.

  He started with Sirius' letter, unfolding it with a sigh as he braced himself for whatever teasing remarks awaited him.

  “Hahaha, Alex, mate, I 't believe you got sorted into Slytherin! Bad luck, if you ask me. If I remember right, you're Muggle-born, and those pure-blood Slytherin types will want to eat you alive. Ba my day, I pyed all sorts of tricks on those Slytherin jerks. You better watch out—they might hit you with a curse when you're not looking and leave you naked in front of the girls' bathroom!

  If you want my advice, show them you’re not someoo mess with. Slytherins respect strength. Stand yround, and they’ll back off. As for the professors, well, Flitwick is too busy being a bookworm to keep an eye on you all the time. Slughorn's a det bloke, but he doesn't really get involved much. Magall might help if you're in serious trouble, but be prepared for a lot of detentions if you go to her.

  Oh, by the way, I’m Harry’s godfather now! You have to meet him—he’s the cutest little baby you’ll ever see.

  Lily and I were talking, and we'd love to have you over after Christmas. I show you a few tricks to keep those Slytherins in line!

  Take care of yourself, mate. The Death Eaters are getting nastier, and they've been targeting Muggles. Stay safe.

  Your faithful friend, Sirius Bck.”

  After finishing the letter, Alex couldn’t help but chuckle. Sirius had the same brash attitude in his letters as he did in person. Though most of the advice boiled down to pig fights, it did remind Alex how different his situation was in Slytherin.

  He grabbed a piece of part and started writing his reply:

  "Sirius, you’re as reckless as ever. I’m not pnning to run headfirst into fights with half the school just to prove a point, but I’ll stand my ground if anyone gives me trouble. By the way, Slytherin isn’t so bad—there are a few det people here, though making friends isly easy.

  About Christmas, I’d love to visit a Harry. Just let me know what you want as a present, and I’ll bring it along.

  Take care, and try not to get yourself hexed, Alex."