Alex leaned in close to Wilkes, his sneer sharp and cutting. “Sorry, but I don’t take orders from pdogs. You should focus on your own business. Life be tough for a dog without a master—be careful you don’t end up like your uncle.”

  Wilkes’s face twisted with fury, his fists g as his fake friendliness melted away, leaving only raw anger. Just then, Srode into the on room, his dark gaze sweeping over the tense se. It was as if he appeared out of thin air, his voice slig through the air like a whip. “What’s going on here?”

  Travers and Wilkes exged worried looks, their faces tight with tension. They silently cursed their luck, knowing that if Snape decided to report them, they’d be in serious trouble.

  “It’s nothing, Professor,” Alex said, his voice calm and ced with a sly grin. “We were just catg up. Wilkes mentioned he misses his uncle and wants to spend more time with him.”

  “His uncle?” Snape’s eyes narrowed as he shifted his gaze to Wilkes, recalling that Wilkes’s uncle had passed away st year. The insinuation in Alex’s words was clear, and Snape raised an eyebrow.

  “Is that true, Wilkes?” Snape asked sharply.

  Internally cursing Alex’s venomous jab, Wilkes forced a stiff smile. If Alex was implying he missed his u was a veiled suggestion that Wilkes should join him ih. Still, Wilkes mao mutter, “Yes… that’s right, Professor. We were just… catg up.”

  Sudied Wilkes for a long moment before turning his gaze to Alex. “Follow me.”

  “Of course, Professor,” Alex replied smoothly. He cast a mog smirk at the others before following S of the on room.

  Snape led Alex to his offi the dungeon, where the dim light and damp air added to its eerie, oppressive feel. Onside, Snape spun around, his eyes sharp and cold. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? Stirring up trouble, pushing boundaries. Does it make you feel powerful? Satisfied? Or is it all just a game to you?”

  “Trouble?” Alex shot back, crossing his arms. “I don’t think standing up for myself ts as stirring up trouble. Those guys were the ones who started it. I’m not going to bow my head just because they feel like throwing their weight around.” He paused, then added with a pointed look, “Besides, you’re the one who insisted I stay in Slytherin. I wasn’t having any problems outside of it.”

  Snape’s expression tightened. “Are you bming me for this?”

  “Not at all, Professor,” Alex replied smoothly. “Actually, I think it’s been… enlightening. It’s shown me what real power looks like.” His smirk was both defiant and amused.

  Snape’s voice dropped lower, more serious. “As Head of Slytherin, it’s my job to warn you—don’t bring unnecessary trouble to this house.”

  “Uood,” Alex replied, his tone calm but ced with challenge. “But if you’re saying I shouldn’t cause trouble, does that mean I ’t defend myself when someone else starts it?”

  Snape’s lips twitched with irritation, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he ged the subject abruptly. “I recall seeing you in Knockturn Alley st summer.”

  Alex’s smirk faltered slightly. “Yeah, that was you, wasn’t it? You nearly killed me.”

  Snape’s expression didn’t waver. “But you’re still alive, aren’t you?” His eyes flicked to the pendant around Alex’s neck. “At the time, you had a prote charm. Not something I’d expect you to have created.”

  Alex pulled out the pendant, holding it up for So see. “This? My aunt Augusta and Lily made it for me before I started at Hogwarts. I’ve kept it ever since.”

  For a moment, Snape’s harsh demeanor softened as he examihe charm, his fingers brushing over it. Alex shifted unfortably. “It’s from Lily,” he said, his voice quieter. “If you’re so ied, maybe you could make one yourself.”

  Sraightened, his expression ice more. “I don’t take what belongs to others,” he said curtly, though his gaze lingered on the charm before he finally stepped back.

  “You’re not fitting in with Slytherin very well,” Snape remarked, his tone unusually measured, as though he was genuinely ed.

  “I handle myself, Professor,” Alex replied, his voice steady. He wasn’t sure what to make of Snape’s sudden shift in tone, but he had no iion of letting his guard down.

  “Very well,” Snape said after a long pause. “You may go. I’ll have a word with Wilkes. Just make sure not t trouble to my doorstep.”

  Alex nodded and turo leave. As he stepped out, he could feel Snape’s intense gaze lingering on his back. Ohe door shut, Snape sank into his chair, his face tightening. Alone in his office, a siear slipped down his cheek as he whispered Lily’s name.

  Ba the on room, Alex endured a stant barrage of sneers and whispered insults from the pure-bloods. Under Snape’s watchful eye, they avoided ht frontation, but Alex could feel their eyes on him, waiting for a moment of weakness.

  The Potter family’s funeral was a stark trast to the quiet hostility of the Slytherin on room. Uhe smaller, somber ceremonies for the Prewett brothers and Marlene Mon, the Potters’ funeral was massive—a spectacle more than a farewell. The Ministry had even issioned a statue of James, Lily, and Harry fodric’s Hollow, hidden from Muggle eyes by entments.

  But beh the surface, Alex could feel the hypocrisy. The crowd wasn’t there to mourters—they were there to celebrate Voldemort’s fall. Their polished smiles and relieved ughter masked their insiy, leaving genuine grief buried.

  As Dumbledore delivered a moving eulogy, Alex stepped forward, weaving through the sea of flowers to y a single hyath oters’ grave. The flower symbolized sorrow a—a fitting farewell. Without a word, he guided Hagrid away from the spectacle, the giant a quiet moment of fort.

  Back at Hogwarts, Alex buried himself in his studies, trying to keep the haunting memories at bay. Yet, the shadows of the past loomed rge, refusing to let go.