The Alexander Chronicles Year 3:The Mystery Of The Prisoner Black .
Chapter 2: Shopping in Diagon Ally
…
Alex´s point of view.
Harry had told Alex, that it had taken him days to get used to his new freedom, it was simple things like; the fact he could get up when he liked or eat whatever he fancied. Things that Alex always had taken for granted.
After they had eaten breakfast, Alex and Harry would usually go outside and play football, hang out in the library or play grounded Quidditch, with a small ball that Alex´s grandfather had enchanted to act like a Snitch. Sometimes they went swimming in the lake in the house garden or in the swimming pool.
When Alex`s grandfather was at the house, he would teach the boys some duelling skills, and some pretty cool new spells. At the duelling training, Alex and Harry discovered that they were pretty evenly matched.
"So how come they never teach those spells at Hogwarts?" Harry asked after one of Alex´s grandfather lessons.
"Well" Fredric began, "It is mostly pure-blood agenda. You see many pure-blood families, wants Hogwarts to teach limited stuff. That way they can teach the other stuff to their own children themselves giving them the advantages."
"What? How can Dumbledore let this happen?" Harry said.
"Calm down Harry," Alex began, "Dumbledore has changed much. Some of these spells would we have learned in our last year if we had a competent teacher in defence. Some of them we will lean later. It only a small part of them they don´t teach."
"Alex is right; the biggest problem with Hogwarts is the poorly History lessons and the lack of wizard etiquette. That is was makes the difference and sadly keep many muggle-borns from influence after their schoollife."
"So it people like Malfoy´s fault we have Binns as a teacher?" Harry asked causing Fredric to nod.
"Yes, but that is enough teaching for today boys. You should enjoy your summer."
As Alex´s grandfather, left Alex and Harry looked at each other.
"So tree climbing?" Alex asked.
"Oh you are so on." Harry said then smiled, "Race you?"
"If you want to lose." Alex as with a smile and the two boys ran, enjoying their summer.
…
As so the days passed, Alex thought it was great having a friend living with him. Things were just more fun that way. One morning, during the middle of the summer, Alex and Harry were eating breakfast along with Cyrina when two owls flew in and dropped some letters in the boys´ laps.
"It is our Hogwarts letter." Alex said as he opened his.
Besides the usual information, the term´s start date and so on; there was also the new supply list.
Third year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 3) by Miranda Goshawk
Intermediate Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
The Defense against Dark Creatures by Quentin Trimble
The Rune Dictionary by Laurenzoo
Ancient Runes Made Easy by Laurenzoo
Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky
The Monster Book of Monsters, by Edwardus Lima
The Ways of Healing by Phyllida Spore
"Sounds like some interesting books" Alex said as he handed his mother the list.
"Well" Cyrina said, "Do you boys fancy a trip to Diagon Ally?"
Both Alex and nodded eagerly, "Can we go today?" They said in unison.
…
Some hours later Alex and Harry stepped into Diagon Ally.
"This place never stops to amaze me," Harry said looking around.
"Yeah it is great, but hey you managed the floo travel pretty well this time."
"You get it wrong one time, and you never stop hearing about." Harry said in mock offence.
"Nope, never."
"Boys!" Cyrina said getting their attention; "Let's go the Gringotts first okay, then we can do the fun stuff."
The walk over to the wizard bank were done quickly, since both boys wanted to go look at the shops or rather one shop in particular afterwards.
"Yes?" Said the goblin at the counter as they approved.
"Yes, we are to make a withdrawal for the Ambrosius vault," Cyrina said as she handed her key over. Then she look at Harry, "and from Mr. Potter´s vault as well". As on a que Harry produced his key from his pocket and handed the key over.
"Very well Nagnok will take you there." The goblin said, as another goblin, who Alex assumed to be Nagnok approached.
"Follow me", Nagnok said and began walking towards the vaults, with the two wizards and the witch following.
They went to the Ambrosius vault first, as they drove further and further down in the cart, Harry asked, "Just how far down can we get?"
"The Ambrosius is one of the more secure vault due to the family's status, so we have to far down." Cyrina answered.
"Weren't you this far down when you cheeked the Potter vault out Harry?" Alex asked.
"Wait what? Potter vault what do you mean? My vault is higher up in vault 687."
"Harry that should only have been Lily and James´ personal vault, your still have the family vault. You can acres when you are seventeen." Cyrina explained, as they walked out of the cart and over to Alex´s family vault.
"No, I think you are wrong Mrs Bonteri, I have never heard anything about any other vaults."
"Excuse me Mr. Potter, you do have your family vault here at Gringotts," Nagnok said. "It as Mrs. Bonteri said you will gain access when you are of age, but when you are sixteen you should be called in for a meeting. However the Potter vault should be as big as the Ambrosius vault. "
Harry nodded, as they entered the vault, Alex noticed that his friend´s mouth dropped as he saw the massive amount of gold coins, "Wow that is a lot of gold", he breathed out.
"We get by Harry, this is our main vault, and then there are our personal vaults and the Emrys vault. " Cyrina explained.
"That is so wow."
"Yeah told you I had enough money." Alex said looking at ground as he placed some coins in his bag.
After they had gotten money for Alex´s school supplies, they went to Harry´s vault to get his moneys. As they exited the vault chamber, Harry still looked a bit shocked that he had a second vault. Alex felt a bit guilty for not having told him. He had honestly assumed he already knew.
After they had gotten some potion supplies, quills and parchment, the next stop was madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions. Alex couldn´t help feeling a bit nostalgic about this place, since it was here he had met Harry for the first time.
Flashback
As Alex walked in to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions he saw that there already were two boys in there: a short raven haired boy with green eyes and blonde haired who Alex recognised as Draco Malfoy. Alex sighed as he didn´t really wanted to deal with his whole ´am pure blood and therefore I am better stuff´.
"Hogwarts too dear" Alex nodded at Madam Malkin "okay just wait over there"
Alex went over to Draco and the other boy, who were talking. Alex sat on stool between them.
"Ah Bontrari" said Draco, as he saw Alex.
Alex looked at Draco "Malfoy"
Malfoy turned his attention back at the raven haired boy, who had green eyes, "as I was saying, they shouldn't let the other in. They are just not the same; they have not been brought up. I mean some of them haven´t even heard of Hogwarts before they get the letter. What your surname by the way?"
Malfoy never got his answer, because one of the witches came and told him he was done. Which were good, because Alex had already gotten sick of hearing Malfoy´s propaganda and the green-eyed boy seamed glad that he didn´t need to answer. With a bored face, Draco jumped down "Well see you two at Hogwarts."
Alex smiled at the boy "Sorry about him, he can really be a git sometimes or really every time actually."
"Yeah he sounded like a snob, actually reminded me of my cousin."
"Uh sorry to hear that, I am Alexander by the way, but please call me Alex, Alexander is reserved for parents and when I am in trouble."
The raven-haired boy laughed "Oh I am Harry."
"Well nice to meet you Harry" said Alex as he offend his hand to Harry. Harry grinned and accepted and they shocked hands "Nice to meet you too Alex."
Flashback end
Alex hadn´t know that Harry was Harry Potter back then, not that he cared anyway. The had talked together the whole time they had waited for their robes, and Alex had thought back then that the boy would be a good friend.
This time at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, the robe shopping this went fairly quickly; about twenty minutes time the boys were measured, and they walked out of the shop, with their new robes.
On the way to the bookshop Flourish & Blotts, they passed Harry´s favourite shop; Quality Quidditch Supplies. There was a large crowd gathered around the shop that was talking loudly about something that was displayed.
"Could we stop here for a minute?" Harry asked in a hopeful voice.
Cyrina nodded "okay I wait at Flourish & Blotts." The two boys squeezed in among the excited witches and wizards until they two glimpsed a newly erected podium, on which was mounted the most magnificent broom they had ever seen in their lives.
"Just come out — prototype —" a square-jawed wizard was telling his companion.
"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?" squeaked a boy around nine years old, who was swinging off his father's arm.
"Irish International Side's just put in an order for seven of these beauties!" the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. "And they're favourites for the World Cup!"
A large witch in front of Harry and Alex moved, and they was able to read the sign next to the broom:
** THE FIREBOLT **
THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART RACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM-LINED, SUPERFINE HANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND-NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM. PRICE ON REQUEST.
"Price on request?" Alex said. "Wow this it must cost a fortune."
"Eh, I don't like to think how much gold this Firebolt would cost, but I doubt the price would scare me away from that." Harry told Alex.
"Yeah but you are rich remember," Alex murmured, not that he cared. First off he was as rich as Harry was, and he didn't need that broom, in order to be cool.
"Yeah, and I have never wanted anything so badly," Harry replied.
"Come on Harry," Alex told his friend, "You have never lost a Quidditch match with your current broom. So tell me why use a big bunch of gold on a new broom, when you have a working one already. Beside you are smart enough to know it the player not the broom."
"Yeah, you're right; it was a really smart answer." Harry said, and the two began to leave the crowd, as Alex smiled to himself.
After the two boys had finished looking at Quidditch stuff , they headed to Flourish & Blotts. Harry and Alex was surprised as they looked in the window. Instead of the usual display of gold-embossed spellbooks the size of paving slabs. There was a large iron cage behind the glass that held about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.
"What that is The Monster Book of Monsters?" Alex said and looked at Harry, who nodded, "Well that is just fantastic", he mumbled.
"Alex? Harry? over here" said a voice from behind; Alex turned around and saw his friend Daphne Greengrass, she had grown a bit since Alex saw her last, but she still made his heart beat a little faster. Daphne was standing next to her mother Agatha Greengrass who was talking to Alex´s mother. Alex gave her a small smile and waved at her.
"Hey Daphne." He said as he walked up to her with Harry in tow. "Mrs Greengrass, mother there you were!"
"Yes, as you see I met up with an old friend, and as it turns out Daphne hasn´t bought her books either." Cyrina said indicating at Daphne. "You know what would be cute?" Cyrina asked Agatha, "If my son and your daughter started dating."
"Mum!" Alex cried as he felt himself blushing madly, as Harry snickered.
"That would be cute," Agatha, said, "they would look very cute together, just imagine those two holding hands." The two women laughed as Daphne blushed too.
"We just go get our books," Daphne said as the three teens left towards the bookstore.
"Sorry about my mum Daph. She can be a little strange sometimes." Alex said, still with a red face while rubbing the back of his neck.
"It´s okay, my mum is the same."
Meanwhile Harry looked at the ground awkwardly, "So did you guys had a good summer." Daphne asked, Alex nodded, "how about you Po- uh Harry?"
Harry looked up, "Yeah it was pretty great, especially since I got over to Alex."
"Cool."
"What about you Daph?" Alex asked, as they entered the shop."
"A bit boring at first, but I spent some time with Tracey that was nice."
Before they could talk further, the manager of the store came, "let me guess you need The Monster Book of Monsters? Right step aside", he said as drew on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobby walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage.
"Hang on," said Harry quickly. "I've already got one of those," he told the Manager.
"Have you?" A look of enormous relief spread over the manager's face. "Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten five times already this morning —"
"Oh sorry I still need one." Alex said.
"Me too." Daphne added.
The Manager sighed, then got Alex and Daphne´s Book of Monsters out without being bitten, and then handed them their books.
"How do you read it?" Daphne asked.
"You just stoke the spine of the book." The manger paused, "So can I help you three with anything else?"
A loud ripping noise rent the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and were pulling it apart.
"Stop it! Stop it!" cried the manager, poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart. "I'm never stocking them again, never! It has been bedlam! I thought we had seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility — cost a fortune, and we never found them… Well was there anything else?"
"Yes," said Harry, looking down his booklist, "Alex and I need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."
"Ah, starting Divination, are you?" said the manager, stripping off his gloves and leading Harry, Alex, and Daphne into the back of the shop, where there was a corner devoted to fortune-telling. A small table was stacked with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul.
"Here you are," said the manager, who had climbed a set of steps to take down a thick, black-bound book. "Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune-telling methods — palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails."
As Harry didn´t respond, Alex looked at his friend who happened to be staring at another book. Alex looked at the book as well. It was Death Omens — What to Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming. It showed a black dog large as a bear, with gleaming eyes on the cover of the book.
"Oh, I wouldn't read that if I were you," said the manager lightly, as he too noticed Harry´s stare "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. It's enough to frighten anyone to death."
However, Harry continued to stare at it, which made Alex wonder about his friend.
The manager pressed Unfogging the Future into Harry's hands.
"Anything else?" he said."
"Oh yes sorry," Harry finally said, "oh I oh we all I guess need Intermediate Transfiguration, The Defense against Dark Creatures and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three." Both Alex and Daphne nodded at this.
"And you two?" the manger asked looking at Alex and Daphne.
"Yes I need." The Rune dictionary, Ancient Runes Made Easy, and The Ways of Healing"
"I need the same expert Basis Wand Theory and Numerology and Grammatica instead of The Ways of Healing"
Ten minutes later the trio emerged from the bookshop, while they had been shopping Cyrina and Agatha had agreed to eat lunch together.
As they were eating, Alex noticed Harry was being very absent, barley eating anything.
"Hey are you okay?"
"What oh well it is just that oh", Harry hesitated, "it was the omen on the book. It was strange."
"It was the Grim, but how is that strange. I mean it a good way of selling books." Daphne said.
"No it is not that. Look uh when I oh ran away I saw a big black dog, it looked a lot like the dog on the book." Harry explained making both Alex and Daphne to look at him. "Daphne you said it was called the Grim. What does it mean?"
Daphne looked nervous, "it is said to be an omen of death. If you believe those things."
Harry paled, "D-death?"
"Well yes, but listen for what it worth I think it is a bunch of nonsense." Daphne stated.
"I agree with Daphne Harry, don´t go to much up in death signs, what you saw was probably only a stray dog."
Harry nodded, "Yeah it must have been."
...
The rest of the summer days passed to quickly for Alex´s likening. Spending the time it Harry had been fun, they had spent their remaining time having fun and trying some of the new spells, not that that many where new to Alex´s has he had studied some of the family´s books earlier.
On the second last day before the summer, Harry had received a letter from Ron that asked if they wanted to meet up in Diagon Ally the following day and maybe eat dinner together. Alex didn´t have problem with this, he had thought about given Ron a second chance, and if he invited who was he to judge. Luckily, Cyrina agreed and Alex´s grandfather wanted to come as well.
So the next they flooed back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"So have you seen them anywhere?" Alex asked his friend as they all had stepped out of the fireplace.
Before Harry could answer a voice that from the sound of it belonged to Ron Weasley, "Hey Alex, and Harry."
Alex and Harry raised their heads to see Ron and Hermione walking over to them with big smiles on their faces. Ron looking incredibly freckly and he had grown a lot, still a lot taller than Alex was. Hermione was very brown.
"Finally we been waiting for ages," Ron said as Alex and Harry walked over to greet them.
"What you said around four," Alex said.
"By the way how did you know I was staying at Alex´s?" Harry asked.
"Dad;" Ron answered, "He works at the ministry remember."
"Did you really blow up your aunt Harry?" Hermione asked in a serious voice.
"I didn't mean to," said Harry sounding a bit guilty, while Ron roared with laughter. "I just — lost control."
"It's not funny, Ronald," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."
"So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." He looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry had done to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they would have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me," although Alex sensed the joke, he also sensed something else, did Ron sounded jealous at Harry – Nah it was probably his imagination. "Anyway" Ron continued, "you can ask dad later on. Hermione is staying too."
Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."
"Cool," said Harry.
"So have you gotten your books yet?" Hermione asked.
"Yep" Alex and Harry said in unison, and then laughed.
Look at this," said Ron when Harry and Alex had stopped laughing. He pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books —" He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."
What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her. Alex noticing the three bags as well.
"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I," said Hermione. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies—" Alex´s eyes widened, that was a lot of subjects usually most students took three new subjects maybe added with a fourth minor one, like healing or wand theory, like he and Daphne had done. However having some many major subjects. She could not be taking all those classes at once unless she had a...
"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry and interrupting Alex´s line of thoughts. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles! Alex´s half muggle and he's not even taken the subject."
Oh goody Alex thought why Ron did had to bring up his stupid muggle father.
"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," Hermione defended.
"Just when are you planning to sleep or eat this year?" Harry asked again, Alex had to admit he made a good point.
"I manage. But I still have ten Galleons," Hermione said she cheeked her purse. "My parents gave me a bit extra for by birthday in September for an early present."
"What a about a good big book," Alex asked making Harry and Ron chuckle and Hermione to smack him in the head.
"What is wrong with a good book? You don´t have to be a jerk."
Alex smiled, "What? I like a good book too."
"And no, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig, Ron's got Errol, and you've got your night owl Archimedes —"
"I haven't," Ron interrupted. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him." Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers.
"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."
After Alex had told his mother where they were going, the four Gryffindors headed to a shop called Magical Menagerie.
There wasn´t much room inside. Every inch of the wall were hidden by cage. It was very smelly and noisy because all the occupants of the cages were either squeaking, squawking, jabbering or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, Alex and Hermione waited, examining the cages.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every colour, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-coloured furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.
"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off-colour ever since I brought him back from Egypt."
"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.
Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better look.
Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was second-hand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.
"Hmm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"
"Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."
"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.
"Er —" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing and tutted loudly. Alex looked at the rat it thought it was weird. Personally, he didn't like rats, thought they were useless and dumb.
"He's been through the mill, this one," the witch at the counter said.
"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. Then Scabbers had to have some kind of power Alex´s thought to himself although he couldn't imagine what. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these —"
She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."
"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.
"Okay," said Ron. "How much — OUCH!"
Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers. Alex and Harry jumped back in fright but then their fright turned into amusement.
NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry and Alex followed, while Hermione stayed behind.
It took the boys nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers, who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up, massaging his head.
"What was that?" Ron asked as Alex sniggered.
"It is called a cat Ronald as you saw they are fond of hunting rats."
"Smartass" Ron growled. "Where is Hermione?"
Probably getting her owl," Harry answered.
They made their way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As they reached it, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around an enormous ginger cat.
"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.
"He is gorgeous isn´t he?" said Hermione
That was a matter of opinion, thought Alex. The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall.
Now that Scabbers was out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.
"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione. Alex smiled. He thought it was a funny name for a cat.
"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"
"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
Wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron as Alex, Harry, and Hermione followed.
They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, talking to Alex´s Grandfather.
"Harry, Alexander." Mr. Weasley greeted.
"And you must be Hermione Ganger and Ron Weasley," Alex´s grandfather said as he shacked their hands.
They all sat a table, Alex looked around and saw that his mother was sitting nearby and talking to Mrs. Weasley.
"So have you caught Black yet?" Harry asked unexpectedly, Alex followed his friends gaze and noticed the paper with Black´s face on it.
"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money —"
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words." Alex leaned on the table. Black got past those Azkaban guards once, what makes the ministry think they will be able to catch him this time.
"We can only hope Arthur," Fredric said, "I don´t trust those creatures."
Just then, the Weasley twins followed by Percy and Ginny came down the stairs. The twins smiled as he made eye contact with Alex, Ginny seamed shy to see Harry and Percy greeted them very formally, Harry first then Alex.
"Hello Alexander," he said holding out his hand and greeted him, as they never had met, "how nice to see you."
"Yeah nice to see you head boy Percy Weasley", Alex responded.
"I do hope you two are well."
"Can´t complain, you Harry?
"Nope doing fine," Harry said trying to hold back the laughter.
"Harry! Alex!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boys —"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. Fred then took Alex's hand and shook it. "Absolutely spiffing." George said and then seized Alex´s other hand and shook it. Alex smiled; he had sure missed the twins.
Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley, who had walked over to them.
"Mum!" said Fred, as though he had only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you —"
"I said that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, crossing her arms, Alex´s mum came to giving Alex a look that made him stop joking around.
Mrs. Weasley then noticed Harry. "Hello, Harry, Alexander. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath. Alex and George sniggering behind him.
"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life." Ginny giggled.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley, making some of them jump.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner…"
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh. "We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Alex who snorted. "But Mum spotted us."
"Shame," Alex commented, but stopped talking as he saw his mother´s face, George grinned and patted Alex on the shoulder.
…
Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put some tables together in the parlour, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Alex, and his mother and grandfather ate their way through five delicious courses. Alex was sitting between the Weasley twins and never stopped laughing, across Alex sat Mr Weasley, who was talking to Alex´s grandfather.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him, especially Harry and Ron.
"Why?" Percy said curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"
"— For Humongous Bighead," said Fred. Everyone except Percy, Cyrina, and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor…"
His voice was casual, but Alex couldn't help noticing that Mr. Wesley's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.
"Good thing we have those cars, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly, trying to maintain normal conversation. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground… You are all packed, aren't you?"
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.
After dinner, everybody felt very full and sleepy. Harry and Alex were waiting in the room where they had eaten, since Alex´s mother and grandfather were upstairs talking to Mr. and Mrs. Wesley.
"Hey is that the Rat tonic?" Harry asked picking up a small bottle, "I just go give it to him."
Alex watched Harry sprint up the stairs only to come back seconds later, "Alex come hear."
Sensing that Harry meant it, he followed, it was there he heard it, loud voices coming from, "Come on Harry, we shouldn't –"Alex stopped as he head what being said.
"… makes no sense not to tell him," Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry has got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating him like a child. He's thirteen years old and —"
"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" said Mrs. Weasley shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's better off not knowing!"
"Molly it is not about Harry being miserable. It is about him be on guard." Fredric said.
Alex and Harry looked at one another. "You know what Harry, Alex, and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves — I mean Harry and Ron they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! But they mustn't do that this year! When I think what could have happened to him that night they ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found them." Mr. Weasley added.
"But he is not dead, they're fine, so what's the point —"
"Molly I understand how you feel. I want him to be safe too, but if I know Alex; he have already guessed Si- uh I mean Black could go after Harry." Cyrina said.
"Still he might not be able to find him." Mrs Weasley said.
"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after —"
"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe Molly." Fredric cut in, "but if Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts. Dumbledore is not all powerful, he can´t keep Harry safe all the time, so it would help if he didn´t got himself in trouble."
"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry —"
There was a thud on wood making the two boys jump. Alex was sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table.
"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They did not report it in the press because Fudge wants it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He is at Hogwarts… he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"
There was a silence. Alex saw Harry lean in closer to the door, desperate to hear more.
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's Headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"
"Of course he knows, but as Fredric said he is not all powerful. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."
"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"
"Dementors? At Hogwarts? Alex thought, that wasn´t good.
"Albus isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Fredric said heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that… but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."
"If they save Harry —" Cyrina said.
"– then I will never say another word against him," said Fredric wearily. "It's late; we'd better go .."
Harry and Alex heard chairs move. As quietly as they could, Alex followed Harry as they hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight, Alex saw Harry place the Rat Tonic on the table, so Ron could see it in the morning. Then a few seconds' later footsteps told them that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs, and Cyrina and Alex´s grandfather came down. "Boys lets go, it´s getting late." Cyrina said.
Without a word, they left to Alex´s house via the fireplace, before they went to bed Alex patted Harry on the shoulder saying it would be okay, Harry had just given a small smile and headed to the guest room. As Alex lay down in bed, he kept thinking about what he had had heard until sleep claimed him.
…
That is it for this chapter. Thanks to those have reviewed; please continue to let me know what you think.