The Alexander Chronicles Year 3; the Mystery of the Prisoner Black
Chapter 11: Unexpected news
Alex´s point of view
…
Alex sighed as he watched as Ron and Hermione began to argue with each other very loudly. Harry was standing in between not knowing what to do. Alex couldn´t believe that Ron blamed Hermione over the fact her cat her eaten his rat. Alex was so sick of their bickering about their pets. He was sick about their arguing in general. But the thing that annoyed him the most was Ron´s attitude about it all.
"Hey Alex your owl is at the window." Neville said taking Alex out of his reverie.
"Huh?"
"I said you got some owl post." Neville said pointing at the window, Alex looked were Neville had pointed and saw his trusty night owl Archimedes. Alex smiled as he walked over to the window he let him in, Alex had written his grandfather a few days ago, asking about his mother´s past with Black, and now he had gotten his answer. Alex stoked Archimedes´ feathers making it hoot, before he opened the letters.
Dear Alexander
I don´t really knows much about my daughter and Black. What I know is that they were in the same year. And yes she did knew him, from school, I don´t really know if you could call them friends, but they did spent some time with each other outside classes. However, I don´t really know anything more. Cyrina didn't talk about him at home, other than she found a bit annoying sometimes. If you want to know more try talking to Professor Severus Snape, Agatha Greengrass or Remus Lupin. They went to school with her and they were her friends.
However, I want you to write me if you need to talk about your mother or if someone gives you grief about what have happened. I wish I could say things would work out, but the only thing I can say is keep your friends close.
Love from you grandfather.
Alex smile faded, so his mother did know Black and she had hung out with the man outside school. Alex was a bit disappointed that his grandfather didn't really knew anything; then again had his grandfather travelled a lot back then, leaving Alex´s grandmother to care of the kids.
He would most likely follow his advice and talk to Lupin, Daphne´s mother would be weird, and Snape was just well out of the question.
Alex looked at his watch; there still was 40 minutes to curfew, so he could go reach the office and get back.
"Are you thinking of sneaking out?" said Neville.
"Why do you say that? Did you read my letter," Alex said with a hint of anger, he liked Neville but that would be out of line.
"What? No. But you keep looking at the door." Neville said hardly. "How could you even think I would read your personal stuff?"
The look of hurt was not hard to miss; it made Alex feel slightly, no wait very quality. "I am sorry Nev I had no right to doubt you."
"No you haven´t."
"Look I am sorry okay. I know I was being stupid."
"Apology accepted." Neville said with a smile, "you under a lot of stress I get it."
"I am planning to talk to Lupin; my grandpa told me he was close to my he can tell how she knew Black." Alex whispered to Neville.
"Oh that sounds like a good idea."
Alex smiled at Neville before sneaking out of the common room, which were relatively easy since almost everybody´s attention was on Ron and Hermione.
The halls were dark, the only light there was, was from the torches and from the newly risen moon, Alex didn´t meet a soul on the way to Lupin´s, when he got to it he knocked on the door.
"Sir could I talk with you it is important?"
No answer.
Alex knocked again. "Sir, please it will just take a moment."
Still no answer Alex grabbed the door - it was locked. Strange, Alex could vaguely hear some noises from the office. So he pressed his ear against the door; yes, there was someone in there , but it still sounded muted, but it strange.
Alex being the curious thirteen-year-old boy he was, took his wand and cast a eavesdropping spell on the door, so he could hear what was happing in there.
The sound was a scary growling. It sounded like a wolf, or rather a werewolf.
But that couldn´t be. First of all; how could a wolf get inside Lupin´s office. Unless, no that couldn't be – it wasn´t a recording, he was sure of that much. That meant that there was a werewolf inside. There was no way one could have gotten in so that could only mean that Professor Lupin was a werewolf.
Yes, of course now it made sense. Why hadn´t he seen that sooner? It explained why Lupin´s fear was the moon, and now when Alex thought about it; Lupin was always sick so close to a full moon, and Snape´s essay. Snape knew about this. He had given it so they could see what Lupin was.
Alex was about to run over to Dumbledore, but he stopped and thought. If Snape knew then Dumbledore most likely knew as well. Snape hated Lupin so if he could get him fried, he would tell. Beside Lupin must have taken - Alex locked the door and listen. Lupin sounded clam for a wild werewolf. Yeah he must have – the potion Harry had seen Snape give Lupin must have been the wolfsbane potion.
Therefore, Lupin wasn´t a danger to the students. Beside Cyrina had often ranted about the werewolf legation, and how unfair it was. She hated how the werewolves were treated. So no, he should not tell, at least not yet. He needed to think this though.
…
Alex didn´t much time to think, the following morning Alex was stopped on his way to breakfast, and was told that Lupin wanted to see him right now.
Alex saw his professor waiting for him in the doorway. Lupin looked tried and lacked his usual smile. As soon as he saw Alex, Lupin pointed at the door, giving him a clear order to enter.
"Sir care to tell me what is happing?" Alex asked as Lupin closed the door to his office.
"And will you care to tell me what you were doing at my office Mr. Bonteri? And tell my why you tried to listen though the door? Since I am the teacher I ask the questions," Lupin said in a stern voice.
"Sir?" Alex asked a bit taken back on how angry Lupin sounded.
"No Sir me, just answer my question and answer me right now." Lupin paused, "You can also tell me why you used eavesdropping spell on MY door."
Alex gulped. "I wanted to ask you something sir, but you didn´t hear me knocking. I heard something and I was worried so I cast the spell to hear if you were okay. "
Lupin´s eyes flickered, "yes I told you earlier that I was busy, I was busy preparing a lesson to the fifth years."
Alex looked at his professor, he looked nervous. "Isn´t it the third years who learns about werewolves sir?"
"What did you just say?"
"The sounds from your office it was a werewolf," the last part wasn´t a question, but a statement.
"Maybe"
"It was."
Lupin looked slightly sterner, "not that it is your business, but is it was, it was a recording."
"It sounded like a real one, and it was inside the room."
"You are talking back to me! I don´t have to explain this to you."
"But there was a werewolf and it was you wasn´t it?"
Lupin´s normally clam face was angry, angrier then Alex had ever seen, and it scarred him. He liked Lupin, but now he was a bit worried about what he would do to him. For once Alex was very worried he had gone too far. "How dare you accuse me of this?" Lupin said in a laud voice. "I am your teacher."
"I know what I heard and you actions proves it, you are a werewolf, bu-"
"So you know." Lupin yelled, and then continued in a lower voice, as if he had given up "So what do you want?"
"Sir?"
"Don´t" Lupin yelled as he slammed his hand at the desk, "play games with me Bonteri. I am not a fool, and I knew how people sees me, and what your people want. Just let me hear what you silence is worth. "Lupin paused giving Alex time to talk, but he only managed to open his mouth, before Lupin interrupted him. "No let me guess is it money or my list on what the exam will be like."
"What? No Sir"
Lupin gave a humourless laugh "So you want something else. However, I hate to disappoint because telling the headmaster won´t give you anything. Albus Dumbledore already knows. In fact let us go and see him then you can explain to him why you are sticking your nose in your teacher´s affairs." Lupin paused, "You will be expelled for this. I make sure of it."
"Sir I didn´t came to blackmail you," Alex said in a frightened voice, "I honestly don´t care if you are werewolf, otherwise I would have gone straight to Dumbledore last night."
"You don´t care?" Lupin asked stopping up.
"Why would I?" Alex said with a small smile. "I mean werewolves are just people who have been infected with lycanthropy. It would be very cruel to blame you for being bitten, I mean you didn´t chose it. And you are making sure that you won´t bite us students. I mean you had looked door and I presume you take the wolfbane potion every time?"
Lupin nodded, "yes Professor Snape makes one for me."
"Then what is the problem?" Alex asked waving his arms around. "Look you are great teacher so why would I judge you just because you have a little furry problem that is all."
Lupin smiled, "I had friends who used to call it just that. - But you came to my office for a reason."
Alex looked at the ground, "well it is oh-"
"Alexander please, if I can help. Let it be me saying sorry for yelling at you."
"It okay sir, but I wanted to ask; you were friends with my mother at school?"
Lupin looked awkward.
"Yes, we were prefects together and we talked when we were on patrol, but you knew that."
"But you were friends with her too, and you also knew Black as well?"
"We were and I did, but you point is?"
"How did my mum knew Black? Because they did knew each other right?"
Lupin now looked very awkward. "I don´t really think I am the best one to tell you this."
"Sir please, my mother was arrested for helping Black. I have a right to know, and you were their friend so if you know anything."
"I suppose you do." Lupin paused, and indicated at Alex that he should sit. "You mother and Black knew each other at Hogwarts, in the end of our sixth year they began to spend a lot of time together."
"So they were what best friends?" Alex asked a bit curelessly as he scratched the back of his neck.
"No, more than friends. They were dating."
"What!" Alex cried nearly falling of his chair.
"They started dating at the start of our seventh year."
"No that can be" Alex said. "But he's a murderer! Why would my mother be in love with a murderer?"
"We didn't know he was a murderer in school, or rather we didn´t know he had that darkness in him.'' Lupin said uncomfortably.
"Yeah I know, "Alex cursed and felt a tear falling down his cheek, "great and she fell for him again."
"Alex we don´t know that."
Alex looked up with tears in his eyes, "why else would she help him. Somebody saw them hug. So she must have helped him because she loved him." Ever since he had gotten the news of his mother arrest, he had hoped he could find poof that Black had forced his mother somehow, that hope was slowly being crushed.
"Look I don´t know. If you mother helped Black then she must have had her reasons."
Alex nodded and was about to leave when a thought stuck him, "Sir what if my mum thinks Black is innocent?"
"What make you say that?"
Alex smiled a bit, since he had a new chance of proving that his mother was a good person. "Well she often say that murders and death eaters deserves Azkaban. But she had never said anything about Black, not even when I overheard a conversation she had with Amelia Bones. But you properly think it is wishful thinking."
Lupin smiled. "Maybe, but it was very hard for all of us that knew Sirius Black to believe he betrayed the Potters. I still have problems accepting it sometimes."
"So what you believe Black is an innocent man?" Alex asked.
"It doesn´t matter what I think. The evidence says that he is guilty, but maybe he has convinced her that he is innocent." Lupin answered looking away, "I mean I don´t even know if Cyrina accepted that he was guilty in the first place. She cut all contact with us after she and Black had broken up."
Alex nodded, "Yeah, if Black deceived her. Then if admits it, then she will be set free. But thanks anyway Sir and don´t worry I keep you secret." He added before leaving.
…
The incident with Scabbers looked like the end of Ron and Hermione's friendship.
Each was so angry with the other that Alex couldn't see how they ever could make up. Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks' attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds.
Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head in the Magical Menagerie.
What surprised Alex was that he was surprised that they were arguing again. He didn´t know why he had expected things to have gotten better in the morning, but it wasn´t. Alex had decided to side with Hermione, since she was right. There was no poof and even if her cat had eaten the rat, then cats eat rats, so it wasn´t Hermione´s fault.
Alex had tried talking to Ron about it, it hadn´t gone well.
"Yeah I knew you would side with Hermione," Ron had sneered, "It a pattern with you isn´t; first the Slytherins and now this. You are really messed up you knew. You properly haven´t really been raised right, because you views are sick and that is making you sick."
"Oh really Weasley if I wasn´t raised right, then how did I help save you sister, and you for that matter."
Ron had growled and said that Alex should shut it, and walked away while Harry came up to Alex. "Cut Ron a little slack," he told Alex. "He's angry and depressed. He has had Scabbers for a long time and now's there's no sign of him anywhere. Try thinking about how he feels, he just lost his favourite pet."
Alex looked over at Ron, who was sitting with the other Gryffindors before looking back at Harry. "No, maybe you should try thinking about how Hermione feels instead Harry. She had it hard the last few days. Don´t make it harder."
Harry didn´t respond to that. Instead he walked over to Ron.
Alex frowned, he had to admit that Ron had taken the loss of his rat very hard, and if he hadn´t been a jerk to Hermione, Alex might had felt bad for him.
"Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was," said Fred bracingly. "And he's been off-colour for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly — one swallow — he probably didn't feel a thing."
"Fred!" said Ginny indignantly.
"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself," said George.
"He bit Goyle for us once! Remember, Harry?" Ron said miserably completely ignoring Alex who was standing beside Harry.
"Yeah, that's true," said Harry.
"His finest hour," said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. "Let the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to his memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat, what's the point of grieving?"
"Yeah and say what you can join me at Quidditch practice and try my firebolt." Harry said.
Ron looked happy at this and the two friends set off for the Quidditch field together. Alex looked at Hermione, who smiled.
"Thanks for defending me."
"Of course Hermione, you over Ron at any time. You are much better friend to me then he is." Alex said smiling, before heading out of the common room
…
The next was the day for the Gryffindor match with Ravenclaw, and it was the lions´ last chance of getting in the finals.
Alex went down to breakfast the next morning with the rest of the boys in his dormitory, all of whom seemed to think that Harry's Firebolt deserved a sort of guard of honour. As they entered the Great Hall, heads turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. Alex saw that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck, Malfoy most off all.
"Did you see his face?" Alex head Ron say gleefully. "He can't believe it! This is brilliant!"
Wood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the Firebolt.
"Put it here, Harry," he said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look, Susan and Mellissa was among them. After they had looked at the broom, they went over to Alex and said a quick hallo.
Alex watched as Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.
"Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!" said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt closely. "Penelope and I have got a bet on," he told the team. "Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!"
Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table.
"Harry — make sure you win," said Percy, in an urgent whisper, but one that Alex heard. "I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!" And he bustled off to join her.
"Are you sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice.
Alex looked up to see Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe, Nott, and Goyle right behind him.
"Yeah, reckon so," said Harry casually.
"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute — in case you get too near a Dementor."
Crabbe, Nott, and Goyle sniggered.
"Good one Draco!" Nott said, making Malfoy smile wider.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Draco," Alex said. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you, then again you need at least four arms."
"Oh does the little criminal said something?" Nott shot back, as Malfoy paled slightly, "I recon he is just like his mother. I wouldn´t sleep well if I had share my dormitory with him." Alex paled slightly; Nott saw this and smiled, "Yeah I pity you Gryffindors, I wonder how you sleep with him in the room."
Alex head went from pale to red in anger at Nott´s last comment, "shut it Nott or you be sorry."
"Hmm you threaten me that is not a good sigh, maybe I should report you then you can rot in a cell with your mother."
Alex would have jumped on Nott if Fred, George, Harry, and Wood hadn´t hold him back, "Let me go" Alex yelled, "just a punch let me go. Let me go" However they didn´t, "I get you Nott I swear." Alex yelled.
"Calm down Mr. Bonteri." Sounded the stern voice of professor McGonagall, "Now Mr Nott, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, you should head to you own table. And you Mr. Bonteri I warn you don´t make any scenes like that again!"
Alex took some deep breaths to calm down; he looked at Nott who smirked at him on his way to the Slytherin table. "Then what about Nott?"
"Is that clear Mr. Bonteri? I don´t care how much Nott provoke you, acting like that is no excuse."
Slowly Alex nodded, before standing up, "I need some air," he said before leaving, on his way out he looked over at the Slytherin table over at Daphne she looked back with worry in her eyes. Alex felt to mad to talk to her, to anyone really, so he hurried out of the great hall, feeling that he had been treated very unfairly.
It took many strolls over the grounds and much kicking at the ground for Alex to calm himself down; it wasn´t even Nott´s comment that had hurt. It was that he had seen the face on some of his housemates and they had thought the same as Nott. He hated that everybody thought he would end up like his mother.
…
The time passed quickly and soon it was eleven o´clock. Alex who had been sitting on a stone thinking of things slowly made is way over to the Quidditch field where he met Professor Dumbledore.
"Mr. Bonteri, I was just looking for you. I would like to speak to you in my office please."
Alex sighed mentally as he followed the professor back to the castle. He really had wanted to see the day´s match, but apparently, his yelling in the Great Hall had made it impossible. "Great now I am being punished for being insulted. If he make me say sorry I might just leave this school." Alex thought to himself.
As Alex stepped inside Dumbledore´s office, the old headmaster told him to sit.
"I have something to tell you."
"Sir, I know I shouldn't had yelled at Nott." Alex said in a defeated voice, thinking on unfair the whole thing was. Nott had started it, but he still got all the blame.
"It is not that I wanted to talk with you about."
"Huh?" Alex exclaimed now very confused.
Dumbledore looked more serious then Alex had ever seen him before. "Do you remember that the Ministry would investigate in your mother´s past." Alex nodded. "Well they did, and they have found something that they sees as a proof that she helped Black."
"What, it is that they were involved romantically?" Alex asked getting slightly mad, "Look it was before Black killed those people. My mother wouldn´t have liked him if she had known he was a psychopath. "
"It is not just that," Dumbledore said in a grave tone. "We have just learned that your mother had a son with Sirius Black. The theory is she wanted the father of her child to be free."
It took a few minutes for Alex to realise what Dumbledore had said, "n-no t-that can-can´t be i-it j-just can´t." A million thoughts went through Alex´s head most of them was saying that it was impossible.
"I am sorry about this, Alexander. They found a birth certificate and it lists Black as your father. It wasn´t something anyone would have thought of, if they hadn´t investigated Cyrina´s past."
"Well someone have made a mistake. Look my father is a muggle, and don't even look like Black, sure I may look like him a tiny bit, but he is not my dad. Daniel is. The other is just rubbish."
"It is true that you look more like your mother both in appearance and personality, but that doesn´t mean Black isn´t your father, and you have some of his characteristics like your eyes look a lot like Sirius´"
"So we have the same eyes. My father has greyish eyes too. Look you made a mistake."
"I am afraid there is only a little possibility of that."
"How?" Alex said loudly as he felt his world breaking down.
"It is a magical birth certificate, Alexander. Your mother lived a bit for herself in the year before you was born. Everyone thought that she kept her distance because of her break up with Sirius. Therefore, no one would have guess that they had a child together. Then she married Daniel and he must have adopted you. Still that was after you were born."
"Yeah, they were expecting me before they married, that is not weird. I am telling you Daniel is my real father. I have seen pictures of him and my mother when she was pregnant with me."
"I don´t know about that, Alexander. There was a war going on. I just know that it is a magic certificate, and it doesn´t lie. I do know that Sirius and your mother ended things, and then later your mother met your stepfather shortly after."
"But then there is a chance then."
"No!" Dumbledore said looking Alex right in the eyes, "Alex there is not, the certificate isn´t wrong."
"Why have you seen it?"
"No, but Fudge didn´t lie."
"Right then but I would like to see it anyway." Alex said in a slightly high-pitched voice.
"This can´t happen those things are off limits expect for the ministry. However as I said I believe Fudge have told me truth."
Alex looked at the table, he didn´t want to accept this. Even though he hated Daniel, having Black, as a father would be worse. What would people say. It was bad enough about his mother, but now he maybe was a marauder's son. Everybody would think that he was just like him. Alex closed his eyes; maybe they were right, maybe he had the same darkness in him. He had wanted to torture Rodney and there was the things his boggart had said. It made senses now. Then Alex thought of what is friends would say, Daphne might hate him and Harry would surely hate him. It wouldn´t matter if Black was his father or not.
"So now what I the paper will claim I am Black´s illegitimate son." Alex said in a depressed voice, "that he just what I need right now."
However the old professor shocked his head, "No it won´t be in the paper you grandfather and I convinced Fudge and the prophet that it would be pointless."
Alex looked up, "that is good," he said in an emotionless voice, "so was this all?"
Dumbledore looked at Alex, "just that I don´t hold your father over you."
"I think you the only one sir, but thanks." Alex said before waking out of the door, leaving his headmaster behind.
"If only you saw that you isn´t dark." Dumbledore said softly, but this wasn´t heard by Alex, who already had left.
…
Alex walked towards the Quidditch pitch without thinking where he went, but now that he was there, he might as well try to get his mind off what Dumbledore had said, he didn´t believe it anyways, he didn´t trusted Fudge no matter what Dumbledore said.
Alex could hear the game already was started; Alex sat on the lower tribune and watched the game, Gryffindor had a good lead, it was all up to Harry. He was flying around, high above keeping himself out of harm, with the Ravenclaw seeker; Cho Chang following him closely. Then unexpectedly Harry went for deep drive, and Cho followed, but Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply; and Alex watched as Cho hurtled downward.
Then just seconds after he had pulled up Harry flew towards the Ravenclaw side of the field, Alex followed Harry´s direction and saw the golden snitch, Chang had seen it too, but Harry had the fastest broom and he was winning but –
"Oh!" screamed Cho, pointing. Alex looked to where she was pointing and gulped.
Three Dementors, three tall, black, hooded Dementors, were looking up, towards Harry.
Harry kept flying forward, pulling something out that Alex assumed was a wand, and then heard him shout, "Expecto patronum!"
Something silver-white, something enormous, erupted from the end of his wand. Alex watched proudly and in awe as Harry's Patronus had shot directly at the Dementors. Alex watched as the spell hit the Dementors knocking them over. Therefore, he didn´t see Harry caught the golden snitch; he only heard Madam Hooch whistle, and a great roar coming from the Gryffindor stands. He looked back at the pitch to see Harry land with the golden snitch in his hand.
After seeing the Gryffindor victory Alex looked back at the Dementors since something bothered him. What he saw annoyed Alex, it hadn´t been Dementors, but Malfoy; Crabbe, Goyle and Flint, obviously trying to scare Harry how pathetic. Alex snorted as he headed down the field congratulate Harry, along with the rest of the Gryffindors supports, but since they were running, they reached Harry before he did.
Despite the news, Alex had heard earlier he couldn´t help but smile a little, Harry was being hugged from all angles.
"Yes!" Ron yelled, yanking Harry's arm into the air. "Yes! Yes!"
"Well done, Harry!" said Percy, looking delighted. "Ten Galleons to me! Must find Penelope, excuse me —"
"Good for you, Harry!" roared Seamus Finnigan.
"Ruddy brilliant!" boomed Hagrid over the heads of the milling Gryffindors.
"That was a brilliant Patronus," Alex said in Harry's ear as he walked up to him, "the best one you have has done."
"The Dementors didn't affect me at all!" Harry said excitedly. "I didn't feel a thing!"
"Well oh" Alex paused thinking of a good way to say it.
"That would be because they — er — weren't Dementors," said Professor Lupin who was standing behind the two boys. "Come and see —"
Lupin led Harry and Alex out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field.
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," said Lupin.
Alex watched Harry looking at the four Slytherin who was lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. They were still all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It looked as though Malfoy had been standing on Goyle's shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.
"An unworthy trick!" she was shouting. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!"
If anything could have set the seal on Gryffindor's victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harry and Alex´s side, doubled up with laughter as they watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyle's head still stuck inside it.
"Come on, Harry!" said George, fighting his way over. "Party! Gryffindor common room, now!"
"Right," said Harry, looking at Alex who shrugged.
…
It felt as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup; the party went on all day and well into the night. Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin fizz, and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets.
Although Alex enjoyed himself, the thoughts about Black still rushed through his mind.
Only one person wasn't joining in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Alex broke away from the table where Fred and George had started juggling butterbeer bottles and went over to her.
"Hey Mione:" Alex said as he sat beside her, "why aren't you joining the party?"
Hermione looked up from her book, "I could ask you the same?"
"I am joining the party, I am just taken a break to talk, and you are avoiding my question."
"Look Alexander, I just need to do my homework."
"Hermione listen, you need to take a break or won´t make it four more years. Did you even took time off to see the match?"
"Of course I did," said Hermione in a strangely high-pitched voice, not looking up. "And I'm very glad we won, and I think Harry did really well, but I need to read this by Monday."
"That is good," Alex said with a smile, "but really read it tomorrow, and enjoy yourself now. Have some food and relax, and keep me company. That wouldn't be slacking off" Alex said looking at his friend.
"I am sorry Alex, but I've still got four hundred and twenty-two pages to read!" said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. "Anyway…" She glanced over at Ron too. "He doesn't want me to join in."
"Oh come on Hermione, don´t let that loser ruin your fun." Alex said also looking at the youngest Weasley boy.
There was no arguing with that Ron was still mad about his rat, as he chose that moment to say loudly, "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them —"
Hermione burst into tears. Before Alex could say or do anything, she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight. Ignoring Alex´s shouts for her to stay. Alex sighed and gave Ron an angry look. Harry did the same.
"Couldn't you just stop acting like a complete git for just a minute?" Alex asked as he walked over to Ron.
"I am acting like a git? She is the one who acts like Scabbers have gone on vacation or something." Ron growled.
"Have it crossed your mind that maybe that is exactly what your stupid rat have gone." Alex said loudly. "Or I might just left you Ron because it was bored."
"What is that supposed to mean Bonteri?"
"It means Ronald," Alex hissed, "that you need to back off. You need to say sorry to Hermione." Alex noticed that his augment with Ron was getting the attention of every other Gryffindor in the room, but he didn´t care, he was fed up at Ron´s attitude.
"Oh really and if I refuse?" Ron said with a smug face.
"Then I might make you say sorry." Alex growled, while glancing at Ron.
Ron snickered, "Yeah that is it, don´t you see?" He said to Harry.
"What is it?" Alex asked
Ron gave a small arrogant smile. "Just that this proves you're a nothing but a bad egg, I mean just look at you; you are the only one here who defends Hermione and you is always hanging out the snakes. It a pattern you see, always on the wrong side."
"I am not on the wrong side Weasley."
"Oh but you are," Ron said, "actually I might apologize to Hermione, I mean I see it now, it was you who killed Scabbers."
At first, Alex thought that Ron was joking, but then he realized that the idiot actually meant it. "You can´t be serious, why would I kill your stupid rat."
"Because you're a crazy Bonteri. No wait because you are insane."
Alex felt the anger rush up inside him, "what."
"You heard me, but might also be because you are plain bad, a little dark wizard. Just like your criminal no good mother."
Everybody in the room froze, and Alex went red with anger and glared at Ron, "don´t say that about my mother." He sneered and just after the words had left his mouth, every glass in the room exploded.
"No! It is about someone told you, you don´t belong here. You can´t be trusted. You are nothing, but the son of a slimly snake, who turned out to be evil, and you are just like her. You are evil Alex."
Alex was more angry then he ever had been. He was sick of Ron talking about his mother that way. He was sick that everybody saw him as evil. Alex growled and lunged at Ron, and let go of all his anger all of it; his anger that is mother was arrested, his anger about what Nott had said, and his anger about Black might being his father. Everything was let out.
Alex ignored all cries for him to stop, and pushed Ron to the ground, but falling himself. The two teens grabbed each other and rolled around, both trying getting the upper hand. Ron managed to get his arm free and punched Alex in the face, he ignored the pain and punched Ron back.
Before any more punches could be delivered someone pulled Alex of Ron, he saw that George and Harry had grabbed Ron.
Alex tried to get out the grip and give Ron another punch, but failed. "That is it enough Alex. You need to calm down." He heard Fred say.
"Yeah stop this madness both of you." George said.
"Come on, Alex why don't you go take a walk or something?" Fred said to Alex, and then continued in a lower voice, "look Ron is out of line I give you that, but just drop it okay."
Alex nodded; out of respect for the Weasley twins, he would do that. He left to the portrait hole, then changed his mind as he decided to go to bed. On his way to the dormitory, he heard Fred say to everyone to go back to the party, and he saw George tell of Ron.
Alex was lying in his bed unable to sleep, so he listen to the party go on for an hour or so, until he hard Professor McGonagall telling them to go to bed at once, soon after the five other Gryffindors entered the dormitory talking about the match. Sometime after Alex finally managed to fall asleep, but it only felt like he had slept for an hour when –
"AAARRGGHH! NOOO!"
Alex woke as suddenly as though he'd been hit in the face with cold water. Disoriented in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings; he could hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnigan's voice from the other side of the room.
"What's going on?"
Alex thought he heard the dormitory door slam. At last finding the divide in his curtains, he ripped them back, at the same moment as Harry and Dean Thomas lit his lamb.
Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face.
"Black! Sirius Black! With a knife!"
Alex snorted, "Right sure he was."
"Are you sure Ron?" Harry asked walking over the red haired Gryffindor.
"He was here, just now Slashed the curtains! Woke me up!" Ron continued to say.
"You sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?" said Dean.
"Look at the curtains! I tell you, he was here!" Alex looked, and they were slashed.
They all scrambled out of bed; Harry reached the dormitory door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors opened behind them, and sleepy voices called after them.
"Who shouted?"
"What're you doing?"
The common room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party. It was deserted. Alex looked around Black had been here, the man responsible for getting his mother in prison and the man it was said was his father. Alex gulped barely registering the voices around him.
"Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?"
"I'm telling you, I saw him!"
"What's all the noise?"
"Professor McGonagall told us to go to bed!"
A few of the girls had come down their staircase, pulling on dressing gowns and yawning. Boys, too, were reappearing.
"Excellent, are we carrying on?" said Fred Weasley brightly, Alex looked at him and smiled slightly leave it to Fred to lighted the mood.
"Everyone back upstairs!" said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pajamas as he spoke.
"Perce — Sirius Black!" said Ron faintly. "In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!"
The common room went very still. "Nonsense!" said Percy, looking startled. "You had too much to eat, Ron — had a nightmare —"
"I'm telling you —"
"Now, really, enough's enough!"
Alex saw the portrait open and Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around.
"I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!"
"I certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!" said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. "I was just telling them all to get back to bed! My brother Ron here had a nightmare —"
"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!" Ron yelled. "PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!"
Professor McGonagall stared at him.
"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?"
"Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at Alex, "His mother has been helping Black."
"Enough of this. I am not helping Black," Alex hissed.
"Weasley that is enough, Alexander here has no reason to help Black. The ministry have already decided as much, if this he result of one of your fights then."
"Okay, then ask" Ron once again pointed however this time it was at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. "Ask him if he saw —"
Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened anxiously. "Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan.
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room. Alex gulped as he felt everybody eyes were on him. This was bad; he could very be blamed for this."
"Did someone open for him?" Alex sighed so, McGonagall wanted to see if he had let Black in, it made sad that he wasn´t trusted even though the logical part of his brain said that of course McGonagall needed to make sure there wasn´t a traitor in the room.
"No ma´am came in at the front."
"You — let him in?" said Professor McGonagall. "But — but the password!"
"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogan proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk.
"Which person," she said, her voice shaking, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?" Alex noticed that she looked at him for a short time, then she nodded and looked at everyone else.
There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville, trembling from head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.
Chapter end