Not many words need to be said about the rest of the summer.
Sophia Wilson had remained with her at home for the rest of the summer except for the few occasions when she had to floo to London for meetings at the Transfiguration Today headquarter. Alex didn't know how it was done—how she could just be on a random mission for several months before resuming "normal work" (although based on what her mother had brought home to test the articles Alex had an inkling that being an editor at Transfiguration Today was a rather explosive work)—but she had decided that it was more than enough to be able to see her mother every day and know that she was safe.
Alex informed Regulus only half-regretfully that she would not be able to attend the tea party. To be honest her desire to see him again was quite superseded by her fear of his mother and what she would say to her if and when they ever met. Regulus was nice about it, but Alex thought that he looked a little tired the last time they spoke through the two-way mirror. Of course, he wouldn't say anything about it. Alex wondered if she should send him Muggle medicine, if that would help at all…
And the summer was almost over.
The last week of August was somehow very cool that year, as though the seasons themselves could not wait to end the particular chapter and move on to the next one, autumn. She had already given her notice to Krater, who shrugged at the news of her leaving with a nonchalant shrug and a hastily packed fish and chips (so that she could take it with her to London, he said. Alex accepted without an argument). She was slowly trudging back to her home when she realized that she had to get some things to take with her to London. A few apples, a candy bar, something…
"Mr. Muson!" she said in surprise. "I thought you were away."
The old man had been cleaning the shop door slowly. "I was," he said without much elaboration. He made a move to get up with his water bucket, but struggled with the weight.
"Let me help you," Alex said, setting down the fish and chips. "Is your store open?" Mr. Munson watched her carry the bucket inside.
"Not quite," he said. "What do you need?"
"Er, just a few things," she said.
"Leaving for that school?" he asked.
Alex wasn't sure if she should be surprised or not. "Yeah," she said. "Yeah. An apple or two. Also a toothbrush..."
Mr. Munson grunted behind the counter. "There's some boxes of things that just came in, over there." He nodded toward the corner. "Help yourself." Alex nodded.
"So where were you?" she asked as she peered into the boxes.
Mr. Munson shrugged. "Around. My nephew came into town."
"I didn't know you had a nephew." Mr. Munson shrugged again.
"So you've been alright?" he asked instead gruffly, arranging some things on the counter.
Alex looked at him with an odd smile. Mr. Munson usually didn't ask things commonplace or conversational. He usually didn't say anything, much… "I guess," she said. "Mom's back in town. That's always nice." Mr. Munson handed her the bag. She handed him the money and looked over the things in the bag.
"Mr. Munson," she said slowly, "I'm pretty sure that I didn't put the Mars Bars in there..."
He didn't even look up from his counter. "Enjoy the trip," he said. "Have fun at school." Alex felt her face heat up slightly in embarrassment and gratitude.
"Thank you," she said, clearing her throat. And that was that.
King's Cross Station was, as usual, full of people, and Alex wondered for the thousandth time why the wizards couldn't choose someplace more remote and unnoticeable to ship their children to Hogwarts every year.
"Here we are," her mother said, sounding as affected by the crowd as she was as they stepped from the magical column. "Platform nine and three quarters."
"Okay," Alex said, looking around. The platform seemed so surreal again, with the wizarding robes and owls hooting from their cages and distant shouts of "Beware of the whomping willow!" She was a part of this, and she couldn't believe it, not even today.
"Remember what I said," Sophia Wilson said.
"Mum, I know—"
"I meant it—health first. I know being a prefect doesn't sound like much, but it really takes up a lot more time than you expect, so make sure you're getting enough sleep and eat enough healthy foods."
"Honestly, I don't even know what Professor Dumbledore was thinking, making me the prefect of all people." Alex shook her head at the memory of the letter landing on her breakfast table one morning and finding the prefect badge inside the envelope.
"Well, if he sees half of what I see, that he made the right choice," Sophia said, looking fondly at her daughter, and Alex looked down at her shoes.
"Right," she muttered, trying to ignore the elated feeling in her heart. The train let out a long whistle.
"You should go now," Sophia said. Alex nodded and hugged her mother.
"Be careful," she murmured, trying not to show that she was worried, worried sick about what would happen to her mother once she got to Hogwarts and was within the safe confines of the castle. Her mother had none of that, none of the protection, and the news on Daily Prophet was getting worse and worse every day…
"Of course I will!" Sophia said brightly. "I even think that we'll be able to see each other during the holidays."
"Alright," Alex said reluctantly. Suddenly she didn't want to go to Hogwarts. Couldn't time stop right here, when everything seemed possible? But the train blowed the whistle again.
"Bye," she said, swallowing down several things at once. Her mother was still smiling brightly. She shouted something from the crowds, but the train had begun to move and it was too loud to hear anything. Alex tried to show that she didn't hear what she said, but her mother's face had already disappeared among the crowd. She turned back and dragged her trunk into the car, hating that she had to go through this every year.
Even the Slytherin compartment felt emptier than usual.
"Hi," she said quietly to Leila, who was sitting by the window, her head resting lazily on Rosier's shoulders. Leila hadn't mentioned anything to her in the letter, and Alex wasn't sure if they were still together—she supposed that they were.
"'Lo, Alex," Leila said, grinning lopsidedly. "How was your summer?"
"Wilson," Rosier sounded no less loopy. "Corking good to see you."
Alex was beginning to suspect the reason for the emptiness of the compartment.
"Party last night?" she asked casually.
"Party? What party?" Leila's slurred words spoke more than her words. "There was no party."
"It's the first day of school, Wilson!" Rosier said, nodding furiously. "We wouldn't dare."
"Right," Alex said, half-amused, half-worried. She knew that alcohol and "recreational" drugs were not uncommon among upperclassmen. She just didn't think that she would ever reach that age when those things would be common among her classmates. "Well, I have to go," she said after watching them loll about in the sunlight.
"Go?" Leila sounded scandalized. "You can't just go. We have to play—'sploding exap or whatsit—"
"Emploding Knap," Rosier supplied. "Er—no, k'mplodin k'nap…." they broke into a fit of giggles.
"Exploding Snap," Alex supplied. "Well, you two can look for the cards when I'm gone."
"'kay..." Leila said before her head slid off his shoulder and she fell asleep in Rosier's lap. Soon Rosier was snoring, too. Alex looked around. Indeed most of the upperclassmen were missing, including Regulus. She frowned. Regulus wouldn't go and get himself hooked on—whatever it was, would he? Some of the third and fourth years looked skeptically at their direction and Alex raised her eyebrows at them. They looked away.
The prefect compartment was already full when Alex pulled at the door.
"You're late, Wilson," the seventh-year head boy said curtly.
"I know," she said. "There was—er—situation at my compartment. Sorry." He waved her off.
"As I was saying before Wilson kindly interrupted us," the seventh-year said. Several people laughed. Alex raised her eyebrows again—arseholes. "Prefect rounds. Those of you who are new should know that you'll be doing rounds once or twice every week, depending on how other students in your house are doing. We have a biweekly meeting on Saturdays..."
Alex looked around surreptitiously. Lily Evan's red hair caught her attention almost immediately. Alex wasn't surprised—she was probably the best student in their year. Next to her stood Remus Lupin, looking somewhat uncomfortable in his position. His eyes kept shifting toward the door, as if he expected something bad to happen any minute. Next to them stood the sixth-year Gryffindor prefects, who also looked like they were at a raging party last night. Alex shook her head. These things—she hadn't noticed them last year. Why was it that she was noticing these things now, of all days? Was her position as a prefect suddenly sharpening all senses? She looked around the compartment. Hufflepuffs listening earnestly, Ravenclaws looking quite ravenously at the schedule being passed around… most Slytherins weren't here, but Alex thought that maybe that was for the best…
Regulus was looking at her, his eyebrows arched incredulously. When their eyes met he cocked his head to one side, as though he couldn't believe that she didn't spot him before. Alex smiled faintly. How long had Regulus been standing in the shadows? But he was across the compartment, and he hadn't made a single movement since she'd come in. Just stood there, watching people talk, pass around several things, not getting involved in any of the things. He had already changed into school robes and there was the prefect badge glinting faintly on his chest next to his captain badge. Alex pointed at the badge and mouthed 'you, too?' Regulus shrugged, as if he hadn't seen it coming, either.
"That's about it," the head girl said after about thirty minutes. "Questions?" No one raised their hand in eagerness to leave and they were dismissed without further trouble.
"Prefect?" Alex said once they were in the corridor. Alex tried to remember the parts that she was assigned to patrol. Regulus would certainly remember it better… "You didn't tell me that."
"You didn't tell me, either," Regulus pointed out. "It's not very difficult to do, you know."
"Right," Alex said, not knowing how to tell him that she found it too embarrassing to tell anyone, even him, that she had been made a prefect. It was one thing to do well in her studies by working hard. She wasn't sure about being a prefect.
"So where were you?" she asked. "Didn't see you in the Slytherin compartment." She peered into one of the windows of the compartments to see that there was nothing bad going on. It felt silly. Regulus for his part seemed to be listening intently for something out of order.
"I don't think there's anything going on here," he supplied. Alex nodded and they kept walking.
"I was trying to talk to Sirius." Regulus said after a while. Alex looked at him.
"That's about it," he added.
"Didn't go well?"
"Nope," Regulus replied. He didn't sound frustrated or angry—just weary.
"But you keep trying."
"Do I have another choice? He's family. My parents are certainly in no condition to do their part. I need to do mine."
Alex tried to figure out how she could best show her sympathy and let Regulus have space—he didn't really like being coddled, she knew, or being openly cared for, or anything that suggested that he needed that sort of support. Which, Alex supposed, was not an abnormal thing in the Slytherin house. It didn't pay to show your weakness where everyone was trying to perceive every vulnerability in you.
So she squeezed his shoulder slightly and dropped her hand just as quickly. Regulus cleared his throat.
"Listen," Alex stopped suddenly, frowning into the air. Regulus stopped beside her.
"What—"
"Can't you hear it? The noise," she pointed at her right. "That way."
Regulus listened for a moment, and his face shifted. "Oh," he said. "Alex, I don't think that's really anything—"
"Reg, something just crashed in there," Alex said, scrutinizing Regulus' face. She couldn't tell what he was thinking—why on earth was he wearing that kind of an expression?
Regulus cleared his throat again, but this time it didn't seem to be in order to keep his emotions in check.
Alex shot him an odd look before knocking on the door of the compartment. The windows were obscured by the blinds. No answer came, but the noise kept growing.
"Alex, I really don't think—"
Alex opened the door, wondering exactly what she should say. Something prefect-y, maybe, although she didn't really want to have a confrontation. Why couldn't this have fallen into those Ravenclaw prefects who actually liked picking on people and making everything perfect?
The sight in front of her wiped her mind blank.
Rebecca was standing facing one of the walls, her arms supporting her as her torso bent slightly under the weight of—Rabastan leaning over her. Rebecca was quite completely unclothed, and Rabastan was only in a slightly more modest state. He huffed out his breaths in short intervals.
"Erm," Alex said quite pathetically. She seemed to have located two fifth-years who were missing from the Slytherin compartment. Rebecca, on the other hand, seemed more articulate—perhaps not in the best way.
"Regulus?!" she cried in dismay, and the owner of the name shut the door before anything else could be said. They stood in silence in the corridor for several seconds. Judging from the noises that emanated from the compartment, the people inside weren't finished yet.
"Erm," Alex repeated. Heat had spread over her entire cheeks like milk spreading into a cup of tea, except that nothing was comforting like a cup of tea because that was Rebecca in there with Rabastan while Leila and Rosier were lying asleep half addled in the compartment and she was late to everything as usual. Her knees bucked beneath her.
"Oh god," she said softly under her breath, not even aware of the fact that she had muttered a Muggle expletive. Regulus, on the other hand, seemed to have a better sense of his surroundings.
"Come on," he said, gently leading her by the shoulders. "I think we're done with our rounds anyway."
"You were right," Alex said dumbly. "Should have listened to you."
"No, I wasn't," Regulus said. "Prefects are supposed to stop and report all inappropriate behaviors within the school setting. The train and—er—what we saw fell under that category."
"Yes, but—no one really does that, they just really let people get off easy, and besides, aren't they supposed to happen in—broom closets or something—" Alex was babbling and she knew it. So she stopped and closed her mouth.
"No one goes to the broom closets anymore," Regulus said gravely.
Alex whipped her head and looked at him with lost eyes. "They don't?" she asked.
"Not unless they're a couple of desperate second-years, no." Regulus looked far too amused to be concerned.
"What is wrong with everyone?" Alex cried. "Leila and Rosier are intoxicated, and—"
"Actually, they're a bit drugged," Regulus said. "But I suppose that biologically the mechanism is the same. Drug and alcohol both change the chemical compositions in the body that affect the neural activity—"
"This isn't your Muggle Studies lecture, Regulus!" Alex yelled in panic. Regulus looked at her for a long while and Alex felt un involuntary blush creep up her cheeks again as the image of Rebecca and Rabastan came back to her mind. She looked away, berating herself mentally. Her conversation with Leila the year before began to play itself automatically in her ear. Thought that you two were shagging…
"They had a party," Regulus said eventually. "It's some new potion from Zonko's that they sell in special catalogues. I don't think it's fatal—Zonko's sell many things, but they're not allowed to deal merchandise that can do actual harm."
"And you know this because you were there." Alex stated. Regulus didn't answer.
"Merlin," Alex said, shaking her head. "What's happening to everyone?"
"Fifth-year politics," Regulus answered. "It'll blow over by sixth year."
"That's very reassuring," Alex said. Regulus shrugged.
"You don't seem fazed at all," Alex said. She couldn't keep the accusation out of her voice. But why was she reacting this way? Apparently this was all a normal phase. Drugs. Sex. Regulus certainly didn't seem perturbed. But Regulus wasn't perturbed unless things were acutely desperate. And if he didn't think these things were desperate, than should she stop making such a big deal out of them? But everything was foreign, and although she knew that back home her former classmates did various things that weren't much different, she thought that—that things would be different at Hogwarts. With wizards. What a stupid idea. And this time everything was happening right in front of her eyes.
"I imagine that it matters a great deal if you're actually participating," he said. "But I confess that I didn't care for the potion." His nose wrinkled automatically.
"You had it too?" Alex said, her voice creeping up higher and higher with each word.
Regulus seemed to register that Alex was getting upset. Alex wasn't sure what she was more upset about—that these things happened, or that she was upset by these things. No one else seemed upset. Was she being just a child for being upset?
"Just a sip," Regulus assured her hurriedly. "Everyone else was there, and it was impossible to simply fake it—come on, Alex," he said, drawing her closer. Alex realized that his arm was still around her shoulders and froze stiffly. "Nothing happened."
"Really," she said drily, "because Leila and Rosier were trying to figure out how to say 'Exploding snaps.'"
Regulus' lips twitched. "What did they say?"
"'kmplodin 'knaps," Alex said reluctantly. Regulus grinned.
"'Course they did."
"I'm serious."
"No, you're not. You're much prettier than he is." Alex looked at him in disbelief, and Regulus grinned back at her. She had never heard him make the 'Sirius' name joke with anyone—found it mostly dull, as those jokes invariably led to jests about his own name, which he disliked in general. And he said that she was pretty. Well, not in those exact words. But still. She thought she could measure the rate at which her heartbeat was speeding up and wanted to laugh at her own silliness but couldn't. He was still smiling at her.
"I don't know. Sirius is quite pretty," she ended up blurting out. Regulus' smile slipped by a degree.
"Is he?" he said. They were still walking down the corridor. Alex never knew that the train was so long.
"Most people seem to think so."
"Do you?"
Alex paused. "Didn't really notice," she lied. Of course she noticed—every line and corner of his face reminded her of Regulus. But she wasn't going to tell him that.
"Huh," Regulus said. Alex couldn't tell if he was convinced or not.
"Y'know," Regulus began inconsequentially, "you should tell Lestrange."
Alex frowned at him, confused. "About what?"
"About what you saw," Regulus said. "If it bothers you so much. I'm sure that he'll be more than willing to come to you—I don't think he cares for her—not much anyway." His face was impassive—almost good-humored—and Alex tried to look at his eyes, but they avoided her. She looked at him furiously.
"That," she said, "is a horrid thing to say." She shook his arm off her shoulders and began to stomp away from him as quickly as possible, trying to hide her face and that his accusation hurt her. Why would Regulus say anything like that? In the four years that they'd known each other, he'd never said anything that was intentionally hurtful. And to bring up Rabastan, of all people, whom she didn't even like, when he knew exactly how she felt about unwanted attention regarding her body, with that kind of a cold ironic twisted face—
"Alex," Regulus had caught up with her, but she didn't want him to see her face. He grasped her wrist.
"Let me go," she said.
"I'm sorry," Regulus said, and he genuinely sounded regretful.
"Fine," Alex said. "So let me go."
"I'm sorry," Regulus repeated. "I didn't mean—I didn't mean it like that."
"Really?" Alex said sardonically. "How did you mean it then?"
"Alright, I did," Regulus admitted. "But—it was just momentary—I would never—I don't want to hurt you. Least of all people—Alex, please look at me."
"Let go of me," Alex said stubbornly. Regulus sighed and reached for her face. She drew back, but he was faster—and surprisingly gentle.
"Alex, I—are you crying?" now he sounded panicked, and she tried to turn her face away, feeling more like a child than ever before, but he was already wiping the corners of her eyes with the sleeves of his robes.
"Stop it," Alex muttered, trying to swat him away. Regulus didn't budge.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, and Alex had no choice but to look at his face, a face that always intimidated her a bit, because he was, to use his words, indescribably "pretty," and she was—well, not. Regulus, she knew, had weaknesses, other sides than his self-assured, ever-confident, never-failing self, but sometimes she couldn't remember what they were.
"You're right," he said. "That was a horrid thing to say." Alex swallowed.
"It's fine," she said finally. The worry line between his brows disappeared, and his shoulders eased a little bit. But he didn't let her go.
"You know, I think we should really get back to the compartment, just to make sure that Leila is still breathing and everything—"
"Alex," Regulus said. Something in his voice made her stop and it was now her who was avoiding his eyes.
"We haven't seen each other for three months," he said quietly. "And I—"
The door by their side banged open and Rosier strode out with a sort of haphazard purpose, looking around with a swagger that seemed too unstable to be called intentional. Alex reflexively stepped away, feeling Regulus' fingers caress her cheeks. Regulus immediately adopted a look of faint amused disdain directed at Rosier.
"Wazzup," Rosier said, staggering as the train shook.
"Rosier," Regulus answered. "You've looked worse."
Rosier smirked. "I fear," he slurred slowly, "that Parkinson there has more life in her than two..." he frowned as he racked his brain for the word. "Penguins," he decided with satisfaction.
"Penguins?" Alex said skeptically, hoping that this wasn't one of the innuendos that she always came across unguarded.
"Yes, those large orange cats that sort of prowl… with black stripes on their backs, y'know?" Rosier looked very proud of his articulation.
"Tigers," Regulus supplied. Rosier shook his head adamantly.
"Nope," he said, popping his lips. "It is the penguins, my friend." He patted Regulus as a show of camaraderie that he would usually never dare.
"I see," Regulus said, not looking particularly edified.
"Tell me, where is that trolley wench? I mean trolley witch? Witch trolley?" Rosier rasped. "I am positively dying of thirst."
"No idea," Regulus said. "It's probably too early."
"Damnations," Rosier said, his eyes not focusing on any particular spot. "Then I suppose that I must get back to my lady penguin—" with a smirk at Regulus' direction he went back to the compartment, swaggering as jollily as a tap-dancing penguin. The pair stared after him for a while.
"How much potion do you have to take to be like that?" Alex wondered aloud to no one in particular.
"I suspect that he's still drinking," Regulus answered drily. "C'mon, I think we've finally found a place to put the prefect badge to good use." Alex didn't argue as Regulus held out the door for her.
The rest of the Slytherin house came tickling into the compartment as the day progressed, and Rebecca, avoiding the general direction that Regulus was sitting, crept in quietly and sat in the far corner of the space where there wasn't much light. Rabastan came in soon after, looking slightly more confident but no less hung-over. Regulus for his part didn't seem to notice their entrance, as his attention was focused on getting Rosier to reveal the location of his secret stash of potions and alcohol.
"Rosier," he said pleasantly, as one would ask a three-year-old child to give back the shiny rattle, "I mean it."
"He can't tell you," Leila said tiredly, for whom the effects of the potion seemed to be finally wearing off. She groaned, apparently sporting a massive headache. "Bugger," she muttered.
"And why not?" Regulus asked again pleasantly.
"He's too high!" Leila shouted out, laughter bubbling in her voice, and then immediately bent over. "Oh, Merlin," she swore. Alex could swear that Regulus was swearing, too.
"Hold on," she motioned at Regulus not to say anything.
"Leila," Alex said in grave tone.
Leila looked at her askew. "Hello," she said, as though she hadn't seen Alex until now. Alex beamed back at her.
"Hi," she said. "How was your summer?"
"Spectacular," Leila was still beaming. "You missed out on a lot."
"I've no doubt," Alex said, her voice again grave. "I'm feeling really left out, you know that?"
Leila's eyes widened in alarm. "Left out?" she repeated in a worried voice. "But that's not what I meant!"
Alex raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Really?" she said. "Because you're having all the fun and I was alone in my little Muggle village."
Now Leila's face was the epitome of tragic pity. "Oh, no," she said.
"Yes," Alex said. "And I am very upset with you."
"But I'm so sorry!" Leila wailed.
"I don't believe you."
"No, really!" Leila protested. "You know what?" then she leaned toward Alex and whispered urgently in her ear. Alex listened attentively, nodding.
"I see," she said.
Leila nodded with a very serious, very intoxicated face. "Yes," she said earnestly. "And you mustn't tell that stuck-up good-for-nothing Prince about it. Promise?"
It took a while before Regulus realized that Leila was talking about him. "Wai—what?" he sputtered. Alex suppressed a grin.
"I promise," she promised solemnly.
Alex sat with Leila for a while until she fell asleep, lest she suspect Alex of betraying her trust. Rosier by then was drawing images on the window that uncannily resembled the male phallus. Deeming that it was safe enough, Alex gestured discreetly at Regulus. He raised his eyebrow.
"Did you wish to speak to the stuck-up Prince?" he drawled. Alex smiled.
"You forgot the good-for-nothing part," she reminded him. His eyes darkened.
"No," Regulus said, "I haven't."
"Alright," Alex said, lowering her voice. "Leila told me that Evan is keeping most of the stash in his trunk. It's at the bottom of the pile, so you might want to wait until we reach the castle."
"Or," Regulus said, not looking particularly happy, "we could just burn the entire thing right here. Pretty sure that the alcohol will make the process a lot easier."
Alex felt the oddest urge to tweak his nose. She held it back.
"And according to Leila," she continued, "there is a tiny flash near his, er..." she wondered how she could best say this. Regulus looked at her inquiringly. She looked meaningfully toward the pictures that Rosier was drawing.
A look of horror dawned on his face.
"Oh, no," he whispered.
Alex tried not to giggle. "Yup," she said. "And it sounded like she got that knowledge from experience." Regulus was already looking at Rosier calculatingly.
"Well," he mused, "I suppose I could convince him that he really needs to use the loo."
Alex didn't ask further, and twenty minutes later Regulus emerged into the compartment again with Rosier, who looked like he had just heaved up everything he had eaten for the entire week. Regulus raised his eyebrow and dangled a silver flask in his hand. Alex gave him thumbs-up.
"Please tell me that you washed your hands afterwards," she said. He barked out a laugh.
"And here I was, thinking that I was going to learn all about telephones," he said, somewhat ironically.
By the time they reached the castle grounds Leila had thrown up twice and was capable of standing and walking on her own, as long as there was someone to lead her toward the light. Alex let out a sigh of relief when Leila finally let go of her shoulder to slump on the dining hall chair. She could finally look around. The hall looked as large and imposing as ever.
"Welcome," Dumbledore said after the usual Sorting ceremony had finished, "to another year at Hogwarts. I am certain that you are eager to dig in, but I would like to say a few announcements. First of all I would like to introduce Professor Kent, who will be taking over the post of the Defense Against the Dark Arts." A polite applause followed as Kent waved from his seat at the end of the faculty table.
"Second of all, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, wishes me to inform you not to venture into the Forbidden Forest, and more importantly, not to bring into the castle anything from the Forest..." several chuckle from the Gryffindor table hid Dumbledore's last words. Regulus rolled his eyes at the empty plates.
"Finally," Dumbledore said after several other things, "I would like to welcome to Hogwarts a very special exchange student from Bulgaria. I'm afraid that he is arriving rather late to extenuating circumstances—" but at that very moment there was a rather hasty bang from the outer hallway and students began to murmur.
"Bulgaria?" Leila, who seemed to have regained her sense somewhat, muttered. "Does that mean he's from Durmstrang?"
"Must be," Avery muttered back. "That's the only magical school in Bulgaria, in't it?"
"But he didn't say Durmstrang," Alex said. Leila shrugged.
A young man appeared at the doorway of the Great Hall, looking quite calm despite his late arrival. He strode in quickly, his footsteps momentarily echoing in the hallway before being swallowed up by a fit of giggles from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Alex frowned and craned her neck; sitting by the Slytherin table, it was difficult to see anything that was happening in the middle of the hall. Regulus shifted beside her, also looking curious.
"I'm sorry I'm late," the young man said. He definitely did have an accent, but Alex wasn't sure if it was Bulgarian. Dumbledore chuckled good-naturedly.
"On the contrary, I would say that you are exactly on time!" he said magnanimously. "Mr. Henryk Nihit Lee, meet the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The young man turned around and smiled faintly at the student body, and Alex thought she could understand the giggles. His short hair was like wheat field in autumn, gleaming softly under the candlelights of the chandeliers. He was tall, taller than most boys in seventh year probably, and there was something confident and strong about his broad shoulders. He looked around steadily across the hall, missing no detail. Leila whistled under her breath. Rosier shot her an annoyed look despite his stupefied state. Alex gave them an amused glance before turning to look at the new student more properly.
Their eyes met.
At first Alex thought it was simply a momentary coincidence—his eyes at met hers during a general sweep of the Hogwarts population. But he tilted his head slightly, as though he was considering what he saw more deeply. Alex looked around, quite certain that he was looking at someone else. On either side of her sat Regulus and Leila, and neither of them looked particularly pleased at the moment. Leila was arguing softly with Rosier about the meaning of her whistle, and Regulus was—actually, Alex wasn't sure exactly what Regulus was thinking. She had never seen such a… dynamic expression on his face before. When Alex looked back at the new student, she found that he was still looking at her. No, watching her.
"Mr. Lee," McGonagall said from behind him. "Please be seated on the stool. The Sorting Hat will decide in which house you will live for the next year."
He sat down slowly on the stool and every student watched as the hat was lowered onto his head.