The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness

by the22nddoctor

Many things have changed in Alexander s life, his mother is in Azkaban and he have learned that he is the son of Sirius Black. This year Alex has to battle both his inner darkness that is growing stronger inside him, and the outside darkness that is returning stronger than ever, not even Hogwarts is safe. Beside that, he have to deal with being a teenager. Have been rewritten.

20. Chapter 20 Did you say dragons?

The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 20: Did you say dragons?

…

First of a big thanks to those who follow my story and an even bigger thank to those who review and put my story and their favourite list.

…

The pub wasn't very crowded and yet Alex spotted several familiar faces. He saw Mellissa Robinson talking with some of her friends, when she saw Alex she gave a small smile. Susan Bones was also there but she was talking with some fellow Hufflepuffs. When they saw, Alex all the Hufflepuff expect for Susan glared at him and showed him their support Diggory badges.

Alex signed as he was getting annoyed at the Hufflepuffs attitude. Nonetheless he pretended he hadn´t noticed there coldness. "So shall we find a table?"

Tracey nodded, "Yes there is one at the corner." She said dragging her two friends over to it.

"I thought Blaise was supposed to be here?" Alex muttered looking around trying to spot the Slytherin boy.

"He be here soon, he had something to take care off first."

Alex snorted, "Then why did we had to be here now?"

"Because the reporter you hate isn´t here." Daphne explained calmly crossing her arms as she looked at Alex, "but if you want to give another interview then we can find her."

Alex didn´t reply as he sat down, not wanting to let Daphne know she won the argument. It didn´t work because she smiled as they all three sat. "Yep that is what I thought."

The three friends were silent for a while and Alex began thinking what he should say when Blaise would be here. He was glad that he and Blaise could get a chance to talk, but what should Alex say. After all it wasn´t him that had started the fight. It had been Blaise that hadn´t believed Alex. Then again, Blaise hadn´t really gotten a chance of explaining before Alex had gotten mad at him. Still it wasn´t him that have been a jerk first, so why should he be the one to apologize? "What did you say to Blaise?" He asked trying to kill time.

"That you would be here?" Tracey said with a smile. "That you two needed to work things out."

Alex nodded again, "okay what did he say?"

"He said yes, after I told you wanted to talk."

"Did he say that he was sorry?

"No, not exactly." Daphne said making Alex stand up, "but he might if you guys actually would talking. Please just do it Alex I know you don´t want to lose him as a friend."

Alex nodded and sat back down. "Right okay I stay, if you think this will work."

"I do, don´t worry this will be good for you."

The three friends was silent for a few minutes, watching people go in and out. Suddenly Alex saw Harry enter the pub with along with Hermione. The green-eyed Gryffindor quickly saw Alex and walked up to him. He waved at Daphne and Tracey then looked at Alex. "I thought you wanted to stay at the castle." Harry looked at bit disappointed, but still gave a small smile.

"Yeah uh I wanted to at first but uh-"Alex couldn´t really think of anything to say after all he had told Harry that he didn´t want to go, only to go with Daphne and Tracey.

"We convinced him that he needed to get out," Daphne cut in. "He needs some fresh air."

"Oh then I guess I have to congratulate you. I tried getting him to go as well, but no luck."

"Daphne can be pretty convincing when she have to." Tracey grinned. "So I saw that you came here with Hermione."

"Yeah I did,"

"So are you two dating again?"

Harry looked at Tracey a bit before answering. "No, we tried that once and it didn´t work out. No we are just here as friends." There was little paused, where Harry looked a bit awkward, "beside we a meeting someone uh Ron said he wanted to talk and that he was sorry."

"Oh um okay" Alex looked at the ground. It was a bit weird that Harry would start talking to Ron again after those things he had said about Alex and his friends. It was even weirder because Alex knew that Harry didn´t shared those views. Sometimes Alex wondered how much patience Harry had since he kept tolerating all of Ron´s foolishness. On the other hand, Alex knew that Harry´s friendship with Ron meant a lot to him and beside all his faults Ron was extremely loyal to Harry and he knew that the friendship was important to Ron as well. It was just him and Alex that had problems with each other.

"But it not meaning that I won´t be your friend Alex." Harry said a bit uncertainly, "and I want him to stop insulting you all the time. But if he does that then I maybe will begin to hang out with him sometimes."

Alex looked at Harry before giving a small smile, "It is okay I guess, just don´t expect that Ron and I will be best friends."

"Thanks h-he told me that he was sorry about the way he have acted. Have he talked to you?"

"Nope, but seriously Harry it is fine that you want to try again with Ron. I may not understand it and may not like him but that is my problem."

Harry smiled again, "thanks and uh it was great that you two managed to get Alex out. He needed that." Both Daphne and Tracey smiled at this. "Well I better get back to Hermione." Harry added before leaving. Shortly after, Harry had gone to is table and begun talking with Ron, Alex heard the door open he turned and saw Blaise enter the pub. Tracey had seen it was well and waved at him. Blaise saw it and smiled back as he walked over. Once he got over there he kissed Tracey at the cheek. Then he saw Alex and his smiled faded a little. "Hallo Alex."

"Blaise," Alex greeted back with a stiff nod.

Both boys looked at each other without saying anything. "Hey guys what about a butterbear?" Tracey asked.

"Yes I help."

"No it is okay sweetie Daphne and I got this, you and Alex can talk while you wait."

Blaise nodded as he sat at the chair in front of Alex, who felt pretty awkward just sitting there not knowing what to say. Now that he was sitting in front of Blaise their earlier argument was fresh in mind, but at the same time, Alex was also aware of how much he had missed his friend. Alex´s mind kept thinking what to say, but with Blaise in front of him, it was even harder, now the only thing he could think of was. "So what´s up?"

"Nothing much really, mostly homework. What about you?"

Alex thought about telling about how stressed and how scarred he was about the first task, but at the same time, he thought it would be weird. "Oh you know keeping busy."

"Yes I can imagine that."

Once again, there was silence but luckily, Tracey returned holding two butterbears. "Here you go sweetie." She said handing Blaise her butterbear.

"So uh Blaise have you leaned some new cool spells." Alex asked again.

"Well I did lean a really cool one." Blaise said an exited voice. "It is called the impedimenta Jinx. It is pretty cool; it slows the target down by immobilizing it in a few seconds."

"Cool, I would love to lean it." Alex said and out of the corner of his eye saw Ron, he had his hands filled with butterbeers, and was nearing Harry and Hermione by quickly walking backwards. "It sounds like it could be useful."

"I think it is most duellers and aurors have it in their arsenal." Tracey smiled and walked a bit away so the boys could talk, that however placed her right in the part where Ron was going. The Weasley boy still walked with his back turned and therefor didn´t saw Tracey was standing there. She was just about to take a sip of her drink, when Ron collided with her, knocking her at the ground.

Since it happened closer Harry´s table, he was over at Tracey first. He bent down looking at her worriedly. "Are you okay?" He said as he helped her up.

Tracey looked grumpy, her clothes were socked with butterbear since both her Ron´s bottles had been emptied over her. She accepted Harry´s hand and got up groaning slightly. From what Alex could see she was all right, although she would properly have a sore behind since she had landed on it. She whined slightly as she examined her jaws. Once she was done, she turned and looked at Ron Weasley. He had escaped the crash unharmed the only thing that happen was that he too had spilled some butterbear at himself. Tracey looked at him in a few seconds without something happening. "So Weasley I am waiting." She said as Daphne came over to Alex holding theirs butterbears, while looking worriedly at Tracey.

Ron looked a bit shocked at how hostile Tracey sounded. "B-but it w-was an a-accident, I d-didn´t see –y-you."

Tracey snorted. "Then maybe you should look Weasley, and I am still waiting for that apology." She added with her arms on her hips.

"Why after all it was you who was standing where I was walking." Ron said in angry voice, making Harry sign before giving him an elbow. Ron looked at Harry who gave a stern look and whispered something. Ron looked annoyed and gave a loud sign before looking at Tracey. "Okay I am sorry." He said quickly then looking away.

Tracey snorted, "Right sure you are." Then she looked at Harry giving him a big smile. "Thanks Harry, I am fine. I can clean my clothes and buy a new butterbear."

Ron rolled his eyes and was about to leave, but before he could Blaise was over at him. Alex blinked worried what would happen. "I think you are forgetting something!"

"Like what?" Ron said crossing his arms.

Blaise crossed his arms as well and glared at Ron. "You spilled Tracey´s butterbear."

"Yes that is what happened, but why should I care?"

"Because it happened because of you!" Blaise hissed, making Alex and Daphne walk over to him. So they could stop him, if Blaise lost his temper with the red haired Gryffindor. "So now you a going to buy her a new one."

Ron snorted at the last part, "yeah that is not going to happen."

"Ron look-"Harry begun but Ron interrupted him.

"No Harry, I spilled ours because of her. So maybe she should buy some new once."

Harry looked at Tracey then at Ron, "hey say what, what about I buy some? Then we can talk and relax.

"Stay out of this Potter!" Blaise said venomously surprising both, Alex, Daphne, Tracey and Harry. "You wasn´t asked, so shut it and stop trying to show off!"

Alex was about to say Blaise was out of line talking to Harry in that way, and that he only was trying to help. But Ron sort of beat him to it." Back of Snake!" he growled, "Beside Harry isn´t going to give you Butterbears because he shouldn't waste his money on some stupid snakes."

Alex closed his eyes, he had hoped that it wouldn´t be an augment about houses. A quick look told Alex that Blaise were boiling with anger. "Excuse me Weasley."

"Oh you heard me Zabini or deaf?" Ron said smugly.

"I heard you weasel, but I wouldn't repeat it if I was you."

"Heh there is nobody who will give you slimly stinking Slytherins anything."

"Blaise let us just drop it okay?" Tracey said taking Blaise's hand in hers. "Look it is not a big deal. I can buy a new one for myself."

However, Blaise shrugged Tracey off, "No Weasley will buy you one."

"And what happens if I refuse?"

Blaise snorted, "Then I make you."

"Blaise no don´t." Tracey tried.

"Well Weasley."

Ron snorted, "you can try, but either way I am not buying her a butterbear after all I am one of the good guys."

Blaise clenched his fists. "What just because you are a Gryffindor you think you are better than anyone?"

Ron clenched his fists as well. "Well if it towards a Slytherin than I am better, and nobody really cares about you lot other than yourselves."

"Grr I am so sick of this. So do you think that we Slytherins are the same Weasley?" Blaise said. "Think we're all sneaky snakes, dark wizards, death eaters just waiting to happen?"

"Oh please you acting like it some big news. We all knew that you Slytherins are bad eggs." Ron said with a smug smile as he took a step closer towards Blaise. Both boys were at the same height and they were giving each other hateful glances. So hateful that Alex was sure that a fight was on the way. The rest of the pub were apparently sensing it as well because everybody had become quite and there was many that now were staring at Ron and Blaise.

Neither boys had made a move so far, but then Ron took another step towards Blaise, "then again what will you do?" The next thing happened to quickly for anyone to stop it. Blaise growled and he and Ron lunged at each other and begun pushing each other around. Everybody began to cheer some at Ron, others at Blaise. Alex and Harry tried to stop them, Alex by grabbing Blaise arm, however he got free and punched Ron in the making his nose. The red haired Gryffindor growled and threw a punch back.

Once again Alex and Harry tried pulling the two apart this time a bit more forcefully, however it was still unsuccessful and it only resulted them being pushed back, and Blaise and Ron continued to push each other around. However before the fight could get worse, Hagrid intertwined and grabbed each boy and pulled the two boys away from each other. However even though the boys were separated, they still tried grabbing each other. "Okay that enough." Hagrid said loudly, Blaise and Ron did as they were told but were still glaring at each other. Satisfied they had stopped Hagrid let go.

At the same moment, the pup owner Madam Rosmerta was at them. "Okay there is nothing to see," She said to the crowd who quickly went back to their drinks. Rosmerta turned to Alex, Blaise, Tracey, Daphne, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The latter had come over during the fight and was no looking disapprovingly at everyone, however her look was nothing like the one Madam Rosmerta were giving Blaise and Ron. "As for you two. I have rules here and one of them is no fights in my pub," The boys gulped as the pub owner continued. "So here it was going to happen. You Mr. Weasley will get out of the front door." She said pointing. "And you Mr. Zabini will get out the back door." She said pointing with another door. "And mark my words if I hear you two continue this fight outside then you won´t be welcome here for the rest of the school year. Is that clear?"

Blaise and Ron nodded. "Good then get out!" Madam Rosmerta said and walked back to the bar.

Tracey and Daphne began pulling Blaise away, while Harry and Hermione went with Ron. Harry gave a questionable look to ask if he would follow him. Alex sighed and shocked his head as he pointed at the door the Slytherin had went though. After all it was them he wanted be with now. Harry smiled and followed Ron and Hermione. Alex stood still in a few seconds then followed his Slytherin friends.

Alex exited the pub and into an alley where he found a fuming Blaise, and a worried Tracey, and Daphne waiting for him. "Blaise, what the hell is wrong with you?" Alex said, stopping in front of Blaise.

"With me?" Blaise hissed. "You should be asking what is wrong with Potter and Weasley!"

"Just stop, the way you treated Harry was totally un called for."

"Oh please he was just defending Weasley, as he always do. Beside if anyone one was out of line Alex then it was Weasley." Blaise replied angrily turning away from Alex.

"Yes he was," Alex agreed, "but he always arts that way. He is a stupid Slytherin hating git, I give you that, but you were also a jerk back there."

"Oh so it is my fault now is it?" Blaise sneered as he faced Alex again, making the two girls worried about what would happen next.

"Yeah kind of. Look when he bumped into Tracey it wasn´t in purpose, and did say sorry. I agreed that he should have got her a new butterbear as well, but when you try getting him to do that by fighting then you're no better than he is."

"You know what Alex you are such a hypocrite!"

"Excuse me," Alex said ignoring the worried looks Tracey and Daphne were giving him.

"Look, shouldn't we just get out of here. We could get to another pub."

"No Daphne I would like to hear what Blaise is meaning." Alex said crossing his arms. "So what exactly do you mean by that Blaise?"

"Just that you think it is okay when you are fighting with Nott and his little gang, but when I am having one fight with Weasley then I am out of line. Heck you even had a fight with Weasley ones."

Alex was a bit taken back, after all Blaise was right. He often had fights with Nott and had fights with Weasley. He was about to say it was different, but was it? When Alex got in to fights, it was often to because someone insulted his friends, but that was also why Blaise had fought with Ron. The only difference was that Alex as a Gryffindor got away with it more, it wasn´t fair, but it was a fact. "This isn´t about me." Alex finally said. "This is about you acting like Weasley worse this is about you insulting Harry, who didn´t do anything. You had a chance of showing that Slytherins isn´t bad."

"So what because I am a Slytherin I should just accept Weasley talking trash?" Blaise exclaimed.

"No but-"

"Do you even cared about Weasley talked to us in that way?"

"Of course I do." Alex huffed.

"But you didn´t. and it not just that. You don´t care about anyone just yourself."

"Blaise that is not true." Alex said surprised that his voice was shacking.

"It is! You don´t even care about you own father."

"Shut up." Alex hissed getting angry. "At least your father didn´t ditch you so he could avenge is best friend."

"No he just died as a stupid Death Eater trying to save his own ass." Blaise growled, "You dad wanted you and even if he didn´t then the rest of you family wanted you. But no it doesn´t matter to you does it. Because all you care about is yourself, just like Nott does:"

"Shut it," Alex growled back, "I am nothing like Nott."

"Then why do you stoop to his level whenever you two appear in front of one another?" Blaise said. "Why do you just duel him without any thought? Yeah, they provoke you, but it doesn't mean you should just hex them without a second thought?" You do it because you like it Alex, because you want to show off and I even think you enjoy hurting him."

"Well," Alex yelled, throwing his arms down in exasperation. "Then why do you want to be my friend huh? If I am just a messed up psychopath then why are you bothering to talk to me?"

"Alex just clam down, he never said that." Daphne tried.

"No I want to know. If I am that person he describe, then why does he want to be around me?" Alex continue to yell, there was a pause where Blaise looked at the ground not saying anything. Daphne and Tracey looked at Alex with worried eyes, Alex looked at them for a few seconds seeing their worries, then he turned his attention back on Blaise, ignoring their worries. Blaise briefly looked up, but when he saw that Alex was looking at him again, he looked back at the ground. After a minute of silence Alex had enough, he had gotten even angrier that Blaise wouldn´t even respond. "Fine," he yelled again. "Then if you don´t want to be my friend then – then I don´t to be yours." Alex heard Daphne and Tracey gasp he ignored them. "S-so you can j-just – so just leave me alone!" He yelled before turning on his heels and ran away ignoring that the girls were shouting for him to stay. That was the last thing he wanted – he just needed to get away from Blaise.

Alex ran for several minutes without stopping and actually knowing where he went. However soon he had stop up so he could catch his breath. As he stood still Alex began thinking of what just had happened, he had hope that he could had rebuild his friendship with Blaise, but it seemed impossible now. After all Blaise was right, he was selfish and he understood why Blaise wouldn´t want to be friends with him. It hurt him but he understood. After some minutes had got his breathing under control and looked around. He had gotten a bit away from Hogsmeade itself; he could actually see the train station in the distance. Alex signed and sat on a nearby log in order to clear his head. In the same moment he heard someone calling him, it was Tracey.

"I am here Trace." After a few seconds Tracey appeared, when she saw Alex she sat down next to him.

"I bet you thought it would be Daphne that would run after you?"

Alex smiled a bit, "maybe, why are you here?"

"To say it was stupid to run away and that you and Blaise are being ridiculous."

"I'm being ridiculous?" Alex cried standing up. "Then what about Blaise? He is the one being ridiculous, with his stupidity, stubbornness, and it him that hates me so-"

"I said it was both of you are ridiculous." Tracey interrupted and grabbed Alex hand and forced him to sit down again. "Blaise messed up too, and he doesn´t hate you, I know that for a fact."

"It sure feels like it," Alex looking at the ground.

"He doesn´t Alex. You are his best friends. You have to trust me on this. He miss you, and I know that you misses him too."

"He had a chance of saying that today, but didn´t."

"I know, but you had the same chance. It was just messed up today."

Alex signed. "You can say that again." He said looking at Tracey to see that she had cleaned herself from the spilled butterbear.

"Can I say something?" Tracey asked looking Alex in the eyes, but she didn´t wait for Alex to respond. "The problem with you and Blaise are that you both are so damn proud."

Alex shrugged, "I suppose we are."

"But one of you have to be the one who say sorry first, after all you both have made mistakes."

"And that someone should be me?"

This time Tracey shrugged, "why can´t it be you? I mean you want to be his friend again."

Alex nodded, "I do, but it just well."

"I know it is not easy, but it is the right thing to do. So be responsible and be the one that makes the first move."

"So be the better man?" Alex said, as he thought back of what Sirius had told him in the summer, he hadn´t really followed the advice back then, but now maybe he should.

"Yes that is one way of putting it." Tracey said in a cheerful voice. "So are you going to do it?"

Alex closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Maybe."

"If you ask me, you should. I mean I love Blaise and it great spending time with him, but honestly he needs some guys friends. Some he can hang out with, talk about guy stuff with, look at girls with and even talk about how annoying I am." Tracey laughed a bit at the last part. "Although, the last two will hopefully be in a lesser degree."

Alex chuckled a bit too, "it was great hanging with him this summer."

"Yes, he feels the same."

"But it doesn´t mean he will continue that."

"He will. I promise, you just have to use that Gryffindor courage you have and jump in." Tracy said and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Look take him to your secret place, it will be a great ice breaker."

"Okay," Alex said, "I will talk with him tomorrow."

Tracey smiled as she got up. "Good man, now excuse me Daphne is waiting we were planning to get some shopping done after you boys had met."

"Great, uh tell her that I am sorry that I ran off like that." Alex said quietly, worried that Daphne might be mad.

"Don´t worry she understand."

Alex nodded and watched as Tracey left, hoping what she was right in what she had said about Blaise and thought about how to he could make amends with him. After he had sat there for a while, Alex decided that he might as well get back to the castle and to the chamber.

There were still a lot of life in Hogsmeade, the street was filled with students that was were coming in and out of the different shops. Alex did his best not to get eye contact with any of them so he would get in trouble with anyone. It worked or maybe no one wanted to bother him. The one thing Alex noticed was that everyone around him was happy and he heard a few conversations about what the first task would be. Alex wished he could be like that just thinking what the task would, but without being worried that, he had to face it in a few days. Alex often wondered if the other champions had the same fears, but if they did, they didn´t show it. Harry had said, that those times he had seen Cedric, the Hufflepuff had been surrounded by admirers and looking nervous but excited at the same time. Alex had glimpsed Fleur Delacour from time to time in the corridors; she looked exactly as she always did, haughty and unruffled and Krum just sat in the library, poring over books, looking a bit grumpy.

Once he had gotten to a carriage and it had taken him back to the castle. Alex deciding to go to Gryffindor common room before he went to the chamber. Inside the common room were Harry, he was sitting in chair talking with Neville. Once he spotted Alex Harry stood up and walked over, Alex signed a bit hoping it wasn´t about what had happened at the pub. "Hey Alex can we talk for a bit?"

"Sure, I were planning to go and train for a bit but uh sure."

"Okay I have just met Hagrid and he wanted to see you at his hut at midnight."

"This midnight? Harry have you forgotten that Sirius will make a floo-call just an hour later."

Harry shocked his heard, "no you should be able to make it, if you are late I hold him."

"So what did he want?"

"He wouldn't say, but I think it is important. Don´t worry you use my cloak and map, so you won't get caught."

Alex briefly wonder if Harry just said that to get him out the way so he could talk with Sirius alone. No Harry had only showed kindness towards Alex this year. There was no way Harry would lie like that. "Fine okay, I go,"

"What happen to Blaise today? I mean he was pretty angry." Harry then asked a bit worriedly.

"Well it wasn´t about you, he was just angry at Ron."

Harry smiled a bit, "Right well Ron was pretty angry at both you and him, but I asked him not to talk trash about you."¨

"Uh thanks I guess, what happened after you left. I mean are you okay?"

"Yes I am fine. It was mostly just Ron that was upset, and Hermione was a bit too?"

"Hermione?" Alex asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah I think she might have a thing for you." Harry said a bit awkwardly.

"What?" Alex knew he should not be surprised, Ron had said something similar during the summer. But that didn´t changed the fact, it was very bad. He might not have those feelings for her, but he did cared for a lot and didn´t want to lose her as a friend.

"So what will you do?" Harry asked since Alex didn´t say anything.

"I don´t know. I just know that I doesn´t like her in that way."

"So you should tell her that!" Harry said, "I mean I may not have romantic feelings for anymore, but I still care and I want her to be happy."

"So do I" Alex huffed, "but I can´t just go up to her and say – Hey I heard you like me, but I don´t like you – I mean that would be cruel. I mean what if you wrong about her liking me?"

Harry nodded. "I suppose, everything is just really messed up."

"You can say that again," Alex said.

…

At half past eleven that evening, Alex sat up and looked around. The common room was pretty much empty. He gave a nod to Harry who sat beside Alex and handed him a neatly folded cloak with an empty parchment on top. "I suppose I don´t need telling you how to use it."

Alex smiled as he pocketed the parchment, "oh please I seen you use the map to many times for that."

"Okay, good luck then."

Standing up, Alex unfolded the cloak, threw it over himself, and snuck out of the portrait hole. Out there, he got the Marauders Map and muttered the keywords to activate it. There was none close to where he was going, but he had to watch out for Filch and his cat. Luckily, the walk to the entrance hall happened without incidents. Outside the grounds were very dark. Alex walked quickly down the lawn toward the lights shining in Hagrid's cabin. The inside of the enormous Beauxbatons carriage was also lit up; Alex could hear Madame Maxime talking inside it and he was very glad that he was invisible. Quickly Alex knocked on Hagrid's front door, while looking at the Beauxbatons carriage.

"You there, Alex?" Hagrid whispered, opening the door and looking around.

"Yeah it is me, can I get in?" Hagrid stepped aside so Alex could enter. Once he had checked they were alone, Alex pulled the clock off, automatically fixed his hair, which had been bit ruffled. Hagrid saw this and chuckled slightly. "So Harry said you wanted to see me?"

"Got summat ter show yeh," said Hagrid.

There was an air of enormous excitement about Hagrid. And it was then Alex noticed it. He was wearing a suit that had a flower that resembled an oversized artichoke in his buttonhole. And he had tried combing his hair, and it was the word tried that should be used since the comb's broken teeth tangled in it.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Alex asked looking at the professor. "And just what will you show me and not Harry? It not a new pet is it?"

Hagrid chuckled again and shook his head. "Come with me, keep quiet, an' keep yerself covered with that cloak," he said not answering Alex question much to his annoyance. "We won' take Fang, he won' like it…"

"What where are we going, I sort of have to be back at the castle at one o'clock. So is this important?"

But Hagrid wasn't listening to Alex; he was opening the cabin door and striding off into the night. Alex sighed as he pulled the clock on and hurried to follow and found, to his great surprise, that Hagrid was leading him to the Beauxbatons carriage.

"Hagrid, I can´t be here, if I am seen-"

"Shhh!" said Hagrid, and he knocked three times on the door bearing the crossed golden wands.

Madame Maxime opened it. She was wearing a silk shawl wrapped around her massive shoulders. She smiled when she saw Hagrid.

"Ah, 'Agrid… it is time?"

"Bong-sewer," said Hagrid, beaming at her, and holding out a hand to help her down the golden steps.

Madame Maxime closed the door behind her, Hagrid offered her his arm, and they set off around the edge of the paddock containing Madame Maxime's giant winged horses, with Alex, totally bewildered, running to keep up with them. Had Hagrid wanted to show him Madame Maxime? Because then Alex would rather had stayed in the common room, after all he could always see her, after all it wasn´t like she was hard to miss. But it did seem like Hagrid wanted to show Madame Maxime something as well. Alex suspicions were confirmed, because after a while she said playfully, "Wair is it you are taking me, 'Agrid?"

"Yeh'll enjoy this," said Hagrid gruffly, "worth seein', trust me. On'y - don' go tellin' anyone I showed yeh, right? Yeh're not s'posed ter know."

"Of course not," said Madame Maxime, fluttering her long black eyelashes. Alex had to suppress a chough the two of them was on a date.

Hagrid and Madame Maxime still walked; Alex was getting more and more irritated as he jogged along in their wake, checking his watch every now and then. Even though this might be important, there was no way he would miss talking with his father. Alex decided that if he didn't get there soon, he was going to turn around, go straight back to the castle, and leave Hagrid to enjoy his moonlit stroll with Madame Maxime.

But then - when they had walked so far around the perimeter of the forest that the castle and the lake were out of sight - Alex heard something. Men were shouting up ahead…then came a deafening, ear-splitting roar…Hagrid led Madame Maxime around a clump of trees and came to a halt. Alex hurried up alongside them - for a split second, He thought they were seeing bonfires, and men darting around them - and then his mouth fell open.

Dragons. Four fully-grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing onto their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting - torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks. There was a silvery-blue one with long, pointed horns, snapping and snarling at the wizards on the ground; a smooth-scaled green one, which was writhing and stamping with all its might. A red one with an odd fringe of fine gold spikes around its face, which was shooting mushroom-shaped fire clouds into the air; and a gigantic black one, more lizardlike than the others, which was nearest to them.

At least thirty wizards, seven or eight to each dragon, were attempting to control them, pulling on the chains connected to heavy leather straps around their necks and legs. Mesmerised, Alex looked up, high above them, and saw the eyes of the black dragon, with vertical pupils like a cat's, bulging with either fear or rage, he couldn't tell which…It was making a horrible noise, a yowling, screeching scream, that made Alex gulp in fear.

"Keep back there, Hagrid!" yelled a wizard near the fence, straining on the chain he was holding. "They can shoot fire at a range of twenty feet, you know! I've seen this Horntail do forty!"

"Is'n' it beautiful?" said Hagrid softly. Even if it had been safe to answer, Alex wouldn't have been able to since he looked at the dragons fearfully.

"It's no good!" yelled another wizard. "Stunning Spells, on the count of three!"

Alex watched in awe as he saw each of the dragon keepers pull out their wands.

"Stupefy!" they all shouted in unison, and the Stunning Spells shot into the darkness like fiery rockets, bursting in showers of stars on the dragons' scaly hides. Alex watched the dragon nearest to him teeter dangerously on its back legs; its jaws stretched wide in a silent howl; its nostrils were suddenly devoid of flame, though still smoking - then, very slowly, it fell. Several tons of sinewy, scalyblack dragon hit the ground with a thud that Alex could have sworn made the trees behind him quake.

The dragon keepers lowered their wands and walked forward to their fallen charges, each of which was the size of a small hill. They hurried to tighten the chains and fasten them securely to iron pegs, which they forced deep into the ground with their wands.

"Wan' a closer look?" Hagrid asked Madame Maxime excitedly. The pair of them moved right up to the fence, and Alex followed. The wizard who had warned Hagrid not to come any closer turned, and Alex saw who it was: Charlie Weasley, Ron's brother.

"All right, Hagrid?" he panted, coming over to talk. "They should be okay now - we put them out with a Sleeping Draught on the way here, thought it might be better for them to wake up in the dark and the quiet - but, like you saw, they weren't happy, not happy at all -"

"What breeds you got here, Charlie?" said Hagrid, gazing at the closest dragon, the black one, with something chose to reverence. Its eyes were still just open. Alex could see a strip of gleaming yellow beneath its wrinkled black eyelid, unconsciously Alex took a step back.

"This is a Hungarian Horntail," said Charlie. "There's a Common Welsh Green over there, the smaller one — a Swedish Short-Snout, that blue-grey — and a Chinese Fireball, that's the red."

Charlie looked around; Madame Maxime was strolling away around the edge of the enclosure, gazing at the stunned dragons.

"I didn't know you were bringing her, Hagrid," Charlie said, frowning. "The champions aren't supposed to know what's coming - she's bound to tell her student, isn't she?"

Alex paled at those words, that meant they were for him. The dragons were the first task he had to face them. Alex didn´t really knew what he had expected when he first had seen the beasts, but not that.

Jus' thought she'd like ter see 'em," shrugged Hagrid, still gazing, enraptured, at the dragons.

"Really romantic date, Hagrid," said Charlie, shaking his head.

"Four…" said Hagrid, "so it's one fer each o' the champions, is it? What've they gotta do - fight 'em?" Alex paled again – oh please no.

"Just get past them, I think," Charlie said making Alex breathe out in relief. "To get something. We'll be on hand if it gets nasty, Extinguishing Spells at the ready. They wanted nesting mothers, I don't know why… but I tell you this, I don't envy the one who gets the Horntail. Vicious thing. Its back end's as dangerous as its front, look."

Charlie pointed toward the Horntail's tail, and Alex saw long, bronze-coloured spikes protruding along it every few inches, he gulped hoping he wasn´t the one, but with his luck it would properly be him.

Five of Charlie's fellow keepers staggered up to the Horntail at that moment, carrying a clutch of huge granite-gray eggs between them in a blanket. They placed them carefully at the Horntail's side. Hagrid let out a moan of longing. Alex looked at them too wondering why it had to be nesting mothers; he knew that dragons were very protective of their nest.

"I've got them counted, Hagrid," said Charlie sternly, making Alex look at him. Then Charlie continued, "How's Alexander by the way?"

"Fine," said Hagrid. He was still gazing at the eggs.

"Just hope He's still fine after he's faced this lot," said Charlie grimly, looking out over the dragons' enclosure. "I didn't dare tell Mum what he's got to do for the first task; she's already having kittens about him and Harry…" Charlie imitated his mother's anxious voice. "How could they let Alexander enter that tournament, he's much too young! I thought they were all safe, I thought there was going to be an age limit! She was in floods after that Daily Prophet article about them. 'I never knew he was that hurt over his mother. I should have talked with him. I can´t bear to think about he cries about her. That poor poor boy'"

Alex had had enough. Trusting to the fact that Hagrid wouldn't miss him, with the attractions of four dragons and Madame Maxime to occupy him and that there wasn´t any more too see, Alex turned silently and began to walk away, back to the castle.

He didn't know whether he was glad he'd seen what was coming or not. Perhaps this way was better. The first shock was over now. Maybe if he'd seen the dragons for the first time on Tuesday, he would have passed out cold in front of the whole school… but maybe he would anyway. After all he would only be armed with his wand, and right now it just felt like nothing more than a narrow strip of wood — against a fifty-foot-high, scaly, spike-ridden, fire-breathing dragon that could kill him in to many ways. And he had to get past it. With everyone watching. How? He didn´t knew any spells that could be used at a dragon.

Alex sped up, skirting the edge of the forest; he had just under fifteen minutes to get back to the fireside and talk to Sirius with Harry, and he couldn't remember, ever, wanting to talk to him more than he did right now, he might know something.

Just then, without warning, he ran into something very solid.

Alex fell backward, clutching the Cloak around him, tightly. A voice nearby said, "Ouch! Who's there?"

Alex hastily checked that the cloak was covering him and laid very still, staring up at the dark outline of the wizard he had hit. He recognized the goatee…it was Karkaroff.

"Who's there?" said Karkaroff again, very suspiciously, looking around in the darkness. Alex remained still and silent, not even daring to breath. After a minute or so, Karkaroff seemed to decide that he had hit some sort of animal; he was looking around at waist height, as though expecting to see a dog. Then he crept back under the cover of the trees and started to edge forward toward the place where the dragons were.

Very slowly and very carefully, Alex got to his feet, and set off again as fast as he could without making too much noise, hurrying through the darkness back toward Hogwarts.

He had no doubt, whatsoever what Karkaroff was up to. He had sneaked off his ship to try and find out what the first task was going to be. He might even have spotted Hagrid and Madame Maxime heading off around the forest together – they were hardly difficult to spot at a distance… and now all Karkaroff had to do was follow the sound of voices, and he, like Madame Maxime, would know what was in store for the champions. By the looks of it, the only champion who would be facing the unknown on Tuesday was Cedric, making Alex wonder if he should tell him or not.

Alex reached the castle, slipped in through the front doors, and activated the map, then began to climb the marble stairs; he were very out of breath, but he didn't dare slow down…he had less than five minutes to get up to the fire.

"Balderdash!" Alex gasped at the Fat Lady, who was snoozing in her frame in front of the portrait hole.

"If you say so," she muttered sleepily, without opening her eyes, and the picture swung forward to admit them. Alex climbed inside, slipping out of the Cloak.

The common room was deserted except for Harry who was in an armchair in front of the fire. "Alex," he said standing up. "What is wrong, what did Hagrid show, a monster?"

Alex nodded, "Y-you can say that d-dragons I h-have to face a dragon." He shuttered.

"What Dragons?"

Alex nodded, "yes I have to get past one somehow."

"Are you serious?"

"No I am," a voice sounded from the fireplace. Alex quickly turned only to see his father head in the flames smiling at the boys."

Harry broke into the first smile and with some quick steps; he was already kneeling in front of the fireplace. "Sirius - how're you doing?"

Sirius hadn´t really changed from when Alex last had seen him at the summer, expect maybe he looked a bit healthier, and his hair had been cut. He looked at lot like Harry´s old picture of him. "I fine, I am a bit more worried about you two especially you Alexander." He said as Alex sat beside Harry. "The first thing I have to know is did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"

Alex felt the anger swell up inside him. Was that reason why Sirius had called just he could question him. "No I didn´t." He hissed though gritted teeth.

"Good that is what I thought. Are you okay by the way?"

"Oh I am just fine." Alex snorted. "Well except for being forced in a deadly tournament, having to deal with most the bloody school thinking I am a fraud and a glory seeking loser, a fact that isn´t made better because of the stupid reporter that spread lies about me and to top it off; one of my best friends are mad at me. Then there is the fact that now everyone knows that I am a Black and thinks I will go dark at every moment. But other than that sure I am fine that is at least until the dragon eats me. Yeah I just have learned that is the first task is dragons." Alex ranted making Harry look at him worriedly. "Please tell me that I am overreacting."

Sirius also looked at his son with eyes that showed, concern and sympathy. "I know you got a lot on your plate Alexander, and I am sorry about that – we just have to see if we can deal with this together. Now we don´t have too much time, I have broken in to I've broken into a wizarding house to use the fire, but they could be back at any time. Look Alex we can deal with the dragon, but first there are things I need to warn you about."

"Warn us?" Alex and Harry said in unison.

"Karkaroff!" said Sirius. "He was a Death Eater. You know what Death Eaters are, don't Harry?"

Harry nodded, "yes I do."

"He was caught, he was in Azkaban with me, but he got released. I'd bet everything that's why Dumbledore wanted an auror at Hogwarts this year – to keep an eye on him. Moody was the one who caught Karkaroff, and put him into Azkaban."

"Karkaroff got released?" Harry said slowly, as Alex was a bit worried that a Death Eater was at the castle.

"He did a deal with the Ministry of Magic," said Sirius bitterly. "He said he'd seen the error of his ways, and then he named names… he put a load of other people into Azkaban in his place…He's not very popular in there, I can tell you. And since he got out, from what I can tell, he's been teaching the Dark Arts to every student who passes through that school of his."

"You don´t have to remind me after all, my cousin is a student there. He is here too by the way." Alex said in low voice.

"In that case you need to watch your back Alexander both with your cousin and the Durmstrang champion as well."

"Krum seams nice enough," Harry said.

"He might be, but I still want you both to be careful"

"But do you think Karkaroff is the one who put my name in the goblet?" Alex asked, "because then he is a really good actor. He wanted to prevent me from competing and was furious when they told me that had to be in it."

"Trust me Alexander, Karkaroff is a good actor." Sirius said, "after all he convinced the Ministry of Magic to set him free, didn't he? So you can´t trust him, he will do anything to look good. Now, I've been keeping an eye on the Daily Prophet, Alexander…"

"Great you and the rest of Britain," said Alex bitterly, but mentally he braced himself for rejection. After all the Prophet had implied that Alex hated Sirius and wanted him captured.

"- and reading between the lines of that Skeeter woman's article last month, Moody was attacked the night before he started at Hogwarts. Yes, I know she says it was another false alarm," Sirius said hastily, seeing Harry about to speak, "but I don't think so, somehow. I think someone tried to stop him from getting to Hogwarts. I think someone knew their job would be a lot more difficult with him around. And no one's going to look into it too closely; Mad-Eye's heard intruders a bit too often. But that doesn't mean he can't still spot the real thing. Moody was the best auror the Ministry ever had."

"So what are you saying that somebody wants Alex dead?" Harry said looking at Alex. "but then why warn me too?"

Sirius hesitated. "I don´t know if you is a target as well Harry. I've been hearing some very strange things," he said slowly. "The Death Eaters seem to be a bit more active than usual lately. They showed themselves at the Quidditch World Cup, didn't they? Someone set off the Dark Mark… and then - did you hear about that Ministry of Magic witch who's gone missing?"

"Bertha Jorkins?" said Harry.

"Exactly… she disappeared in Albania, and that's definitely where Voldemort was rumoured to be last… and she would have known the Triwizard Tournament was coming up, wouldn't she? And if Voldemort is involved then I sure he will go after you"

"But Bertha Jorkins wouldn't just walk into Voldemort´s hand." Harry said.

"Listen, I knew Bertha Jorkins," he said grimly. "She was at Hogwarts when I was, a few years above James and me. And she was an idiot. Very nosy, but no brains, none at all. It's not a good combination, you two. I'd say she'd be very easy to lure into a trap. "

"You thinking about Pettigrew?" Alex said making Sirius nod

"So… so Voldemort could have found out about the tournament?" said Harry. "Is that what you mean? You think Karkaroff might be here on his orders?"

I don't know," Sirius, said slowly, "I just don't know… I don´t even know if it was Karkaroff and he doesn't strike me as the type who'd go back to Voldemort unless he knew Voldemort was powerful enough to protect him.. But Alexander whoever put your name in that goblet, did it for a reason, and I can't help thinking the tournament would be a very good way to attack you and make it look like an accident."

"Yes but I still don´t get who would want to kill me? I mean if it was Harry I would understand. I get why Voldemort would want to kill him."

"Thanks Alex." Harry said in a sarcastic voice.

"Sorry but it doesn´t change the fact that you would make more sense as a target." Alex said making Harry nod.

"Yes that is something I have been wondering about as well. It might be another part that is interested in you." Sirius said, "but it might also be a trick to get attention away from Harry. That is why I want both of you to be on guard."

"Sirius that will only work if I isn´t killed by a dragon this Tuesday."

"Yes the dragon. Don't be tempted to try a Stunning Spell - dragons are strong and too powerfully magical to be knocked out by a single Stunner, you need about half a dozen wizards at a time to overcome a dragon -"

"Yes I know that that is why dragon handlers works in teams" Alex replied.

"But you can do it alone," said Sirius. "There is a way, and a simple spell's all you need. Just -"

But Harry held up a hand to silence him, Alex heart suddenly pounding as though it would burst. He and Harry could hear footsteps coming down the spiral staircase behind them.

"Go!" Alex hissed at Sirius. "Go! There's someone coming!"

Harry and Alex scrambled to their feet, hiding the fire - if someone saw Sirius's face within the walls of Hogwarts, they would raise an almighty uproar - the Ministry would get dragged in – and the boys would be questioned about Sirius's whereabouts. Alex heard a tiny pop in the fire behind him and he knew Sirius had gone along with his solution to his dragon problem. He watched the bottom of the spiral staircase. Who had decided to go for a stroll at one o´clock. It was Ron. Dressed in his pyjamas, he stopped and stared at Alex and across the room, and looked around. "Who were you talking to?" he said.

"Each other!" Harry snapped. "Ron I was just talking with Alex, I got that right you know."

"Yes, I just heard another voice so-"

"In any case it was private Weasley." Alex snapped angry that Ron had interrupted Sirius.

"Look I just-"

"Seriously Ron what did you think huh when you are hear a third voice."

Ron paled a bit, "You could have told me that you were meeting him."

"What?" Alex laughed, "Look just back off Weasley and try to use your brain."

"There it is again acting like those smiley snakes."

"STOP" Harry yelled, "Ron you promised to stop insulting Alex, and I am allowed to do things without you."

Harry´s yelling did make Ron look like he was ashamed. "Harry I am sorry."

"Yeah well then think about if you want to be my friend." Harry said in a cold voice storming past Ron, leaving Ron and Alex alone together.

"Nice job Weasley. Your hated of me is ruining your friendship with Harry." Alex hissed walked past Ron as well, and going to his dormitory and strait to bed, but the knowledge of the dragons kept him up a good part of the night and when he finally fell asleep. His dreams were full of dragons.

…

Chapter end.

So I hoped you enjoyed even though there was some augments. Alex knows about the dragons and wants to try to repair his friendship with Blaise one more time. But will Blaise accept and will he be able to help Alex to train to his figth with the dragon, and what will he say when Alex shows him the chamber of secrets.

You have to continue reading to find out. Until then please leave an review.