The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 22: The Golden Egg´s Riddle

…

The applause wasn´t overwhelming. It seemed that people was a bit suspicions about the way Alex had won. "And here we go our youngest champion managed to get the egg and in the shortest time. Let us give Mr. Black a big hand for the amazing spell work, and his little stunt with parseltongue." Bagman shouted making more people applaud.

Over at the entrance to the enclosure, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Hagrid hurried to meet him, all of them waving him toward them, their smiles evident even from the distance. Alex slowly made his way back to the entrance, with a big smile on his face. He had done it, he had really done. He had gotten past the dragon. He had gotten though the first task, he had survived. It all of his self-control not to jump up and down in joy.

"Mr. Black, I must say you did extremely well. It was excellent" cried Professor McGonagall and Alex knew that it was the highest form of praise you could get from her. He stopped up now only realizing that he was panting, none the less he gave his heard of house a big smile and noticed that her hand shook as she pointed at his arm. "You'll need to see Madam Pomfrey before the judges give out your score… over there, she's had to mop up Diggory already…"

"Yeh did it, Alex!" said Hagrid hoarsely. "Yeh did it! An' agains' the Horntail an' all, an' yeh know Charlie said that was the wors' - "

"Thanks, Hagrid," Alex said loudly, so that Hagrid wouldn't blunder on and reveal that he had shown him the dragons beforehand.

Professor Moody looked very pleased too; his magical eye was dancing in its socket. "Way to go, Black," he said. "Nice spell work and a really impressive ability have at your disposal."

"Right then, Black, the first aid tent, please…" said Professor McGonagall.

Alex walked out of the enclosure, still panting, and saw Madam Pomfrey standing at the mouth of a second tent, looking worried.

"Dragons!" she said, in a disgusted tone, pulling Alex inside. The tent was divided into cubicles; he could make out Cedric's shadow through the canvas, but Cedric didn't seem to be badly injured; he was sitting up, at least. Madam Pomfrey examined Alex´s arm, talking furiously all the while. "Last year dementors, this year dragons, what are they going to bring into this school next?" She paused then continued in a more friendly tone. "Hmm you have put a bandage your arm, to stop the bleeding, that is good. But I am afraid that your arm is bad shape, your bone shattered in many places, I can heal it, but you'll need to rest it up for a couple of days in a sling."

"You are the boss." Alex smiled, "I just look forward to I can heal arms myself."

"As I say in my class it comes with practice." Madam Pomfrey as she cleaned the small wound with a dab of some purple liquid that smoked and stung, but then poked Alex´s arm with her wand, and he felt it warm up and heal instantly, and then gave him a sling for his arm. "Now, just sit quietly for a minute, And then you can go and get your score."

She bustled out of the tent and he heard her go next door and say, "How does it feel now, Diggory?"

However, Alex didn't want to sit still; he was still too full of adrenaline. He got to his feet, wanting to see what was going on outside, but before he'd reached the mouth of the tent, seven people had come darting inside - Harry, followed closely by Ron, Hermione, Neville, Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise. Alex was bit surprised that Ron was in here, but he was in too good in a mood to let Weasley ruin it.

"Continuations Alex." Hermione said as she gave him a small smile, while Harry patted him on the shoulder.

"It was really impressive. I am just concerned what people will say, about you using parseltongue."

"Who cares what they will say. Alex was amazing," said Blaise looking at Harry. "No matter how he did it."

"Yeah he was great, but you know how people talk." Harry said. As Blaise nodded, Harry smiled and then elbowed Ron, when he didn´t respond Harry elbowed him again and whispered something to him. Ron signed but nodded. However, he didn´t do anything, so Harry pushed him forward and whispered something that sounded like, go on. Ron looked at Alex for a few seconds he looked very uncomfortable. "Hey uh Alexander." Ron said, slowly. "Uh I uh I might have said uh a few things that was a bit uh out of place. Things that might had been hurtful."

Alex eyed Ron, "So?"

Ron signed. "Look I don´t like you okay? But I shouldn't have said the things I said about your father, and called you a liar. I stand by the other things."

"Ron, you promised." Harry said in an angry voice, "I mean what I said."

"It is fine Harry," Alex said, "look it is fine Ron. Let us just go back to hating each other and stop talking to each other okay?

Ron gave a quick nod before leaving the tent. Harry gave quick smile before he and Hermione following their friend.

"You did do well Alex." Daphne said before she hugged him. Alex stood still for a moment and enjoyed Daphne´s embrace before hugging her back in a hug that lasted for a few minutes. "I have been so worried when the fire hit you I thought you were done for." She said as she let of Alex.

"Well I wouldn't have made it if it wasn´t for the training." Alex answered as scratched his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Still it was amazing." Daphne said smiling at Alex. "You were amazing."

Blaise, Tracey and Neville exchanged amused looks as they watched their two friends and noticed their blushes and goofy smiles. "He was." Blaise cut in before giving Alex a high-five, "too bad the root spell didn´t did that much."

"It was cool how you controlled the fire though." Tracey said.

"I have to say that his little illusion trick was really impressive. Well that and the fact that you actually could speak to the dragon." Draco said as he stepped into the tent. "Congratulations Alex!" He said as he gave him a high-five.

"Thanks Draco," Alex said noticing that Daphne, Tracey and Neville where looking at them strangely.

"What is he doing here?" Tracey asked as she looked at Draco. "He is acting very weird."

"He is a better person now." Blaise said cheeking his watch. "However we should talk later."

"Huh why?" Alex asked looking confused.

"Oh yeah I forgot to say." Daphne said. "You have to get outside and get your points from the judges."

Picking up the golden egg, feeling more elated than he would have believed possible an hour ago, Alex ducked out of the tent, Daphne by his side, Blaise, Tracey, and Draco following them. "You were one of the best you know." Blaise said, "Cedric transfigured a rock into a dog. It was pretty cool magic. It was a good plan too and it worked well sort off. The dragon chased the dog, but it then it decided to chase Cedric instead – he got the egg, but he got butt and himself burn. Fleur used some sort of hypnoses spell-"

"Really did it work?" Alex asked in exited voice, now that he wasn´t filled with nerves he was eager to know how the other champions had completed the task.

"uh sort of, it did she managed to put in some trance, but then it snored and flame shot out and hit Fleur, making her skirt caught fire - she put it out with some water from her wand, she did okay. Krum didn´t fly as many had expected, instead he used some spell that it the dragon in the eyes. It worked well, the only bad thing was that it made it stamp around in agony and squashed some of its real eggs. They had to take some points off because of that. So it was properly a good think that you saved the eggs, but still so far Krum is the best."

Blaise drew breath as the six friends reached the edge of the enclosure. The horntail had been removed and Alex could see that the five judges were sitting at the other end, in raised seats draped in gold.

"It's marks out of ten from each one," Daphne said, and Alex squinting up the field, saw the first judge - Madame Maxime - raise her wand in the air. What looked like a long silver ribbon shot out of it, which twisted itself into a large figure nine.

"Not bad!" said Tracey as the crowd applauded, "I think she took the last point of because of your arm."

Mr. Crouch came next. He shot a number nine into the air.

"Great job, the good scores keeps coming." Neville said clapping Alex on the back.

Next, Dumbledore. He too put up a nine. The crowd was cheering harder than ever.

Ludo Bagman - ten.

"What?" Alex almost shouted. "But my arm – what is he playing at?"

"So what you are complaining about getting top score." Blaise said.

Alex shrugged and watched as Karkaroff raised his wand. He paused for a moment, and then a number shot out of his wand too - four.

"What four?" Draco hissed furiously, "That little cheating, lousy, biased scumbag. He gave Krum a ten."

"I am surprised that he didn´t gave me a zero," Alex whispered as he stood there enjoying the crowds cheers, they might turn on him tomorrow but for now he was being cheered for, and that made Alex smile, so the scores didn´t really mattered.

"You're tied in first place, Alex! You and Krum!" said Charlie Weasley, hurrying to meet them as they set off back toward the school. "Listen, I've got to run, I've got to go and send Mum an owl, I swore I'd tell her what happened - but that was unbelievable, I would really wish I had you talent with dragons! Oh yeah - and they told me to tell you you've got to hang around for a few more minutes… Bagman wants a word, back in the champions' tent." Charlie paused, as he looked at Alex´s friends. "Sorry guys it is champions only."

Alex nodded and said, that they could talk later, then he re-entered the tent, which somehow looked quite different now: friendly and welcoming. He thought back to how he'd felt while creeping past the Horntail, and compared it to the long wait before he'd walked out to face it...there was no comparison; the wait had been immeasurably worse. Fleur, Cedric, and Krum all came in together. One side of Cedric's face was covered in a thick orange paste, which was presumably mending his burn. He glanced at Alex for a few seconds before signalling that he wanted to talk.

"Listen Black," Cedric whispered, "uh thank you for telling about the dragon."

"Pardon?"

"I won´t have done it, so well if I hadn´t known about the dragons."

Alex didn´t reply, he didn´t really knew what to say, after all he wasn´t sure if had told Cedric because it was the right thing to do, or because others would see it that way. "You are uh welcome. I mean as I said you dersve to have the same chance as the rest of us."

Cedric looked at Alex for a few seconds. "You are not as I expected Black."

"I am rarely what people expect especially if they read the Prophet." Alex said as he walked away.

"Well done, all of you!" said Ludo Bagman, bouncing into the tent and looking as pleased as though he personally had just got past a dragon. "Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth - but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open… see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg - because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!"

…

Alex starred at the egg as he walked out of the tent. So this time he was supposed to know what the task was. He just hoped that this one would be less dangerous than the dragon, but he had survived this one and he done it rather well. Alex smiled as at Harry joined him.

"So what did Bagman want?"

"Uh just tell us about the second task."

"Oh care to spoil the surprise."

Alex smiled, "sure when I figure out what it is I will let you know. I only know that the golden egg is a clue."

Harry laughed but before he could say anything, a witch leapt out from a tree. It was Rita Skeeter. She was wearing acid-green robes today; the Quick-Quotes Quill in her hand blended perfectly against them. "Hallo Alexander, congratulations about a wonderful job. You had a very surprising solution. Do have a comment?"

"Uh no, not really."

Skeeter gave fake smile. "yes I can imagine you are still filled with adrenaline. Then maybe what about you Mr. Potter? What about an interview about your friend's performance and maybe a chance for our readers to get to know the boy who lived, isn´t that an idea?"

"No, not really Alex and I need to get back to the castle." Harry said as dragged Alex away before Skeeter could ask another question. Once they had gotten a good, distance looked Harry at Alex. "You better write Padfoot, before she write some bullshit about you."

Alex frowned "Yeah I was planning to do it anyway. Uh I can use Archimedes to send a letter to my grandpa, but can I use yours to send one to Padfoot?"

"Hedwig can´t go either remember."

Alex signed, "Yeah I forgot, well then I can use a school owl."

"Or you could ask Ron if you can use his owl." Harry after a short pause.

Alex stopped and looked at Harry. "I am not sure if that is a good idea Harry, Ron and I are not friends, and me asking would be weird."

Harry signed. "Look Alex, I am sure that Ron will say yes, but eh if you want, then I could ask him." Alex hesitated, but when he saw Harry´s face he nodded, "great I ask him when we get to the common room."

The first thing Alex did when he came to the Gryffindor common was to go to the dormitory so he could examine the egg, he was joined by Harry, Neville and Weasley twins.

"So what are you waiting for Dragon Whisper. Open the clue."

Alex smiled a bit at George´s nickname and dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open.

It was hollow and completely empty - but the moment Alex opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room.

"Shut it!" Fred bellowed his hands over his ears.

"What is that about?" Harry asked as Alex had closed the egg ending noise. "What sounds like that, just what are you supposed to fight?"

Neville had gotten very pale and as soon as he spoke Alex knew why. "It sounded like someone was tortured, Y-you don´t have to fight the fight the Cruciatus Curse do you?"

"Don't be a prat, Neville, that's illegal," said George. "They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing… maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Alex."

"In that case you are allowed to take extreme measures to get him to shut it." Fred added making everyone laugh.

Later that evening the Alex and Harry went, the Owlery so that could Alex send his letters. Harry had talked to Ron and he had said that his owl could be used. Alex was unsure what to make of it, but apparently it was important to Harry. On the way to Owlery, the two friends talked about who had placed Alex´s name in the goblet.

"Well I still think it could Karkaroff." Harry said after Alex had told of his talk in the chamber. "I mean Padfoot seamed sure that he wasn´t up to anything good, and when did you start talking to Malfoy anyway?"

"Since he became nice, haven't you noticed he has been less of a git lately?" Alex asked looking at Harry. He was silent for a few moments, but then nodded.

"But who ever put your name in the goblet, have made a fool of himself." Harry said. "I mean you are safe, and only have a few scratches."

"I still have two more task to go, "Alex said in a uncertain voice as he walked in the owlery. "I hope the worst have happened, but fear it hasn´t."

Alex quickly found his owl, Harry found Ron´s, and in a few minutes, the two owls were on their way to deliver the good news to Sirius and Alex´s grandfather. "Anyway we should get back to the common room." Harry said making Alex look at him.

"Huh?"

"We should get back to the Gryffindor common room; there is something I want to uh show you."

Alex grinned, "Are you talking about the surprise party you have planned."

"Party? I don´t know what you are talking about." Harry tried to lie.

"Uh please," Alex snorted. He knew all about the party the Gryffindors had planned even though he found it a bit weird. "I know about it Harry. So do you think that Fred and George have gotten food from the kitchen."

"They should, I should only keep you're here for ten minutes, and I am kind of hungry."

Alex smiled a bit, "You can just go ahead. I could use a minute anyway."

Harry smiled and left. Alex smiled a bit wondering what his family would say to his performance. He had been very detailed when he had written about the dragon, telling how he had dealt with and what he had said. He was most curious about what they would say about him using parseltongue. Would they be impressed or would they disapprove that, he had brought himself in the spotlight like that. Alex starred out the minute for few minutes; the owls were already small dots on the horizon and soon disappeared from view. He still couldn't believe that he standing here being able to send the letters, just a few days ago he had thought he was done for. Alex signed a bit as he turned on his heel and began walking back to the common room after all the party was for him. When he was on a corridor at the second floor, Alex noticed that one of his shoes were untied, he signed a bent down to fix, although doing it with one hand made it impossible.

"Well hey little cousin want brings you on these parts?" a voice asked making Alex look up. It was his cousin Silan. He was standing in small hallway with his arms crossed and smirk on his face. Alex stood up looking at his cousin.

"I had some post to send, I could ask you the same, shouldn't you be at your little boat?"

"I wanted a word with my dear cousin. Do you have time?"

Alex eyed Silan, he didn´t really wanted to talk with him. However, before he could answer Silan grabbed him and pulled him in to the smaller hallway. Alex growled a bit and gave his cousin an annoyed look. "So what do you want?"

"It was some performance you did eh cousin using parseltounge and all that." Silan gave smile. One that Alex didn´t trust. "Still it shows how pathetic you are, and to think you are the one from our family that inherited Slytherin´s ability,"

"Shut up Silan."

"No, I mean come on Xander your little performance pales in comparison to Krum´s after all he wasn´t hurt and showed some way more impressive magic."

"Oh I am sorry to disappoint," Alex sneered. "I bet you are regretting that you put my name in the goblet."

"Me putting your name in? And just why would I do that?" Silan gave an evil laugh as he walked closer to Alex. "Well don´t get me wrong, it hilarious to see you almost get killed, but the fact that you weaselled you to a champion." Silan grabbed Alex´s injured arm, who did his best not to cry in pain. "It just makes me so angry that this little dump you call a school has gotten two champions." Silan squeezed Alex´s arm tighter.

"Silan let go of me."

"Come on Xander what is the matter?"

Alex cluttered his teeth as the pain got worse, "you are hurting me."

Silan smiled, "do I now? You know you deserve this. So beg Xander, beg me stop."

Alex was about to respond when – "Alex there you are." Alex turned and saw it was Daphne that had called.

"And who is that?" Silan asked letting go of Alex´s arm as Daphne walked over to the two boys. "Hey Alex!" she smiled then looked at Silan, "who is this?"

"Uh this is uh-"

"I am Silan." Silan said smiling at Daphne. "I am Alexander´s cousin. And may I ask the name of this beautiful lady?"

"I am Daphne Greengrass."

"Daphne eh what a pretty name." Silan said taking Daphne´s hand and kissed it, making Alex clench his fist in anger. "I am just wondering why Alexander never have mentioned that he knew such a beautiful girl."

Daphne blushed, "and he never told me that he have such a handsome cousin."

"Did you want something Daphne?" Alex looking at her. She made a small jump as she had forgotten he was there.

"Uh yes Alex I just-"

"Hmm it looks like you need I a private moment, so we just talk later Xander, you shouldn't let a pretty girl waiting." Silan said giving Alex a fake smile.

"You cousin seams nice," Daphne said looking at Silan´s retreating form.

Alex felt extremely jealous that Daphne had called his cousin handsome or maybe it was that she was sounded so impressed by him or maybe it was both. "Maybe, why did you want to see me?"

"Yeah I just wanted to invite you to a small get-together tomorrow."

"Why?"

Daphne smiled and gave Alex a gently push, "dah to celebrate your victory your prat. I figure the lions will celebrate you tonight, but your supporters should have the chance as well."

"So who will be there?"

"Me, Tracey and Blaise of course, then Malfoy, Erik and that Mellissa girl, is there anyone else you want?"

"No not really, maybe Harry, Nev, Hermione and the Weasley twins." Alex said while shrugging. "Where will it be?"

"Just be at the Great Hall at dinner time, I have arranged it with the teachers." Daphne said, "Your shoe is untied by the way." She added looking at Alex´s feet.

"Yeah, I only have the one hand, so without my wand I-" before Alex could finish, Daphne bent down and tied it.

"There you go."

Alex blushed a bit and nodded while muttering a small thanks before walking back to his common room. The second he stepped inside he was met with applauses, this time many of the people that hadn´t celebrated when he was elected as a champion, joined in. Alex didn´t really care much for that group, knowing that might as well hate him again tomorrow. Nonetheless, he smiled and waved at everyone.

"And let us give it up to our champion, the Dragon Whisper Alexander Black." George said rising a grinning Alex´s hand, and led him to the centre of the room. Where there were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface. Lee Jordan had let off some Filibuster's Fireworks, so that the air was thick with stars and sparks; and Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had put up some impressive new banners, most of which depicted Alex standing with his hand on a dragon´s snout.

"Congratulations Alex," Ginny said as she handed him an opened butterbear, which he accepted. The party was great. Alex had to shake more hands then he could counts, and was glad when he had a chance of sitting down with Harry, Neville Ginny, Fred, George and Hermione, where they could talk about other things then the tournament, although it came up.

"I am curious how you get all this food here." Alex said to Fred as he took a bite of his cauldron cake.

"The kitchens."

That made Hermione who had been silent most of the time to look at Fred. "Really you can just go there?"

"Yep," said Fred, grinning at her. He put on a high-pitched squeak and imitated a house-elf. "'Anything we can get you, sir, anything at all!' They're dead helpful… get me a roast ox if I said I was peckish."

"How do you get in there?" Hermione said in an innocently casual sort of voice.

"Easy," said Fred, "concealed door behind a painting of a bowl of fruit. Just tickle the pear, and it giggles and -" He stopped and looked suspiciously at her. "Why?"

"Nothing," said Hermione quickly.

"Going to try and lead the house-elves out on strike now, are you?" said George. "Going to give up all the leaflet stuff and try and stir them up into rebellion?"

Hermione didn´t reply at that and she didn´t get a chance because Neville, who just had eaten a custard creams cake, turned into a canary.

"Ups sorry Neville!" Fred exclaimed, "I forgot to tell you that we charmed those cakes."

Alex who had a custard creams cake in his hand dropped it and glanced at the Weasley twins, he had a nasty feeling that they had did that to prank Alex, George´s embarrassed smile conformed that. "Ha ha very funny guys."

Within a minute, however, Neville had moulted, and once his feathers had fallen off, he reappeared looking entirely normal. He even joined in laughing.

"Canary Creams!" Fred shouted to the excitable crowd. "George and I invented them - seven Sickles each, a bargain!"

Everybody started to talk about the twins product and asking them for details. Alex smiled knowing how important the joke products were to them, but also because the focus had moved from him to the twins. Alex silently went over to get a new butterbear. "You did well."

Alex froze; it was Chris that had spoken. "What did you want?" He asked looking at Chris.

Chris smiled, "Nothing, I get that you won't talk with me, but uh I just wanted to let you know that you were amazing. I mean you were do one who completed the task the quickest."

"Thanks." Alex said looking at the ground not wanting to talk with Chris, granted he had respected that Alex didn´t want anything to do with him. Alex looked up again and saw that Chris still was looking at him, as he wanted something else, "uh was there more?"

"Yes if I can help with anything then please come to me. I mean I am a seventh year so I might know a trick or two."

Alex looked away again; he still really hated Chris for what he had done to him. And he knew that he wouldn't forgive nor did he wanted to. "This doesn´t change anything. I will never forgive or trust you, got it."

"Look I know, but mean what I said. I help, I don´t expect forgiveness from you." Chris said as he looked at Alex, "Anyway enjoy your party, you really deserve it."

The rest of the party was just fun and games. Alex helped himself to a lot of food having almost forgotten what it was like to be properly hungry. Now it was just nice to eat and knowing it wouldn't be his last meal. It was nearly one in the morning when Alex finally went up to the dormitory along with the rest of the fourth years boys. Before he pulled the curtains of his four-poster shut, Alex set his tiny model of the Hungarian Horntail on the table next to his bed, where it yawned, curled up, and closed its eyes. "Hmm Hagrid was right, dragons are kind of cute. Alex thought before drifting to sleep, where he dreamt of flying with dragons.

…

The party that Daphne had arranged wasn´t as big as the one the Gryffindors had thrown, but it was just as nice if not nicer. After all this was with the people that he really cared about and the best of all, all of his friends had gotten along. It had been especially nice to notice that Fred and Mellissa talked a lot with each other. Alex hoped that Fred liked Mellissa as she liked him, somehow they would be a good fit.

The time following the first task was pretty great. Alex had gotten a reply from his grandfather with usual congratulations. Alex´s grandfather had especially impressed about Alex using parseltongue to get the egg, and spell work he had used, but stressed that Alex couldn't relax yet. But he did relax, he was doing well in his classes again and the number of people that were bullying had degreased drastically and people where now talking to him a civil tone at least those that still talked to him. Two days after the first task, there had been a bump in the happiness, since Skeeter´s article about the first task had come out. Of course, a major part of it was about Alex using parseltongue and how his ability was a trait of dark wizards. She even got very close to hinting that Alex might have a dark nature. So naturally a lot of the students at Hogwarts were freaked out to relearn that he was a parselmouth and might be the next Dark Lord therefor they avoided him. It was a bit annoying but at least it wasn´t every students that acted that way. One of these students beside his friends was Susan Bones. She had been over telling him that she was sorry for ignoring him and about the way he had been treated. Alex found it a bit ironic that she was the one to apologise, since she hadn´t really done anything at all, sure, she had ignored him but Alex understood why. After all if she hadn´t then she would properly had been bullied as well. Therefore, Alex just told her to forget it and was just happy that she was talking with him again.

About a week after the task, Alex figured that he had to work on the egg clue but so far it was still the same screaming noise. He had tried casting a silence charm on it, but nothing happened. He had tried heating the egg up, but there was stilling just screaming. He had tried casting a spell that slowed the speed of a voice down. Alex had thought that, there might had been the clues had come to fast for him to hear them, but that wasn´t the case. Alex however wasn´t about to panic just yet. Although he knew that the egg wouldn't tell him how to solve the task, he still had months to figure it out.

The start of December brought wind and sleet to Hogwarts. Draughty though the castle always was in winter, Alex was glad of its fires and thick walls every time he passed the Durmstrang ship on the lake, which was pitching in the high winds, its black sails billowing against the dark skies. He thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly too. Hagrid, he noticed, was keeping Madame Maxime's horses well provided with their preferred drink of single-malt whiskey; the fumes wafting from the trough in the comer of their paddock was enough to make the entire Care of Magical Creatures class light-headed. This was unhelpful, as they were still tending the horrible skrewts and needed their wits about them.

"I'm not sure whether they hibernate or not," Hagrid told the shivering class in the windy pumpkin patch next lesson. "Thought we'd jus' try an see if they fancied a kip… we'll jus' settle 'em down in these boxes…"

There were now only ten skrewts left; apparently their desire to kill one another had not been exercised out of them. Each of them was now approaching six feet in length. Their thick grey armour; their powerful, scuttling legs; their fire-blasting ends; their stings and their suckers, combined to make the skrewts the most repulsive things Alex had ever seen. The class looked dispiritedly at the enormous boxes Hagrid had brought out, all lined with pillows and fluffy blankets.

"We'll jus' lead 'em in here," Hagrid said, "an' put the lids on, and we'll see what happens."

But the skrewts, it transpired, did not hibernate, and did not appreciate being forced into pillow-lined boxes and nailed in. Hagrid was soon yelling, "Don panic, now, don' panic!" while the skrewts rampaged around the pumpkin patch, now strewn with the smouldering wreckage of the boxes. Most of the class - Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle in the lead - had fled into Hagrid's cabin through the back door and barricaded themselves in; Alex, Harry, Ron, Daphne, Tracey, Hermione, Draco, Blaise and Ron, however, were the only ones who remained outside trying to help Hagrid.

"Great the snakes are the ones staying." Ron hissed as he looked at Draco and Blaise.

"Do you want help or not Weasley?" Draco said. Ron was about the give a rude remark, but Harry elbowed him and gave him an angry look. Ron stayed silent and the Slytherin and the Gryffindors worked together.

Together they managed to restrain and tie up nine of the skrewts, though at the cost of numerous burns and cuts; finally, only one skrewt was left.

"Don' frighten him, now!" Hagrid shouted as Alex and Harry used their wands to shoot jets of fiery sparks at the skrewt, which was advancing menacingly on them, its sting arched, quivering, over its back. "Jus' try an slip the rope 'round his sting, so he won hurt any o' the others!"

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that!" Ron shouted angrily as Alex and Harry backed into the wall of Hagrid's cabin, still holding the skrewt off with their sparks.

Hagrid launched himself forward on top of the skrewt that was cornering Harry and Alex and flattened it; a blast of fire shot out of its end, withering the pumpkin plants nearby.

"Well, well, well… this does look like fun." Alex cursed mentally as he recognized the voice. It was Rita Skeeter. She was leaning on Hagrid's garden fence, looking in at the mayhem. She was wearing a thick magenta cloak with a furry purple collar today, and her crocodile-skin handbag was over her arm.

"Okay this is where it stops," Alex growled in a low voice so on only Harry could hear him. "She have already crossed enough lines." The Gryffindor seeker nodded as he glared at Skeeter. Alex knew that Harry hated her as much as he did. A few days ago, she had written a new article about Harry. It wasn´t bad mouthing him or anything like that, it was just about his life and his tragic hero status, but it was a thing Harry hated.

"Hallo Alexander, and Harry I hope you liked my little article about the two of you."

Hagrid however interrupted Harry before he could say anything and maybe that was a good thing. "Who're you?" He asked Skeeter as he slipped a loop of rope around the skrewt's sting and tightened it.

"Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter," Rita replied, beaming at him. Her gold teeth glinted.

"Thought Dumbledore said you weren' allowed inside the school anymore," said Hagrid, frowning slightly as he got off the slightly squashed skrewt and started tugging it over to its fellows.

Rita acted as though she hadn't heard what Hagrid had said. "What are these fascinating creatures called?" she asked, beaming still more widely.

"Blast-Ended Skrewts," grunted Hagrid. Shut up Hagrid just shut, Alex mentally screamed but he knew if said it aloud it would be worse.

"Really?" said Rita, apparently full of lively interest. "I've never heard of them before… where do they come

But when Alex noticed a dull red flush rising up out of Hagrid's wild black beard, he wonder if it could have been worse. Where had Hagrid got the skrewts from? Hermione, who seemed to be thinking along these lines, said quickly, "They're very interesting, aren't they? Aren't they, Harry?"

"What? Oh yeah…ouch…interesting," said Harry as she stepped on his foot.

"You like working with these creatures Harry?" Skeeter asked as she looked at Harry then at Alex. "And what do you thing Mr. Black do you like Care of Magical Creatures, do you? One of your favourite lessons? It would interest my readers to know if Hogwarts to most famous students like their classes"

"Well Hagrid´s class is one of my favourites." Harry and Alex said in unison. Hagrid beamed at them.

"Lovely," said Rita. "Really lovely. Been teaching long?" she added to Hagrid. Alex noticed her eyes travel over Blaise (who had a nasty cut across one cheek), Daphne (whose robes were badly singed), Ron (who was nursing several burnt fingers), and then to the cabin windows, where most of the class stood, their noses pressed against the glass waiting to see if the coast was clear.

"This is o'ny me second year," said Hagrid.

"Lovely… I don't suppose you'd like to give an interview, would you? Share some of your experience of magical creatures? The Prophet does a zoological column every Wednesday, as I'm sure you know. We could feature these - er - Bang- Ended Scoots."

"Blast-Ended Skrewts," Hagrid said eagerly. "Er - yeah, why not?"

No, Alex couldn´t allow this. Skeeter would have some angle at this, there was no way she just would be nice. He had to prevent Hagrid from doing this. "Hag - Professor Hagrid, are you sure you want to do that?" he interrupted.

"Oh, don't be silly Alexander," Skeeter said, grinning. "Of course he wants an interview."

Harry opened his mouth and would presumably to tell truth about Skeeter. Alex quickly elbowed him and muttered that Harry should shut up. So he and the others stood and watch in silence as Hagrid and Rita Skeeter made arrangements to meet in the Three Broomsticks for a good long interview later that week. Then the bell rang up at the castle, signalling the end of the lesson.

"Well, goodbye, Harry! Goodbye, Alexander!" Rita Skeeter called merrily to the two boys as they set off with their Gryffindor and Slytherin friends "Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!"

"She will twist anything he says." Harry hissed once he, Alex, Ron and Hermione had separated from the Slytherins. Despite everything Alex knew that Harry still wasn´t that comfortable around the Slytherins especially Draco. So he usually waited until they were gone before saying important things. "Why did you stop me from telling Hagrid what kind of person she was?"

Alex noticed that Harry had stopped walking and now where glancing at him. "It would had make it worse, Skeeter can be very vengeful."

"So what, she will twist everything."

"I know Harry, she have done that to both of us."

"Yeah that is why we should have done something."

Alex crossed his arms and looked at Harry. "Like what? What could we have done without getting Hagrid in anymore trouble?"

Harry signed. "He still get in trouble."

"Just as long as he didn't import those skrewts illegally or anything," said Hermione desperately. They looked at one another - it was exactly the sort of thing Hagrid might do.

"Hagrid's been in loads of trouble before, and Dumbledore's never sacked him," said Ron consolingly. "Worst that can happen is Hagrid will have to get rid of the skrewts. Sorry… did I say worst? I meant best," he added.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and even Alex laughed, and, feeling slightly more cheerful, went off to lunch, and then double Divination. After that, it was time for dinner, it was when Alex decided to have an other try to talk to Hermione, about what happened the day before the first task. He had tried a few time earlier, but she had refused, and Alex somewhat glad of it, after all what was he supposed to say? Still he knew that he had to say something at some point. However, Hermione wasn't at dinner, nor was she in the library when Alex, Harry, and Ron (due to Harry insistence) went to look for her afterward.

"Wonder where Hermione's got to?" Harry said as he, Alex, and Ron went back to Gryffindor Tower.

"I don´t know - Balderdash," Alex said. The Fat Lady had barely begun to swing forward when the sound of racing feet behind them announced Hermione's arrival.

"Harry!" she panted, skidding to a halt beside him (the Fat Lady stared down at her, eyebrows raised). "Harry, you've got to come - you've got to come, the most amazing thing's happened- please -"

She seized Harry's arms and started to try to drag him back along the corridor.

"What's the matter?" Harry said.

"I'll show you when we get there - oh come on, quick -"

Harry looked at Alex who looked back at Harry, intrigued.

"Okay," Harry said, starting off back down the corridor with Hermione, Alex and Ron hurrying to keep up.

"Oh don't mind me!" the Fat Lady called irritably after them. "Don't apologise for bothering me! I'll just hang here, wide open, until you get back, shall I?"

"Yeah, thanks!" Ron shouted over his shoulder.

"Hermione, where are we going?" Harry asked, after she had led them down through six floors, and started down the marble staircase into the entrance hall.

"You'll see, you'll see in a minute!" said Hermione excitedly.

She turned left at the bottom of the staircase and hurried toward the door through which Cedric Diggory had gone the night after the Goblet of Fire had regurgitated his and Alex´s name. Alex had been this way a few times. This way led to Hufflepuff common room and the kitchens. He along with Harry, and Ron followed Hermione down a flight of stone steps, but instead of ending up in a gloomy underground passage like the one that led to Snape's dungeon, they found themselves in a broad stone corridor, brightly lit with torches, and decorated with cheerful paintings that were mainly of food.

"Oh hang on…" Harry said slowly, halfway down the corridor. "Hermione just wait a moment."

"What?" She turned around to look at him, anticipation all over her face.

"I know what this is about," Harry nudged Ron and Alex, and pointed to the painting just behind Hermione. It showed a gigantic silver fruit bowl. It was the entrance to the kitchen, but why would Hermione go there. Not to try to free the elves right?

"Hermione! You're trying to rope us into that spew stuff again!" Ron asked looking at the painting.

"No, no, I'm not!" she said hastily. "And it's not spew, Ron -"

"Changed the name, have you?" said Ron, making Alex roll his eyes. "What are we now, then, the House-Elf Liberation Front? I'm not barging into that kitchen and trying to make them stop work, I'm not doing it -"

"I'm not asking you to!" Hermione said impatiently. "I came down here just now, to talk to them all, and I found someone – someone Harry knows, that is what I wanted to show him."

She seized Harry's arms again, pulled them in front of the picture of the giant fruit bowl, stretched out her forefinger, and tickled the huge green pear. It began to squirm, chuckling, and suddenly turned into a large green door handle. Hermione seized it, pulled the door open, and pushed Harry hard in the back, forcing him inside. She then seized Ron. Alex chuckled as he walked inside curious about who Harry knew in there.

The kitchen looked amazing. The house elves were running around in the enormous, high-ceilinged room that had mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stonewalls, and a great brick fireplace at the other end.

Something small hurtled toward them from the middle of the room, squealing, "Harry Potter, sir!"

Alex watched the little elf run up to Harry, hit him hard in the midriff, and hugged him very tightly. Alex recognized the elf somewhere was it Dobby?

"D-Dobby?" Harry gasped, confirming it.

"It is Dobby, sir, it is!" The house elf squealed. "Dobby has been hoping and hoping to see Harry Potter, sir, and Harry Potter has come to see me, sir!"

Dobby let go and stepped back a few paces, beaming up at Harry, his enormous, green, tennis-ball-shaped eyes brimming with tears of happiness. The house elf looked much happier than he had when he had been serving the Malfoys. The thing that really was different was the house elf´s clothes. When Dobby had worked for the Malfoys, he had always worn the same filthy old pillowcase. Now however, he was wearing the strangest assortment of garments Alex had ever seen; he had done an even worse job of dressing himself than the wizards at the World Cup. He was wearing a tea cozy for a hat, on which he had pinned a number of bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over a bare chest, a pair of what looked like children's soccer shorts, and odd socks, which colours didn´t match.

"Dobby, what're you doing here?" Harry said in amazement.

"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" Dobby squealed excitedly. "Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!"

"Winky?" said Harry. "She's here too?"

"Yes, sir, yes!" said Dobby, and he seized Harry's hands and pulled him off into the kitchen between the four long wooden tables that stood there. Alex and the others followed.

Each of these tables, Alex noticed as they passed them, was positioned exactly beneath the four House tables above, in the Great Hall. At the moment, they were clear of food, dinner having finished, but Alex supposed that an hour ago they had been laden with dishes that were then sent up through the ceiling to their counterparts above.

At least a hundred little elves were standing around the kitchen, beaming, bowing, and curtsying as Dobby led the four Gryffindors past them past them. They were all wearing the same uniform: a tea towel stamped with the Hogwarts crest, and tied, as Winky's had been, like a toga.

Dobby stopped in front of the brick fireplace and pointed.

"Winky, sir!" he said.

Winky was sitting on a stool by the fire. Unlike Dobby, she had obviously not foraged for clothes. She was wearing a neat little skirt and blouse with a matching blue hat, which had holes in it for her large ears. However, while every one of Dobby's strange collection of garments was so clean and well cared for that it looked brand-new, Winky was plainly not taking care of her clothes at all. There were soup stains all down her blouse and a burn in her skirt.

"Hello, Winky," said Harry.

Winky's lip quivered. Then she burst into tears, which spilled out of her great brown eyes and splashed down her front, just as they had done at the Quidditch World Cup. Winky harder and harder. Dobby, on the other hand, beamed up at Harry.

"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" he squeaked loudly, over Winky's sobs.

"Er - yeah, okay," said Harry.

"And does the School Champion wishes tea as well or would the young master want something else?" A house elf squeaked making Alex jump in chock.

"Uh tea is fine thanks."

Instantly, about six house-elves came trotting up behind them, bearing a large silver tray laden with a teapot, cups not only for Alex and Harry, but for Hermione and Ron as well, , a milk jug, a huge hunk of chocolate that looked more like a large rock than anything and a large plate of biscuits.

"Good service!" Ron said, in an impressed voice Alex noticed Hermione frown at him, but the elves all looked delighted; they bowed very low and retreated.

"How long have you been here, Dobby?" Harry asked as Dobby handed around the tea.

"Only a week, Harry Potter, sir!" said Dobby happily. "Dobby came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir. You see, sir, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed -"

At this, Winky howled even harder, her squashed-tomato of a nose dribbling all down her front, though she made no effort to stem the flow.

"Dobby has travelled the country for two whole years, sir, trying to find work!" Dobby squeaked. "But Dobby hasn't found work, sir, because Dobby wants paying now!"

The house-elves all around the kitchen, who had been listening and watching with interest, all looked away at these words, as though Dobby had said something rude and embarrassing. Hermione, however, said, "Good for you, Dobby!"

"Thank you, miss!" said Dobby, grinning toothily at her. "But most wizards doesn't want a house-elf who wants paying, miss. 'That's not the point of a house-elf,' they says, and they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid. Harry Potter...Dobby likes being free!"

The Hogwarts house-elves had now started edging away from Dobby, as though he were carrying something contagious. Winky, however, remained where she was, though there was a definite increase in the volume other crying.

"And then, Harry Potter, Dobby goes to visit Winky, and finds out Winky has been freed too, sir!" said Dobby delightedly.

At this, Winky flung herself forward off her stool and lay face-down on the flagged stone floor, beating her tiny fists upon it and positively screaming with misery. Hermione hastily dropped down to her knees beside her and tried to comfort her, but nothing she said made the slightest difference. Dobby continued with his story, shouting shrilly over Winky's screeches.

"And then Dobby had the idea, Harry Potter, sir! 'Why doesn't Dobby and Winky find work together?' Dobby says. 'Where is there enough work for two house elves?' says Winky. And Dobby thinks, and it comes to him, sir! Hogwarts! So Dobby and Winky came to see Professor Dumbledore, sir, and Professor Dumbledore took us on!"

Dobby beamed very brightly, and happy tears welled in his eyes again.

"And Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a month!"

"That's not very much!" Hermione shouted indignantly from the floor, over Winky's continued screaming and fist beating.

"Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off," said Dobby, suddenly giving a little shiver, as though the prospect of so much leisure and riches were frightening, "but Dobby beat him down, miss… Dobby likes freedom, miss, but he isn't wanting too much, miss, he likes work better."

"So what did I say Alex, a house elf can get paid without the bond being broken, the other thing was just propaganda."

Alex looked at Hermione then at Dobby, "Tell me Dobby you work for Hogwarts right?" The house elf nodded eagerly. "Right and it is Dumbledore that is paying you right?"

The house elf nodded, "yes Alexander Black, Professor Dumbledore pays Dobby out of his own pocket, that way Dobby can still survive and get paid."

Alex looked at Hermione and smiled, "that is my point Hermione. This works because Hogwarts itself is magical so Dobby is bound to the school, not our headmaster. Therefor if he pays as an induvial, it doesn´t affect the bound." Alex paused as he noticed the on Hermione´s face. "Look there is still much you can do for elf rights other than pay."

"Then that is what I want," Hermione said, before she looked at Winky. "And how much is Professor Dumbledore paying you, Winky?" she asked kindly.

If she had thought this would cheer up Winky, she was wildly mistaken. Winky did stop crying, but when she sat up she was glaring at Hermione through her massive brown eyes, her whole face sopping wet and suddenly furious.

"Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!" she squeaked. "Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!"

"Ashamed?" said Hermione blankly. "But - Winky, come on! It's Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not you! You didn't do anything wrong, he was really horrible to you -"

But at these words, Winky clapped her hands over the holes in her hat, flattening her ears so that she couldn't hear a word, and screeched, "You is not insulting my master, madam! You is not insulting Mr. Crouch! Mr. Crouch is a good wizard, madam! Mr. Crouch is right to sack bad Winky!"

"Winky is having trouble adjusting, Harry Potter," squeaked Dobby confidentially. "Winky forgets she is not bound to Mr. Crouch anymore; she is allowed to speak her mind now, but she won't do it."

"Can't house-elves speak their minds about their masters, then?" Harry asked.

"Oh no, sir, no," said Dobby, looking suddenly serious. "This is part of the house-elf's enslavement, sir. We keeps their secrets and our silence, sir. We upholds the family's honour, and we never speaks ill of them - though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to - to-"

Dobby looked suddenly nervous and beckoned Harry closer. He bent forward.

Dobby whispered, "He said we is free to call him a - a barmy old codger if we likes, sir!"

Dobby gave a frightened sort of giggle, making Alex smile as he took a sip of his tea.

"But Dobby is not wanting to, Harry Potter," he said, talking normally again, and shaking his head so that his ears flapped. "Dobby likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, madam, and is proud to keep his secrets and our silence for him."

"But you can say what you like about the Malfoys now?" Harry asked him, grinning. Alex looked at Harry wondering why he would ask that.

A slightly fearful look came into Dobby's immense eyes.

"Dobby - Dobby could," he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. "Dobby could tell Harry Potter that his old masters were - were - bad Dark wizards'."

Dobby stood for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck by his own daring - then he rushed over to the nearest table and began banging his head on it very hard, squealing, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!".

Harry seized Dobby by the back of his tie and pulled him away from the table.

"Thank you, Harry Potter, thank you," said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head.

"You just need a bit of practice," Harry said.

"Practice!" squealed Winky furiously. "You is ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dobby, talking that way about your masters!"

"They isn't my masters anymore, Winky!" said Dobby defiantly. "Dobby doesn't care what they think anymore!"

"Oh you is a bad elf, Dobby!" moaned Winky, tears leaking down her face once more. "My poor Mr. Crouch, what is he doing without Winky? He is needing me, he is needing my help! I is looking after the Crouches all my life, and my mother is doing it before me, and my grandmother is doing it before her… oh what is they saying if they knew Winky was freed? Oh the shame, the shame!" She buried her face in her skirt again and bawled.

"Winky," said Hermione firmly, "I'm quite sure Mr. Crouch is getting along perfectly well without you. We've seen him, you know -"

"You is seeing my master?" said Winky breathlessly, raising her tearstained face out of her skirt once more and goggling at Hermione. "You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?"

"Yeah," Alex said, "he had Bagman is some of the judges in the Triwizard Tournament."

"Mr. Bagman comes too?" squeaked Winky, and to Alex surprise, she looked angry again. "Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't liking him, oh no, not at all!"

"Bagman - bad?" Alex asked, Bad wasn´t a word he connected with Bagman, odd yes, not the greatest leader yes, but bad never.

"Oh yes," Winky said, nodding her head furiously, "My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying… Winky - Winky keeps her master's secrets…"

She dissolved yet again in tears; they could hear her sobbing into her skirt, "Poor master, poor master, no Winky to help him no more!"

They couldn't get another sensible word out of Winky. They left her to her crying and finished their tea, while Dobby chatted happily about his life as a free elf and his plans for his wages.

"Dobby is going to buy a sweater next, Harry Potter!" he said happily, pointing at his bare chest.

"Tell you what, Dobby," said Ron, who seemed to have taken a great liking to the elf, "I'll give you the one my mum knits me this Christmas, I always get one from her. You don't mind maroon, do you?"

Dobby was delighted.

"We might have to shrink it a bit to fit you," Ron said, "but it'll go well with your tea cosy."

As they prepared to take their leave, many of the surrounding elves pressed in upon them, offering snacks to take back upstairs. Hermione refused, with a pained look at the way the elves kept bowing and curtsying, but Harry, Alex, and Ron loaded their pockets with cream cakes and pies, and Alex decided to come back, he had Blaise could get some fun.

"Thanks a lot!" Harry said to the elves, who had all clustered around the door to say good night. "See you, Dobby!"

"Harry Potter… can Dobby come and see you sometimes, sir?" Dobby asked tentatively.

"'Course you can," said Harry, and Dobby beamed.

"You know what?" said Ron, once he, Alex, Hermione, and Harry had left the kitchens behind and were climbing the steps into the entrance hall again. "All these years I've been really impressed with Fred and George, nicking food from the kitchens - well, it's not exactly difficult, is it? They can't wait to give it away!"

"I think this is the best thing that could have happened to those elves, you know," said Hermione, leading the way back up the marble staircase. "Dobby coming to work here, I mean. The other elves will see how happy he is, being free, and slowly it'll dawn on them that they want that too, and they can do it without dying."

"Let's hope they don't look too closely at Winky," said Harry.

"Oh she'll cheer up," said Hermione, though she sounded a bit doubtful. "Once the shock's worn off, and she's got used to Hogwarts, she'll see how much better off she is without that Crouch man."

"She seems to love him," Ron said thickly (he had just started on a cream cake).

"She doesn't think much of Bagman," Alex said as he rolled his eyes behind Ron´s back. "I wonder what Crouch says at home about him? What makes Bagman so bad?"

"Probably says he's not a very good Head of Department," said Hermione, "and let's face it… he's got a point, hasn't he?"

Alex shrugged, "yeah maybe." But he wasn´t sure, it had to be something else, but what he didn´t know.

"I'd still rather work for him than old Crouch," Ron said. "At least Bagman's got a sense of humour."

"Don't let Percy hear you saying that," Hermione said, smiling slightly.

"Yeah, well, Percy wouldn't want to work for anyone with a sense of humour, would he?" said Ron, now starting on a chocolate eclair. "Percy wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cosy."

Minutes later, the four Gryffindors entered the common room, and began walking towards their dorms, except Alex who along with Hermione stayed.

Alex watched Hermione sit and open a book. "Hermione could we uh talk?"

Hermione jumped and looked up, "Alex I thought I went with Harry?"

"No, I want to talk with you."

"I don´t really have time Alex."

"It is important Hermione, look we need to talk about what happened."

Hermione closed the book, "no we don´t." she said as she stood up.

"I think we do, because we barely have talked since that day. You are my friend Hermione.

"Alex I don´t want to talk about it okay, I obviously thought there was something there wasn´t. Hermione said standing up, "now if you can´t stop talking then I have to somewhere where there is quiet."

"Hermione I just want to say that I am-"

"There is nothing to say Alex," Hermione hissed, "look I see you tomorrow." She added before running up to the girls´ dormitory leaving Alex behind.

"I am sorry about hurting you," he whispered.

…

That is it for this chapter I hoped you enjoyed it, and thanks to those who have reviewed.

So Alex have begun working on his egg, but will he lean about the clue, and how will he know what it means. And what about is friendship with Hermione have it been ruined because of the almost kiss.

You have to read on to find out, until the next chapter please leave a review.