The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 29: Recovering

The following morning, Alex found that his fight with Silan had become common knowledge to the all students. It was clear because when he walked in the Great Hall, everybody starred at him and began to whisper among each other.

Alex signed and walked towards the Gryffindor table and begun eating his breakfast. His fellow Gryffindors were discussing the massive point loss.

Since he couldn´t spot Neville, Harry or Hermione anywhere, Alex decided to go to the Hospital Wing. He was just about to leave the Great Hall when he saw Tracey coming towards him. "Could I talk with you for a moment?" Alex nodded and followed Tracey out to the Entrance Hall. "I have just spoken to Daphne, I don´t want to imagine what would had happened if you hadn´t been there."

"Yeah well I was. Is she feeling better?"

"She is okay. She is a bit shocked, but I think she will be okay. I mean she have talked with Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey about it."

"That is good. Can she have visitors?"

"Yes that is what I wanted to say. Daphne´s parents is with her, and they talked about taking a little trip. She will be back after lunch. She told me to let you knew, since you had planned to visit her."

"Okay, thanks Trace."

"Do you want to hang with me and Blaise? We have planned to walk about around the school grounds. It would be nice of you joined us."

Alex could sense that Tracey only was asking to be polite, which were nice, but he wouldn't like to intrude on their date. "Thanks, but I could need some time to myself anyway and I have to talk to McGonagall about my detentions."

"Okay, if you are sure. Just don´t say no because you are thinking that you are intruding or anything, because you wouldn't."

"No honestly it fine Tracey, really."

Tracey gave a small smile, "okay. I see you later."

…

Professor McGonagall informed Alex that he would begin serving his detentions Monday. Truth be told, Alex wasn´t really that upset about the detentions. No what bothered him the most was the points he lost. It had pretty much cost Gryffindor the House Cup. Once he had finished his talk with McGonagall, Alex went to the library to begin on his essay. Erik quickly joined him and later so did Neville, neither of them seamed to blame him for his actions towards Silan. Alex still felt a bit guilty looking at Neville, knowing how his family had suffered from the Cruciatus Curse. Alex briefly wondered if he should tell Neville about what curse he had used, but he didn´t had the courage to do it. So he just ignored it as he worked on the essay. When Alex had finished his lunch and still hadn´t seen Daphne, Alex headed back to the library despite Erik´s invitation for company.

"Hey Alex!" Alex turned and saw Daphne standing behind him.

"Daphne? How did you know I was here?"

"I met Erik," she paused a bit. "Can we talk for a bit?" To Alex Daphne looked like she was feeling better then yesterday, she wasn´t as pale and her hair wasn´t a mess, but most importantly she had a little smile on her face. "I mean we could walk for a bit and-"

"Yeah sure Daphne," Alex answered, standing up. "We could go to the Chamber or the Room of Requirement?"

"The Chamber is fine," she said.

The two friends begun walking.

"Why didn´t you tell the teachers what really happened yesterday?" Alex asked after they had walked a bit without saying anything.

Daphne looked around, but relaxed when she saw they were alone. "It was when I talked with Snape," she whispered. Alex blushed a bit at how close Daphne was. "He told me that I shouldn't tell about that curse, but instead that you used serval others, and that he would do the same."

"But I don´t understand - why?"

"Because he wanted to help you. I think he respects you deep down."

"Still how did he managed to prevent Silan from talking? He is conscious after all."

"He oblivitated him," Daphne said in an even lower whisperer. "He prevented him remember what exactly happen. As I said Snape wanted to help you."

"Yeah it still sounds weird that Snape would want to help me."

Daphne laughed a bit. "I really don´t think he disliked you. Well at least not more than would dislike any another Gryffindor. I actually think that he respect you. Especially since you saved me from - you know - and well we both wanted you to stay here at Hogwarts."

Alex paused for a bit as the two continued to walk. He was a bit amazed that Snape had helped him like that. Sure he hadn´t gotten the impression that Snape hated him, like he hated Harry. Well until he discovered that Alex was Sirius´ son, but even then hadn´t there been the same malice. Still Alex would never had pictured Snape as one that would save a Gryffindor from being expelled. Especially if it meant breaking the rules. "Well uh t-thanks for covering for me."

Daphne smiled a bit, but it quickly faded into a worried glance. "Umm have you talked with someone about what happened?"

"Well uh Dumbledore lectured me about it."

"That is not talking Alex, and you know it. Talking is telling how you feel without a person judging you. I mean don´t you want to get it of your chest?"

There were many things; Alex wanted to get of his chest. So many different thoughts that ran though his heard. Mostly anger, guilt, shame but also his feelings towards the girl in front of him, but it wasn´t the time to tell her that. "Not really."

"But I want to." Daphne said softly. "Look I know that you feel ashamed of what you did. I mean I feel ashamed of putting you in that situation." Alex looked away, not able to look at her in the eyes. "Look just talk with me please. It helps trust me."

"I do, and I have talked with Sirius about it."

"Maybe I need to talk with you!" Daphne said making Alex stop. "It was so scary seeing you like that. You can´t imagine how terrible it was." At those words, Alex´s mind flashbacked to his boggart. "I have an idea."

"It was your face," Daphne continued as she hadn´t heard Alex. "You looked like you enjoyed it. And I swear your eyes - it seemed they turned yellow for a second. It scared me Alex, it was-"

"I am sorry,"

"I know and I know I am terrible for bringing this up, but the worst part was that; you looked as you were enjoying it."

"Do you think I enjoyed it?" Alex asked a bit more angry then intended, in reality he was scarred that Daphne would turn away from him. "I hated it, but I had to - I had to protect you. I had to protect you from him."

"Then why didn´t you stop? I was safe, he had stopped, and he was down."

"He was dangerous. I needed to learn his place. I needed to be punished. I hate what he have done, how he has hurt me, how he hurt you - if I hadn´t stopped him then he could have - have-" Alex paused and was able to continue as he saw the tears on Daphne´s face. "I-I did enjoy it." He whispered.

"Alex look I-"

"Hate me! Yeah I don´t blame you. I hate myself. Look I just wanted to punish him for hurting and me, and it felt so good, so I couldn´t stop myself. I didn´t even know if I wanted to stop. It was so good to relive the anger and I-I-"

"Alex look-"

"I just don´t know what wrong with me." Alex continued. "I just so messed up somehow and I hurt everyone around me." Alex began backing away but stopped as Daphne grabbed his hands. "I think something have broken inside me. I am just sick, a psycho just like everyone-"

"Please don´t say that. You are a hero Alexander Black, a hero. And I refuse to believe that you are messed up or broken." Daphne said before pulling Alex in a hug. At first, he tensed, but then Alex relaxed and hugged Daphne back. It was a nice hug. It just felt nice being in Daphne´s arms in a hug that took some of the darkness inside of him. And Alex understood now, even if Daphne was wrong about something had broken inside, then it could be healed. If he just had Daphne along with the rest of his friends then he could be fixed. "You really are a hero, you saved me Alex. You really saved me."

"I-I could never bear to see you get h-hurt." Alex was surprised that he was crying. Daphne pulled away, but still had her hands on Alex´s shoulders "I don´t know what I would do if you got hurt. So I swear I will always do everything to keep you from harms away."

"Alex you don´t have to-"

"Yes I do," Alex said interrupting Daphne. "I can never let anyone or anything harm, I just care to much about you Daphne-"

Alex was interrupted by something unexpected - nice and good, but unexpected. Daphne was kissing him, a real kiss. Alex´s whined as Daphne´s lips moved tenderly against his. However before he could react Daphne pulled away, surprised by her own actions. "I am sorry Alex!"

"Daphne," but before Alex could say anything else, like how much he had enjoyed the kiss. Daphne had run away. Alex just stood there starring after, blushing and feeling amazed by that beautiful kiss Daphne had given him. It had been wonderful and it had felt so right. Much more than it had been kissing with Lisa. Alex knew that he should go after Daphne, and tell her how he felt, but he couldn't get his legs moving.

Alex didn´t know how long he had standing there, but suddenly he was face to face, with the man that had saved him from being expelled. "Mr. Black, is everything alright?"

"Huh?" Alex blinked for a few seconds recovering from his daze. "Yeah sir I am fine."

Snape looked at him for a few seconds. Alex knew it was childish, but he was a bit worried that the potion master had seen the kiss - it would just be awkward having a teacher witnessing his love life.

"Yes you seemed that way. Come to my office!"

"Sir?" Alex was a bit worried, would Snape use the knowledge he had to blackmail him.

"Relax Mr. Black; I just want to talk with you in private. I assure you it will be all."

Alex nodded, somehow trusting Snape. "Right Sir."

Minutes later, Alex was entering Snape's office. "Sit," the Professor, said somewhat softly. Alex obliged, sitting in a chair in front of Snape´s desk. Alex had expected the potions professor to take the seat in front of him; instead, he moved over to a cabinet and opened it, pulling out a couple of glasses and a bottle of Fire Whisky. Snape moved over to his desk, placing down the glasses and pouring liquid in both. He set down the bottle and grabbed both glasses, walked over to Alex and held one glass out.

"Sir?"

"Yes Mr. Black I am offering you a glass."

"Yes, but aren't I bit too young for that stuff?" Alex had of coursed tried drinking alcohol before. He and Blaise had tried it, but he hadn´t tried Fire Whisky yet.

Snape sneered a bit. "Please, it won´t kill you."

Alex nodded and accepted the glass. "Isn´t this against the school rules sir?"

"It is," was Snape´s short reply.

Alex pulled the glass closer and gave a sniff. He immediately backed up, as the aroma was strong and overpowering.

Snape took a seat at his desk and sipped his whisky. "Believe it or not, I know what you are going through right now." He paused. "You feel as you have damaged yourself, and the anger and guilt never will fade."

"You don´t know anything about me!" Alex hissed taking a sip of the Fire Whisky, the taste was strong, and Alex nearly coughed.

"I know what it like, because I have performed the Cruciatus Curse as well, and at my first time I wasn´t much older then you are now." Snape paused as he took another sip of his Fire Whisky. "I was with the wrong type friends back then, and like you I was full of anger. My so called friends told me, that using that curse would help, and it did." Alex nodded, "but when I had ended the curse I felt hallow and I felt ashamed, mostly because how I knew how the only one I cared for felt about that curse."

"Sir why are you telling me all that?"

"Because I want to help you."

"Why isn´t you supposed to hate me?"

"I don´t hate you. I have seen how much you respect my students - how you look past house colours - how you even have helped Draco Malfoy."

"I had always thought I would be in Slytherin. I mean all of my family have been - well almost. But why do you care about that?"

"I had a friend from Gryffindor as well." Snape answered, looking at Alex.

"The person you cared about?"

Snape nodded, "now as for why I am telling you my story? Then it is because I understand you and unlike the headmaster and most of the others teacher and students I really understand how you are feeling. I know how good it feels to relieve your anger, and the temptation of never releasing the curse, because the more I used it, the more better it made me feel."

"You know how I feel?" Alex asked. Snape didn't answer but watched and listened. "You don´t - not a single grown up does. You always lie and say you understand me, but none of you does. I tell you though. I feel ashamed of what I did, I feel sick of what I did. I enjoyed it when I used the curse, but the second I stopped, I felt horrible. I scarred myself and even worse, I had scarred Daphne. So you might know what it like to cast the curse, but you don´t get how I feel." Alex paused, a bit surprised that Snape hadn´t put in his place yet. "The worst part is that I am so scarred that I might do it again - I know that I have the darkness inside me. You know what my boggart is?" Snape shocked his heard. "It me turning into the next Voldemort! To end up being a person that everyone will fear and one that brings so much pain. Somethings with everything that happen to me, I think it be my future."

"Do you want it to be your future?" Snape asked as he had been bothered by Alex´s outburst.

"No of course I won´t. You just don´t get what it like to be afraid of what you can do, knowing that one day you might enjoy to torture and murder innocent people. To be the very thing you hate." Alex grabbed his glass with fire whisky and drank it. "Thanks for the talk professor, but I need to get going.

Snape simply nodded, "Yes, but I do understand you Alexander, even if you don´t yet, and I know that you are a good person."

…

The following morning Alex entered the Great Hall feeling very tired and starving. He had been in Slytherin's Chamber since his talk with Snape, looking up many different spells and practicing them in the Chamber of Secrets. It was strange, but the talk with Snape had actually helped about Alex´s guilt and shame about what he had done to Silan. He still regretted, but just to the point where he just wished that he hadn´t done. Whatever it was from the talk or the fact he had went to the Chamber to try to relive that anger, he didn´t know. It was properly a combination, the fact that he had spent his time working on new spells, and according to Slytherin´s portrait non-evil spells had helped, but so did the fact that afterwards Alex knew that Snape really had understood. Nonetheless, Alex was feeling better, and was now armed with a new arsenal of cures and charms, so he had more alternatives then the Cruciatus Curse.

Alex sat down next to Hermione and Neville, as he heard some Gryffindors still talked about the massive point lose. As Alex sat. He looked towards the Slytherin table, trying to spot Daphne, but no luck. That was another thing, Alex had thought of during his training; the kiss she had given him. It had been so great and taken some much of the darkness inside of him.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked, releasing Alex from his thoughts. "Both Harry, Neville and I have been looking for you since yesterday."

"I have just been out," Alex said not really wanting to discuss his trip to the chamber in a public place.

"Out? Alex you been missing since lunch." Neville cut in. "We thought that you been hurt or something."

"Sorry, I didn´t mean to worry you guys. I just needed to be alone." Alex began to eat some porridge. "Now I am very hungry so." He added and continued eating; ignoring that everyone was looking at him.

When the post owls arrived, Hermione looked up eagerly; she seemed to be expecting something.

"Percy won't've had time to answer yet," said Ron, puzzling Alex, before he remembered when they all had visited Sirius in the cave. "We only sent Hedwig yesterday."

"No, it's not that," said Hermione. "I've taken out a subscription to the Daily Prophet. I'm getting sick of finding everything out from the Slytherins, and since Alex had stopped his." Alex snorted, why would he support a newspaper that helped spreading trash about him?

"Great idea Hermione," Harry said giving her a smile, "and I think you in luck as well."

A grey owl was soaring down toward Hermione. "It hasn't got a newspaper, though," she said, looking disappointed. "It's -"

But to her bewilderment and the others, the grey owl landed in front of her plate, closely followed by four barn owls, a brown owl, and a tawny. It was strange others had gotten their version of the Prophet, he could even see that Susan Bones had gotten hers.

"What on earth -?" Hermione said, taking the letter from the grey owl, opening it, and starting to read. "Oh really!" she sputtered, going rather red.

"What's up?" said Ron, as he, Harry, Neville and Alex looked over at her curiously.

"It's - oh how ridiculous -"

She handed the letter over at Alex, who saw that it was not handwritten, but composed from pasted letters that seemed to have been cut out of the Daily Prophet.

YOU ARE A WICKED GIRL. ALEXANDER BLACK DESERVES BETTER. GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM MUGGLE.

"Well somebody have too much time." Alex commented dryly.

"They are all like this - here is one where you are mentioned Harry." She commented before handing Harry a letter, before, opening a new letter then another. "Alexander Black and Harry Potter can find much better girls then you or You already betrayed Harry Potter once Mudblood or deserve to be boiled in frog spawn… 'Ouch!" Hermione shrieked. She had opened the last envelope, and yellowish-green liquid smelling strongly of petrol gushed over her hands, some of the leftovers hit Alex´s left hand. He hissed as he withdrew his hand, before picking up the envelope with the other.

"Undiluted bubotuber pus!" he said as he sniffed at the envelope before destroying it.

Ow!" said Hermione, tears starting in her eyes as she tried to rub the pus off her hands with a napkin, but her fingers were now so thickly covered in painful sores that it looked as though she were wearing a pair of thick, knobbly gloves.

"Don´t. It will only make it worse," Alex, said as he casted a cleaning charm removing the pus that was on the table before helping Hermione up. "Come on, you need to go to the Hospital Wing."

Harry nodded as he gave Alex a hand getting Hermione to her feet. "Yeah I will tell Professor Sprout what happened."

"Thanks come on Hermione. It will be okay I promise." Alex said and began walking Hermione to the Hospital wing. Alex did his best to comfort her as she cried, as soon as they reached the Hospital Wing, Alex shouted for Madam Pomfrey and that they needed her help. The mediwitch quickly came busting out of her office.

As soon as she saw Alex, she ran towards the two teens. "What have happened Mr. Black? Please tell me that you haven´t been hurt again?

"Well yes, but only slightly," Alex smiled, but quickly turned serious. "It Hermione ma´am! She was sent some hate mail and one of them was filled with Undiluted bubotuber pus. Most of it went over her hands, and a little splashed on my left hand." Alex showed her his hand and from his example, Hermione did the same.

"Oh my," the mediwitch whispered as she began her examination.

"Yes, Hermione´s injury was too bad for that I wanted to try heal it myself." Alex explained, "I mean the dose alone, I mean I have low supply as it is."

Madam Pomfrey smiled a bit. "Now Mr. Black, what was the first thing I told you in healing class?"

"That I should always have every medical supply ready in case the unexpected happens," he said. "If my hand wasn´t that messed up, I could make more and have enough for the both of us."

"Now come along," Pomfrey said, and led the two teens towards her medical potions' supply. As they waited, Pomfrey pulled out two bowls and a large clay pitcher and poured light clear blue liquid in each bowl. "I trust that you know what to do Mr. Black?"

"Yeah," Alex began as the nurse left. "Uh you just place your hands it the potion. It will burn a bit, but it will only last for a while, then we just have to have our hands in the potions for about fifty minutes." Alex said as he put his hand in the potion, whining a bit as he felt it burn. "Yeah as I said it burns a bit."

"I had forgotten that you studied healing." Hermione said some time after she had placed her hand in the potion.

"Yeah, well where did you think I went when you used to have muggle studies." Alex paused a bit. "It is nice though. I mean when I train in the chamber I often get hurt a lot, and well then it nice to be able to fix yourself up."

"Hurt? Just what do you do in that chamber?"

"Well I train - uh I practice all kind of new magic and sometimes the spells backfire and I get hurt. Don´t worry though." Alex added seeing Hermione´s worried face. "It nothing too serious, it is only some cuts and buries - and when it really bad some broken bones, either from the spells or the impact when I hit the walls."

"Broken bones are bad Alex. I mean what if you break your neck?"

"I am careful Hermione don´t worry about it. And besides well I am good at healing bones, although it hurt like hell."

"Language! And no magic can help you if you break your neck, because that would kill you." There was a small pause as Hermione looked at her hands. "Is that were you were yesterday? In the Chamber?" As Alex nodded, she continued. "Why didn´t you come back, I mean you must have needed to sleep."

"I wasn´t really there to train - well I did train - I practiced a lot of new magic, but I really just wanted some time for myself."

"Because of what happened between you and cousin?" Alex didn´t replay, but an answer wasn´t really necessary. "There is of lot of rumours about what happened. Most of them is - well people said that you really hurt Silan." Alex still didn´t replay. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"No!" Alex said looking away. "I really don´t want that."

"Alex, I think you should."

"I have talked about it, and I don´t want to do it anymore." Alex hissed, "so just drop it okay?"

Alex knew that he shouldn't be that angry and immediately felt regret when he saw the hurt on Hermione´s face. "Sorry," she whispered. "I just well-"

"No I am sorry that I snapped," Alex interrupted. "It just well I have talked with three people and it just - well I don´t want to keep dealing with it. I just need time."

"Okay, have you talked with Greengrass?"

"Huh? Well yeah I have, she saw the whole thing. But uh why do ask about that?"

"Some says it was because of her? That your cousin tried to-" Alex nodded to confirm it,

"I had to stop him."

"You have feelings for her don´t you?" Alex blushed a bit, making Hermione sniff and Alex to look at her again. "I been so stupid." She whispered.

"What make you say that? Because you aren't."

Hermione looked away, "because I am, I mean it was so stupid of me trying to kiss you the night before the first task."

"Hermione I-"

"I shouldn't have tried it, I should have known that you didn´t have those feelings for me."

"I am really sorry that I rejected you that night and I sorry that I don´t like you that way." Alex said truthfully.

"But why?" Hermione said looking at Alex. "I mean why don´t you like me? I know that isn´t one of the prettiest girls-"

"Hermione stop," Alex said, trying to hide the frustration he felt hearing Hermione talk like that. "It isn´t because of that. Hermione you are one of my closest friends, but I don´t like you that way. And it not because you isn´t pretty, because you are - it just that I don´t feel it." Hermione nodded a bit. "And I truly mean that, that guy that ends up with you would be truly lucky. But I am not that guy."

"I know, and I thought that I was over you, but then you do things like that, you just acts so kind and- Well I just hoped that - well that we one day would-" Hermione paused, "be together."

"Hermione, I really hope that we still can stay friends, because I would hate to lose you, but I have to say, that I doesn´t have that kinds of feelings for you."

Hermione nodded as some tears fell from her eyes. "Of course, I way need some time to sort things out, but we will be fine."

"Beside Krum is pretty interested in you, and from what I know he is a good person."

"He is."

The two friends spent the remainder of the time in a comfortable silence. Once the potion had taken effect, Alex examined his hand. It had healed well, but he hadn´t been splashed with that much pus. "Can I see your hands Hermione?"

As soon as Hermione lifted her hands, she hissed in pain. "It still hurts," she cried.

"Yeah," Alex muttered, "I think you need something stronger. I just get Madam Pomfrey." However before he could move, the healer was already at them. Alex quickly put her in the situation; she just nodded before giving her a stronger potion. "It will take some more time Miss Ganger that pus was some nasty stuff and you got a big dose of it. I am afraid that you will miss your first lessons this morning. Mr. Black, you can go once you banged yourself."

"You are a rather talented healer." Hermione said, as she watched as Alex put a bandage on himself.

"Yeah, I am okay. As I said it have it uses." Alex replied as fletched his hand.

"It more than that. I mean more than spells and potions. You are great at talking with people."

It was a bit weird hearing Hermione praise him like that especially, since he had just told her that he didn´t return her feelings. "Thanks."

"Is it something you would like to work with?"

Alex paused, he liked healing, his mother had been a healer, and she had loved it. "I don´t know, I mean I like to study it. So maybe." Alex paused for a bit looking at Hermione. "Do you want me to stay?"

"No you should go. Then I have one more I can ask for notes."

Alex smiled, "sure."

…

Once Alex got to the greenhouse, he found that Herbology lesson already was underway. "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter informed me that you and Miss Ganger would be late. Why isn´t miss Ganger with you?

"I don´t know how much Harry told you, but Hermione still needed to spend some time at the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey said that she wouldn't make it for the first lessons."

"Right, thank you Mr. Black. As you can see the class is almost finished, but you can partner up with Miss Bones and Miss Aboot." The professor said as she pointed at Susan that was partnered with Hannah.

Once he got over to the two girls, Hannah gave him a dirty look. "Great, we have to work with you."

"Stop it Hannah. I have told you that Alex didn´t chose to be the fourth champion."

"Yeah, so he says." Hannah said still eyeing Alex. "But he is doing pretty good for not wanting to be a part of it."

"Sorry, but I only try to survive this bloody thing." Alex replied giving Hannah a hard glare.

"Beside Hannah you have admitted that Alex couldn´t have gotten in with Cedric even if he wanted to." Susan added, surprising Alex.

"Maybe," Hannah said looking at Alex. "The Prophet had a story about you today Alexander."

"Let me guess Seekter?" Alex hissed, but regretted when he saw the sympatric look.

"No it wasn´t her." Hannah said. "It was a James Sanders. He is a crime reporter."

"And it wasn´t an article talking trash about you, if anything it made me understand why you did it." Susan said and begun explaining what had been in the article was about. To Alex´s surprise, it was very accurate there were holes of course, like Daphne´s name being left out, but otherwise it was pretty truthful.

"So is it true?" Hannah whispered. "Never mind, I can see it on your face. Good job with that creep. He always seemed like a swine, but I never imagined he would be that bad."

Alex and the two girls worked in silence the reminder of the lesson, as the lesson was about to end Alex wondered if the rest of the schoolmates would share Susan and Hannah´s view with Alex´s hero status.

…

"So how is Hermione?" Harry asked as he and Ron walked over to Alex who was making his way to Hagrid´s class.

"Fine, but she needed a stronger potion to heal her boils." Alex replied, but didn´t elaborate as he saw Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle descending the stone steps of the castle. Pansy Parkinson was whispering and giggling behind them with Millcent. Catching sight of Alex and Harry, Pansy called. "Hey Black, what happened to the mudblood. Why was she so upset at breakfast? Was it you or Potter that dumped her?"

Alex growled, but ignored her.

Hagrid, who had told them last lesson that they had finished with unicorns, was waiting for them outside his cabin with a fresh supply of open crates at his feet. Alex´s heart sank at the sight of the crates — surely not another skrewt hatching? — but when he got near enough to see inside, he found himself looking at a number of fluffy black creatures with long snouts. Their front paws were curiously flat, like spades, and they were blinking up at the class, looking politely puzzled at all the attention.

"These're nifflers," said Hagrid, when the class had gathered around. "Yeh find 'em down mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff. . . . There yeh go, look." One of the nifflers had suddenly leapt up and attempted to bite Pansy Parkinson's watch off her wrist. She shrieked and jumped backward. "Useful little treasure detectors," said Hagrid happily. "Thought we'd have some fun with 'em today. See over there?" He pointed at the large patch of freshly turned earth. "I've buried some gold coins. I've got a prize fer whoever picks the niffler that digs up most. Jus' take off all yer valuables, an' choose a niffler, an' get ready ter set 'em loose."

Alex took of his watch and pocketed it, then he picked up a niffler. It put its long snout in Alex´s and sniffed enthusiastically, making Alex laugh. It was really quite cuddly. Alex quickly looked over at Daphne, who were starching her niffler on the heard while talking with, Tracey, Blaise and Draco. Sensing that someone was watching her, Daphne looked in Alex´s direction. It was the first time they looked at each other since their kiss, and as their eyes meet, Alex felt his face heat up. Daphne blushed as well, but as Alex gave a small smile, but then looked away. Alex felt a sting of disappointment, but what had he expected, that they just would run in each other's arms. He wouldn't had mind that at all but would Daphne even want the same thing that he did. She properly didn´t otherwise she wouldn't had stop the kiss earlier. Despite feeling a bit depressed at the start of the lesson, it quickly changed as the lesson started. It was easily the most fun they had ever had in Care of Magical Creatures.

The nifflers dived in and out of the patch of earth as though it were water, each scurrying back to the student who had released it and spitting gold into their hands. Ron's was particularly efficient; it had soon filled his lap with coins. "Can you buy these as pets, Hagrid?" he asked excitedly as his niffler dived back into the soil, splattering his robes.

"Yer mum wouldn' be happy, Ron," said Hagrid, grinning. "They wreck houses, nifflers. I reckon they've nearly got the lot, now," he added, pacing around the patch of earth while the nifflers continued to dive. "I on'y buried a hundred coins. Oh there y'are, Hermione!"

Hermione was walking toward them across the lawn. Her hands were very heavily bandaged, much more then Alex´s was and she looked miserable.

"Well, let's check how yeh've done! "said Hagrid. "Count yer coins! An' there's no point tryin' ter steal any, Goyle," he added, his beetle-black eyes narrowed. "It's leprechaun gold. Vanishes after a few hours."

Goyle emptied his pockets, looking extremely sulky. It turned out that Ron's niffler had been most successful, so Hagrid gave him an enormous slab of Honeydukes chocolate for a prize.

The bell rang across the grounds for lunch; the rest of the class set off back to the castle, but Alex, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed behind to help Hagrid put the nifflers back in their boxes. At first Alex had hoped that he could have talked with Daphne, but she hurried away before he could.

"What yeh done ter your hands, Hermione?" Hagrid asked, looking concerned. "Alex?"

Hermione told him about the hate mail she had received that morning, and the envelope full of bubotuber pus, and how Alex had gotten it on him.

"Aaah, don worry," said Hagrid gently, looking down at her. "I got some o' those letters an all, after Rita Skeeter wrote abou me mum. 'Yeh're a monster an yeh should be put down.' 'Yer mother killed innocent people an if you had any decency you'd jump in a lake.'"

"No!" said Hermione, looking shocked.

"And you wondered why I stopped paying for a paper that had that hag employed?" Alex commented as he crossed his arms. "I start buying again once she is fried and the paper has apologized."

"Yeah," said Hagrid, heaving the niffler crates over by his cabin wall, as he hadn´t heard Alexl. "They're jus' nutters, Hermione. Don' open 'em if yeh get any more. Chuck 'em straigh' in the fire."

"You missed a really good lesson," Harry told Hermione as they headed back toward the castle. "They're good, nifflers, aren't they, Ron?"

Ron, however, was frowning at the chocolate Hagrid had given him. He looked thoroughly put out about something.

"What's the matter?" said Harry. "Wrong flavour?"

"No, it perfect," said Ron shortly. "Why didn't you tell me about the gold?"

"What gold?" Harry asked looking a bit confused.

"You know the gold I gave you at the Quidditch World Cup," Ron said. "Don´t you remember that I gave you leprechaun gold for my Omnioculars. In the Top Box, Why didn't you tell me it disappeared?"

"Oh…" Harry said, "I dunno… I never noticed it had gone. I was more worried about my wand, wasn't I?"

They climbed the steps into the entrance hall and went into the Great Hall for lunch. Alex had a feeling of what was troubling Ron and despite his distaste of him, he felt a bit sorry.

"Must be nice," Ron said abruptly, when they had sat down and started serving themselves roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. "To have so much money you don't notice if a pocketful of Galleons goes missing."

"Listen, I had other stuff on my mind that night!" said Harry impatiently. "We all did, remember?"

"I didn't know leprechaun gold vanishes," Ron said in a apologising tone. "I thought I was paying you back. You shouldn't've given me that Chudley Cannon hat for Christmas."

"Forget it, all right?" said Harry. "Beside I gave all of you Christmas presents."

Ron speared a roast potato on the end of his fork, glaring at it. Then he said, "I hate being poor."

Alex, Harry, and Hermione looked at each other. Neither of them really knew what to say.

"It's rubbish," said Ron, still glaring down at his potato. "I don't blame Fred and George for trying to make some extra money. Wish I could. Wish I had a niffler."

"Well, we know what to get you next Christmas," said Hermione brightly. Then, when Ron continued to look gloomy, she said, "Come on, Ron, it could be worse. At least your fingers aren't full of pus." Hermione was having a lot of difficulty managing her knife and fork; her fingers were so stiff and a bit swollen. Even Alex who only had one hand banged and having less stiff fingers, were having trouble eating with one hand.

"Don´t worry, your hands should be healed in a few hours, tomorrow tops." Alex said as he looked up at the Slytherin table to see Daphne wasn't there, making him sign in frustration.

…

Alex continued to hear rumours and talks the duel he had with Silan the next day.

He was surprised that so many were positive about his behaviour. There was of course still were a lot that saw this of proof that he was a dark wizard and even more was scarred of him. However, a good number told Alex that he was a hero. His friends was of course part of that group, but there was others as well.

Hermione´s hate mail were affecting him as well, for one thing because Hermione was his friend and it made her sad. The hate mail also meant, since quite a few was Howlers, meant that the whole school knew about Alex-Harry-Krum-Hermione square. Alex was getting sick of telling people that Hermione wasn't his girlfriend, and he hoped that Daphne believe those lies, and since she avoided being alone with him, Alex couldn't ask her.

Still that was only a minor inconvenience that Tracey had promised to help with. No the fact that Skeeter continued to write her stories were the real issue. And Alex were sharing Hermione wish of stopping her.

"I swear if Skeeter doesn´t stop that trash writing soon." Alex growled as he, Erik, Draco and Blaise were studying in the Chamber.

"It will properly stop soon." Draco said as he flipped through a book. "At some point Fudge will mess up or something."

"Yeah maybe, but how is she getting that information?" Alex continued. "I mean it exaggerated, but she knows stuff that she shouldn't."

"She could be using an invisibility cloak?" Erik added, "I read about those once, pretty interesting actually. Well uh they are supposed to make the wearer competently invisible."

"True, but wouldn´t Moody creepy eye see though that?" Alex answered.

"Yeah I forgot about that. He properly would have said something if she was lucking around." Then Erik´s face brightened, "Oh I know. She could be doing it spy style. You know using secret microphones and stuff."

"Microphones?

Erik looked at Blaise, "it is an electronic device that records sounds. That way she could sitting outside the school grounds listening to us."

"You forgetting that Hogwarts isn´t like you old school." Draco added as he looked up from his book. "All those substitutes for magic Muggles use - electricity, computers, and radar, and all those things - they all go haywire around Hogwarts, there's too much magic in the air. Skeeter is properly using some kind of magic to eavesdrop. And from what my father have said I bet it is illegal."

"Yeah, but what kind?" Alex exclaimed.

"It is really you biggest concern right now?" Erik asked.

"Yeah you haves still have the third task, and then there is the stuff with Daphne." Blaise commented, making Erik and Draco laugh.

…

Chapter end.