With a clearer direction, Alex returned to the Slytherin common room. He found Rozier and instructed him to spread the word among the younger pure-blood wizards: any magic books related to blood magic that Alex hadn't already read could be traded for a month's exemption from the protection fee.
The offer was well-received. Many of the young wizards, who had initially feared Alex's temper, were relieved. He had not retaliated after the previous attack, and the books they provided were always returned in good condition. Some even saw the deal as easy money—giving away books they rarely used in exchange for avoiding Alex's "fees."
Unbeknownst to them, Alex was quietly building a significant collection. Over the next few months, he amassed hundreds of Galleons, rare alchemy materials, and a growing library of books. His purse, once light, now brimmed with wealth and resources.
Alex's research also progressed steadily. After several optimizations, his incapacity spell became significantly more effective. His energy storage spell had moved to the experimental phase, though measuring a wizard's magic reserves remained in the accumulation stage. Despite receiving ideas from other scholars, he found no direct solutions. Even professor Bones couldn't offer much assistance.
The biggest hurdle was live experimentation. Testing on humans at Hogwarts was out of the question, and Alex didn't dare use himself as a subject. Meanwhile, Alex ramped up training for his group after the recent duel. Their high-intensity regimen pushed everyone to their limits, leaving them physically and magically drained by the end of each day. Complaints were rampant, especially from Vivian, who grumbled that she was being "mentally tortured" by Professor Genti during class and "physically tortured" by Alex after. Her once-constant chatter had dwindled.
"Finally, some peace," Alex remarked one evening, exchanging a knowing grin with Charles. "At least we don't have to listen to her rambling."
Despite the complaints, the results were undeniable. Alex's data showed clear improvements in magic perception, control, and reserves among the trainees. The special training yielded more tangible results than routine exercises, giving Alex valuable experimental data. However, the accuracy of his measurements still left much to be desired, and true quantitative research on magic reserves remained elusive.
Time flew by, and the final exams arrived as scheduled. As expected, Alex passed with top honors, his results flawless and unsurprising. What did surprise everyone, however, was Vivian's performance. After months of grueling training, she managed to score an E in most subjects and even earned an O in Charms. For a girl who used to scrape by with Alex's tutoring, it was a dramatic improvement.
At the end of every semester, Vivian usually dreaded her results. In previous years, she'd barely passed, often only because of Alex's last-minute lessons. But this time, she held her head high, her grades shocking even Professors Flitwick and McGonagall, who began to wonder if the school gossip queen had finally matured.
On the Hogwarts Express heading home, Vivian was practically bursting with pride. "Did you see Professor Flitwick's face when I repaired that clock with the Mending Charm? Absolutely priceless!" she said excitedly, recounting the moment to Charles and Higgs for what felt like the hundredth time.
Alex rolled his eyes. "That's the eighth time you've mentioned it," he muttered. He still couldn't believe Flitwick had used the same clock Alex had gifted him two years ago for the exam—only to have it mysteriously smashed to pieces. "What is it with Flitwick and clocks? Does he just enjoy breaking them?"
"Well, anyway…" Alex added nonchalantly, "it just proves the training plan worked. Next school year, we'll increase the intensity."
Vivian froze, clearly regretting her big mouth. "Uh…"
Charles snorted. "You really walked into that one." Trying to steer the conversation away from extra training, he said, "Anyway, can we talk about how ridiculous Professor Genti was this year? For the Defense Against the Dark Arts final, he made us face Boggarts. Right before the holidays! Who wants to deal with something that depressing right before vacation?"
Alex smirked at the memory. "Don't remind me. My Boggart turned into a giant bowl of pudding staring at the stars. It still makes my stomach churn just thinking about it."
Vivian laughed, quickly jumping into the conversation. "Seriously! Facing a Boggart is supposed to be fun, but Genti somehow made it miserable. How does he even do that?"
The group speculated about the professor's attitude. Alex remembered hearing romour that Genti's sour demeanor might have something to do with the infamous curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Apparently, Genti hadn't always been like this.
As the train rattled on, Charles turned to Alex. "So, what are your plans for the summer? Want to come stay at my place? My mom's been asking about you."
Alex shook his head. "Thanks, but I already promised Mrs. Longbottom I'd spend the summer with her. It's not easy for her, managing everything on her own. I need to help out."
Charles' face fell. "That's kind of you." His tone darkened as he added, "The Travers family's murderer is still walking free, you know. It makes my blood boil."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Travers?" He recalled a grim-looking man he'd once seen at the train station.
Charles nodded bitterly. "Yeah. They attacked my family twice. …" Charles' voice cracked, "His brother pulled some strings to get him off the hook," Charles continued, anger simmering in his voice. "They claimed he was under the Imperius Curse. What rubbish. His brother, Torquil Travers, is on the Wizengamot Council. He used his position to sweep everything under the rug."
"What's his name again?" Alex asked quietly.
"Torquil Travers," Charles spat. "Named after some ancestor who used to run the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Makes me sick."
"Got it." Alex's voice was calm, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Higgs, watching Alex closely, felt a chill run down his spine. Something about the way Alex asked questions left him uneasy. Soon, the train pulled into the station. As they stepped onto the platform, Alex turned to his friends. "Same deal as last year—don't slack off on your training during the summer. When we get back, I'll check your progress. If anyone falls behind, don't expect me to go easy on you."
His friends nodded reluctantly. Even Higgs, who had spent the year enduring Alex's intense regimen, felt compelled to agree. As Alex made his way through the bustling platform, he thought about the promise he had made to Mrs. Longbottom. Neville's grandmother had done so much, managing the family in the wake of tragedy. Alex felt it was his responsibility to support her however he could.
Still, his mind lingered on the name Torquil Travers. The memory of that grim-faced man haunted him. Alex couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to uncover. "I'll deal with him," Alex muttered to himself. For now, though, he had promises to keep and plans to set in motion.
Once again, he found himself taking the Knight Bus, this time heading to the quaint village of Ottery St. Catchpole. "I really need to find time to learn Apparition," Alex muttered as the bus jolted violently, making his stomach churn. "This bus is going to make me sick."
Still, the thought of learning Apparition wasn't entirely comforting. The risks of practicing it alone were far too high; he'd need someone to guide him through the process. For now, the Knight Bus would have to do.