Alex felt a surge of curiosity but decided not to lose focus. He turned back to his experiments, determined to keep going. Over the next few hours, he collected a wealth of data. The infrasonic spell, he discovered, could cause severe harm within a five-meter radius. The effects weakened beyond that range but were still strong enough to cause discomfort up to ten meters. Past that point, the interference faded significantly, resulting only in disorientation. A mouse placed thirty meters away merely squeaked and spun in circles, seemingly confused.
"Humans seem to be more resistant. The interference drops off after ten meters," Alex noted, logging his observations with enthusiasm. Feeling satisfied, he finally wrapped up his tests. Exhausted but accomplished, he stretched and allowed himself a rare moment of pride before heading to bed. That night, he slept deeply, unaware of the monumental events unfolding elsewhere.
The next morning, a weekend, started like any other. After finishing their morning exercises, Alex and his friend Charles headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. But something felt off. The usual hum of morning chatter was replaced by an odd tension. Owls flew overhead, delivering letters and newspapers, while students huddled in groups, whispering urgently.
"Alex, over here!" Vivian's voice broke through the noise as she waved him over.
"What's going on?" Alex asked, noticing her wide, anxious eyes.
"You haven't heard?" she exclaimed, clearly shocked. "The Dark Lord—he's fallen! They're saying he was defeated by a boy who survived! It's all over The Daily Prophet, and my family sent me a letter to confirm it."
"What?" Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. Vivian handed him the newspaper, and he quickly scanned the headlines.
---
#The Daily Prophet: Urgent News
"A horrific attack occurred last night in Godric's Hollow. Sources confirm that the Dark Lord broke into the Potter home and murdered James and Lily Potter. However, in an unprecedented turn of events, his attempt to kill their infant son, Harry Potter, failed. Reports suggest the Dark Lord was struck down by his own Killing Curse, leaving the child miraculously unharmed. Harry, now known as 'The Boy Who Lived,' is currently under the protection of Albus Dumbledore."
---
Alex's stomach churned as he read. He couldn't process it. How could this happen? Weren't the Potters supposed to be under Dumbledore's protection? And Sirius—wasn't he their guardian? Questions flooded his mind, each more troubling than the last.
'Is this real? Or is it some sort of ploy? Could they be faking this news to bait Voldemort out? Or maybe the Potters survived, and this is a cover story to protect them from the Death Eaters?'
Desperation clawed at him as he flipped through the pages. Then he froze. The second page had an article about Sirius Black. It claimed that Sirius had betrayed the Potters, revealing their location to Voldemort. Worse, it reported that he had killed Peter Pettigrew and twelve Muggles in a street explosion before being arrested by the Ministry.
"What?!" Alex's shout turned heads in the Great Hall, startling Vivian.
Around him, the atmosphere was electric. Some students cheered, throwing hats in the air. Others set off small fireworks, and a few even climbed onto tables to celebrate. Even among the Slytherins, there was a mix of reactions. While some pure-bloods looked shaken, others seemed quietly relieved.
But Alex couldn't feel joy. His chest burned with anger and confusion. He slammed the newspaper shut and stormed out of the Great Hall. Vivian called after him, but he didn't stop.
He headed straight to Professor McGonagall's office, knocking frantically. When no one answered, he ran to Professor Bones' office instead. This time, the door opened, and Professor Bones looked at him, his expression somber. His eyes flicked to the crumpled newspaper in his hand, and he gave a small nod of understanding.
"Professor," Alex began, holding up the paper, his voice shaking, "is this true?"
He sighed deeply. "Yes, Alex. Dumbledore was informed last night. He and Professor McGonagall have left Hogwarts to deal with it. He asked me to stay and watch over the students."
Alex's grip on the newspaper tightened. "But Sirius—did he really betray James and Lily? Did he actually do this?"
Professor Bones hesitated before speaking. "Alex, I know how much Sirius meant to you. I can't imagine how hard this is. But from what we know right now... it seems he did."
"No!" Alex's voice cracked. "I know him, Professor. He would never betray them. There's no way. There has to be a mistake!"
"Alex, please," He said gently, guiding him to a chair. "I don't want to believe it either. But the evidence—"
"Evidence?" Alex interrupted, his voice rising. "Even if he did kill Pettigrew, that doesn't make sense! Something's missing—something doesn't add up!"
Professor Bones placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. But there's something else you need to know." He paused, His gaze steady. "Have you ever wondered how James and Lily stayed hidden for so long?"
Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"
"They used the Fidelius Charm," he explained. "It's a powerful spell that hides someone's location, making it known only to the Secret Keeper. That's why no one could find them."
Realization dawned on Alex. "And Sirius... he was their Secret Keeper." He paused, his mind racing. "When they cast the charm, I remember suddenly forgetting their location. That was why, wasn't it?"
Professor Bones nodded. "Yes. After the charm was cast, Sirius vanished. At first, we thought he went into hiding to avoid the Death Eaters. But now..." he hesitated, clearly troubled. "Now it seems his disappearance might have been for a different reason."
Alex's face turned pale. "But what if he didn't betray them? What if the Death Eaters captured him and tortured him? Couldn't they have forced him to reveal the Potters' location?" His voice was laced with desperation.
Professor Bones' expression softened. "I don't know, Alex. It's possible. But until we have more information, all we can do is wait."