After a short wait, the professors began arriving, entering through a side door. Each one acknowledged Alex with a polite nod. Over the past two years, many of them had come to admire his disciplined and hard-working attitude. Though he was reserved and rarely showed up at social events, his excellent academic performance and behavior in class had earned him their respect.
When Snape walked in, his sharp gaze landed on Alex, and he gave a brief nod, lifting his chin slightly in acknowledgment. Snape's opinion of Alex was mixed—he saw him as competent but distant, respectful but hard to read, a student who kept his thoughts well-guarded. If it hadn't been for the charm Alex wore, one Snape recognized as something from Lily, he might not have acknowledged him at all.
"Severus, you're lucky," one professor remarked casually. "Alex just submitted a paper proposing a new spell. It's still incomplete, but it shows a lot of promise."
Snape's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.
At the end of the last term, Alex and Professor Bones had finalized their research on a spell called the Echo Spell. Though Professor Flitwick knew the two worked closely together, he hadn't expected such a well-constructed piece of work from a student. When he read through the thesis, he was genuinely impressed. Even though the spell still lacked a finalized incantation, its framework was advanced enough to warrant submission to Century Charms, a highly respected publication.
While some assumed Professor Bones had been the main contributor to the project, with Alex listed first only as a gesture of encouragement, both Bones and Flitwick clarified that the spell's concept and structure were largely Alex's work. With such strong endorsements, Alex was beginning to draw attention from the academic community. It wouldn't be long before letters from spell researchers and charm experts started piling up for him.
Hearing Flitwick's praise for a Slytherin student, Snape's lips twitched into a faint smirk. Maybe this young man wasn't as unremarkable as he had thought.
As Snape mulled this over, Dumbledore entered the Great Hall, his presence warm and reassuring as always. He greeted everyone with a nod before taking his seat at the center of the teachers' table. Beside him sat a newcomer—a young wizard in his late twenties with a noticeably downcast expression. Alex raised an eyebrow at the man's gloomy demeanor. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Alex thought wryly. He already looks miserable.
Before Alex could dwell on the man's sour mood, the Great Hall doors opened, and returning students from second through seventh year streamed in, filling the hall with chatter and laughter.
"Alex!" a familiar voice called out. Vivian spotted him at the Slytherin table and hurried over, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Long time no see, Vivian! How was your summer?" Alex asked, returning her grin.
Vivian plopped down beside him, looking sheepish. "It was alright, I guess. But hey, did you finish the summer homework? I completely forgot about it until the train ride back! I spent all summer playing poker."
Alex sighed, rubbing his forehead in mock frustration. "How did I end up with such an unreliable friend?" he muttered, pulling his homework out of his bag and handing it to her.
Before Vivian could grab it, a group of pure-blood students entered the hall. Their eyes landed on Alex, their expressions brimming with hostility. Sensing the tension, Vivian leaned closer and whispered, "You won't believe how bold those guys have gotten this year. Last year, they mostly kept to themselves, but now? They're strutting around like they own the place. On the train, they told everyone to follow Yaxley's lead and not to talk to you—or risk being 'tainted.' Can you believe that?"
Alex's face remained calm, but his voice held a touch of sarcasm. "Didn't the Dark Lord vanish? Where do they get the nerve?"
Vivian sighed. "Yaxley's the new student council president, and Wilkes is a prefect. They're acting like nothing's changed. It's worse than ever. Higgs, one of the senior Quidditch players, got slapped twice by Wilkes on the train just for talking back. It's a mess!"
While Vivian vented, Alex watched Yaxley and his group shove younger students aside to claim seats as if they owned the table. Alex's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
Vivian was about to continue when Alex interrupted with a smirk. "Didn't they warn you not to talk to me?"
Vivian huffed, crossing her arms. "I'm not scared of them! Let them try something—my mom would have their heads. And besides, my Poker Club's not just for fun."
Alex chuckled, pleased by her defiance, before turning his attention to the new arrivals. Professor McGonagall had led the first-years into the hall, their nervous faces scanning the room in awe. Among them, Alex spotted a familiar face—Bill Weasley. Even in the crowd, his fiery red hair was unmistakable. Taller than Alex remembered, Bill looked around curiously until his gaze met Alex's. Recognizing him, Bill broke into a grin.
The two exchanged a quick, friendly nod before Professor McGonagall began the Sorting Ceremony.
"David Gamper," she called. A small, nervous boy stepped forward, his wide eyes darting around the hall. Once the Sorting Hat touched his head, it quickly declared, "Slytherin!" The boy looked relieved as he shuffled over to the Slytherin table.
A few names later, McGonagall called, "Bill Weasley." Bill sat on the stool, fidgeting slightly as the Hat deliberated for a moment before shouting, "Gryffindor!" The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers as Bill joined them, his nerves melting into a bright smile.
Alex couldn't help but smile. "No surprise there," he murmured, watching the Gryffindors welcome Bill with open arms.
Meanwhile, the space around Alex at the Slytherin table was noticeably empty—most students were keeping their distance, wary of Yaxley and his group. The exception was David, the newly sorted first-year, who hesitantly took a seat across from Alex.
"Hi, I'm David Gamper," the boy said shyly.
Alex gave him a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, David. I'm Alex Wilson. You can just call me Alex."
Vivian leaned over with a teasing grin. "And I'm Vivian. You can call me Viv. Welcome to Slytherin!"
David's face lit up. "Thanks! You can call me Dave or David, I don't mind. Actually, I know the Bulstrode name—my grandmother was a Bulstrode," he added eagerly.
Vivian's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! We're related, then!" She laughed. "Though, in Slytherin, everyone's probably related somehow." She grinned at him, clearly amused by the coincidence.