After calming Augusta down, Alex excused himself, claiming he was exhausted, and retreated to his room. Once there, he pulled out a piece of parchment and began drafting invitations for the banquet.
His first thoughts went to his classmates, professors, and Hagrid. After some deliberation, he even added Snape to the list, despite his reservations. Then came his friends outside of school—the Weasleys, Cedric, the Lovegoods, and Tom were all included. The list wasn't very long; Alex realized he didn't have that many close friends in the wizarding world.
Once he finished writing, he planned to send the invitations and await their responses before reporting the guest list to the Ministry of Magic. Moody had already warned him that the banquet was more about political maneuvering than genuine recognition, but Alex didn't mind playing along.
Finally done with the day's tasks, Alex collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep almost instantly. He hadn't had a proper rest in what felt like forever.
Meanwhile, the wizarding world buzzed with the news of Alex's incredible feat. The capture of five Death Eaters, including prominent figures like Yaxley, spread like wildfire, turning the young Slytherin into a household name overnight. At Hogwarts, Snape burst into Dumbledore's office, his usual stoic demeanor replaced with urgency. "Did you hear about this? Five Death Eaters captured—by Alex Wilson, of all people. Is this real?"
Dumbledore, seated calmly at his desk with a cup of tea in hand, nodded. "Indeed. I've just sent a letter to Millicent. It's excellent news."
Snape, however, wasn't convinced. "Excellent? Don't you find it suspicious? Yaxley, one of the most elusive Death Eaters, just happened to cross paths with Alex, and he managed to subdue them all without a scratch? It doesn't add up."
"I've read the Ministry's report," Dumbledore replied, his tone measured. "The timeline, motives, and battle details are all thoroughly documented. It seems quite straightforward."
"'Seems' is the key word here." Snape leaned forward, his voice tinged with skepticism. "You don't find it strange how perfectly everything aligns? I've been tracking Yaxley for weeks, and just when I was about to act, Alex swoops in and captures him?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Why so agitated, Severus? Would you prefer I confront Alex and accuse him of orchestrating some elaborate scheme?"
"I'm saying we should be cautious," Snape said, clearly exasperated. "You've always been worried about him straying down the wrong path, and now you're brushing off something this significant?"
Dumbledore set down his tea and regarded Snape with a thoughtful expression. "Yes, Alex has immense potential. His strength, intellect, and maturity are far beyond his peers, and I've often wondered if that combination might lead him to dangerous extremes. But this incident reassures me."
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"How?" Snape demanded.
"Because Alex has demonstrated remarkable restraint and clarity of purpose," Dumbledore explained. "He didn't kill anyone, which shows he understands limits. His targets were Death Eaters, proving his sense of justice is intact. Even if he uses clever tactics, his actions reflect a firm stance against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore paused, then added, "And his relationships—with friends both inside and outside school—are genuine. He's not acting against his nature. As long as his convictions remain aligned with what's right, I have no reason to doubt him."
Snape scowled but said nothing, taking the report from Dumbledore's desk. As he skimmed through it, his eyes narrowed. "So, Minister Bagnold is using this to solidify his position against the pure-blood families."
Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "Politics, Severus. But for now, let's focus on the fact that Alex's actions have brought hope to many. He's a hero, and that's something we can all be proud of—especially your Slytherin house."
Snape muttered under his breath, leaving the office with the report in hand. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window. "The future is always uncertain, but I trust Alex will continue to surprise us—hopefully in the best of ways."
After a day's rest, Alex finally felt refreshed and ready for the next step. Following a quick breakfast with Augusta at the Longbottom residence, he borrowed their fireplace and used Floo Powder to travel to the Leaky Cauldron. It was time to take over the property at Diagon Alley.
The three-story building at 277 Diagon Alley, which Alex had recently acquired from Torquil, stood quietly on the street. Despite being located on the southern side of Diagon Alley, where foot traffic was lighter than the bustling northern end, there was still a steady stream of pedestrians passing by. This time, Alex could walk confidently through the front door, no longer needing to sneak in like before.
As he stepped inside, he took a fresh look at the interior. The main entrance on the first floor was a single door with a sturdy metal frame. Glass panels adorned the upper part of the door and the large windows on either side, though they were all covered with thick curtains that gave the entire floor a dim and gloomy atmosphere.
With a flick of his wand, Alex drew back the curtains, letting sunlight stream in and illuminate the space. Dust motes danced in the air as he surveyed the first floor. Clearly, the house had been designed for commercial use. He decided to preserve that aspect but made a mental note to replace every door lock in the building.
The first floor was one large, open space—nearly 30 meters wide and over 6 meters deep—providing a generous 200 square meters of room. It felt more than spacious enough, even if he used half the area for a shop.
The walls and floors were made of smooth, uniform stone bricks that extended to the upper levels. Shelves lined the walls, empty and coated in layers of dust. A fireplace was built into the middle of the far wall, perfectly aligned with fireplaces on the basement, second, and third floors. The air carried a faint musty smell, as if the place had been unused for years. "Looks like the Death Eaters just treated this place as a pass-through to the entrance," Alex muttered as he examined the surroundings. "But at least it's dry, so it's easier to clean up."
Deciding to start with the first floor, Alex summoned his magic. A whirlwind swirled around him, gathering up all the dust from the shelves and floor and hurling it out the windows. He followed this with a Scourgify charm, scrubbing every surface clean before using a drying spell to finish the job. Finally, he opened the windows to let fresh air in.