Soon, Vanessa escorted Alex into the banquet hall. The space was already bustling with guests. The Ministry had gone all out with an elegant setup, complete with tea breaks and buffet tables. Small groups of wizards and witches were scattered throughout the room, chatting in hushed tones. “Alex, you’re here!” exclaimed Vivian, practically glowing in her formal dress as she approached him.
“Long time no see,” Alex replied, a smile tugging at his lips. In truth, it had only been a few weeks since they’d last met, but Vivian’s enthusiasm made it feel much longer.
Her exclamation drew attention. The scattered conversations quieted as heads turned in Alex’s direction. He felt the weight of countless eyes—some curious, others admiring, and a few scrutinizing. Among the crowd, he also noticed a handful of less-than-friendly gazes. Clearly, his recent actions had ruffled some feathers.
Despite the attention, most guests kept their distance, maintaining a polite reserve. Only a few familiar faces made their way over: Charles, Wilkes, and David, who had arrived earlier via the Floo Network.
“Alex, you’ve really outdone yourself this time,” Vivian said, her voice dripping with playful exaggeration. “Do you know the papers have been full of your story for days? Even Rita Skeeter—Rita Skeeter—was singing your praises. She didn’t even make anything up this time! It’s like she wanted to write you into the history books.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “It’s not as dramatic as you’re making it sound.”
“Oh, it’s that dramatic,” Whilkes chimed in, shaking his head. “We couldn’t believe it when we first heard—five Death Eaters? Merlin’s beard! And Yaxley of all people? That guy doesn’t know when to quit.”
“Yaxley didn’t just quit—he escalated,” Alex muttered, his tone darkening.
Charles approached him next, his expression sincere. “Alex, thank you. You’ve done so much for my family. The McKinnon name will always stand behind you.”
“There’s no need for that, Charles,” Alex said with a reassuring smile. “I was just protecting myself. Besides, I promised those Death Eaters would pay eventually. It’s a shame you didn’t get to deal with them yourself.”
Charles gave him a small, grateful smile. “The Travers bastard got what was coming to him, and that’s enough for now. It’s poetic, really—he dug his own grave.”
As Charles spoke, Alex noticed something. It seemed like many of the families present already had their own theories about what had happened. Whatever the Ministry was saying, the truth wasn’t lost on those who paid attention.
Charles leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Listen, Alex, not everyone’s thrilled about this award you’re getting. The title of ‘Wizard Hero’? That’s no small thing. Minister Bagnold’s using this to boost her reputation, and it’s working. But it’s also putting pressure on the old pure-blood families. They’re feeling cornered, and some of them aren’t taking it well.”
Alex’s lips curved into a sly smile. “And what? They think they can make the Ministry revoke the award? It’s already plastered all over the news.”
“Some people say you’re just a Ministry of Magic puppet—a brat paraded around for show,” Charles said hesitantly, glancing at Alex. “And some even claim you didn’t really defeat those Death Eaters. They think no one saw it happen, and the confessions from those Death Eaters could’ve been tampered with. They don’t dare question Minister Bagnold directly, so they’re pointing fingers at you instead.”
Alex let out a sharp laugh, his expression darkening. “Clowns. Let them come and try. Have they forgotten so quickly? The Dark Lord hasn’t even been gone for long. In the wizarding world, strength speaks louder than anything else.”
“Even so, you should watch your back. Minister Bagnold’s tough policies seem to have riled up some of the old pure-blood families. My parents—well, you know they’re both Aurors—say there’s been a lot of quiet backlash lately.” Charles fidgeted, clearly uneasy about sharing insider information.
Alex smirked, leaning back casually. “Backlash? If they dare push, I’ll push them right back.” He paused, his tone growing colder. “I thought I was here tonight to smile for the cameras and enjoy the food. Maybe there’s going to be a good show after all.”
Charles sighed but seemed somewhat reassured by Alex’s confidence. “Just be careful. Headmaster Dumbledore’s got your back, and most of this is just gossip. You don’t have to take it to heart.”
“My backing has always been myself,” Alex replied firmly. “Remember this, Charles: when you rely on others, you’ll always be looked down on. Strength—real strength—comes from within.”
Charles nodded slowly, seeing the determination in Alex’s eyes. “You’re right. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Before their conversation could continue, a cheerful voice interrupted. “Alex, Charles!” Vivian called, her voice light and teasing.
“What’s up?” Charles asked, turning to her.
“The banquet’s about to start, and the reporters are already coming in. Don’t you see them?” Vivian pointed toward the entrance, where a crowd of reporters was filing in. She grinned mischievously. “Let’s go take some pictures with Alex! When they print it, we’ll be the companions of the hero. How cool is that?”
Charles groaned, rolling his eyes. “You’re hopeless, Vivian.”
Meanwhile, Alex’s attention shifted to the entrance, where he spotted familiar faces. The Weasleys had arrived—Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and Percy—but not Molly or the younger children. A genuine smile spread across Alex’s face as he walked toward them. “Arthur! Bill! Charlie! Percy! Long time no see!”
“Alex!” “Brother Alex!”
Bill grinned. “It’s been ages! You look taller and more grown-up than ever.”
“Brother Alex, is it true you defeated five Death Eaters on your own?” Charlie asked eagerly, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Of course, it’s true,” Bill said before Alex could reply. “I’ve seen him in action. Five Death Eaters? That’s nothing for Alex. He could probably take on ten without breaking a sweat.”
Percy adjusted his glasses, his tone more formal. “Brother Alex, you’re being hailed as a war hero by the Ministry of Magic. That’s incredible.”
Alex chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “You lot are going to make my head swell with all this praise.”
Arthur stepped forward, smiling warmly. “It’s been too long, Alex. Only two years, but you’ve changed so much—taller, sharper, more confident. Molly would’ve loved to be here, but with the little ones, it’s hard to manage them all.”
“I understand,” Alex replied. “I’ve missed you all. I was planning to visit the Burrow, but when I heard about this banquet, I thought it’d be a good chance to catch up.”
“You’re always welcome at the Burrow,” Arthur said sincerely. “Molly’s been worried sick about you since the news of the attack. But when she heard you defeated those Death Eaters, she couldn’t stop smiling.”
“Yeah, she was so proud!” Charlie chimed in, pulling a lollipop from his pocket.
Their cheerful conversation was suddenly interrupted by a sneering voice. "Lucius, nothing irks me more than someone putting on a pompous act to fool others. What’s the matter? Can’t people express their opinions anymore?" Avery sneered, flashing a cold smile at Lucius Malfoy, who stood beside him, his long golden hair gleaming under the lights.