Fragmentation ran deep, dividing the house not only by blood status but also by personality and grade level, and the lack of shared dormitories or common goals only exacerbated these divisions. Lingering tensions from the previous year’s chaos further complicated matters, as factions that had clashed under Yaxley’s influence still harbored grudges, making reconciliation nearly impossible. On top of all this, ongoing conflicts with Gryffindor and other houses served as a constant distraction, with personal disputes frequently escalating into house-wide feuds that even drew in those who wished to remain uninvolved.
Despite the daunting challenges, Alex found himself intrigued. The fractured house presented a unique opportunity for experimentation. If he could untangle the web of mistrust and isolation, he could reshape Slytherin’s future—and test his own capabilities in the process.
As he quietly recorded his findings on the board, a smirk crept across his face. “Got it,” Alex muttered, closing his notepad and setting it aside. He rose from his desk, determination flashing in his eyes. “If this house is going to be fixed, we’ll need some strong medicine. Let’s hope the others are ready for what I have in mind.” He stretched, adjusted his robes, and stepped out of his dormitory. Today marked the end of his fourth year at Hogwarts. The graduation ceremony was underway, signaling the close of another school year.
In the Great Hall, Alex took his seat among the Slytherins. At a glance, the house appeared unified, with students chatting and laughing together. But Alex, who had spent months studying them, knew better. Beneath the surface, most students only spoke within their cliques, carefully ignoring anyone outside their immediate circles.
The atmosphere felt strangely lively yet hollow. Alex quietly ate his dinner, observing the dynamic without comment. By the end of the feast, Ravenclaw had once again claimed the House Cup. Slytherin remained in third place, while Gryffindor sat at the bottom.
The announcement barely elicited a reaction from the Slytherins. They seemed resigned to mediocrity, their only consolation being that they hadn’t finished last. A few even glanced smugly at the Gryffindor table, as if mocking them for their lower rank. ‘Really? ‘Alex thought, exasperated. ‘How can you feel superior when you’re just slightly less terrible?’ It was moments like these that made him feel like he was trapped in some absurd magical sitcom.
He glanced over at Vivian, who was happily devouring her sixth chicken leg. His exasperation deepened. ‘And you, big sister, are you trying to set a world record?‘ Ever since Vivian had started dating Charles, she had completely let herself go, eating and lounging without a care in the world. Alex had tried to enforce her weight-loss regimen, but she’d ignored him at every turn.
‘Next year, I’ll have to find something to keep her busy. Otherwise, she’s going to eat herself into oblivion.’
The next morning, Alex boarded the Hogwarts Express to return home. This time, he wasn’t traveling alone. Both Wimzy and Fang accompanied him. Wimzy had fully pledged herself to Alex, following his orders without hesitation. Fang, on the other hand, saw Alex as his savior and had sworn to remain by his side. Thankfully, Alex now had a stable base in the wizarding world where he could house them.
Once back at his residence at Diagon Alley, Alex set about making accommodations. He converted the second bedroom on the third floor into a shared space for Wimzy and Fang. His own bedroom was spacious enough to double as a study, while the basement provided ample room for his experiments. The basement was divided into two distinct labs. The former storage area was walled off and transformed into a spell research lab. This room, large and open, included a vertical shooting range where Alex could practice and test spells daily.
The second room, originally a bedroom, became his potion and alchemy lab. It was outfitted with workbenches, balances, beakers, and other equipment for brewing potions and crafting magical items. Semi-finished projects cluttered the surfaces, each representing a work in progress. Alex made sure to keep the original bed in his spell laboratory for those late nights when research left him too exhausted to return upstairs. In the potion lab, he installed an advanced magical ventilation system to regulate temperature and humidity. A central control circle in the room served as both a protective barrier and the heart of the building’s energy-gathering network, ensuring his experiments remained efficient and secure.
To support his expanding research and alchemical experiments, Alex had invested heavily in supplies and equipment. Some of his more exotic materials came from Karkaroff’s smuggling network, while others were acquired through official channels. Though his resources seemed plentiful—over 5,000 Galleons and a trove of rare ingredients earned during the previous summer—his projects quickly burned through the wealth.
One of his most extravagant purchases had been a top-tier rune workbench imported from Cairo, a custom order facilitated by Professor bones. The cost? A staggering 3,000 Galleons. Combined with other equipment and supplies, Alex had already spent his entire summer fortune within a year.
The expenses weren’t without purpose, as Alex juggled numerous ambitious research projects that demanded both time and resources. His work on memory and thought magic, spurred by a promise to young Neville, weighed heavily on him, though his limited knowledge in the field left him struggling for data and experimental materials.
The development of the Thundris Tempest Rune, his most costly endeavor, consumed vast amounts of resources as he tested materials to carry the rune and refined its power and efficiency. His exploration into advanced rune control showed promise, though it remained largely theoretical due to minimal practical testing.
Meanwhile, his investigations into the controversial but potentially groundbreaking applications of blood magic required cautious experimentation. On top of it all, Alex maintained a rigorous regimen of tactical spell training to refine his combat techniques. Yet, with so many irons in the fire, his financial situation had become increasingly worrisome; despite starting the year with a healthy reserve of Galleons, his spending far outpaced his income, threatening to leave him broke long before graduation.
Cutting expenses wasn’t an option, so Alex began considering ways to generate revenue. He had always planned to start a business after graduation, but the urgency of his situation forced him to move that timeline forward. He needed a plan, and fast.
One month after returning to Diagon Alley, Alex sat in his alchemy lab, staring at a half-finished blueprint on a large sheet of parchment. It was time to make a decision about his next steps. Alchemy was the natural choice. With his expertise and the prime location of his residence in Diagon Alley, opening a shop seemed like the perfect opportunity.
During a conversation with Ms. Purnell, he’d joked about starting a business. Now, the idea felt more serious. Instead of retailing everyday magical items, Alex leaned toward securing a direct partnership with the Ministry of Magic. Supplying practical, high-demand products to a large organization seemed far more efficient than selling items piecemeal to individual customers.
Alex had already begun laying the groundwork. His connections with key figures in the Ministry were solid. Minister Bagnold owed him a favor for past assistance. The newly appointed Director of Magical Law Enforcement, Burns’ sister, had been instrumental in helping him acquire his Cairo workbench. And Moody, head of the Auror Command, was practically an ally after seeing the utility of Alex’s tactical gear.