After dinner, when Alex returned to the Slytherin common room, he dismissed the students early and lifted the disciplinary rules for the final two days. Though the restrictions were loosened, the students had been following discipline for so long that most of them remained just as orderly as ever.
Even the next day, when they boarded the Hogwarts Express, the Slytherin students maintained their quiet, composed demeanor as they returned home.
As for Alex, the moment the train reached the station, he quickly bid farewell to his classmates and set off for Diagon Alley. But he didn’t go straight home. In fact, he didn’t even step into Diagon Alley at all.
Instead, he took a detour into the adjacent Muggle district, heading directly for a small shop on one of the streets. As Alex pushed open the door to the shop, a familiar voice greeted him from behind the counter. “William, long time no see.” The man behind the counter looked up, and his face broke into a wide grin.
“Haha! Boss Alex! It’s been a few years, and you’re already taller than me!” William was still as lively as ever. He rubbed his hands together as he walked over, greeting Alex with the same casual enthusiasm he always had.
Alex took in his friend’s appearance, suited up, looking sharp and confident. “Looks like things are going well for you,” he noted with satisfaction. “I never got the chance to properly thank you for helping out.”
William laughed. “You called, I answered. Simple as that. If not for your letters and advice over the years, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Every stock, every investment, every business move, we just followed your lead, and it’s paid off every time.”
Alex smiled. “We all grew up in the same orphanage. When one of us finds success, we all do.”
During his years at Hogwarts, he had never lost touch with his childhood friends in the Muggle world. Through letters, he had advised them on business ventures, investments, and strategies, enough to turn their fortunes around. Naturally, he had a stake in some of their ventures as well. “It looks like you handled everything I asked for. This shop belongs to us now?” Alex asked, scanning the empty space. The interior was still unfinished, with only a counter and a few shelves in place, indicating that the setup was still in progress.
“It’s all yours. I bought the property in your name, just like you asked. But I have to ask, why this shop? This street isn’t exactly bustling with customers. What are you planning to sell?” William asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
Alex chuckled. “It’s not about selling anything. The shop itself isn’t important, it just needs to be open and operational.”
William raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. Under William’s guidance, Alex did a full inspection of the shop, paying particular attention to the electrical wiring and circuits. “Alright, here’s what I need next,” Alex said after finishing his check. “Find a contractor to install a main switchboard in the basement. Then, get a high-voltage power certification for the building. You’ll also need to follow my schematics and install a few high-frequency rheostats.”
William nodded, absorbing the instructions. “And what about the store itself? What do we stock?”
“Just put in some lights and basic appliances, enough to make it look like a real shop. You don’t need to worry about sales. Just make sure the shop stays open and uses electricity regularly.”
William didn’t pretend to understand the full plan, but he didn’t question it either. “If that’s what you need, consider it done.”
Alex nodded approvingly. He knew he could trust William. The bonds they had formed in the orphanage had never wavered. After finalizing the details, Alex bid farewell to William and made his way back to Diagon Alley, slipping through the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron unnoticed.
As soon as Alex stepped into his home, he was greeted by a rather bizarre sight. His pet, Fang, had somehow managed to wedge his head between the stair railings, and was now thoroughly stuck.
The moment Fang spotted Alex, his eyes widened in panic. The magical creature, which resembled a large, wolf-like dog, had originally been gnawing on the wooden stair column. But in his startled attempt to flee, he had miscalculated and ended up lodging his head firmly between the wooden rails. Now, his paws flailed helplessly as he tried to free himself, but it was no use. He was well and truly stuck.
As Alex stepped forward, his expression darkened. Fang, sensing imminent trouble, immediately switched tactics. His ears drooped, and he put on his best pitiful face.“M-Master, I swear I didn’t mean to, ”Alex ignored him completely and walked straight toward the stairs.
Fang panicked even more when Alex ignored him, quickly covering his head with his paws. “I’m sorry, Master! I was wrong!” He trembled, convinced that Alex was angry and about to punish him. But after a few moments of silence, he hesitantly peeked through his paws, only to realize that Alex was nowhere in sight.
The wizard had walked right past him without a second glance, heading straight down the passage next to the stairs and into the basement. “Master! Wait! Don’t leave me! What am I supposed to do if you just walk away? My head is still stuck! Help!”
Fang’s wailing echoed through the house, but Alex merely curled his lip in distaste as he closed the basement door behind him, shutting out the noise. “Fang… One of these days, I’ll deal with him,” Alex muttered as he strode toward his alchemy lab. “But for now, I have more important things to focus on.” He reached his workbench and pulled out a large sheet of parchment, spreading it across the table. It was a detailed map, a full layout of Diagon Alley and the surrounding streets.
Anyone familiar with the wizarding world would instantly recognize it as a property survey, covering not only Diagon Alley but the adjacent Muggle district as well. Alex retrieved his measuring tools and began sketching, adding precise lines to the map. Within minutes, new markings crisscrossed the blueprint, forming a network of potential pathways.
Once satisfied, he moved to the basement wall and ran his hands along the stone, carefully measuring its depth and structure. After confirming the details, he took out a charcoal pencil and began sketching a doorway onto the wall. “The position and depth match the magical locator’s readings,” Alex murmured, stepping back to double-check his work. “Everything’s set. Once the shop’s renovations are done, I can start tunneling.” His decision to purchase a Muggle shop near Diagon Alley hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Back at Hogwarts, he had finally completed the design and preliminary testing for his newest invention, a magical Arcana shaper.