He sealed the letter, set it aside to send the next morning, and opened Lily's letter next. Her handwriting was neat and calming, and the tone of her letter made him smile.
"Dear Alex, I'm sorry for replying late! Harry's just over a month old now, and I'm still learning how to be a mother. It's been overwhelming, but wonderful, too.
As for you being sorted into Slytherin, don't worry too much about it. The Sorting Hat always has its reasons, and Slytherin House isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Sure, some wizards have gone down the wrong path after graduating, but that doesn't mean they all do.
One of my friends from school was in Slytherin, and they're fighting against the Death Eaters just like the rest of us.
You're strong, Alex. You've been through so much, and I believe you'll get through whatever comes your way at Hogwarts. Stay true to yourself and don't lose sight of what's right.
By the way, Professor Flitwick wrote to me saying you've been invited to join the Charms Club—congratulations! I didn't get that invite until third year. If you're interested, I left some notes on protection magic in the club. I hid them behind the podium on the bottom shelf, tucked inside a book called Defense Theory of Magic by Wilbert Slinka. It might come in handy.
Sirius mentioned inviting you over after Christmas. We'd love to have you, and I'm sure Harry would enjoy meeting you, too.
Take care of yourself,
Your friend,
Lily Potter."
Alex felt a warmth in his chest after reading Lily's letter. Despite everything she had going on, she still took the time to encourage him. She didn't owe him anything, yet her kindness was unreserved.
He immediately grabbed another sheet of parchment to write his reply:
"Lily, thank you for your kind words. I'll definitely come visit after Christmas—I'm looking forward to meeting Harry. I'll make sure to check out those protection magic notes you left in the Charms Club, too.
I really appreciate your support. Please take care of yourself and Harry. Even at home, stay safe.
Sincerely,
Alex."
With both letters written, Alex set them aside to send in the morning.
The next day, after sending the letters, Alex had no intention of getting involved in the Slytherin-Gryffindor drama. Instead, he decided to visit Hagrid. Since starting at Hogwarts, he hadn't had a chance to catch up with him, even though they had shared dragon liver together at the Leaky Cauldron before term started.
After classes, Alex gathered a few jars of seasoning from his room as a gift and made his way toward Hagrid's hut.
He remembered Hagrid mentioning that his hut wasn't too close to the castle, so Alex headed down the path that led away from the school. After passing the owl shack, he followed the trail toward the edge of the forest. Along the way, he saw a few students chatting and playing, but as he neared Hagrid's hut, the crowds thinned out.
Finally, Alex spotted the small, rough-looking hut in the distance. The sight of vegetables and fruits growing around it made him smile. 'Typical Hagrid.'
"Maybe I should transplant the green onions I planted," Alex mused as he walked. "They never get enough sunlight where they are, and they're looking more and more wilted these days." Seeing Hagrid's vegetable garden brought a sense of relief to Alex, and his pace quickened as he made his way to the hut.
"Hagrid! Hagrid! Are you in?" Alex called out, standing outside the small wooden house.
The door creaked open, and Hagrid, towering as usual, ducked his head to step outside. A wide smile spread across his face when he saw Alex.
"Alex! Haven't seen you in a bit. Come in, come in!" Hagrid welcomed him warmly, opening the door wider to let Alex inside.
As Alex entered, he got a full view of Hagrid's hut. It was a cozy, one-room cabin with all the essentials: ham, sausages, and pheasants hung from the ceiling, and a roaring fireplace lit up the room. In front of the fire sat a huge wooden table surrounded by wooden chairs. A large bed occupied one corner, piled with a patchwork quilt. On the walls hung various tools—hammers, axes, and a large crossbow. Most noticeably, a pink umbrella rested near the sofa.
"Hagrid, your place may be small, but it's well-stocked!" Alex said with a grin, feeling at ease in the warm, rustic space. The sight of the vegetable garden just outside the hut added to his good mood.
Hagrid chuckled, scratching his head. "Aye, not much to brag about, but it does the job. So, what brings you here today?"
"I've been meaning to visit for a while, but I've been getting used to Hogwarts. Today, I had some free time and thought I'd come see you." Alex smiled and set a large bundle of seasonings on the table, climbing up onto one of the oversized chairs. "I brought these for you, figured you might enjoy adding them to your meals."
"Ah, you shouldn't have! Thank you, Alex!" Hagrid beamed, clearly touched. He then took a closer look at Alex and noticed the green and silver of Slytherin on his uniform.
"Blimey, Alex, you're in Slytherin? I didn't notice at first!"
"Yeah, tell me about it," Alex laughed, shaking his head. "I was just as surprised as you when the Sorting Hat made its choice."
Hagrid looked genuinely puzzled. "But you told me you were Muggle-born, right? Not many Muggle-born wizards end up in Slytherin."
"Exactly," Alex said, leaning in a bit and lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "I've been thinking the Sorting Hat might've pulled a fast one on me. When I put it on, it said I could fit into almost any house, but after a bit of back-and-forth, it shoved me into Slytherin. I'm pretty sure the hat has a grudge against me or something."
Hagrid laughed heartily, pouring Alex a cup of water. "The Sorting Hat, holding grudges? Never heard of it doing anything like that before. But did you maybe annoy it somehow?"
Alex rolled his eyes playfully. "If I could've taken it apart, I would've."
Hagrid's expression softened a bit, and his tone turned more serious. "Have the pure-bloods in Slytherin been giving you any trouble? You know how they can be. Plenty of dark wizards and Death Eaters came from that house. You've got to watch yourself."
Alex could tell that Hagrid was genuinely concerned, whether it was about him staying safe or not falling into dark magic.