Professor Bones shook his head, his expression grim. "That's not how the Fidelius Charm works, Alex. Even under the Imperius Curse or Veritaserum, the secret stays safe unless the Secret Keeper willingly reveals it."
As the reality sank in, Alex's shoulders slumped. He stared at the newspaper in his hands, the weight of its revelations pressing down on him. Despite his loyalty to Sirius and his trust in him, the cold, hard truth was impossible to ignore.
Professor Bones placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard to accept, Alex. Losing friends is painful, and betrayal cuts deep. But for now, all we can do is wait for more information and try to understand why this happened."
Alex nodded weakly, clutching the newspaper tightly as he stared at the inked words that had shattered his world.
---
Alex didn't even remember how he ended up back at the cabin near the Forbidden Forest. His mind was in turmoil, swirling with the shocking news. At first, he thought he could keep his distance, just observing the lives of these people. But the deeper he got, the harder it became to remain detached. Lily's kindness and gentle nature had touched him. Even Sirius, whom he thought he barely knew, left a hollow ache in his chest now that he was gone.
The cabin was quiet; Hagrid hadn't returned since the night before. Alex stood alone outside, staring into the dark, tangled shadows of the Forbidden Forest. A fire burned within him—an unnamed anger he couldn't shake. His magic surged, raw and untamed, bubbling up until he couldn't contain it anymore.
All around him, objects—giant pumpkins, wooden barrels, and tools scattered outside the cabin—lifted into the air, spinning slowly under the force of his power. It was as if something inside him had snapped.
"Aaah!" he roared, releasing all his pent-up frustration. The floating objects shattered in midair, scattering in fragments around him. When the chaos subsided, Alex stood there, panting. The first drops of rain began to fall, cooling his flushed face and gradually pulling him back to reality.
He looked around at the mess he had created—logs, smashed vegetables, and shards of barrels scattered within a ten-meter radius. Slowly, he raised his hand, and to his surprise, the rain outlined a large, translucent hand hovering in the air, mimicking his movements.
"Is this… my Shield Charm?" Alex murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His magic had surged so strongly it had transformed the spell into something new. It wasn't just a shield anymore—it was tangible, a Wizard's Hand. But even with this discovery, he felt no triumph, only emptiness.
In the distance, Hogwarts was alive with celebration. The faint sounds of laughter and fireworks drifted toward him. Students flew on broomsticks, their cheers ringing out under the castle's glowing lights. Meanwhile, Alex quietly began cleaning up the mess he had made, the contrast between their joy and his loneliness stark.
---
The next morning, a new sound reached him—the rumble of an engine. Startled, Alex rushed outside and saw Hagrid's motorcycle descending from the sky. It landed with a heavy thud, and Alex ran toward it as Hagrid, still wearing his goggles, climbed off with a weary expression.
"Hagrid! Where've you been? And why do you have Sirius's motorcycle?" Alex asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
Hagrid removed his goggles and sniffed, his face somber. "I dunno if you've heard yet, Alex… James and Lily…" His voice trailed off, his grief evident.
Alex's heart sank. "I know… but what happened? And why do you have Sirius's bike? Professor Bones told me Sirius… betrayed them?" His voice cracked on the last word.
Hagrid led him inside the cabin and sat down heavily, placing his goggles on the table. He grabbed a copper cup and took a long drink before speaking. "Two nights ago, Dumbledore sent me to Godric's Hollow… to find James and Lily's baby, Harry."
Alex's eyes widened. "So, when I was practicing spells that day… they…?" He couldn't finish the sentence.
Hagrid nodded, his expression pained. "Yeah. When I got there, James was lying in the hall, and Lily was… next to Harry's crib." His voice broke, and he pulled out a massive handkerchief, wiping away his tears. "They were just lying there… and Dumbledore told me to get Harry out, to take him somewhere safe."
After a deep, shaky breath, Hagrid continued, "When I left the house, I ran into Sirius. He almost had me convinced to hand Harry over—said he was the boy's godfather. But I couldn't. Dumbledore gave me orders. Then… Sirius gave me his bike and told me to take Harry to safety. I flew Harry to his relatives, like Dumbledore said."
Alex's mind raced, trying to piece together the conflicting events. Why would Sirius go to the Potters' house if he had betrayed them? And if he really was the traitor, why would he help Hagrid? It didn't make sense.
"Hagrid, is Professor Dumbledore back?" Alex asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
"He should be," Hagrid replied. "I took the long way back."
"Thanks, Hagrid. Get some rest. I need to speak with Dumbledore." With a firm nod, Alex left the cabin, a heavy weight pressing on his chest.
Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, a tense confrontation was unfolding. "You promised to protect her!" Snape's voice cracked, his grief breaking through his usually cold demeanor.
Dumbledore's face was heavy with sorrow. "Lily and James trusted the wrong people, Severus. Just as you once did." He paused, his gaze steady. "But their child is alive."
Snape's face twisted with anguish. "The Dark Lord is gone. The boy doesn't need protection anymore!"
Dumbledore's voice softened, but his words remained firm. "The Dark Lord will return, Severus. And when he does, that child will be in grave danger." He added, his gaze piercing, "He has Lily's eyes. If you truly loved her…"
Snape's expression contorted with pain, but he quickly masked it. "No one must ever know," he said, his voice low.
"Help me here at Hogwarts," Dumbledore replied, "and I will handle the Ministry."
Snape gave a stiff nod and left the office, his grief buried deep beneath a cold, unreadable mask.
As Snape walked through the dim corridors of the castle, his footsteps echoed, lost in thought. He didn't notice the figure approaching from the other direction until they were face-to-face.
A young man stood there, dressed in Slytherin robes. His black hair fell just past his ears, and a monocle over his right eye gave him an air of elegance. His sharp gaze locked onto Snape's, intense and unsettling.