“What do you mean, Albus? You’re still pnning to let those students act as bait to find the Death Eaters? You’re risking the safety of the other young wizards!” Snape’s voice was sharp, his anger barely restrained as he gred at Dumbledore.

  Dumbledore, calm as ever, adjusted his gsses. “Don’t worry, Severus. From what I’ve observed, their behavior hased to anything particurly violent. If it does, I’ll step in. Sometimes, giving them room to act without restraint reveals a person’s true nature, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Snape’s frown deepened, his tone ced with frustration. “And what about Alex? He’s a Muggle-born Slytherin, and you know full well those pure-blood fanatics are out for his blood. He didn’t leave Hogwarts all summer, and it wasn’t because he’s particurly fond of the castle walls.”

  Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “I thought you didn’t like the boy.”

  Snape scowled. “Don’t ge the subject.”

  “Have some faith in him, Severus,” Dumbledore replied, his voice light. “Alex is cautious and intelligent, and, most importantly, he has a strong sense of justice. He’s already proven himself capable. Any student who stand toe-to-toe with you in Potions deserves some credit.”

  “That’s precisely why I still stay silent!” Snape snapped, his irritation rising under Dumbledore’s amused gaze.

  “I’m curious to see what Alex will do in an enviro like this, where the odds seem stacked against him,” Dumbledore said with a chuckle.

  “You’re pying with fire, Albus. Be careful you don’t burn yourself,” Sorted, his voice cold as he turo leave. His bck robes billowed behind him as he stormed out of the office.

  Left alone, Dumbledore stared thoughtfully into the distance, his expression unreadable. “Perhaps,” he murmured to himself, “but I have no desire to see another Dark Lord rise. Alex… in this hostile enviro, what choices will you make when enemies are all around you?”

  Ba the castle, Alex met with Rozier in a dim corridor. The two spoke in hushed tones, and Alex passed him a small vial of potion.

  Rozier’s eyes widened as Alex expined his pn. “You’re serious about this? You’re really going through with it?”

  Alex smirked. “Why else would I have goo the trouble of pnting the idea of this ridiculous ‘Purity ittee’ in Yaxley’s head? You think you’ve earned his trust just by ce?”

  Rozier hesitated, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “But if this fails, I’m done for. Do you realize what they’ll do to me if it goes wrong?”

  Alex’s expression hardened. “You’re in no position to iate, Rozier. It’s far too te frets now. Remember, if you disobey me, the sequences will be far worse than anything Yaxley could dream up.”

  Rred at Alex, rese flickering in his eyes, but he said nothing more. With a defeated sigh, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. As he trudged toward the Slytherin on room, he muttered bitterly to himself. He should never have gotten involved with Alex in the first pce. Encing Yaxley to create the Purity ittee had seemed like a harmless suggestion at the time, but now it felt like he’d walked into a trap. “Regret won’t help me now,” Rhed, shaking his head. He straightened his shoulders aered the on room, where Yaxley was waiting.

  “What’s this I hear about Alex pnning to visit Hogsmeade for Christmas? Are you sure?” Yaxley asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “I overheard him talking to Vivian,” Rozier replied carefully. “Vivian and Higgs are staying at Hogwarts for Christmas as well. They’ve been spending a lot of time together tely. It’s suspicious.”

  Yaxley ughed, his voice filled with disdain. “That half-blood ’t help himself, he? Vivian and Higgs, too? Birds of a feather, I suppose.”

  Pag bad forth, Yaxley’s mind raced. He stopped abruptly and turned back to Rood work. But we need firmation. If Vivian and Higgs also apply to stay over the holidays, then we’ll know for sure. This time, we’ll deal with him food.”

  Rozier nodded, silently cursing Alex fing him into this mess. But he had no choiow but to py along.

  As Christmas approached, Alex, Vivian, and Higgs all applied to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays, firming Rozier’s report. Yaxley and his group, however, didn’t make simir arras—it would have been too obvious. Instead, they boarded the train home but quietly disembarked at Hogsmeade Station, gathering at a house in the vilge to wait.

  After two days, Yaxley grew impatient. “What’s the news?” he demanded of the young wizards he had sent to keep watch.

  “We spotted Vivian and Higgs at the Three Broomsticks,” one of them reported. “They seem to be waiting for someone—likely Alex.”

  Wilkes frowned. “It won’t be easy to a a crowded pce like that.”

  Yaxley’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Oh, I’ve already prepared for that. Take a look.”He gestured to a figure standing in the shadows. Wilkes turned, his expression shifting from fusion to shock as he saw her. “Vivian?”

  But it wasn’t the real Vivian. This Vivian erfect replica, her features eerily identical, yet her expression cold and unfeeling. “What is this?” Wilkes asked, his voice filled with unease.

  Yaxley’s grin widened. “Let’s just say this Vivian will make things much easier for us.”

  “Ha! Wilkes, don’t you even reize me?” Another Vivian asked, her face twisted into a mog expression.

  “Amelia? Are you using a Polyjuice Potion?” Wilkes finally caught on, his gaze flickering with surprise as he studied 'Vivian' more closely.

  “That’s right!” Amelia, in her Vivian disguise, replied smugly. “That brat dared to tradict me earlier, so I grabbed a few strands of her hair. Now it’s ing in handy.”

  “I had a feeling something like this would e in handy,” Yaxley chimed in, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. “When Amelia and Vivian had that argument st time, I saportunity. I asked Rozier to prepare some Polyjuice Potion. And now, it’s time to put it to good use.”

  The group of Slytherins around him erupted into murmurs of approval, sh Yaxley with exaggerated praise. However, Travers, standing off to the side, quickly doused their enthusiasm. “Hold on. What if Alex doesn’t fall for it? That guy’s sharp—ing, even. Are you sure you lure him in?” Travers asked skeptically, his arms crossed.

  Yaxley shot a fident look at Amelia-as-Vivian. “That depends on Amelia’s ag. Think you ha?”

  Amelia puffed her chest out, her expression smug. “Please, dealing with a mudblood kid like him is a joke. Holy, this much effort feels like overkill. Let’s just stick to the pn a over with.”

  “Don’t uimate him,” Yaxley warned, his tone growing serious. “Wilkes has ihat Alex isn’t as weak as he seems. He knows some kind of obscure barrier magid we ’t afford to leave any loose ends. When we make our move, we up everything. No mistakes.”

  Despite Yaxley’s words, the group’s mood remained subdued. Many of them had been lured into the plot with promises of excitement, but now, as the pn unfolded, they seemed unimpressed. Some even muttered about wanting to go home for Christmas instead of l around. Notig their ckluster attitudes, Yaxley barked, “Rozier!”