The room quieted as Rozier emerged, carrying a rge wooden box. He pced it oable and ope, revealing rows of small gss bottles filled with a shimmering liquid.“What’s this? Edurus Potion?” Wilkes asked after unc a bottle and sniffing its tents.

  “Exactly. These potions boost your defense. sider them an early Christmas gift for your loyalty—and for waiting here for two days without pining,” Yaxley said, holding up one of the rger bottles with pride.

  The sight of the potions reinvigorated the group. They hurried to grab their share, their earlier boredom repced with newfound energy as they geared up for aeanwhile, ‘Vivia off toward the small path outside the Hate, the main route leading to Hogsmeade.

  Not long after, ‘Vivian’ spotted Alex exiting the Hates, heading toward the vilge. Putting on an eager expression, she ran up to him, calling out loudly, “Alex! Alex!”Alex looked startled for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on? Didn’t you say you’d wait for me at the Three Broomsticks?”

  “Oh, that.” Amelia-as-Vivian feigned a sheepish smile, waving her hand dismissively. “When Higgs and I were on our way, I realized you’ve never been to Hogsmeade before. I figured you might get lost, so I decided to wait here and guide you.”

  Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her. “Really? That’s thoughtful of you. Shall we, then?” He gestured for her to lead the way.

  Amelia couldn’t help but feel smug. This guy’s supposed to be ing? Please. He fell for it without me even needing my backup excuses.

  Alex followed her as she led the way, wearing a casual smile. But as they walked, his gaze subtly flicked to their surroundings.“Strange,” Alex said suddenly, his tone light. “This doesn’t seem like the way to the Three Broomsticks. Why are we heading somewhere so isoted?”

  Amelia froze for a split sed, caught off guard by his observation. She quickly forced a ugh. “Oh, um… surprise! I’ve pnned something special for Christmas. Didn’t expect you to cat so quickly.”

  “Hah, really? A Christmas surprise? Hinal.” Alex chuckled, his tone casual, but his sharp eyes lingered on her.

  Sweat beaded on Amelia’s forehead as she forced a smile, silently cursing Yaxley for this tedious pn. This kid doesn’t seem worth all this effort. Finally, they reached a remote er outside the vilge. The area was dotted with crumbling, abandoned houses, and a ed cemetery loomed nearby, its rown weeds swaying in the wind. Amelia led Alex to one of the dipidated huts, but before they could enter, Alex stopped abruptly. “What’s wrong, Alex?” she asked, her voice filled with fake .

  Alex adjusted the monocle perched on his face, sing the area before smirking. “Seventeen people. Quite the weling ittee. You’ve really gone all out for Christmas, haven’t you?”

  Amelia’s expression stiffened, but she tried to py it off. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about. Just e inside—I’ve got a big gift waiting for you.”

  Alex’s smirk widened. “You’re a terrible liar. o trouble yourself with the gift. Let me take care of it myself.”

  Before Amelia could react, Alex sidestepped her and delivered a sharp kick to her knee. A siing crack echoed as she crumpled to the ground. Alex followed up with a viciht hook, sending her flying backward. She nded with a heavy thud, unscious before she could make a sound.

  As Amelia y motionless, her body began to tort and shift. Her features twisted unnaturally, and her frame shrank. Within moments, the guise of ‘Viviaed away, revealing the unscious form of Amelia Osber.

  Cp! Cp! Cp!

  The sound of slouse echoed through the still air. Behind Alex, a voice drawled, “Impressive, Alex. Now, humor me—when did you figure out the Viviao you wasn’t the real one?”

  Alex didn’t turn around. “From the start, of course. The real Vivian alks that little.” His voice was calm, almost disied, but his words carried a razor-sharp edge.

  “Well, well.” Yaxley stepped forward, a mog smirk spreading across his face. “Thenwhat do we call this? Ce? ance? ing here all alone... should I appud your bravery or pity your foolishness?”

  Alex tilted his head, a small smile pying on his lips. “Chatting like this is a waste of time. If you keep yapping, I might mistake you for Vivian.” He rubbed his ear in mock irritation but made no effort to look back. His demeanor was calm, but in truth, he had already used a silent echo spell. It revealed most of the enemies were positioned ahead, hiding in the dipidated house and its surroundings.

  Realizing Alex wasn’t taking the bait, the hidden guards began to emerge from the shadows, fanning out and surrounding him like wolves closing in on prey. One by oheir eyes gleamed with malice, their wands drawn.

  Travers stepped forward, his face flushed with excitement as he sneered, “You’re not getting away today, you filthy mudblood. I’ll personally rip out your disgusting eyes!”Wilkes, standing nearby, sneered as well but remained more posed. “Stop wasting time with threats. Finish him quickly and quietly. This pce may be remote, but if he sends for help, someone might show up.”

  “o worry,” Travers interjected smugly. “I’ve cast multiple sileng and shielding spells over the area. I lear from this mudblood, ironically enough. Even if we blow this pce to pieces, no one will hear a thing. He’s as good as dead.”

  Yaxley, watg Alex stand amidst the encroag circle, chuckled. “You still haven’t answered my question, Alex. What gave you the ce to follow us here alone? You must’ve known this was a trap. We pnned so many tingencies for you, and the Polyjuice plot was holy the weakest of them all. I hought Amelia could lure you in.”

  Alex g the group surrounding him, unbothered by their hostile gres. “Oh, I just didn’t feel like dragging this out. Taking care of all of you at once seemed more effit.”He paused, then smiled faintly. “And holy? I’m short on cash. You lot might as well make yourselves useful.” Before anyone could respond, Alex vanished into thin air.

  “Attaow!” Wilkes shouted, panic fshing across his face.

  “Don’t let him escape!” Yaxley barked, raising his wand. “Depulso!”

  A whirlwind of dust and debris erupted in Alex’s dire, obsg the area in a chaoti. Through the swirling haze, a figure darted forward, moving with impossible speed.

  “There!” Wilkes yelled, raising his wand to fire a curse. Others followed suit, hurling spells with wild abandon.

  “Petrificus Totalus!”“Stupefy!”“Expelliarmus!”“Repello!”

  But Alex moved like a phantom, weaving effortlessly through the barrage of spells. A petrification spell grazed so close to his face it seemed iable it would nd, but he tilted his head at the st sed, evading it with unnerving precision.

  In an instant, he closed the gap between himself and Wilkes. Before Wilkes could react, Alex’s fist smmed into his abdomen with bone-jarring force. The older student gasped in pain, doubling over, but Alex wasn’t done. Grabbing Wilkes by the colr, he spun and hurled him backward like a rag doll.