Alex paused, realizing he hadn’t thought this through. If he got feedback through his ears, it would be noisy and probably fusing. Using his eyes would be better, but he’d be limited to seeing only in one dire, which might mess with his regur vision.

  Bones noticed Alex’s dilemma and suggested, “Your spell is perfect for deteg things behind barriers or in low-visibility pces like forests. I also think it could help you spot people who are invisible or using cloaking spells, right?”

  Alex’s eyes brightened. “Exactly! I was hoping it might work even if someone used a Disillusio Charm or an Invisibility Cloak.”

  Bones nodded, impressed. “That makes it even more promising. I suggest two possible solutions: first, you could try eling the feedback directly to your mind, simir to how Legilimency transmits thoughts. But that’s risky and requires advanced skills. I wouldn’t reend it for you yet.”

  Alex sidered this, but Bones tinued, “The sed option is safer. You could use an alchemical item—like a mirror or a pair of gsses—to dispy the information. The spell would send out sound waves, which the alchemy item could receive, giving you a visual readout.”

  Alex’s face lit up. “I like the sed idea. I’ll go with that!”

  Bones nodded approvingly. “Good choice. Developing the spell with alchemy is not only safer but also more manageable at your level.”

  They ed up the lesson, with Bones giving Alex a few pointers on alchemical materials and entments, mentioning that they would cover more in future lessons. Alex left the office feeling inspired, the weight of two books in his arms a satisfying reminder of the day’s progress.

  The castle was dim and quiet as he made his way back to the Slytherin dormitory, shadows stretg long in the corridors. Lost in thought, he barely noticed the time and realized curfew was near. Quiing his pace, he crossed the third-floor corridor, his mind still buzzing with ideas from the lesson.

  Suddenly, a rustling sound caught his attention. He spun around just in time to see two dark objects flying straight at him. Instinctively, he cast a barrier, and the objects hit it with a loud spt, releasing a foul smell.

  “Dung bombs?” Alex muttered, grimag as the stench filled the air. He quickly maniputed the air around him, creating a gust to blow the smell away, then darted behind a nearby pilr to look for his attackers. But whoever had thrown the bombs was already gone.

  Thinking about his attackers, he muttered, “You think you mess with me without fag the sequences? You really think I’m an easy target?” Just then, a voice broke through his thoughts.

  “Who’s causing trouble now, you little brats!” Filch’s voice echoed down the corridor.

  Alex quickly assessed the situation. One end of the hall was blocked by the dung bomb’s mess, while Filch’s approach cut off the other. With no good options, Alex decided to take the risky route. He leapt over the stone railing of the corridor and nded on the floor below, cushioning each drop with a quick burst of magic to form temporary barriers under his feet.

  He nded smoothly in the hallway below, grinning as he pieced together his attackers' pn. ‘They knew Filch was on patrol and expected me to either run into him or through the dung bomb mess, where they could ambush me. They’re probably hiding oher side, waiting for me to walk right into their trap.’

  Ohird floor, just beyond the dung bomb mess, Travers and three other sed-year Slytherin students crouched, waiting for Alex. Travers had always resented Alex but never had a ce to front him openly. Seeing him lost in thought had been the perfect opportunity.

  “Alright, he must’ve been caught by Filch by now. Let’s get out of here before we’re the ones in trouble,” Rozier whispered nervously to Travers, gng around.

  Rozier had initially tried to stop Travers from attag Alex, but Travers ignored him, throwing the dung bombs anyway. Now Rretted getting involved, worried about Filch’s wrath if they were caught.

  “Rex,” Travers sneered. “Filch is oher end. Alex has no choice but to run in our dire. Once he’s forced out of hiding, we’ll strike together and teach that Mudblood a lesson.”

  The group waited, but as minutes passed, there was still no sign of Alex. Filch’s angry shouts grew louder as he searched nearby s, ing closer.

  “Did he just vanish?” Rozier muttered anxiously. “He couldn’t have just jumped off the corridor, could he?”

  With Filearing, Rozier and the other students begged Travers to retreat. Frustrated, Travers finally agreed, cursing under his breath as they headed toward the staircase leading down to the sed floor.

  As they reached the nding, a sudden flurry of spells struck from the shadows. Two of Travers’ panions cried out in pain as they colpsed, hit hard by an unseen force. Before Travers could react, a powerful spell hit him squarely, throwing him against the wall and knog him out cold.

  Rozier, the st oanding, froze in terror as Alex stepped out of the shadows, his expression calm but cold.

  Rozier stammered, “It—it wasn’t me! I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen!”

  Alex raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Rozier’s cowardice. With a slight smirk, he reached down to search the unscious students, quickly finding several pouches. He ted the s—over thirty Galleons—and gave a satisfied nod.

  “Rex, Rozier,” Alex said, his tone chillingly calm. “You and your friends have been quite generous. Thanks for the donation.” He jihe pouches, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Now, about your ‘prote fee’ for the hree months?”

  Rozier’s face fell, realizing he’d just funded Alex’s new “fee.” But he nodded weakly, uo refuse.

  Alex dragged him up, dusting him off in a mog gesture. “Good. Now, I know you don’t have the o go after me on your own, so as long as you stay out of trouble, I’ll leave you alone.”

  Alex shook the pouch as he asked, “O thing—has your family been up to anythily? And Travers, has he been involved with anyone?”