The next day Alex woke up earlier than usual. His pet kneazle was sleeping beside him on the bed. "Wake up Erebus, let's go for a walk," Alex said to the baby kneazle while rubbing its forehead. Instead of waking up the kneazle snuggled more into Alex. Lifting the baby Kneazle in his arms, Alex left the dormitory. After walking through the campus, Alex made his way to the 'Great Hall' followed by Erebus. While Alex was having his breakfast, Nicole and the others showed up. "How come you are so early? I thought you will miss your class today" Nicole said while said sitting beside Alex. "Why?" Hermione asked with interest. Last night she pestered Nicole into telling everything about Alex to her. His likes, dislikes, personality and everything. "You don't know. This brother of mine is good at almost everything, but he has one flaw, guess what?" Nicole said while turning towards Hermione. "Waking up in the morning?" Hermione said while analyzing their chat. "Well, you are half right. It's not about waking up. He is just too lazy. If there is no important work he will try to drag his rest to the very extreme" Nicole said while trying to hold her laughter. "Why don't you just have your breakfast?" annoyed by how her sister was criticizing him in front of everyone he said sternly. "Btw brother you came to Hermione and said something last night, it was all too sudden we were not able to understand anything" now that she was teasing her brother, she very well just annoy him to death. "I think because I do whatever you want me to, you think I am a pushover, right?" now this was more than enough for Alex. Looks like Nicole does not know where to stop. "It's alright she was just joking around" Hermione came in defence of Nicole. Although she wanted to hear him apologize once more, after knowing about his personality from Nicole last night, she rather not. "Yeah, brother don't get angry" Nicole too got the hint that she has gone too far. After some silence, Nicole asked. "Well brother, who is your roommate?" "No one, I don't think Slytherin's have roommates. They all have their own rooms. This is one thing that Salazar Slytherin did the best" munching his breakfast, Alex replied without looking up. "Really? You have your own room. I should have been in Slytherin" Nicole said enviously, in fact, everyone who heard it was envious, who does not want some privacy. As they were talking, prof McGonagall and a man came towards them. The man was tall, and pale looking and he had mean eyes. The man was staring at Harry as if he was going to eat him alive. "prof McGonagall and..." Nicole greeted them, looking confusingly towards the man. "He is prof Snape head of the 'House of Slytherin'" prof McGonagall introduced. "What are you doing with the bunch of Gryffindors, Ashbridge, follow me" without paying attention to anyone else he walked away. Alex followed behind prof Snape into his office. As they entered the office, Alex knelt on the ground. "Master" Alex saw Snape yesterday during the sorting ceremony, but there was no time to greet him. "Stand up" Snape ordered Alex." We are just teacher and student in Hogwarts, don't let anyone know about us". "Yes, professor" Alex immediately complied. "So Nicole got in the academy too, I never saw that coming," said Snape. "Tell her to be at arm's length from Potter" Snape warned Alex. "Why, professor?" confused as to why his master would say that he asked. "The future for Potter is filled with dangers, those around him will be implicated for sure". Snape gave a vague but genuine reason. "I will keep that in mind" nodding towards Snape Alex said. His sister's safety comes first even before Potter's. "Here take this, your class schedule, most of your classes are with Gryffindor" taking out a piece of parchment he gave it to Alex. "Thank you, mast..., I mean professor," Alex said. Alex left the chambers and went to the Slytherin dormitory. The classes will start from tomorrow, so today was his day to laze around all day. Alex came to his room, picked up Erebus and both of them cuddled to sleep. If anyone saw the cold and indifferent Alex now they won't believe their eyes. Time passed and, it was evening, Alex came to the Great hall for dinner. He saw Nicole, and the others on the Gryffindor table, he remembered what Snape said. He will talk to her later. As usual, he sat at the very last on the Slytherin table. Beside him sat a girl with silver hair and blue eyes. "Hi, I am Daphne Greengrass, you are?" the girl introduced herself first. "Alexender Ashbridge," Alex said, munching his food. "So which wizarding family are you from? Never heard of the Ashbridge's" seeing that Alex was not very keen to start the conversation she asked. "I am not from any" Alex replied without even looking at her. "Muggle?" Daphne asked. "Don't know, maybe" still not looking at her, Alex replied. "Orphan?" Daphne asked cautiously with a soft voice. "Yes," Alex replied indifferently. "Sorry" Daphne immediately apologized. "Why?" asked Alex. "I mean... you know... I didn't know" listening to Alex prompt replies she was not sure what she was apologizing for. She stammered a lot before replying. "You will find orphans everywhere, how many are you going to feel sorry for?" finally looking at Daphne Alex said. Daphne looked into Alex's grey eyes and was mesmerized by them, she was at a loss for words. The boy was so cold, she was getting chills. But the boy piqued her interest. "So..." just as she was about to start the conversation once again, Alex stood up from his seat. Alex went to the Gryffindor table. "I need to talk to you," Alex said to Nicole and turned around to leave. "Hey you there, wait up" one of the Gryffindor boys stood up and called out Alex. "You are?" Alex asked. "Seamus Finnigan" the boy replied. "And why are you butting in between us" Alex wanted to confirm why the boy was so nosy in their business. "Obviously, because you are a Slytherin, how can you boss around our little Gryffindor Bella?" the boy replied shamelessly. "Gryffindor Bella?" Alex was surprised for a moment. His sister became the 'house Bella' on her very first day at school. On one hand, he was happy that his sister won't be lonely in the school, on the other hand, the protective brother instincts were saying he needed to step on these pestering flies around his sister. "Leave before we punch you black and blue" after hearing Seamus other Gryffindor boys also ganged up on Alex. Alex looked calmly towards Nicole wanting her to explain. But seeing her brother looking at her she was too embarrassed to say anything. The atmosphere began to change, the Slytherin's too came in support of Alex. "Guys, it's alright, he..." finally mustering her courage, Nicole tried to explain but was cut short. "You don't need to be afraid of him," one of the Gryffindor's said. "No, it's not that, the thing is..." Nicole tried to explain once more. "Don't worry you just sit and watch, as we kick their pompous ass" once again someone interrupted her. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was widely known, now it was not just a matter of Nicole. Soon the bunch of boys got into a brawl with Alex. There were cries everywhere, and after a few moments, all of them were lying on the floor. Nicole could only shake her head in regret. "What is this barbaric show going on? Mr Ashbridge, explain" prof McGonagall came to their seats, and after looking at the mess she asked. But after looking at Alex, who seems to be the focal point, she asked him with a calm voice. Before Alex could say anything, Seamus jumped in. "Professor he came to pick a fight with us," Seamus said "Be quiet Mr Finnigan, now Mr Ashbridge, please" shutting Seamus up she once again turned towards Alex. "Professor I just came to my sister to have a talk, and they just ganged up on me" Alex explained in the simplest way possible. There was complete silence after the Gryffindor boys heard Alex say,' Sister'. Prof McGonagall looked at the boys on the floor. Even though they were beaten to the ground, she can't sympathize with them. "Five points from each of you, and Mr Ashbridge even though you are not at wrong, you will be penalized, I hope you understand," prof McGonagall said. She didn't want to make things difficult for Alex, but rules were rules. Alex was indeed part of the brawl whatever the reason maybe. "I understand" Alex nodded. And just like this, the Gryffindor's lost forty-five points, and Slytherin lost five points. Even though the Slytherins lost five points, they were cheering the most. Ignoring the rest Alex eyed Nicole and the latter followed behind him. "What is it, brother?" Nicole asked. She didn't want her brother to ask about the Bella thing. "Are you good friends with Potter?" Alex asked. "Yes, although most of the time it's only me and Hermione, you can say we are friends" Nicole explained. She was confused by her brother's question. "I want you to stay away from him," Alex said without beating around the bush. "Why?" Nicole asked. "I am saying this for your own good," Alex said. he did not want to get her involved in these meaningless scrimmages among wizards. "You need to tell me a reason brother". "He is someone who is bound to have a dangerous future, he will sooner or later inflict those around him" Alex can vaguely tell her the reason. His sister was someone who was very nosy when it comes to the affairs of others. "But where's the fun if you are not doing something dangerous now and then" not backing down an inch this time Nicole said to Alex. "Life is not just about fun, you need to live long enough not just for yourself but also for your loved ones," Alex said emotionally. She was the only family he had, he can't lose her. "Brother, you are worrying too much, he is just a kid. How much danger do you think he can get himself into?" seeing that her brother was also having a hard time she finally comforted him. This brother of hers won't easily show emotion to anyone. "I just want you to be safe" finally Alex said after calming himself. "I will keep that in mind, see you in the class tomorrow, bye" now that the matter at hand has been resolved she said goodbye. Parting from Nicole Alex went towards the Slytherin Dormitories. As soon he entered the common room, he was welcomed with cheers and applauds. Students from all the years came and shook hands with Alex, patted his shoulders and cheered from him. They even told him to come to look for them if anyone from the Gryffindors comes to look for trouble with him. After the long-lasting celebration, Alex finally left the crowd and came to his room. After feeding Erebus, he took out the parchment Snape gave and looked through the Classes he had tomorrow. After a bit of light reading, he drifted into dreams. * * * * *