Chapter - 012 Alex bent on his knees and looked towards Malfoy, who was scared shitless. Alex moved forward and whispered in Malfoy's ears so that only he could hear. "Listen carefully Malfoy I don't care how rampant you act in the school. I won't even care if you kill someone in front of me. I won't meddle in any of your business, but if you dare speak to my sister like that again, I won't hesitate to obliterate your very existence. Are we clear?" Alex's voice was akin to that of a grim reaper for Malfoy. He was so scared that he didn't even reply. Getting no response from Malfoy Alex squeezed Malfoy's shoulder a bit. "Ahh... Yes, I understand" Malfoy gasped with pain and fear. "Good, now scram," Alex said. Getting Alex's permission to leave, Malfoy and his group of followers left in a hurry. Soon the other Slytherin students left too along with Daphne. Daphne knew that she needed to give some time alone to the siblings. What happened today will leave Alex isolated again among the Slytherins. Before this, though anyone rarely conversed with Alex, he was somewhat popular among the Slytherins that too in a good way. But now they might not even dare to walk in the same corridor because of the fear he instilled in them today and fear of retaliation from the Malfoys. "Why are you here?" turning towards Nicole Alex asked. "Brother I... I..." Nicole started to say something but soon broke into tears. "She came to apolog..." seeing that it was hard for Nicole, Hermione started to explain. "She can talk on her own, can't she? If she can't even do that, then take her back" cutting in between Hermione, Alex said, pointing towards Nicole. "You are being awfully mean to her. She didn't even do anything wrong" Hermione counter-attacked Alex. "Am I?" Alex asked Hermione while looking deeply towards her. "Brother I am sorry, I won't do that again. Please stop being angry with me" finally Nicole spoke. "You won't do what? Do you know what did you do wrong?" Alex asked his sister. "I was not respectful enough to the teachers" Nicole tried to point out her fault. "Is that all?" Alex asked, raising his eyebrows. "Umm..." Nicole was at a loss for words. "Then tell me what would have happened if all these times when you made fun of or disrespected professor McGonagall or professor Snape, instead of them if there was someone with Malfoy's personality what would have happened?" Not letting her reply Alex continued. "He would have cursed you or in the worst case killed you, and you could have done nothing to stop it, Why?" Again not letting her say anything, Alex replied on his own. "Because you are not strong enough both in terms of magic or family background" Alex explained. "Brother I am sorry I won't be like this anymore" finally understanding as to why her brother was angry, Nicole felt ashamed of herself. Even though he was angry, it was all because he cared too deeply about her. "I don't mind you being a bit mischievous, I even enjoy it, but you need to know to restrain. It's not always a good thing to talk back. Both professor McGonagall and Professor Snape are good, so apart from being annoyed a bit they won't do anything, but not everyone is the same" Alex said "I understand". "Have you had your lunch?" Alex asked. "No, I have not eaten anything since yesterday," Nicole said while rubbing her stomach. "No wonder you look so pale," Alex said while caressing her hairs. Looking at the twins, Hermione was in complete awe. The twins each had a role which they played perfectly. One was mature and protective while the other was obedient and most likely the only source of happiness for the former. She wanted to be a part of them. "Hey now that you have made up with your brother, you are leaving me behind. You are so ungrateful, I was with you all these days you know" Hermione said dramatically. "Sorry, I was just too excited" Nicole stuck out her tongue and said apologetically. "Thank you. I hope you can take care of Nicole in the future if..." Alex said to Hermione. "She is my friend, of course, I will be there for her if she ever needs me" Hermione cut short Alex's words. After having their dinner the three of them parted ways. On the way to their dormitories, Nicole was smiling ear to ear. Hermione could not take it any more and asked. "Are you so happy after making up with your brother? People won't be able to recognise you if they see you now and the you a few hours back" Hermione said teasingly. "My brother has always been doting on me. This is only the second time that he was angry with me" Nicole said with a tinge of pride. "When was the first?" Hermione asked curiously. "It was a few years back. I pestered him for days to take me to see our parents, but he kept making excuses. In the end, I guess his patience ran out" Nicole said. "So you don't know anything about your parents?" Hermione asked. "My brother said that he will fulfil my every wish, and won't let me feel the loss of our parents. He told me not to ask anything about our parents in return" Nicole said nonchalantly. Even though she missed the feeling of having parents, but it was just sometimes. She was very happy with his brother. "Your brother loves you a lot," Hermione said enviously "That's for sure". On the other hand, as soon as Alex came back to his room he crashed on his bed as usual. School life is turning out boring for him. With Snape's help, Alex has gone through so many books over these past few years that he can graduate from school anytime. Now, whenever he was alone, he felt lonely. The constant chatter of his sister, which he found hard to bear in the past, he missed it now. Alex talked and played with Erebus for a while, practised magic and then read books on potions. Soon it was close to midnight, Alex placed the books back and was ready to sleep when he thought of checking on Harry and his sister for the last time. Alex took out the map and infused some magic in it. Soon the blueprint of Hogwarts appeared, and many Slytherins could be seen on the map. Alex called out Harry and Nicole's name, and two footprints appeared alongside each other. Both the footprints were outside the Gryffindor common room. Finding the situation a bit suspicious Alex called out Hermione's name and her footsteps appeared beside Harry and Nicole. Still, with a bit of hope, Alex tried to remember the name of the red-haired boy who was always tagging along with Potter. "Ron Weasley" after a while Alex remembered the name. Sure enough, he too was outside with the group. Now he had no doubt that the group was about to do something foolish, which might turn out dangerous. Alex was angry, he specifically asked Nicole to be at arm's length from Potter, but here she is on a midnight stroll with the trouble makers. Alex walked out of his room with the map and came to the common room. Few students were still there in the common room. Alex wanted to march out as soon as possible, but he was reluctant to do that in front of so many students. After a while, Alex thought of something. Considering his reputation now, Alex walked up to one of the armchairs and sat on it while looking around. Sensing Alex's gaze on them, the Slytherins felt uncomfortable, and slowly all of them dispersed one after the other. Now that the common room was empty, Alex quietly left. Walking through the shadows, Alex moved unnoticed by the ghosts floating around. Following the map, Alex reached a large room. As lamps flickered numerous trophies, cups and awards can be seen displayed all around. This was the trophy room. "What the hell are they doing in the trophy room?" Alex slowly approached the footsteps on the map. After a while, Alex could see Harry, Ron, Nicole and Hermione arguing over some matter. Alex stayed hidden in the shadows and listened to them. "He is late," Harry said. "I told you he won't be coming or precisely he can't come," Hermione said. "Maybe he's chickened out," Ron whispered. "More like he was just too afraid after what Nicole's brother did to him," Hermione said. "What's so great about Nicole's brother. You have been chanting his name like a fangirl" Ron ridiculed. When Hermione wanted to reply, a noise in the next room made them jump. Harry had only just raised his wand when they heard someone speak — and it wasn't Malfoy. "Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner." It was Filch speaking to Mrs Norris. Horror-struck, Harry and the others stood like stone with fear. Alex came out of the corner and dashed towards them. There was no time to look at the map. "Brother..." Nicole was surprised by Alex sudden arrival. "Follow me" not paying attention to her, Alex said. They scurried silently toward the door, away from Filch's voice. Ron's robes had barely whipped round the corner when they heard Filch enter the trophy room. "They're in here somewhere," they heard him mutter, "probably hiding." "This way!" Alex mouthed to the others and, petrified, they began to creep down a long gallery full of suits of armour. They could hear Filch getting nearer. Ron suddenly let out a frightened squeak and broke into a run — he tripped, grabbed Harry around the waist, and the pair of them toppled right into a suit of armour. The clanging and crashing were enough to wake the whole castle. "RUN!" Alex yelled, and the five of them sprinted down the gallery, not looking back to see whether Filch was following — they swung around the doorpost and galloped down one corridor then another, Alex in the lead, without any idea where they were or where they were going — they ripped through a tapestry and found themselves in a hidden passageway, hurtled along with it and came out near their Charms classroom, which they knew was miles from the trophy room. "I think we've lost him," Harry panted, leaning against the cold wall and wiping his forehead. Ron was bent double, wheezing and spluttering. "I — told — you," Hermione gasped, clutching at the stitch in her chest, "I — told — you." "We've got to get back to Gryffindor Tower," said Nicole, "quickly as possible." "Let's go," Alex said. It wasn't going to be that simple. They hadn't gone more than a dozen paces when a doorknob rattled and something came shooting out of a classroom in front of them. It was Peeves. He caught sight of them and gave a squeal of delight. "Shut up, Peeves — please — you'll get us thrown out," Harry said. Peeves cackled. "Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caught." "Not if you don't give us away, Peeves, please" Ron practically begged. "Should tell Filch, I should," said Peeves in a sanity voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. "It's for your own good, you know." "Get out of the way," snapped Ron, taking a swipe at Peeves — this was a big mistake. "Moron" Alex snapped at Ron. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves bellowed, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!" Ducking under Peeves, they ran for their lives, right to the end of the corridor where they slammed into a door — and it was locked. "This is it!" Ron moaned as they pushed helplessly at the door, "We're done for! This is the end!" They could hear footsteps, Filch running as fast as he could toward Peeves's shouts. "Oh, move over," Alex snarled. He grabbed Ron's arm and flung him aside, tapped the lock, and whispered, "Alohomora!" The lock clicked and the door swung open — they piled through it, shut it quickly. * * * * *