Chapter - 020 And here it is again, my constant nagging to all of you. The total victims to the cruelty of ' You-Know-Who' have surpassed the 3.2 Million mark. So even if you don't like it, I will advise you to follow the precautionary measures stated by your government. Stay safe and stay healthy and if possible stay at home. I say, just stay in your room or the best is you just lay on your bed all day long like me. Well, before you start cursing me, here is the quote of the chapter- "Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings." – Elie Weisel I am sure there is someone out there, who is like a light in the darkness for you, just like Nicole is to Alex.

The boy wiped his forehead and spoke. "Next you placed your bet on Harry being able to play for thirty minutes or more. You betted eight hundred galleons, and you won. Here are your twelve thousand galleons". The boy felt as if his heart was under 'Cruciatus Curse'. Silence... Absolute silence on the lawn. No one was speaking a word. Just like that, all the misfortune turned upside down. Now all those who were belittling Alex were tongue-tied. Ron almost spewed blood, he felt his cheeks burning with shame. Hermione and Daphne stood still, not able to believe what they just heard. They had already planned how they were going to console and cheer up Alex, and get close to Alex using this opportunity. The bag in Nicole's hand dropped, sure enough, her brother won't just squander money like that. The bag was in front of Alex, but he didn't pick it up. Probably for the first time in his life, he felt like face-slapping those who belittled him. "You also placed eight hundred galleons on Harry catching the snitch, As per the odds here are your sixteen thousand Galleons". The boy felt relieved after he uttered his last words[ not his last words practically]. This was like the final nail in the coffin. Some students fainted, some screamed, some regretted it, some felt jealous, some were happy. But there was only one winner among all of them, and he felt nothing more than a bit of satisfaction. He glanced towards Ron, when their eyes met, Ron avoided it. This feeling of satisfaction wasn't bad, Alex thought. Feeling humiliated Ron left, followed by Harry. Soon Alex was forced into being introduced by the students around him, who forcefully made their way towards him. Many students earned money by placing bets. but most of them placed twenty or thirty Galleons at most. Only those from the house Slytherin placed bets in hundreds of Galleons. But the Slytherins either placed their bet on Slytherin's victory or Potter being knocked within ten minutes. Alex placed all his savings on Harry. It was not like he was optimistic about Potter, not at all. It was all because the odds were simply out of the world. These odds won't appear again. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and Alex grabbed it very well. After the forceful introductions, students left. Nicole, Hermione and Daphne came to Alex. "You sure made it large" Daphne said. "No wonder you looked calm after losing all that money at the beginning," Hermione said grumpily. She was worried for nothing for this dimwit [ in a cute sense of way], waste of her worries. "You betted a total of more than four thousand Galleons and earned twenty-eight thousand from it. You sure are courageous. You got lucky this time but it won't be like this always. You should be careful with your money". Daphne advised. Everyone knew it was lucky money and luck won't be on his side every time. She did not want Alex to get engaged with gambling regularly. "Yeah, you sure are a spendthrift. If Harry would have knocked out before ten minutes you could have faced heavy loss". Hermione reminded. "Well guys leave it, All's well if the end's well. Let's go I am hungry. It's two o'clock now, they might still be serving lunch" seeing that there was no end to their bickering Nicole finally intervened to get her brother out of this situation. "Well, we might leave but who is going to carry these heavy bags?" Daphne said while pointing towards the two heavy bags filled with 'Galleons' "Well the owner will, but if he will pay for our services we might help him," Hermione said to which the three girls laughed. "Why would I need your help?" Alex asked, and under the gaze of three of them he took out a small pouch. The small pouch came out alive and opened his mouth wide open. It gulped the two bags in one fell swoop and burped. The three of them looked astonished. "Let's go". Alex picked up the pouch and left. When the four of them arrived in the 'Great Hall', it was packed with students who just got here. As soon as Alex appeared, almost everyone looked in his direction, while whispering to each other. The biggest winner of today's game was here. Alex and Daphne went towards Slytherin's table and as usual, Alex sat at the very end. Daphne sat beside him. Nicole and Hermione after pondering over for a while decided to follow them. "Hey, why are you sitting here?" Daphne asked. Finally, she got to have some alone time with Alex, how can these two ruin it now? "It's not like we can't. I have gone through the rule book of Hogwarts and I don't recall a rule prohibiting someone to sit on another house's table". Hermione said proudly. When it comes to textbook knowledge no one can compete with her. "Alex say something". Daphne turned towards Alex her last straw of hope. "Let them be, it's nothing to fight over". Alex said. It was hard for him to understand why girls need to fight over these silly matters. There was no profit from it, and if there was no profit from something it's worthless to give it a second glance. "Humph... only because Alex agreed I am allowing you to sit here," Daphne said. She did not want to acknowledge her defeat. All this time the other Slytherin students wanted to say something but could not. The previous experience in front of the Slytherin dormitory was still fresh in their eyes. They all looked towards Malfoy who was busy eating not at all intending to have a conflict with Alex. "So what are your plans for Christmas?" Nicole asked Hermione. "I will go home, My parents are worried about me. After all, it's all new to them". Hermione said. In each of the letter she got from home she could easily sense the uneasiness of her parents. "What about you?" Nicole turned towards Daphne and asked. "Same, I will go home too". Daphne said. "Where do you live Hermione, we might visit you. Right, brother?" Nicole asked Hermione. Since the three of them were from London they might visit her. "Will you?" Hermione asked. She was a little expectant about their visit. "Yeah if possible". Nicole nodded. "39 Hampstead Garden Suburb, northwest London". "We will send you a letter before coming". Nicole said. She might not remember the address but it was not hard to send letters and ask her again. "Alex where do you live?" Daphne asked. "Hope Spring Home Orphanage. Do you need the address?" Alex asked while munching on his food. Silence fell. Daphne cursed herself for asking such a question even when she knew about Alex and Nicole. Getting no reply from Daphne Alex looked at her. He saw the look on her face and guessed what she might be thinking. But he was not obliged to comfort her once again. It was tiresome. "I am done. I will be leaving". Alex picked a roasted turkey and left. "I am sorry". Daphne apologised to Nicole. "It's not a big deal. It has been years and we don't even pay much importance to it. But if people keep saying sorry after that it makes us feel pathetic. So you don't need to be sorry about that just be normal". Nicole said. Though Alex does not feel much it was different for Nicole. She always wanted to have a family, she was said when Daphne mentioned it, but she can't show it to all. "Thanks". "Well let's get going". "Yeah". Since they were done they left. After bidding farewell to Daphne, Nicole and Hermione met harry and Ron. "Hey, I have something to talk about". Hermione said to Harry. Ron looked towards Nicole "Want to brag about your brother?" Ron said to Nicole. "What are you talking about?" Nicole asked with surprise. What is this dimwit talking about[ literally dimwit] "Humph... show off". Ron scorned. "You..." Nicole wanted to fight but was stopped by Hermione. "Leave it, Nicole, I want to talk about what happened today". Hermione said to Harry. "It was Snape," Ron was explaining, "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you." "I think I know why he was limping the other day," Harry told them. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. I think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding." "I think we are jumping the gun here. Alex said that professor Snape was trying to save you". Hermione said interrupting Harry. "Rubbish I would rather believe a 'fox' than believe a 'Snake'" Ron said. "Do you really want to do this Weasley?" Nicole said while taking out her wand. She was pissed by this guy. How can someone be annoying to such a degree? "Do you think I am afraid of you or your brother? Moreover, Hermione saw Snape cast a curse. She was the one who told me" Ron said while taking a step back and hiding behind Harry. "Yeah, but it could have been a counter curse too". Hermione tried to explain. "Do you believe that? Haven't you seen how Snape treats us especially harry?" "Yeah, but…" "I think, that Alex is also with Snape, plotting together," Ron said coming forward. "' Mimblewimble'. You have gone too far, Weasley" Nicole cursed. Pretty soon Ron's tongue began to intertwine and formed a knot in itself. Ron could only let out muffled noises. "Release him, Nicole" Harry demanded. He spoke with authority. "I won't, go ask someone else. Let's go, Hermione" Nicole and Hermione left. Harry was so angry that he kicked his legs around. He and Weasley walked around asking for help to undo the curse. * * * * *