However, the British Ministry of Magic had a strict policy, no one below seventh year could apply. The only reason the rule existed at all was due to rare cases where students had skipped grades in the past. Yet here Alex was, still underage, holding one in his hands. Snape's eyes flickered with suspicion. "How did you get this approved?"
Alex smiled but didn't elaborate. "Professor, does it really matter how I got it? All you need to know is that it's real."
In truth, it had been a favor from Minister Bagnold. As a recognized supplier of the Ministry's Magical equipment, Alex frequently needed to test his creations outside of school. His history as a combatant in Ministry operations had already proven his capability, and since he'd saved quite a few officials in the past, Bagnold had been more than happy to quietly bypass the usual restrictions.
Of course, Snape didn't need to know that. "Hmph!" Snape scoffed, clearly frustrated but unable to argue further. With a sharp flick of his quill, he signed the approval. "Fine. Do as you please."
Alex grinned. "Much appreciated, Professor."
Snape shot him a glare. "You're insufferable," he muttered. "If nothing else, at least you'll win Slytherin the House Cup again. With how things stand now, it's practically guaranteed."
"You wound me, Professor," Alex teased, his voice light. "As if that was ever in question."
Snape scowled but said nothing, merely waving a hand to dismiss him. Alex turned to leave but paused, remembering something. "Actually, before I go, mind if I ask you something?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "If you must."
"Do you remember Azalea? Azalea Rowle? She was a year younger than you."
Snape frowned, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to recall. "Azalea…?" His expression shifted. "You mean the pretty one?"
Alex nearly snorted. "I see you do remember her."
Snape hesitated. "I don't know much about her. She was… popular, I suppose. Which, " he added dryly, ", is hardly surprising, given her appearance. But why do you care?"
"Just looking out for a friend," Alex said smoothly, though his mind was already processing this new piece of information.
Snape didn't look convinced. Alex decided to push his luck. "Do you remember what wand she used?"
Snape frowned again, this time in thought. "Her wand?" He was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm not sure. But I think it was black. Either blackthorn or black walnut."
Alex's expression darkened ever so slightly. 'Blackthorn or black walnut…' That wasn't a good sign. Still, he quickly masked his reaction and gave Snape a polite nod. "Thanks, Professor," he said. "That actually answers a very important question for me."
Snape regarded Alex with an unreadable expression, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as if he were debating something internally. Then, after a long pause, he let out an exaggerated sigh, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a small box. With a sharp push, he slid it across the desk toward Alex. "This is for you," Snape muttered, looking as though the very act of giving it away pained him. "As the Head of Slytherin, you've done more than enough to help the house. Consider this your reward, so that people will finally stop whispering behind my back about how unreasonable I am."
Alex raised a brow. Snape, giving him something? That's suspicious. His curiosity piqued, he reached for the box and carefully opened it.
Inside, a small glass vial rested in its cushioned lining, filled with a shimmering, golden liquid. The moment Alex saw it, his breath hitched ever so slightly. Even with all the self-control he prided himself on, his fingers tightened around the edge of the box, and his pupils contracted just a fraction. Because he knew exactly what this was. Felix Felicis. Liquid Luck.
A potion so rare and difficult to brew that even seasoned Potions Masters hesitated before attempting it. Alex had one bottle in his possession before, purchased at an astronomical price. He had never even attempted brewing it himself due to the sheer difficulty and cost of ingredients. The only reason he still had any left was because he had carefully rationed it over time.
Yet here Snape was, handing him an entire fresh bottle. 'Did he take the wrong potion today?' Alex stared at Snape, then at the potion, then back at Snape.
The man looked as sour as ever, sitting there as if he had just handed over his own soul. 'Why?' Alex's fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the bottle, and that's when he noticed something odd.
The design of the crystal vial. It was identical to another potion bottle he had received years ago, back in his first year. A vial that had contained a high-grade Buffy Brain Elixir, one that had significantly contributed to his early academic success. And that potion, as he recalled, had been given to him through Dumbledore. But at the time, Dumbledore had mentioned that he had someone within Voldemort's ranks, an informant. 'Could it be…?' Alex closed the box, suddenly feeling the weight of it. His gaze flickered toward Snape, a newfound understanding settling in his mind.
For the first time, he looked at Snape differently. "Thank you, Professor," Alex said, his tone more measured now. He placed the box securely in his pocket. "This is… truly a generous gift."
Snape scoffed, clearly uncomfortable with the gratitude. "Hmph! Don't let it go to your head."
Alex merely smiled.
After leaving the Potions classroom, Alex walked through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, absently spinning the small box in his hands as he processed everything. Snape's generosity was one thing, but the implications behind it were something else entirely. 'So Snape had been the one who sent him that brain-enhancing potion all those years ago? Why?'
Dumbledore had hinted that his informant had close ties to Voldemort, but that didn't explain why Snape had gone out of his way to help him, of all people.
Sure, he had saved Harry once, but there had to be more to it than that. 'Was it just because of the Potters?' No. That didn't make sense.
Sirius despised Snape, and from everything Alex had gathered, James Potter and Snape had been far from friends. 'Unless…' A new thought crossed Alex's mind. 'What if Snape's connection wasn't with James… but with Lily?' He exhaled slowly. "Snape," he murmured under his breath, shaking his head. "You've got more secrets than you let on, don't you?"
Still, this wasn't the time to dwell on it. He had other matters to deal with. When Alex returned to his dormitory, he immediately noticed something unusual. Wimzy was sitting in his room. She was covered in dirt and grass, her combat uniform and Magical vest streaked with dust. Clearly, she had been through something.
The moment she saw Alex, her tense posture eased slightly, and she let out a quiet breath of relief. "Master," she greeted, her voice laced with exhaustion. "I have something important to report."
Alex's eyes sharpened. "What happened?"
Wimzy hesitated only long enough to accept the glass of water Alex handed her. She took a few hurried gulps before speaking. "It's about the Ministry of Magic," she began. "Something's happened."