Rozier spilled everything. "Since Evan died, my family’s tried to stay neutral. But Travers has been hanging around Wilkes, a fourth-year who’s a big supporter of You-Know-Who. That’s all I know, really."

Alex nodded. "Alright, I’ll let you off this time. Tell everyone you ‘barely escaped,’” he sneered, turning away and leaving Rozier trembling.

Returning to the Slytherin dormitory, Alex knew more confrontations like this were inevitable. Tensions were rising at Hogwarts, with more Slytherins choosing sides, and those trying to remain neutral were under pressure. Avoiding conflicts was becoming impossible.

The next morning, Vivian filled him in on the aftermath of his attackers. After Alex left, Rozier had pretended to be unconscious, lying on the floor until Filch arrived. Filch assumed they’d thrown the dung bombs and punished them on the spot. Rozier and his friends were forced to scrub the corridor clean until midnight and got a month’s detention.

Vivian sighed. “The pure-blood families in Slytherin are getting restless, pushing everyone to choose a side. Even Vanessa, the head of the female student council, can’t keep them in line anymore. Neutral students are targeted if they refuse to join.”

Alex listened, nodding. He could feel the rising hostility among his classmates. With things growing more dangerous, he decided to prepare himself.

As a Muggle-born in Slytherin, Alex knew he’d always be a target for pure-blood supremacists. But after a year of intense self-training, he wasn’t afraid. Still, he decided it was best to avoid unnecessary fights, so he moved to a small hut near the Forbidden Forest, hoping the distance would give him some peace to focus on his studies and training.

After setting up in his new place, Alex followed a strict routine: practicing spells daily, studying advanced spell theories, and training with Professor Bones at night. The hut became a refuge where he could push himself without interruptions.

One evening, as Alex was deeply engrossed in a book on Runes, learning ways to optimize spells by adjusting rune structures, he discovered techniques to manipulate soundwave frequency and harmony. He was absorbed in these discoveries when a knock at the door interrupted him.

Opening the door, Alex saw Charles standing outside. Alex grinned. “You’re here. Looks like reason won over impulse.”

Charles stepped inside, glancing around the hut. “You’re living here now?”

“Yep. Things are tense in Slytherin. The pure-bloods are forcing everyone to pick a side. They won’t leave me alone, so I figured I’d step away from the chaos and focus on getting stronger.” Alex shrugged, though his voice held a determined edge.

Charles frowned. “It’s crazy that they’d even turn on their own classmates like that. What about Vivian? She hates those pure-blood types.”

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“She’s from a strong family, and even though she’s mixed blood, she won’t be directly targeted. Plus, Vanessa is keeping an eye on the girls, so she’s safe,” Alex assured him.

Charles nodded but looked troubled. “I feel useless, like I can’t do anything right. There’s been tension between our house and Slytherin, but I’m not strong enough to make a difference. I’m ready to work hard, but I need your guidance. Tell me what to do.”

Alex reached into his desk, pulling out a piece of parchment. “I’ve put together a training plan for you. From now on, you’ll have to commit to some serious exercises.”

Charles scanned the paper, his brow furrowing. “Running? How is that special training? Shouldn’t I be practicing spells?”

Alex tapped Charles’s shoulder with a knowing smile. “Your body isn’t strong enough yet. Improving your stamina and strength will boost your reaction time and make your magic more effective. Regular exercise will also help you build a strong will, which can enhance your magic.”

Before Charles could respond, Alex laid out the schedule. “Every morning, we’ll start with a run to build up your endurance. After classes, come here for spell-casting exercises and endurance training. This won’t be easy, so get ready.”

Charles looked determined. “I don’t mind hard work. I just want to get stronger.”

Seeing the resolve in Charles’s eyes, Alex gave an approving nod. He knew that with the right guidance, Charles had the potential to grow stronger.

“Alright, let’s start with some spell extension training,” Alex said, setting down a large pot of water and floating it above Charles’s head. “Use a Levitation Charm to keep it steady.”

Charles hadn’t heard of this training technique, but he complied, pulling out his wand and casting the spell. The pot hovered shakily above him.

“Now, keep it there as long as you can. Focus on feeling the flow of magic in your body and try to conserve your strength,” Alex instructed.

Charles stared at the heavy pot, feeling nervous. “And then what?”

“Just hold it,” Alex replied, settling down in his chair and flipping through his book. “This kind of continuous casting will improve your control over your magic.”

Charles managed for a few minutes, but soon his arms ached, and his neck stiffened from looking up. “Is this really helping? I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up!”

“It’s only been a few minutes,” Alex said, not even glancing up. “When I was younger, I could go for much longer. Push yourself—endurance takes time to build.”

Charles huffed but kept going, struggling to maintain his focus. His legs started shaking as he held the spell, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Alex knew Charles would tire quickly at first, just like anyone with a new training routine. But he wanted Charles to learn resilience.

“You have to last at least ten minutes,” Alex reminded him.

“Alright!” Charles gritted his teeth, determination shining in his eyes.

Time ticked by, and Charles managed to hold the spell for a full ten minutes, though Alex hadn’t told him time was up. He wanted to push Charles a little further to test his limits.

Charles’s arms were trembling, and his magic felt nearly drained. With a slightly dazed look, he asked, “Is it done yet? It feels like I’ve been holding this forever.”

"Just 30 seconds left," Alex replied, glancing at his watch. "I've been keeping track. Don’t give up now—you’re so close.” It had already been 13 minutes, and it was clear Charles was reaching his limit.

Charles pushed himself for another minute, but his legs started to wobble. Alex encouraged him, “Just ten more seconds, hang in there!”

As Charles gathered the last of his strength, he began counting down in his head. But as he reached the end of ten seconds, he felt his body start to give out. His control slipped, and he nearly collapsed. Just before he could fall, Alex raised his hand, giving Charles the support he needed to stay on his feet.

“Alright, let’s get you seated,” Alex said, guiding Charles to a nearby chair and handing him a full glass of water. “Drink this—you need to recover.”