Alex hesitated for a mont but eventually nodded. A change of scenery might do him so good, and Hogsade was a safe option now that Yaxley was dealt with. Despite his tendency to isolate himself for research, he realized he hadn't truly explored the village yet.
The three of them set out together, leaving Hogwarts behind. The weather was brisk, with snow crunching underfoot and a sharp wind biting at their faces. The chill was invigorating, clearing Alex's mind as they made their way toward the village.
Along the way, Vivian introduced Hogsade to Alex with endless enthusiasm, her bubbly energy starting to grate on him. Every shop they passed seed to be a treasure trove in her eyes, and her constant chatter made Alex long for the quieter, more composed Vivian she pretended to be around Alia. When they finally arrived in Hogsade, she launched into another round of introductions like a broken record.
"Look, that's Zonko's Joke Shop! Last ti, I bought Charles a dozen Burp Candies. You should've seen the ss he made of himself! And over there is Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. The décor is a bit tacky, but the drinks are amazing," Vivian exclaid, almost word-for-word repeating what she'd said on the way there.
Alex, who had been reluctantly following her lead, suddenly stopped. Sothing had caught his attention. Without a word, he walked straight down one of the less-traveled paths. Vivian and Higgs exchanged confused glances before hurrying after him. At the end of the road, Alex ca to a stop in front of a dilapidated building that looked like it had been abandoned for years. The creaking sign above the door read The Hog's Head Inn.
"What's the deal, Alex? Don't tell you're actually thinking of going in there," Vivian said, scrunching her nose in distaste. "This place is disgusting. The owner's a weirdo, and it slls awful inside. Everyone there hides their faces like they're up to no good. I'm telling you, I'm not stepping foot in that dump."
Alex barely heard her. The run-down pub tugged at the edges of his mory. The weathered exterior, the crooked windows—it all seed familiar. Then it hit him. He recalled a secret eting with Sirius and the Order of the Phoenix in a dim, cramped storage room during his first year. The setting matched this place perfectly.
'Is this where the Order of the Phoenix t back then?' The thought sparked his curiosity, but he quickly masked it. Turning to Vivian, he said casually, "Nothing, I was just wondering how a place this rundown manages to stay in business."
Vivian crossed her arms, sensing he was brushing her off. "Well, for your information," she said in a huff, "this bar's been here for centuries. It's even ntioned in A History of Magic. Did you know it was once the headquarters for the Goblin Rebellion?" But before she could finish her historical spiel, she realized Alex wasn't even paying attention. He had already walked off, leaving her fuming and stamping her feet.
Alex let the curiosity fade and turned his focus to a nearby shop with a faded sign that read Dervish and Banges. The store specialized in magical equipnt, and Alex's eyes lit up as he stepped inside. The shelves were lined with various tools and trinkets, so covered in a thick layer of dust, like an old alchemy carving knife that seed to have been forgotten.
Most of the crowd in the shop was gathered around the Quidditch section, drooling over the Nimbus 1500 and a Cot Six. Even Vivian and Higgs were drawn to the brooms, their faces pressed against the display case as they argued over which was better.
Alex, however, had little interest in brooms. After a quick glance at the price tags, he scoffed inwardly. 'Why waste that much money on a broom when I could buy another magic book, or rune material?' he thought.
He moved through the aisles, picking up one magical object after another, inspecting them carefully before putting them back. So of the items featured runes carved directly into their surfaces, giving him plenty of inspiration. However, many of the runes were concealed using advanced magic, making it impossible to study them without a specialized tool—or a hamr. Alex smirked at the thought but quickly dismissed it. The store owner already seed annoyed by him; taking a hamr to the rchandise would likely get him banned for life.
"I really need to develop an alchemy tool that can penetrate materials and analyze spells," Alex muttered to himself. "Otherwise, how am I supposed to study these things properly?"
After inspecting nearly everything in the store, Alex decided to buy a looking glass. It was partly to avoid the store owner's suspicious glare and partly because he was genuinely intrigued by the object's early-warning enchantnts. He figured it could be a useful addition to his arsenal—and worth studying further.
As Alex walked back to where Vivian and Higgs were still debating, he caught the tail end of their conversation.
"My dad promised that if I make the Quidditch team next year, he'll buy a Nimbus 1500!" Vivian said excitedly, her eyes shining.
Higgs shook his head. "Why the Nimbus series? The Cot brooms are way better for control. The Cot Six is a solid choice for both speed and stability."
Vivian scoffed. "You don't know what you're talking about. The Nimbus is so much more agile—it can do a 360-degree turn in mid-air! Plus, it's faster than the Cot."
"You don't need that much agility," Higgs countered. "If you're not careful, it could throw you off. Besides, in a Quidditch match, you're surrounded by opponents. You don't need a broom that sensitive unless you're playing Seeker. And last I checked, you're a Beater, not a Seeker."
"I don't care!" Vivian said, flipping her hair defiantly. "Look at how sleek and stylish it is! The Cot looks boring in comparison. Who cares about practicality when you can look this cool?"
Alex watched their exchange with a faint smirk, amused by their passionate argunt. He leaned against a nearby shelf, letting the warmth of their friendly banter montarily wash away the lingering chill from outside. Sotis, even the most mundane monts had their charm. His monts were interrupted as the looking glass suddenly reacted. The spinning top-shaped artifact began to whirl rapidly, glowing with an intense light. Alex tensed imdiately, lifting his gaze to scan the shop.
Through the window, he spotted a figure staring at him with obvious malice. Their eyes t for a split second before the figure ducked out of sight. "Travers," Alex muttered under his breath. "Does he hate that much? Even the looking glass picked up on it."
Though it was only a brief glimpse, Alex had no trouble identifying the familiar face. He frowned, pondering the situation for a mont before turning to Higgs and Vivian. "I need to step out for a bit. Let's et at the Three Broomsticks later."
The pair barely acknowledged his words, too engrossed in their heated debate about brooms to notice anything amiss. Alex tucked the looking glass away, stepped outside, and quickly spotted Travers in the distance. His lips curled into a calculating smile. Finding a secluded corner, he cast a Disillusionnt Charm on himself, blending into the surroundings. To avoid leaving tracks in the snow, he employed a levitation technique, hovering silently as he followed Travers.
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