Huffing lightly as he stood up straight with his both hands on his hips, Alex inhales deeply to regain back the breath that left him from his short jogs. 

  Looking out towards the huge black lake right in front of him as the sun slowly rises above the tall trees surrounding the areas, Alex felt alive and energised. He haven't been doing his morning jogs since the war and finally he had the chance to do something he normally do with his friends back in Moxarths. 

Sighs, he missed his two dorky best friend. It's only a day he left them but it felt rather empty without hearing Max and Mikey bickering. Shaking his head, Alex knew he shouldn't let his melancholic feeling to get the best of him. He need to focus on the case in his hand. 

He did explores half of the castle ground during his jogs and managed to put some mental tag on a few passageway that he think students pass through lesser compares to the others. He too met Argus Filch, the caretaker of the castle and he did not like the guy. Filch almost gave him detention because he thought Alex was lying to him about who he really was. 

Thanks to Filch cat-- Mrs. Norris, was it? Yeah.

The black cat arrival seems to calm the balding caretaker especially when it nuzzle its face on Alex's legs.  

Sighs

Argus Filch. Checked. Next, should he go to infirmary or the library? With that question in mind, Alex decided to continue his morning jog on his way back to the dorm. 

****

There are more students lingering around the castle as he was almost reaching his dorm. He slowed his pace as he started to gain attention from the other students. It could be due to the pheromones from his Veela's blood is coming out along with his sweats. 

He could hear group of witches giggling as he passed by to which he just gave them a brief nods as a polite greetings. His uncle always thought him to always be respectful even though he doesn't like the attention and that he must be proud of his blood because out of 100 male Veela that was born, only 10 would able to grow up until the old age. 

Though that possibility still pretty low because male Veela lifespans still depends on their mate. Once their mate dies, the male Veela are most likely to die from a heartbreak.

SIGHS

Ruffling his messy locks in slight frustration, Alex wonder if he should turn into a player like his uncle and just have fun before he met his mate. 

Alex was going up the staircase when he notices a small, petite witch with her cloak covering her small head running down the stairs, towards him. She's probably a second or third year student. She had her head down all the time and Alex had to move slightly to the side as she pass by him to avoid them colliding with each other. 

A whiff of sweet distinct smell enters his nostrils as her cloak blowing behind her. He arched his brows at that, wondering why would he took notice of that particular smells. Then, he remembers a part of his uncle's note previously about a distinct smell of flower. 

Alex wasn't sure if the smell from the petite witch is a from a flower or not, but he know that he can't ignore the fact that the smell caught his attention. He might need to jot down this piece of information in his notebook. 

"Morning, M'lady," Alex greeted the woman in red dress. The Fat Lady smiles at him, "Good Morning to you too," she bows her head. "Password?"

Ah shit. 

Alex mouth hung open. He tries to remember the password that Ginny told him yesterday. Shit, what was it again. "Something... lemon?"

The Fat Lady snickered, "Noo....."

"Verocious Lemon?"

The Fat Lady sighs, shaking her head. "I can't let you enter without password, dear boy,"

Alex covered his mouth and thought deeper. Recalling everything that he and Ginny talk about yesterday. As he was busy racking his brain, his eyes caught something suspicious tucking behind the Fat Lady's frame. 

"Excuse me," he muttered as he reached for the thing. Pulling it out, Alex furrowed his brows at it. It's a palm sized white envelope with a name Denise J. Hamilton written in a tidy cursives on it. 

"Ah, it must be that little witch who left it there," said the Fat Lady. 

Alex looked up to her and glanced back at the staircase, recalling back the little witch that just happen to pass by him minutes ago. "Did she said something?" he asked, out of curiosity.

"She did asked to be let in," the Lady said boringly, pouring tea into her cup. Alex watched as she did so while wondering where and when did she even get them. "But of course, there's no way I would do that," she laughs "Have you thought of the password yet?"

Alex rubbed his neck awkwardly at the question, "Um, no?"

The Fat Lady sighs, and tell him that she can't let him through unless he tell her the password. Alex just grimaced at that. He does remember the password to his old dormitory. If only he can used it. 

Slumping his shoulder in defeat, Alex look at the letter again. He flipped the letter back and fro before taking a sniff over it. The same smell he get from the previous witch. Alex come up with two deduction;

One, the petite witch was sent by someone to give the letter to Denise, that the secret admirer and two, the witch is the secret admirer, thus the hiding herself under the hood thing because she doesn't want anyone to find out who she is. 

Alex smirks at that. Well, if Denise would hired him to find out who her secret admirer is, it would be an easy one. 

The sound of the painting open brought Alex back to the presence. He looked at the person appeared from the painting and--

"Oh, morning... You're early," 

It was Hermione Granger. 

 "Thanks Merlin,  someone's up!" Alex threw his hands up in relief. Hermione stares at him curiously. Alex placed his palm on her shoulder, "Thank you, you're my hero," he grins.

Hermione snorted, "Wait, how long have you been out here?"

Alex scratching the back of his head, "Long enough?"

 Hermione chuckles, shaking her head, "Well, come in then," said she while making a way for Alex to pass through. Alex gently bowed at her and took the offer. 

"Anyway, the password is Veridis Lemon," Hermione said, as soon as the painting swung closed behind them. 

"Veridis, right! That's the word, veridis Lemon, I'd definitely remember that next time," he adds. Hermione just smiles at him, "And you should."

"Really, thank you for opening the door. I almost thought of going to get breakfast wearing all this," he said, pulling his shirt slightly. He notices Hermione's eyes scanned from his head to his shoes before looking back up to meet his eyes.

"That's not actually a bad idea," she teased.

"Really?" Alex shifted, "Are you saying that I look good in this?" he grinned. Hermione flushed at the question but she refused to answer him. So she cleared her throat, "Anyway, I should go and get breakfast,"

"By the way," Alex stopped her and handed the letter, "Do you know anyone with the name Denise?"

Hermione tilted her head questioningly as she took the letter, "Denise J. Hamilton?" 

Alex nodded.

"Yeah, she's uh-- " the brunette turned around and Alex follows her line of sight which settled on a group of witches who were sitting together by the fireplace, talking animatedly with each other. Hermione led him towards them,

"Hey, Denise! Morning," Hermione greets.

A brunette witch looked up and a soft, sweet smiles instantly appears on her lips. She have a small frame and eyes full of life. Her long straight hair fall flawlessly over her shoulders. She have the vibes of elegancy.

From her looks alone, Alex could tell that she come from a good family or that she took care of herself very well. Her skins look so soft and she's not even wearing any make up piece. Just like Hermione, a natural beauty, this one. 

"Good morning, Hermione..." Denise greeted her back, "And, to you too, Evcans,"

Alex just nodded his head, followed by a polite smiles. 

Hermione gave Alex a short curious glance before bringing her attention back to Denise by mentioning a letter, "Alex found this letter outside, and it's written for you?"

Denise face lit up at the mention of the letter. Alex wonder if his guessed about it coming from her admirer is right. The witch stood up and took the letter from Hermione. "I've been waiting for the letter," she admits.

"Is it from your admirer?" asked one of her friends, they gave her a teasing look. A small blushed appears on Denise's cheeks. Shyly, she shook her head, "It's not like what you girls think, it's from a distant friend." 

Alex arched his brows at that. Distant friend. He literally saw someone sending the letter to her. Well, not exactly saw them doing the deeds, but the Fat Lady does. "I think he's not as distant as you think he is," said one of her friends.

Denise chuckles softly as she hid her face behind the letter, "I guess you're right," she muttered and her friends teases her ever more. Hermione exchange glance with Alex. 

"Anyway, thanks... For finding this letter for me," Denise said to the both of them before sitting back down at her previous seats. 

Alex inhales. He wonder why he felt uneasy with the letter. At the mentioned of distant friend, just making something inside his gut stirring with uneasiness. Should he be suspicious with the letter?  He wanted to ask more about the letter but it would bring suspicious towards him instead and he can't afford that.

There's only one thing that he can do now. 

Get the list of students from the headmistress. 

And with that, the wizard excused himself from Hermione and get ready for his first day of investigation.  

********************************************************************************************

A/N : Work has been hectic lately and that we actually had to work during the weekend and the worst part is we had to work 11 hours per day ksjdfklsdhgjkhg  *sighs* I am dead tired. But we're back to normal now. Hopefully there's no more working on the weekend and things will get better :))

Anyway, stay safe always! 

xoxo