SEVEN : HOUSE OF BRAVERY

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Tumbling by the fireplace, Alex coughed out the excessive smokes he accidentally inhales as he travelled through it. 

"Julia, what are you--" 

  He heard his uncle's alarmed voice. 

"How do you expect I just let it slide after you told me everything?" Principal Julia retorted back. Alex straightened himself up and grabbed his luggage from the fireplace, decided to stand right in the corner, making as minimum movement as he could. There's no way he would want to get involve whenever this two is together.

 "I told you, there's nothing to worry about it," Dorian hissed, grabbing her below the arm, steering her back towards the fireplace but she quickly shaken his gripped off, "Do. not. touch. me," she glares.

"Both of you!" 

The two of them startled that they turn their head so fast that Alex could swear he heard one of their's crack. The voice was belong to an ageing, tall witch. But despite of those wrinkles around her face, it doesn't really masked her youthful, sparkling eyes. 

Alex noticed that little curved right at the corner of her mouth as she looked at the two  bickering adult wizard. "Sorry, professor..." Julia murmured with her head down, after aggressively pulled her arm away from Dorian's.

"We-- didn't see you coming, ma'am." Dorian said, seemingly apologetic as he bowed at the witch a little. The older witches just sighs and shook her head at them, 

"How long are you two planning to fight with each other like this?" she asked. Alex arched his brows at that. So basically his uncle and his principal has been like this since forever. It amazed him that they could actually tolerate each other this long, or is this just how they show their feelings for each other?

Alex rubbed his chin, thinking. 

Deducing from how often Uncle Dorian be visiting the academy, which is almost every month, with or without specific reason at all; it's already indicating the level of comfort they have with each other, despite of all the fighting that 99.9% would likely to occur at each meetings. Maybe she's the reason why his uncle refuse to start a family? Or maybe he used to have a crush on her... No scratch that, he still does have a crush on her. His choice of words, whenever he wanted her to understand his reasoning. He cares. 

"Alex," Dorian called him up. Alex blinked. 

Ah, he lost in his thought again. "Sorry? I uh, wasn't listening," he said admittedly. Dorian just chuckles and waved his hand, motioning for Alex to come closer to him. Alex did so, and give the oldest witch in the room a polite head bow. 

"This is my nephew, Alexander Charles Evcans," Dorian introduced him, giving Alex a small pat on the back. "The one that Kingsley and I recommend for the case..." his voice trailed, but his smile doesn't flattered. Alex steal a glance at his uncle. He could tell how much his uncle trying to look confident but it was fairly obvious that his smile doesn't reach the eyes. 

That unnecessary patted on the back indicates that he was calming himself more than Alex. He still in doubt with his choice. But Alex decided to ignore that for the time being. There are more pressing matter in hand. 

"And Alex, this is Headmistress Mcgonagall, the most powerful witches of our time," Dorian adds. 

"I wasn't but thank you, Evcans." McGonagall smiles politely at the wizard.

Alex nodded "Thank you for having me here, ma'am." 

"And he's one of your student, is he not?" She then asked Julia. 

Julia smiles briefly, clasping her hands together as she contemplating for words, "Um yes.. He is, actually..."

"Is that why you're also here?"

Julia was taken aback slightly before nodding. Though that wasn't her entire reason of coming over. She didn't really think through beforehand. All she wanted to do was to change Dorian's mind about putting Alex to handle the case. 

"I wasn't inform about this," Mcgonagall said, now solely looking at Dorian who is now sighing internally. 

Julia action was out of his equation. He never thought that she would actually followed him there. He should've waited until the transfer is done for him to tell her about everything.

"I believe that, as his principal," Julia briefly looked at Alex, "I had the rights to know what her student is getting involves with... SO, I actually invited myself," she admits. Another small curved was seen on the older witch's lips. 

Alex can't help but to feel like McGonagall is actually enjoying this. That would explaining the sparkles in her eyes earlier. 

"And I wanted to apologise if my being here is unwanted, but I am insist to stay," Julia adds, stubborn line form over her lips. Hearing her, Dorian chuckles which cause him to be getting a glare from the feisty witch. "Sorry, it just-- Slip of the tongue," he sniggered..

Julia rolled her eyes. Alex felt amused at that. She must be the first women to genuinely rolling her eyes at his uncle. It is no longer a puzzle for Alex if his uncle have a huge crush on that very witch.

McGonagall finally let the smiles appears on her lips, "You can stay, of course. This is somehow, concerning one of your student," 

Julia could feel herself blushing. She might've been a little dramatic there, but she need to know what Alex are going to go against. 

****

They were just done briefly telling the headmistress about the case, Kingsley worries and how Alex was involves with the case. It went smoothly because McGonagall is aware of the case. She had worry about the very matter since the moment Hogwarts were selected to be the Host for the program. Though she's concerned about getting a young wizard such as Alex to investigate the case alone, she told them that she believe in Kingsley judgement. And that is why she agrees to the arrangement.

Sitting quietly next to the his uncle, Alex wonder what's going to happen next. How is he going to start with his investigation? Should he need a comrades? There's no way he could keep an eye on possible target that's belong to a different house that he'll be sorted into. Should he make a list of what he should do? 

Without even he realising it, Alex looked at his uncle, with a blank stares. 

"You... Okay, bud?" Dorian asked, eyes scanning over his nephew face, looking for any sign of hesitation but he was disappointed because there isn't any. None that is visible to him anyway.

Alex snapped from his thought and nodding, "Eermm, good, so far... I just, you know," he shows his sweaty palm, "Nervous, haha,"

Dorian snickered. Of course he's nervous. This is going to be his first big case after all. "You'll do great, I'm sure of it," Dorian patted him by the shoulder. 

"Are you sure you can do this, Alex?" Julia turn to ask him. This is the first time Alex saw her worrying about him. Usually, her expression was just limited to disappointed or angry. 

"Yeah, I mean... I learned from the best... After all.." His voice trailed as Julia sighs just loud enough for both Veela to hear. 

"Are you sure there's no other way, Dor?" Julia flattened her lips, "This, I just--- Alex doesn't even have a proper training to do this," 

"I trust Alex's deduction skills." is all Dorian tell her.

"He have yet showing me his so-called skills. What is this deduction skills anyway?" Julia retorted.

"A muggle way of solving puzzles," Both the Veela's answered her. Julia brows furrowed.

"I'm sure he showed you enough, if you just look around the school, Julia," Dorian said, leaning himself comfortably on the sofa they're currently sitting at. Alex just pursed his lips up, deciding to stay quiet on this as well. His uncle aware of his work around school obviously but not the principal. He rather kept it a secret from her. 

Julia was about to say more when Headmistress McGonagall reappears with a school uniform set.

"From the student records I received, there's more muggle born student was sorted into Gryffindors, Ravenclaws second and Hufflepuff third, while Slytherin,... Well, you know how Salazar's were," she sighs at that.

"So rather than sorting you using the usual method, I would like for you to decide for the house you wanted to be sorted into, because believe me, when I said I wanted to aid you as much as I could," she added. 

Alex politely took the uniform from her hands. He could feel like she genuinely wanted to give him as much access as he could around the school ground. Just by letting him choosing his House, it shows how important her students are. McGonagall is definitely a woman of dedication. 

"Well, uhm as you said... More muggle borns were sorted into Gryffindors, followed by Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff, right?" Alex asked.

McGonagall nodded.

Alex thought for a moment. He can't solely focused on how many muggle borns are there, he too need to figure out which House should the killer possibly been sorted into, pretend that the killer is around their ages, of course. Ah, maybe he need the lists of staff as well? At this point, he definitely need to be familiar with everyone names and habits. 

SIghs, will he have enough time to help the students?

But right now, he need to give the headmistress his answer. 

"Alexander?" McGonagall voice brought him back to the presence. Alex scratched his head apologetically, "Sorry, I lost in thought a lot,"

The headmistress face softened, "This must weight you a lot,"

Alex just chuckles dryly, "It come with the job," 

McGonagall just look at him concerned. "I don't know what's make Kingsley put his trust in you but I think I can see why," she said.

Alex tilted his head a little.

"You reminds me so much of the young Dorian," 

"I get that a lot," Alex chuckles and Dorian ruffles his nephews already messy locks, "And I'm definitely guilty in that area," said the older Evcans. He can hear Julia let out a devastated sighs. She must have thought the same.

McGonagall shook her head, "Anyway, have you decides your house, Young Evcans?"

Alex took a deep breath, "If it possible, I might wanna have a head start with Gryffindors?"

"Excellent choice," Dorian gave him a light punch on the chest. "Identifying potential victims will give you more advantages in outsmarting the killer, from there, you'll see a pattern." he whispered. "Just never lose sight on anyone you considered as suspects," Alex nodded. 

"Consider it's done," said the headmistress and handed him red and gold stripe tie. "Welcome to the house of the bravery, Evcans."

Alex thanked her. 


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A/N : I am truly unsure about this chapter skdsljflskhg forgive me

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