Chapitre 106: Edurus Potion
"What do you mean, Albus? You're still planning to let those students act as bait to find the Death Eaters? You're risking the safety of the other young wizards!" Snape's voice was sharp, his anger barely restrained as he glared at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, calm as ever, adjusted his glasses. "Don't worry, Severus. From what I've observed, their behavior hasn't escalated to anything particularly violent. If it does, I'll step in. Sometimes, giving them room to act without restraint reveals a person's true nature, wouldn't you agree?"
Snape's frown deepened, his tone laced with frustration. "And what about Alex? He's a Muggle-born Slytherin, and you know full well those pure-blood fanatics are out for his blood. He didn't leave Hogwarts all summer, and it wasn't because he's particularly fond of the castle walls."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "I thought you didn't like the boy."
Snape scowled. "Don't change the subject."
"Have some faith in him, Severus," Dumbledore replied, his voice light. "Alex is cautious and intelligent, and, most importantly, he has a strong sense of justice. He's already proven himself capable. Any student who can stand toe-to-toe with you in Potions deserves some credit."
"That's precisely why I still stay silent!" Snape snapped, his irritation rising under Dumbledore's amused gaze.
"I'm curious to see what Alex will do in an environment like this, where the odds seem stacked against him," Dumbledore said with a chuckle.
"You're playing with fire, Albus. Be careful you don't burn yourself," Snape retorted, his voice cold as he turned to leave. His black robes billowed behind him as he stormed out of the office.
Left alone, Dumbledore stared thoughtfully into the distance, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps," he murmured to himself, "but I have no desire to see another Dark Lord rise. Alex… in this hostile environment, what choices will you make when enemies are all around you?"
Back in the castle, Alex met with Rozier in a dim corridor. The two spoke in hushed tones, and Alex passed him a small vial of potion.
Rozier's eyes widened as Alex explained his plan. "You're serious about this? You're really going through with it?"
Alex smirked. "Why else would I have gone to the trouble of planting the idea of this ridiculous 'Purity Committee' in Yaxley's head? You think you've earned his trust just by chance?"
Rozier hesitated, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "But if this fails, I'm done for. Do you realize what they'll do to me if it goes wrong?"
Alex's expression hardened. "You're in no position to negotiate, Rozier. It's far too late for regrets now. Remember, if you disobey me, the consequences will be far worse than anything Yaxley could dream up."
Rozier glared at Alex, resentment flickering in his eyes, but he said nothing more. With a defeated sigh, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. As he trudged toward the Slytherin common room, he muttered bitterly to himself. He should never have gotten involved with Alex in the first place. Encouraging Yaxley to create the Purity Committee had seemed like a harmless suggestion at the time, but now it felt like he'd walked into a trap. "Regret won't help me now," Rozier sighed, shaking his head. He straightened his shoulders and entered the common room, where Yaxley was waiting.
"What's this I hear about Alex planning to visit Hogsmeade for Christmas? Are you sure?" Yaxley asked, his eyes narrowing.
"I overheard him talking to Vivian," Rozier replied carefully. "Vivian and Higgs are staying at Hogwarts for Christmas as well. They've been spending a lot of time together lately. It's suspicious."
Yaxley laughed, his voice filled with disdain. "That half-blood can't help himself, can he? Vivian and Higgs, too? Birds of a feather, I suppose."
Pacing back and forth, Yaxley's mind raced. He stopped abruptly and turned back to Rozier. "Good work. But we need confirmation. If Vivian and Higgs also apply to stay over the holidays, then we'll know for sure. This time, we'll deal with him for good."
Rozier nodded, silently cursing Alex for dragging him into this mess. But he had no choice now but to play along.
As Christmas approached, Alex, Vivian, and Higgs all applied to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays, confirming Rozier's report. Yaxley and his group, however, didn't make similar arrangements—it would have been too obvious. Instead, they boarded the train home but quietly disembarked at Hogsmeade Station, gathering at a house in the village to wait.
After two days, Yaxley grew impatient. "What's the news?" he demanded of the young wizards he had sent to keep watch.
"We spotted Vivian and Higgs at the Three Broomsticks," one of them reported. "They seem to be waiting for someone—likely Alex."
Wilkes frowned. "It won't be easy to act in a crowded place like that."
Yaxley's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Oh, I've already prepared for that. Take a look."
He gestured to a figure standing in the shadows. Wilkes turned, his expression shifting from confusion to shock as he saw her. "Vivian?"
But it wasn't the real Vivian. This Vivian was a perfect replica, her features eerily identical, yet her expression cold and unfeeling. "What is this?" Wilkes asked, his voice filled with unease.
Yaxley's grin widened. "Let's just say this Vivian will make things much easier for us."
"Ha! Wilkes, don't you even recognize me?" Another Vivian asked, her face twisted into a mocking expression.
"Amelia? Are you using a Polyjuice Potion?" Wilkes finally caught on, his gaze flickering with surprise as he studied 'Vivian' more closely.
"That's right!" Amelia, in her Vivian disguise, replied smugly. "That brat dared to contradict me earlier, so I grabbed a few strands of her hair. Now it's coming in handy."
"I had a feeling something like this would come in handy," Yaxley chimed in, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. "When Amelia and Vivian had that argument last time, I saw an opportunity. I asked Rozier to prepare some Polyjuice Potion. And now, it's time to put it to good use."
The group of Slytherins around him erupted into murmurs of approval, showering Yaxley with exaggerated praise. However, Travers, standing off to the side, quickly doused their enthusiasm. "Hold on. What if Alex doesn't fall for it? That guy's sharp—cunning, even. Are you sure you can lure him in?" Travers asked skeptically, his arms crossed.
Yaxley shot a confident look at Amelia-as-Vivian. "That depends on Amelia's acting. Think you can handle it?"
Amelia puffed her chest out, her expression smug. "Please, dealing with a mudblood kid like him is a joke. Honestly, this much effort feels like overkill. Let's just stick to the plan and get it over with."
"Don't underestimate him," Yaxley warned, his tone growing serious. "Wilkes has intel that Alex isn't as weak as he seems. He knows some kind of obscure barrier magic, and we can't afford to leave any loose ends. When we make our move, we clean up everything. No mistakes."
Despite Yaxley's words, the group's mood remained subdued. Many of them had been lured into the plot with promises of excitement, but now, as the plan unfolded, they seemed unimpressed. Some even muttered about wanting to go home for Christmas instead of loitering around. Noticing their lackluster attitudes, Yaxley barked, "Rozier!"
Chapitre 107: 1 vs 17
The room quieted as Rozier emerged, carrying a large wooden box. He placed it on the table and opened it, revealing rows of small glass bottles filled with a shimmering liquid.
"What's this? Edurus Potion?" Wilkes asked after uncorking a bottle and sniffing its contents.
"Exactly. These potions boost your defense. Consider them an early Christmas gift for your loyalty—and for waiting here for two days without complaining," Yaxley said, holding up one of the larger bottles with pride.
The sight of the potions reinvigorated the group. They hurried to grab their share, their earlier boredom replaced with newfound energy as they geared up for action. Meanwhile, 'Vivian' set off toward the small path outside the Hogwarts gate, the main route leading to Hogsmeade.
Not long after, 'Vivian' spotted Alex exiting the Hogwarts gates, heading toward the village. Putting on an eager expression, she ran up to him, calling out loudly, "Alex! Alex!"
Alex looked startled for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "What's going on? Didn't you say you'd wait for me at the Three Broomsticks?"
"Oh, that." Amelia-as-Vivian feigned a sheepish smile, waving her hand dismissively. "When Higgs and I were on our way, I realized you've never been to Hogsmeade before. I figured you might get lost, so I decided to wait here and guide you."
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her. "Really? That's thoughtful of you. Shall we, then?" He gestured for her to lead the way.
Amelia couldn't help but feel smug. This guy's supposed to be cunning? Please. He fell for it without me even needing my backup excuses.
Alex followed her as she led the way, wearing a casual smile. But as they walked, his gaze subtly flicked to their surroundings."Strange," Alex said suddenly, his tone light. "This doesn't seem like the way to the Three Broomsticks. Why are we heading somewhere so isolated?"
Amelia froze for a split second, caught off guard by his observation. She quickly forced a laugh. "Oh, um… surprise! I've planned something special for Christmas. Didn't expect you to catch on so quickly."
"Hah, really? A Christmas surprise? How original." Alex chuckled, his tone casual, but his sharp eyes lingered on her.
Sweat beaded on Amelia's forehead as she forced a smile, silently cursing Yaxley for this tedious plan. This kid doesn't seem worth all this effort. Finally, they reached a remote corner outside the village. The area was dotted with crumbling, abandoned houses, and a neglected cemetery loomed nearby, its overgrown weeds swaying in the wind. Amelia led Alex to one of the dilapidated huts, but before they could enter, Alex stopped abruptly. "What's wrong, Alex?" she asked, her voice filled with fake concern.
Alex adjusted the monocle perched on his face, scanning the area before smirking. "Seventeen people. Quite the welcoming committee. You've really gone all out for Christmas, haven't you?"
Amelia's expression stiffened, but she tried to play it off. "I… don't know what you're talking about. Just come inside—I've got a big gift waiting for you."
Alex's smirk widened. "You're a terrible liar. No need to trouble yourself with the gift. Let me take care of it myself."
Before Amelia could react, Alex sidestepped her and delivered a sharp kick to her knee. A sickening crack echoed as she crumpled to the ground. Alex followed up with a vicious right hook, sending her flying backward. She landed with a heavy thud, unconscious before she could make a sound.
As Amelia lay motionless, her body began to contort and shift. Her features twisted unnaturally, and her frame shrank. Within moments, the guise of 'Vivian' melted away, revealing the unconscious form of Amelia Osber.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound of slow applause echoed through the still air. Behind Alex, a voice drawled, "Impressive, Alex. Now, humor me—when did you figure out the Vivian next to you wasn't the real one?"
Alex didn't turn around. "From the start, of course. The real Vivian never talks that little." His voice was calm, almost disinterested, but his words carried a razor-sharp edge.
"Well, well." Yaxley stepped forward, a mocking smirk spreading across his face. "Then
what do we call this? Courage? Or arrogance? Coming here all alone... should I applaud your bravery or pity your foolishness?"
Alex tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Chatting like this is a waste of time. If you keep yapping, I might mistake you for Vivian." He rubbed his ear in mock irritation but made no effort to look back. His demeanor was calm, but in truth, he had already used a silent echo spell. It revealed most of the enemies were positioned ahead, hiding in the dilapidated house and its surroundings.
Realizing Alex wasn't taking the bait, the hidden guards began to emerge from the shadows, fanning out and surrounding him like wolves closing in on prey. One by one, their eyes gleamed with malice, their wands drawn.
Travers stepped forward, his face flushed with excitement as he sneered, "You're not getting away today, you filthy mudblood. I'll personally rip out your disgusting eyes!"
Wilkes, standing nearby, sneered as well but remained more composed. "Stop wasting time with threats. Finish him quickly and quietly. This place may be remote, but if he sends for help, someone might show up."
"No need to worry," Travers interjected smugly. "I've cast multiple silencing and shielding spells over the area. I learned it from this mudblood, ironically enough. Even if we blow this place to pieces, no one will hear a thing. He's as good as dead."
Yaxley, watching Alex stand amidst the encroaching circle, chuckled. "You still haven't answered my question, Alex. What gave you the courage to follow us here alone? You must've known this was a trap. We planned so many contingencies for you, and the Polyjuice plot was honestly the weakest of them all. I never thought Amelia could lure you in."
Alex glanced at the group surrounding him, unbothered by their hostile glares. "Oh, I just didn't feel like dragging this out. Taking care of all of you at once seemed more efficient."
He paused, then smiled faintly. "And honestly? I'm short on cash. You lot might as well make yourselves useful." Before anyone could respond, Alex vanished into thin air.
"Attack! Now!" Wilkes shouted, panic flashing across his face.
"Don't let him escape!" Yaxley barked, raising his wand. "Depulso!"
A whirlwind of dust and debris erupted in Alex's direction, obscuring the area in a chaotic storm. Through the swirling haze, a figure darted forward, moving with impossible speed.
"There!" Wilkes yelled, raising his wand to fire a curse. Others followed suit, hurling spells with wild abandon.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Repello!"
But Alex moved like a phantom, weaving effortlessly through the barrage of spells. A petrification spell grazed so close to his face it seemed inevitable it would land, but he tilted his head at the last second, evading it with unnerving precision.
In an instant, he closed the gap between himself and Wilkes. Before Wilkes could react, Alex's fist slammed into his abdomen with bone-jarring force. The older student gasped in pain, doubling over, but Alex wasn't done. Grabbing Wilkes by the collar, he spun and hurled him backward like a rag doll.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
200+ Classement
Power Stone 
27 Power
stone 
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