章 13: Solving a Squib's issue

The students were in a bit of a hubbub. A transfer student arrived and was placed in Ravenclaw. Out of the blue according to the rumor mill.

The student was quiet as they kept asking questions. His aunt told him about Alex and made things clear to try to learn from him. But he made no moves so far to talk with him. Waiting till everything was settled so to speak. Spotting him at the end of class, the boy slipped away from all the other students that hassled him.

"Alex!" The boy called. Alex just blinked at him before his wrist tightened. The unicorn hairs moved under his skin. He moved up right next to Alex with a serious look. "Sup roomie?"

"Well, nothing much. How are you enjoying the school so far?" Alex just blinked at the little oddball. Creating room between the two. 'Well, personal space is not a thing for him. Must be a.. Unicorn thing.'

"It is ok." With a flicker of his wrist, a spell was activated. "This red hair is so weird. My aunt had me dye it at the last minute. I understand I am in danger still, but still. Hair color change won't do much."

*Shine!* The magic helped them understand each other a little really quickly. Just to help get rid of the super awkwardness of the situation. Learning names and basic dislikes.

"Practice with your magic and it will help." Alex took a turn down a corridor. Lin keeping up with him. "You are powerful but untrained. Which is like most people with special bloodlines. Nothing wrong with taking things one step at a time."

"So why don't you?"

"Fear." Alex stopped at a wall. Watching it shift slightly. Lin stood there for a second. Not wanting to go into the darkness so easily. Unnerved at how Alex acted so loose with things. "Come on, it will be ok this time."

"Ok.."

Inside the room was a man and a cat. Filch and his cat Ms.Norris. He had gathered everything Alex asked him to a day or two ago. His desperation was real.

"You even gather a few things I didn't ask for." Alex grabbed a few things and mixed them into a bowl as he spoke. From his sleeve, he removed a potion and a yellow stone. It was worth a fortune but he gained more than that from the ingredients Filch gathered. "Drink this slowly. It will help remove the bad effects of a Squib. The traits caused by .."

"Explain to me another time, please. I am to excited to really pay attention." Filch did listen and took in the mix slowly. "Taste like oranges." At that, Alex jumped back. His wand-making a barrier quickly. "What is it?"

"It was supposed to be apples. Oranges means you have a little beast blood in you. So.. an animagus. I just do not know which one." Lin got behind Alex. They watched as Filch started to convulse. "No matter what you turn into, make sure you drink this to." The other bowl was moved over and placed near him. The cat had jumped on a mantle and just watched. 'Hmm might shed light on why an ordinary cat likes him so much.'

Ms.Norris watched intently. Despite what was happening, the cat looked happy. No magic or anything of the sort was around it. No curse or anything else. So it begs the question, why is it so smart? It must be Filch himself.

'No way Squibs are what they were portrayed in the series. This test proved it along with a few other things. I wonder if I can get a blood sample..' Alex was pulled from his thoughts by Lin.

"I thought there would be screaming." Lin stated. He looked on in fascination but a little fear as well. 'I hope he does not blow up or something.'

"Oh, I place a hex on the mix. To keep the pain to a minimum and to stop him from screaming. The man has had enough pain in his life." Alex looked him over eyes blazing slightly. He would not miss a moment of this. "He is not the worst but not the best either. Especially considering how they are treated and.."

"I understand. I know a lot about being different Alex." Lin said softly. "Can you do this for others?"

"Will need a hell of a lot more of certain things. Time will tell. Right now, atrophied veins in his body are healing. The Animagus will make him even more healthy. Depending on what he .. is. Well, I will be damned." Alex said incredulously. "It is a type of cat."

*Flick!* Alex moved his wand casting a language spell.

"I feel so awful." Filch said. "And hungry." His tail moving about. He was a bobcat.

"You need to drink that brew." Alex said strongly. "I know you do not want this all to go to waste. Think of all the suffering you went through. Keep a clear head."

"I.. understand." Filch looked around and started lapping at the brew. "At least I am no longer hungry." His cat came down rubbing against him. Alex was too curious to see if he would eat the cat to move. Lin just kept blinking. "Let me drink in peace now." The cat stopped moving but sat near him.

*Sching!* Magical energy erupted around Filch. In an instant, he reverted back to normal. Alex cast a quick spell to dress him. His clothes did not survive the process really.

Filch looked years younger and a lot healthier. A full head of hair for one.

"What should I worry about.. Mr.Alex?" Filch marveled at himself. Squatting back and forward checking his knees.

"Ah, none of that. People will already be weirded out by things." Alex said looking him over. "Just make your next meal a good one. Keep this on you." Alex gave him a bracelet. "It will keep you from using magic by accident. Emotional outbursts will do it to you. And, just start studying ways to control your magic. Do not be tempted to start using magic for at least 24 hours. I am acting on the side of caution."

"I look right handsome." Filch nodded and couldn't help seeing himself in a mirror. "You have helped me greatly. What do I say to people who ask what happened?"

"Say you were a late bloomer or something." Alex shrugged. "Say you had a wizard cast a spell on you and it finally took effect. Just keep me out of it."

"I think he will be a powerful wizard in about 4 years. Definitely have old magic blood." Lin said looking him over. Doing slight sniffs over him. "A good wizard, witch, warlock, whatever people call themselves in time."

"It is late. We need to go. Take this." Alex handed over a piece of paper. "Writing on it will send word to me. Keep it safe and keep it hidden. Congrats and the cat.."

"What about me?" Ms.Norris stared at Alex. Her tail wrapped around Filch. "I am normal as can be. Makes no sense why more do not cast spells to understand us. Curious." With a tilt, she licked FIlch. "He smells even better now."

"Smell..." Alex mumbled. Watching the going on's was a curious study. "A spell to change you human, I will work that. Or to make you a bobcat size. Wonder what would happen?"

Alex left musing. Lin and Filch just stared at him. A queasy feeling passes in their bellies. The idea of testing strange concoctions looms in the future.

As Lin caught up with Alex, someone lurked in the shadows. Professor Snape looks in wonder before continuing on his way. The area was not forbidden to students, but most never moved to the current part of the castle.

Room Arrangements-

Alex was adjusting the spell for the room to make room for Lin. Good things do not last long. His former roommate having left was such a good thing. Now another one.

Lin watched as the shelves moved about to reveal the other bed. Several chemistry sets floated up and sat on shelves higher up. To Lin, it looked like a laboratory than an actual bedroom.

"Mad wizard you are.." Lin mumbled as he saw some potted plants. A glove floated to the side with a jar of wingless flies. Two shakes and they landed in the pots. "..aww so pret.. oh by the forrest!"

*Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!* The buds sprouted open. Revealing mouths more or less. Gulping the fly's down in an instant. They looked towards the floating hand that petted them. Cooing before closing back up.

Alex was mixing a few herbs together. His left hand doing the actual gestures of the floating glove.

"They are snapdragons. Or as I prefer to call them, Audrey, Mario, Luigi, and Peach." Alex said simply. He wanted to name one piranha, but that would be crazy. "Lovely things. Nothing like the one from Little Shop of Horrors."

"Little Shop of Horrors, what is that?" Lin moved away and spotted an actual snake. "Is that a normal snake?" Erring on the side of caution.

"Yes. She is a little testy when not getting a bite to eat. Next on my list to feed." The glove followed Alex's movement and picked up a goldfish from a bowl. "Likes fish to eat. So strange really. Found her while out for my morning run one day. Name is Oro."

"Oh, I am the strange one." The grass snake raised flicking at the two. "You talk to snakes and have an assortment of creatures in here. I am not strange, you are strange. And late with my meal!"

"See, testy." Alex dropped a goldfish. Oro mouth open and swallowed the fish whole. He did drop a single droplet of blood inside next. "And a little blood. To help sustain her for a week or so."

"Mmmh, delicious." Oro tongue flickered. She settled back down content. Scales glowing then settling down. "Nighty night." Curling up and out like a light.

"Can I have a pet to?" Lin asked. He sat on his bed kicking his feet. A book floated down onto his lap. Reading material. "Umm?"

"Yes, you can have a pet. It is in the rules after all. And if it wasn't, screw em really." Alex grabbed a bowl full of powder in it. Fingers digging into it. With a pull, it followed the path slowly. Shaping it slowly into something. "I just wouldn't broadcast it."

*Scrit!* The powder turned into sand. Scratching against itself with little flecks of white falling out. The flecks stacked together. Forming a triangle.

"What are you making?" Lin opened the book and started reading it. But wanted to find out what Alex was doing at least.

"Making a magical diamond. For.. well the future. A few ideas where I will need them in a large amount. Still perfecting it right now." Alex had sweat dripping down the side of his face. A large amount of heat was around him. Kept contained by a magic circle around him. "So far, it takes to much of my time and focus."

"Maybe more hands?" Lin questioned.

"I tried that." Alex said with a frown. "Gave myself additional hands. Did not help. Finished quicker but was three times as exhausted. As for other people, they would have study these five books."

Pointing up, five books gave a glow. They were about 3 inches thick a piece. Not light reading at all.

"Lot to read. You learned all this already?" Lin blinked at it, then back at the book on his lap. Flipping a page revealed a page of hand written notes explaining stuff on the previous page. Exact details of words and meanings. 'That would make things easier. Lots of examples.'

"Yeah. But does not mean I know everything. The moment I learn something new that is correct or more stable, I alter the previous. I rather not teach a dangerous method when I know a safer one. Or a better one really."

The two conversed about things getting to genuinely know each others interests.

Headmasters Office-

Professor Snape was talking with Dumbledore about what he learned. Just students showing great promise for the future, and an update on Harry Potter. Before the conversation ended, Dumbledore had one more question.

"And the new student? Is he fitting in fine enough?"

"Yes, I suppose." Snape drolled out. Stopping at the door. A memory returned to him about what just happened. "Oh, he was with Alexander. In the old east wing."

"Hmm, that is odd. Filch's place he goes for things. Not many know of this." Dumbledore mused. Pulling on his beard. "He has acted odd of late. Less complaining from the students. Even a few say he helped them. Peculiar.."

"Goodnight Headmaster." Snape was tired and did not want to get in to another discussion. Especially with a certain dark wizard licking his wounds angrily about a snake attack. 'So many things going on at once. What is happening at this school?'