Alastair POV
The final week of the school year passed peacefully. With examinations concluded and only a single day remaining before the Hogwarts Express carried everyone home, the tension that had gripped the castle for weeks gradually melted away. Students no longer hurried between the library and their common rooms carrying stacks of textbooks, nor did anxious whispers about forgotten formulas or potion ingredients dominate every conversation. Instead, laughter once again echoed through the ancient corridors, and nearly every discussion revolved around summer plans, family reunions, or the anticipation of seeing the examination results.
Alastair intended to make the most of those remaining days.
Whenever Fred and George uncovered another forgotten corner of Hogwarts, they invariably sought him out, claiming that every proper expedition required at least one sensible person to stop them from triggering ancient curses. Whether they genuinely believed that or merely enjoyed having another companion during their explorations remained unclear, but he found himself accompanying the twins through hidden passages, abandoned classrooms, and secret staircases on an almost daily basis.
Although he had already become remarkably familiar with Hogwarts over the course of the year, the castle never truly stopped revealing new surprises. A tapestry depicting a medieval feast concealed a narrow corridor leading to an unused observation room overlooking the Quidditch pitch. Behind an aging suit of armor, George discovered a tiny chamber that appeared to have served as a storage room centuries earlier, complete with broken furniture and dusty trunks whose contents had long since crumbled into useless scraps. On another occasion, Fred managed to activate an enchanted staircase by tapping a gargoyle's nose three times with his wand, revealing a route that bypassed nearly half a dozen corridors.
Those quiet explorations provided a welcome change from the constant responsibilities that had occupied so much of Alastair's first year. There were no political discussions hidden beneath polite conversation, no business negotiations, and no expectations beyond simply enjoying the company of friends before everyone departed for the summer.
His afternoons, however, were rarely idle.
With examinations finally behind them, Cedric enthusiastically resumed their regular sparring sessions, and before long several other students began joining them whenever one of the practice halls happened to be available. Their duels had changed considerably since the beginning of the year. Rather than treating every match as a contest to determine a victor, they now approached each exchange as an opportunity to refine techniques, experiment with combinations of spells, and identify weaknesses that still required improvement.
Cedric, in particular, had grown tremendously.
His spellcasting had become noticeably faster, his defensive magic more reliable, and his ability to adapt during a duel far exceeded that of most first-years. While Alastair still retained the advantage through experience and versatility, each spar demanded more concentration than the last, something he found genuinely satisfying.
Iron sharpened iron.
There was little value in defeating opponents who never improved.
The remaining hours of each day were devoted to work.
Fortunately, the projector itself no longer demanded his constant attention, allowing me to focus on expanding the range of enchanted discs that would eventually accompany the projector.
Some were practical improvements designed to increase storage capacity or reduce magical consumption. Others explored entirely different possibilities, experimenting with enchantments that might one day become products in their own right.
The memory imprint project remained the one exception.
Despite numerous attempts, he had yet to successfully stabilize the enchantment required to record memories directly through magical means. The underlying theory still appeared sound, but reality consistently proved more complicated than parchment calculations suggested. Human memories shifted constantly, influenced by emotion, perception, and subconscious thought in ways ordinary moving images never did. Preserving them with complete accuracy required a level of magical precision he had yet to achieve.
Even so, he wasn't discouraged.
Some breakthroughs simply required patience.
If the memory discs could not be completed this summer, they would be completed eventually.
There was no need to rush a project whose potential value far exceeded the inconvenience of waiting a few additional months.
One afternoon, after returning from another lengthy exploration of the castle, Fred unexpectedly changed the subject while the three of them relaxed beside the Black Lake.
"You should come to the Burrow again this summer."
George immediately nodded in agreement.
"Mum still asks about you every now and then."
"And she keeps telling us to invite you."
Alastair smiled.
"I appreciate the invitation."
For a brief moment, he genuinely considered accepting.
The Burrow possessed a warmth unlike any place he had ever visited. Its mismatched furniture, constant noise, and perpetual state of cheerful disorder somehow created an atmosphere that many grand manors, despite their elegance, could never hope to replicate.
Unfortunately, this summer left little room for leisurely visits.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
Neither twin appeared particularly surprised.
"Busy?" Fred asked.
Alastair nodded.
"The projector shop opens during the holidays, and there are still countless details requiring my attention. Beyond that, several new projects are already waiting, along with family obligations that simply can't be postponed."
George shrugged good-naturedly.
"Fair enough."
"We'll just come to you instead."
Reaching into his satchel, Alastair withdrew two familiar cream-colored envelopes sealed with emerald wax.
"I was planning to give these to you today."
Fred accepted one immediately.
"The projector opening?"
"Exactly."
George carefully tucked his invitation inside his robes.
"We'll definitely be there."
Fred grinned.
"Especially if there's food."
"There will be refreshments."
"Excellent."
"I never doubted your priorities."
The three shared a laugh before the conversation drifted toward one of the twins' newest prank ideas, mercifully remaining nothing more than an amusing discussion.
Before long, the final morning arrived.
Tomorrow they would leave Hogwarts.
Today, however, the examination rankings would finally be posted.
By the time Alastair reached the Entrance Hall, a sizeable crowd had already gathered before the enchanted notice board. Students from every house attempted to push closer, eager to discover the results of a year's worth of effort. Excited conversations echoed throughout the hall as older students stretched their necks to see over those standing in front while younger years tried unsuccessfully to squeeze through the gaps.
"Has it been posted yet?" a Ravenclaw shouted from somewhere near the back.
"Not yet," replied a Hufflepuff standing close to the board. "It should happen any minute now."
The anticipation steadily grew until, without warning, shimmering golden letters spread across the previously blank notice board.
The rankings had appeared.
The corridor erupted into immediate chaos.
"I made the top ten!"
"Where's my name?"
"Move aside!"
"I told you I'd beat you!"
Ignoring the commotion surrounding him, Alastair calmly turned his attention toward the Overall First-Year Rankings.
His eyes settled upon the very top of the list.
1. Blake Black
A faint smile crossed his face.
Exactly as expected.
Blake had always possessed exceptional academic ability. While he held the advantage in practical spellcasting across several subjects, her mastery of theory consistently surpassed his own, making first place an entirely deserved outcome.
Naturally, his gaze moved toward the second position, fully expecting to find his own name there.
Instead, he paused.
2. Nyx Calder
For the first time that morning, genuine surprise crossed his expression.
Nyx...
Second?
His eyes instinctively reread the line before continuing downward.
3. Alastair Salvius-P
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
So that was the answer.
Throughout the year Nyx had displayed little enthusiasm for theoretical lessons, often appearing almost bored during lectures and treating subjects like Potions with an indifference that suggested she barely cared about the results. Alastair had assumed she simply preferred practical magic.
Apparently, he had been mistaken.
She hadn't lacked ability.
She had simply lacked motivation.
Once the examinations actually mattered, she had effortlessly demonstrated just how capable she truly was.
His attention continued moving down the rankings, and another satisfied smile gradually appeared.
Every first-year Slytherin occupied a respectable position.
Selene, Lyanna, Celia, Adrian, Terrance, Lucian —one familiar name after another appeared comfortably within the upper section of the rankings.
Only Warrington had narrowly missed the mark, placing thirty-eighth overall.
Had he earned only a handful of additional marks, every Slytherin first-year would have occupied the top thirty.
Even so, the results spoke for themselves.
The countless evenings spent inside the Study Club had not been wasted. Students who had once struggled to keep pace now stood among the highest-ranked members of their year, proving that consistent effort and proper guidance could accomplish far more than raw talent alone.
Continuing down the list, another familiar name caught his attention.
11. Cedric Diggory.
Just one position short of the top ten.
Alastair could already imagine Cedric accepting the result with his usual good humor before quietly resolving to climb even higher next year.
A burst of cheering nearby interrupted his thoughts.
"We did it!"
Fred practically bounced with excitement.
"All Acceptables!" George announced proudly. "And an Exceeds Expectations in Charms!"
The twins high-fived one another with enough enthusiasm to draw amused glances from nearly everyone standing nearby.
Watching them celebrate so openly, Alastair couldn't help smiling.
For Fred and George, those results represented genuine effort. Despite spending countless hours inventing pranks, exploring the castle, and finding increasingly creative ways to frustrate Filch, they had still managed to achieve solid marks across every subject.
Their excitement was entirely deserved.
As celebrations, disappointed sighs, relieved laughter, and determined promises for the coming year blended together throughout the Entrance Hall, Alastair quietly folded his hands behind his back and took one final look at the rankings.
The excitement surrounding the examination results lingered throughout the remainder of the day. Students continued comparing marks, congratulating one another, and making ambitious promises about the coming year until, one by one, the celebrations gradually gave way to quiet farewells. As the sun disappeared beyond the castle walls and the final evening at Hogwarts came to an end, trunks were packed, dormitories emptied, and the familiar realization settled over everyone that another school year had drawn to a close.
Dawn arrived with the usual bustle that accompanied departure day. Before long, the Hogwarts Express steamed away from Hogsmeade Station, carrying hundreds of students back toward London amidst lively conversations that only occasionally quieted as everyone looked out at the passing countryside. By the time the train finally rolled into King's Cross Station, the platform was once again filled with parents embracing their children, friends promising to exchange letters throughout the summer, and students reluctantly parting ways after spending nearly an entire year together.
Alastair soon spotted Mrs. Weasley waiting for her children with the same warm smile that seemed capable of welcoming anyone into her family. After exchanging greetings, he informed her that he intended to make a brief visit to the Burrow over the weekend, as there was something he wished to discuss with Mr. Weasley. Molly readily agreed, telling him that he would always be welcome in their home before shepherding the twins away, who were already attempting to recount several stories at once.
After bidding them farewell, Alastair made his way through the bustling station until he found Liri waiting quietly at their predetermined meeting place. She acknowledged him with a respectful nod, and after ensuring they were clear of the crowd, gently rested a hand upon his. A moment later, the familiar sensation of Apparition enveloped them, and the noise of King's Cross vanished, replaced by the quiet streets surrounding Grimmauld Place.
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