Alex, as the subject representative for Defense Against the Dark Arts and Ancient Runes, joined in seamlessly. While his demeanor on the stone platform had been stern and unyielding, during tutoring sessions, he was calm, gentle, and patient. Even those he had punished earlier received the same level of attention and respect. When one brave student approached Alex with a question, they were met with his composed and methodical explanation. "When casting the Repelling Charm, gestures and incantations are important, but the true key lies in your intent. You must genuinely want to drive the target away. Without that, your spell will lack strength, as it did during last year's exam. This principle applies to all attack and defense spells."
Mona, a diligent student Alex had previously praised, hesitated before stepping forward. "Prefect Alex, would you demonstrate the spell for us? Even just once?"
Alex regarded her thoughtfully. "At your level, Mona, you should already be able to cast this spell proficiently."
Mona flushed slightly but pressed on. "I understand the theory, but Defense Against the Dark Arts rarely has practical lessons. While I can pass the written exams, my practical skills are... lacking."
Alex nodded in understanding. "After evening self-study in three days, there will be a Defense Against the Dark Arts study group. Although you're not on the make-up list, you're welcome to attend. I'll demonstrate the spell then."
"Thank you, Prefect Alex!" Mona and her companions stammered their gratitude before retreating with wide smiles. The tension in the air gradually eased as Alex's approachability during study sessions softened the rigid atmosphere. For many, the realization that they could only find solace in diligent study became a strange comfort. Their enthusiasm for learning grew, their nerves temporarily soothed by the focus on academics.
As Alex announced the end of self-study, many students lingered in the stone hall, reluctant to leave. Outside, the pressures of the following day awaited them.
The next morning, students woke to find Alex absent once more. However, this time, they weren't easily fooled. While they couldn't fathom how he managed to observe so many students simultaneously, they knew he was watching. Grade leaders, particularly Joey, were on edge. Half of the fourth years had been punished the previous day, and Joey had learned his lesson. He now understood that lax discipline didn't just affect him—it impacted everyone around him. Determined not to make the same mistakes, Joey ensured stricter adherence to the rules.
Meanwhile, Lewis, who had suffered through three punishments the night before, pushed through his lingering soreness. Despite feeling as if his arms were weighed down with lead, he completed his housework diligently, setting an example for others.
"Mona." Joey called out hesitantly, glancing at his female classmate with a hint of embarrassment. He hadn't spoken to her much since the start of school, and now he felt awkward breaking the silence.
"What is it?" Mona's expression tightened, her tone cautious as she turned to face him.
"I, uh… you probably already know I'm not the sharpest," Joey began, fumbling over his words. "After the Prefect Alex reminded me yesterday, I realized you're better at remembering the rules and keeping an eye on things. Could you… maybe help me figure out how to keep everyone in line without making too many mistakes? Please?"
Mona blinked, caught off guard by Joey's unusually humble demeanor. "Uh… sure," she said after a moment, nodding despite her uncertainty. "I can do that."
Nearby, a low, amused voice cut through the tension. "Oh, come on, this is painful to watch. Are they always this awkward?" A large, wolfish head loomed next to Alex, sniffing at the steaming espresso in his hand while sneaking glances at the enchanted mirrors in front of them.
This was Fang—wolf-like in appearance but with the personality of a sharp-tongued observer. He and Alex were relaxing in the dormitory, surrounded by the hum of magical surveillance equipment. Alex, sitting with his legs crossed in his usual composed manner, sipped his coffee while Fang tinkered with the intricate device on the table. The contraption resembled a vanity dresser, except instead of a single mirror, dozens of small enchanted mirrors were arranged neatly across its surface. Each mirror displayed a different scene, all showing young Slytherins going about their day.
Unlike most wizards who would hide behind cloaks and shadows to spy on others, Alex preferred efficiency. After all, he couldn't be everywhere at once. That's where this device—his monocle—came in. The monocle had been updated at the end of the last school year. Initially, Alex had tried to track the Slytherin students using a Disillusionment Charm, but the effort proved too time-consuming. Frustrated by the inefficiency, he had developed the monitor to streamline the process.
The system relied on the Floo Network principle and Alex's affinity for summoning crows. When activated, dozens of tiny ravens, cloaked in illusion spells, were released across Hogwarts. They shared their vision with the mirrors in real-time, allowing Alex to keep tabs on the students without having to leave his dormitory. He also created another device so he can delegate this task to other.
Fang had taken to the device with an enthusiasm that surprised even Alex. Since arriving in the dormitory, the wolfish creature had become obsessed with the monitor. His sharp eyes and quick reflexes made him an exceptional supervisor, far better than Alex had anticipated. "Alex, this thing is incredible," Fang had exclaimed the day before, his tail wagging as he dove into the task.
By now, Fang was the undisputed expert. He could focus on multiple things at once, his keen eyes darting between screens to catch the slightest infractions. It was Fang who had compiled the list of rule-breakers the previous day, and his meticulous record-keeping had left even the most mischievous students trembling.
Today, Fang was at it again, squinting at the mirrors with intense focus. Occasionally, his eyes would flicker, and his paw would dart out to scribble notes on parchment. "Are you sure you've got everyone memorized?" Alex asked, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.
"Relax, my lord," Fang replied confidently. "Since yesterday afternoon, I've had this under control. My notes were a bit messy at first, but I'm in the zone now."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. Fang had turned what should have been a tedious job into a personal challenge, and his excitement was contagious. With Fang managing the surveillance, Alex finally had time to focus on his own projects. He was designing new teaching aids, drawing on his understanding of the Hogwarts curriculum to create something truly innovative.
As a top-performing student, Alex had noticed patterns in the Hogwarts exams. He categorized the courses into three main groups based on their requirements. Theoretical Subjects: Courses like History of Magic and Astronomy, which focused on reading, writing, and memorization. Mixed Subjects: Subjects like Potions and Herbology, which required both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice. Practical Spellcasting Subjects: Classes like Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms, which emphasized mastering spellwork through repetition and finesse. By understanding these categories, Alex planned to craft tools that would simplify learning for students, ensuring that even the weakest in each subject could improve.