Chapter 42

In the Great Hall

Malfoy was the first one to arrive in the Great hall today. He has been waiting for Alex or Nicole to arrive.

When he saw Nicole and Hermione walking into the Great hall. He, without any hesitation, walked to the Gryffindor table.

"Where is your brother?” Malfoy was rude as usual.

Though she was taken back because Malfoy took the initiative to come and talk to her. Seeing how rude he was, she chose not to be polite either, "How would I know? Isn't he in your house? You should know about his whereabouts better than me".

"I have been looking for him since yesterday. Tell me if you know anything". Malfoy was frustrated now. He had hoped that maybe Nicole might know something about Alex, but she also had no idea.

"Hey! who are you bossing around? Have you forgotten the beating my brother gave you?" Nicole said, gnashing her teeth in anger.

Malfoy has faced many setbacks because of Alex, but his arrogance was no less.

Malfoy inched in closer and looked straight into her eyes, and with all seriousness, said, "I am not in the mood to bicker with you. So don't try to pick a fight with me".

Since she does not know about Alex’s whereabouts, there was no use lingering around. Malfoy did not give Nicole the chance to respond and marched off from the Great hall.

"It's weird! I have seen him avoid my brother all this while, but why is he looking for him today?" Nicole turned towards Hermione and asked in confusion.

Hermione did not have a clue either, "Let's ask Daphne. She might know something," Hermione suggested.

Both Hermione and Nicole walked towards the Slytherin table and sat on either side of Daphne.

"Hey, Daph... do you know where my brother is and why is Malfoy looking for him?" Nicole asked.

Putting the spoons on the sides and wiping her lips with the napkin, Daphne said, "I have no clue," Daphne said, shaking her head, "I went to look for him yesterday but could not find him. Well, it was usual, so I did not think too much about it. But Malfoy went to his room late at night to look for him yesterday and almost caused a commotion". Daphne then recounted the events from yesterday.

"Weird, where did he go?" Nicole was confused by the sudden disappearance of her brother.

"Let's go to the class first. He won't miss professor Snape's class for anything". Hermione suggested.

Nicole and Daphne nodded, hearing Hermione. The three of them picked up their stuff and headed for the cold and frosty classroom.

* * * * *

"Hermione Granger"

"Yes Sir"

"Nicole Ashbridge"

"Present Sir"

And so on, Professor Snape took the attendance of both the Slytherin and Gryffindor students. But by the end, Nicole and the others noticed, he had skipped Alex's name from the beginning.

When Nicole did not hear his brother's name, she wanted to stand up and ask professor Snape about it, but Hermione stopped her from doing so. The class continued like always in pin-drop silence, with only professor Snape doing the talking and Gryffindors getting their points deducted.

* * * * *

After the class

As soon as the class ended. The Gryffindors swarmed out of the classroom as quickly as possible, followed by the Slytherins. After everyone left, only Hermione, Nicole and Daphne were there in the classroom. While professor Snape cleaned his table.

Nicole walked towards Professor Snape.

"Professor---" Nicole was about to ask about her brother when Professor Snape cut her in between.

"You are looking for your brother, I suppose." Professor Snape said, looking at her.

"Yes, Professor. Do you know where he is?" Hearing Professor Snape, Nicole had high hopes of finding her brother.

"Have you checked the infirmary?"

"No, why?"

"You might find him there."

"WHAT! Why is he there? Is he fine? Did he hurt himself? Is there anything serious? Why are you not answering me?" Disregarding that in front of her was the infamous Professor of Hogwarts known for his bad temper, Nicole bombarded him with questions.

Professor Snape did not even stop to spare a glance to Nicole and said, "Shouldn't you ask all these questions to the one nursing him?"

"Yeah, you are right. Thank you, professor". Daphne, who was scared that Nicole might end up infuriating Professor Snape, dragged Nicole out of the classroom.

Leaving the classroom, the three girls sprinted towards the infirmary. Only when they were standing in front of Alex's bed did they stop to catch a breath.

Out of breath, the three of them asked in unison, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Alex looked at them confused and stayed silent until all of them caught their breath. After it looked like they were fine now, Alex said," I am fine, but what are you all doing here together? Don't you all have classes?"

"Is that important right now?" Nicole asked with her brows raised, looking at her idiot brother.

"Is it not? It's not like you are as smart as the two of them that you can be allowed to play hooky," Alex reprimanded her.

Nicole knew it was no use arguing with him, so she cut to the chase and asked, "Of course not. Tell me how you got hurt".

Madam Pomfrey, who just entered the infirmary with a copper glass in her hand, interrupted them, "What's all this commotion? Why are you three ladies creating a ruckus here?"

"Madam Pomf---" Hermione wanted to tell that they were here to visit Alex, but how could madam Pomfrey listen to them.

"You all here are disturbing my patient. Get moving. It's time for his medicine".

"I am fine, Madam Pu----". Seeing the glass in her hand, Alex wanted to refute, but just as he opened his mouth, Madam Pomfrey poured the contents of the glass down his throat.

"Good boy. You didn't spill even a drop, unlike the last time".

"Madam Pomfrey! What happened to my brother?" Nicole asked Madam Pomfrey.

"Is she your sister?" Although Madam Pomfrey could see the concern on Nicole's face. She looked towards Alex to confirm, and he nodded.

Madam Pomfrey thought for a while before she said, "Well, your brother is a big klutz. I heard he fell off the stairs on his way to the dorms. Luckily, he fell in front of Professor Snape, and he brought him here. Otherwise, he would be wailing in pain all night, and no one would have known".

The look on the faces of the three girls was hard to define. They could not believe Madam Pomfrey's word. The boy who single-handedly beat the Gryffindor boys with brute strength fell of the stairs and ended up in infirmary? Nicole was the most astonished one. She has seen his brother from childhood, and he never came off as a careless guy. He was too lazy to be a klutz. So it was hard for her to digest what Madam Pomfrey said.

"Is he seriously hurt?" Daphne asked. They still had to believe what Madam Pomfrey said. There was no reason for her to lie to them.

"He is fine. He will be out of here by day after tomorrow".

"Brother, do you need anything? Your brush? Clothes? Or do you want me to bring you lunch?" Since Alex was going to stay here for a while, Nicole thought of helping him with a few things.

Hearing Nicole, Madam Pomfrey was dissatisfied, "We are not going to starve him. We will feed him. Now all of you scram. He needs to rest".

"Can't I stay a bit longer?" Nicole looked at her with pleading eyes.

But those puppy eyes had no effect on Madam Pomfrey, and she brutally rejected her, "No, you can't. None of you can".

"But---"

Seeing that there was no end to the discussion, Alex intervened, "I am fine. You all can go attend the classes".

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, now go. You all are already late for Professor McGonagall's class". Alex urged them to leave.

Reluctant to leave, Nicole and the others finally left.

"Thank you". Alex said to Madam Pomfrey.

"No need, Professor Snape asked me not to talk about it to anyone, and I am sure telling your sister won't do any good".

Alex just nodded and closed his eyes to rest.

* * * * *

In the corridor, Nicole was walking rather silently opposite to her usual cheerful behaviour. Seeing this, Daphne tried to divert her mind from her brother.

"I heard that you went to the Forbidden Forest for detention. Is that true?"

Hearing Daphne, Nicole finally looked towards her. The gloominess began to fade away, and excitement emerged on her face, "You won't believe what happened there---" and after that, until they reached the classroom, Nicole and Hermione told her what happened in the Forbidden Forest.

"What happened after that?" Daphne asked. Hearing them, she regretted missing out on such an exciting adventure.

"Let's go inside. We will tell you the rest later". Hermione said. They were already in front of the classroom.

Just as the three of them pushed open the door, they heard Professor McGonagall.

"Well, look who has decided to finally show up... I am sure you all got your schedule mentioning the time of the classes".

"Professor, we---"

"And you Miss Granger, I would have never expected this from you".

"Professor---"

"Ten points from Gryffindor and Five points from Slytherin. Now find your seats and get seated".

Though not happy with the single-sided punishment, since they were at fault this time, Nicole decided not to bicker with the professor.

* * * * *