The final factor contributing to the current atmosphere was the accumulation of unchecked negative emotions. Students who clashed with those from other houses often redirected their frustration toward their own housemates. Naturally, no one enjoyed being the target of such displaced anger.
Resentment and distrust had poisoned the air, pushing some relationships within the house toward open hostility. It was no wonder Snape had such a headache. He spent little time in the common room these days, but he knew that if he didn't intervene, Slytherin would likely fracture beyond repair within a year or two. This was why he had turned to Alan, hoping the young wizard could resolve a situation he had indirectly helped create.
"I have the measure of it now," Alan said, closing his notebook and rising from his desk. "Solving this will require a strong remedy. I only hope our Head of House has the stomach for my methods next term."
Alan composed himself and stepped out of the dormitory. Today was the end-of-year feast for his fourth year; another school year had slipped by almost without him noticing.
Upon arriving at the Great Hall, Alan observed his housemates. On the surface, they chatted happily, making it nearly impossible for an outsider to spot the rot beneath. Only those within Slytherin knew that these students spoke only to their immediate circles, utterly ignoring anyone else wearing the green and silver.
Alan finished his feast amidst this strangely segmented atmosphere. Ravenclaw had secured the House Cup once again, while Slytherin remained anchored in third place. His housemates showed no reaction, clearly accustomed to the loss. They had simply given up; as long as Gryffindor was at the bottom, they considered the year a marginal success. They accepted the outcome with a stoic, almost defiant apathy. Some even cast triumphant looks at the Gryffindor table, as if being second-to-last was a mark of superiority.
Watching them, Alan felt a sense of absurdity. Since when did the second-to-last have the right to mock the last? It felt like a scene from a piece of magical realism.
He glanced at Vivian, who was currently working her way through a massive chicken leg. "Hey, Vivian, that's your sixth one. Are you even breathing between bites?"
Ever since she and Charles had started dating, she had completely abandoned her diet, eating and drinking with reckless abandon and ignoring Alan's attempts to monitor her health. *I'll have to find some actual work for her next year,* Alan thought, *or she'll eat herself into an early grave.*
Following the ceremony, Alan boarded the Hogwarts Express the next morning. This time he wasn't alone; he brought Kiki and Hog with him. Kiki, having recognized Alan as her master, followed him without question, while Hog remained devoted to his benefactor. It was fortunate that Alan now had his own property in Diagon Alley, or he would have had nowhere to house them.
Back at No. 277, Alan spent the afternoon converted the second bedroom on the third floor into quarters for Kiki and Hog. His own bedroom was spacious enough to include a study, and he had already moved his research facilities to the basement.
By clearing out the underground storage, he had gained enough space to establish dedicated experimental zones. He partitioned the area into two laboratories with distinct functions.
The former storage area was now a spell-research lab. He had sealed it off from the corridor to create a private, rectangular space filled with bookshelves and a massive desk. He had also invested a small fortune in a high-end rune workbench. To one side, he constructed a vertical shooting range, allowing him to practice and test new spells in a controlled environment.
The second room, originally a bedroom, was smaller but still offered ample space for his alchemy and potions work. He equipped it with multiple workbenches, precision scales, beakers, and various tools. Semi-finished alchemical devices were scattered across the surfaces. He kept a bed in the corner for those nights when his research ran late. He also installed a complex runic system for ventilation and climate control. Combined with the existing protective and energy-gathering enchantments, this room served as the central hub for the building's magical infrastructure.
To support his upcoming projects, Alan purchased a massive amount of equipment and supplies. Between his local purchases and the rare materials Karkaroff had secretly sent from overseas, his wealth was being taxed heavily. Last summer, he had acquired over fifteen thousand Galleons, but conducting high-level research was an expensive pursuit.
The top-tier rune workbench alone had cost 3,000 Galleons. Such an item wasn't available in Britain; he'd had to ask Professor Bones to facilitate the purchase from Cairo. Between that and his basic supplies, he had already spent 5,000 Galleons this year. If he didn't find a new source of income, he would be broke by graduation.
He wasn't just supporting himself anymore; Kiki and Hog required food and specialized gear, and several major research projects were waiting for funding.
First, there was memory magic. He hadn't forgotten his promise to Neville, but it was a complex field where he lacked data. Then there was the development of the Wild Lightning rune, which was his biggest expense. Testing conductive materials and measuring power loss consumed a staggering amount of resources. Other costs included his work on control runes, bloodline magic, and his ongoing physical training studies. Every flash of inspiration required verification, and in the world of high magic, verification always came with a price tag.