The Alexander Chroniclers Year 1: the Missing Year.

Chapter Two: Letters from friends

…

Alex hated this. He hated being sick. His friends were at Hogwarts enjoying themselves, and he was suck in a hospital. Alex had gotten worse, he had begun vomiting again, and his body hurt.

It had now been a week since school year had begun. It had started as bad day. Alex had managed to throw up all of his breakfast, and healer Sheppard had decided to give him even more potions.

"Please no more potions," Alex complained weakly as he saw healer Sheppard.

"No, it is good news Alexander." Sheppard said as he hold up a small letter. "It is a letter from one of your friends."

Alex gave a small smile, "g-great."

Sheppard smiled and gave Alex his letter before leaving.

The letter was from Daphne.

Hallo Alex

I hope that you are feeling better.

Blaise and I have decided to take turns writing you some letters, and I wanted to go first.

Hogwarts is really a beautiful sight and the castle is truly amazing. Even though everything is great, it would of course be even greater if you were here with us. The castle is huge, and it is hard to find the right classrooms, but the older students are very helpful.

The sorting went fine. Both Blaise, Tracey Davis (a girl I met on the train), and I was sorted into Slytherin. And guess what. Harry Potter is in our year. He was of course sorted in Gryffindor. To be honest I had expected a bit more for him, and I certainly expected him to be taller and less skinny.

The professors here seems nice. Professor Snape is the head of my house, and teaches potions. He is very strict, and towards the Gryffindor and especially Harry Potter, he is just cruel.

Then there is Professor McGonagall, she is the transfiguration teacher and very strict as well. However, even though she is the head of Gryffindor, she doesn´t favour them.

Flitwicik is the charms professor, and head of Ravenclaw. So far, he is my favourite professor. Then there is Professor Sprout, the head of the Hufflepuff house and Herbology teacher. Professor Binns is a ghost that teaches history. His lessons are, well you are not missing anything there. Astronomy are taught by Professor Sinistra, her lessons is nice enough.

Our defence professor is weird though. He his new to the job. Apparently, the professors in that subject only last a year before they resign; there is rumours that the position is cursed. Anyway, his lessons are very hard to understand because he keeps shuttering. I hope it is only nerves and he will get better. Otherwise, it will be very hard to lean this subject.

Anyway, Hogwarts is great, and I can´t wait until you are here as well. One thing you really should look forward to is the bout ride to the castle. It is just so beautiful.

Something weird happened at our first day. I asked some of the older students, and they didn´t understood it either. There is a corridor there is forbidden to the students unless and I am quoting Dumbledore "unless they will die a painful death." The weird part is, it wasn´t closed of the last year. However, I guess Dumbledore knows what he is doing.

So right, know I am working on a potions essay. It isn´t that hard, but Snape expects a lot from us.

That is it for now.

Get well soon

Love

Daphne

Alex smiled a bit, it wasn´t really a surprise that Daphne had been sorted in Slytherin. The house was perfect for her. Hopefully, he would join her in that house next year. It was also interesting that Harry Potter now was at Hogwarts. Alex knew of course all about the boy-who-lived story, but they was properly only stories.

…

Things at the hospital was pretty boring. Alex still felt terrible, but as Halloween came closer, he was starting to feel a tiny bit better. That meant he could slowly begin his studies. It was slow because it was still hard for him to focus, but at least he had something to do. Alex still had seizures were he could cough and vomit, but it was less frequent.

A few day after Halloween Alex received another letter.

This time it was from Blaise.

Hey mate

I hope you are feeling better.

Halloween here at Hogwarts is great. The castle is really awesome. There is giant pumpkins flying around in the castle and everything.

Oh and something great happen. Draco Malfoy wanted to show off doing our flying lesson and wanted to humiliate Neville Longbottom, who had gotten hurt doing the lesson. Anyway, the Malfoy jerk wanted to destroy his remmerball. So Harry Potter stepped in and manged to catch the ball in midthorw. Professor McGonagall caught him in the act, but instead of being punished, Potter was named seeker for the Gryffindor Qudditch team. Malfoy was of course pissed. So he challenged Potter to a wizard duel. Malfoy was of course too much of a coward to face the boy-who-lived in actual duel, so he instead ratted him out trying to get him expelled. It didn´t work. Anyway something strange happened at Halloween feast, I don´t know if you heard about it, but a mountain troll entered the school. Luckily, it was during the feast, so most of us was in the castle. However, a girl named Hermione Ganger was almost killed by it, but Potter and his sidekick Ron Weasely saved her.

See you soon

Blaise

It was a bit weird that a troll had entered the castle. However it sounded like that Harry Potter was the hero anyone said he were. Still a troll in the Hogwarts it sounded dangerous, but it was properly nothing; Hogwarts was the safest place in England after all.

…

As time passed Alex were really starting to feel better, but healer Sheppard still kept him in the hospital to make sure. Luckily, he could focus more on his schoolwork.

As Christmas grew nearer, Alex was almost cured. He had had a few more letters from Daphne and Blaise both telling him about their lives at Hogwarts. Yet now as he neared the Christmas holiday, he hadn´t heard much for them. Not that Alex was mad. They were properly busy with the school. Still Alex couldn't help to feel a bit jealous; Hogwarts was supposed to be really special during Christmas. Both Daphne and Blaise had told him that they wanted to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays. So he had to wait to see them until the summer.

"Do you think I can come home before Christmas?" Alex asked as Healer Sheppard was doing his daily rounds.

Sheppard paused as he heard Alex´s question. "I am afraid not. We still need to have you here for some check-ups."

Alex signed, "but it is so boring here. Beside I am almost cured now."

"I know. And I know that you are feeling a lot better then you did in September." Sheppard stated. "However, we still need to make sure that you are completely healthy."

Alex signed again. "I know, but Christmas in the hospital."'

Sheppard laughed. "Yes, it is different than the ones at home. Yet the Christmases here are nice as well."

Alex nodded, and smiled a bit. "I guess. I just wished that I was someplace else."

"Don´t worry, I promise that I will do my best so you will have a nice Christmas at our little hospital.

...

It was Christmas day, and it was pretty good. The hospital was nicely decorated and Alex´s mother and grandfather showed up to spend the day with him. Alex really enjoyed himself, and looked forward to the Christmas dinner he would have at the hospital. However, at 11 AM something great happened. The door open and Alex got a huge grin on his face as he saw who entered. It was Daphne and Blaise.

"Hey Alex," Blaise said.

"Daphne? Blaise? What are you guys doing here? I thought you was supposed to spend the Christmas holidays at Hogwarts."

"Well, we have six more years at Hogwarts where we can spend the Christmas holidays. So we both thought that we could wait so we can experience our first Hogwarts Christmas together." Daphne explained.

Alex´s eyes actually began to tear a bit up at that comment. "Don´t start to cry on us." Blaise said. "We were also feeling a bit homesick and wanted to see our parents."

Alex dried his eyes, "I am not crying. I am just happy to see you guys."

Daphne smiled, "we have missed you too. Hogwarts is great, but it would be even greater if you were there."

Alex smiled as his two friends pull two chairs towards Alex´s bed, and begun telling him of Hogwarts.

…

Blaise and Daphne stayed with Alex until they had to leave for their Christmas dinner with their families, during that time they talked, joked and exchanged presents. Alex also found that the Christmas dinner was pretty enjoyable. His mother and grandfather was there as well were healer Sheppard, some other healers and patients of the hospital and their relatives. Not that there was many kids Alex could talk to.

In the first weeks of January healer Sheppard came with good news. Sheppard and the other healers were now sure that Alex would be complete healthy. So now, they wanted to start to send him home.

"Really I can come home?" Alex asked feeling very excited.

"Yes," Sheppard said. "You should be home in February. Although you still have to take your potions okay. However I see no reason that you that you can´t do that at home."

…

It was great being home, being in his own bedroom. Alex were now working really hard with his school work so he wouldn't be behind when he began his second year. Alex´s tutors were generally pleased with him. Alex had manged to master a good number of spells and to complete a good number of potions. It was hard work, but Alex enjoyed it. Alex liked his tutors. Some of them were retried Hogwarts professors and some were hoping to take up the position at some point. The one Alex liked the most was Horace Slughorn; he had taught Alex´s mother in potions when she had been a Hogwarts student. He was teaching Alex in that subject as well.

Alex of course continued to exchange letters with his friends.

Hey Alex

Our exams are coming closer. They are just nine weeks. I know I have studied, but I can´t help being a bit nervous about them. Are you worried about yours?

Anyway, things here at Hogwarts are still great. Malfoy got detention and have lost our house a lot of house points. The Gryffindors have also lost points; so many that they lost their lead in the house cup and now are in the last place.

Blaise was gleeful about it, since Malfoy also got detention because he tried getting the Gryffindors in trouble.

It is actually a funny story. Two of the Gryffindors (Harry Potter and a girl named Hermione Ganger) got in trouble, because they tried smuggling a baby Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon out of the castle. Apparently, the Hogwarts gamekeeper had hid the dragon in his hut and wanted to adopt it. It is pretty crazy. I mean a dragon at the school. It could have been dangerous for us students. Anyway, Malfoy and the Gryffindors detentions was in the Forbidden Forest. Malfoy was very humble that night.

How are it going with your studies? Are your teachers any good? I could imagine that Slughorn must be a great teacher and I am somewhat jealous that you have the chance of being taught by him.

Otherwise am I just keeping busy with my studies. I am on my way to study charms with Susan Bones, and Tracey Davis, so I better get going.

See you soon

Love

Daphne

Alex smiled a bit; the exams meant there wasn´t that long until the Hogwarts year ended. Alex himself was also a bit busy. He would have his exam month later than the others would, and since he far behind, he had a lot to catch up on. However, it sounded like Harry Potter had lot of adventures. Alex actually thought it sounded pretty exciting. Just think he had seen a baby Norwegian Ridgeback up close. How many kids had done that?

The days quickly turned to weeks and before Alex knew it; his friends would be coming home. Alex had really wanted to be there at King´s Cross to greet them, but his mother wouldn't let him. Apparently, she wanted him to study all the time. Alex was a bit annoyed, he hadn´t seen them since Christmas. So why couldn't he see them now. Alex had said that to his mother, but she had told him that he could wait until his exams was finished, which was a week away or he could be grounded the whole summer. Parents! They always had ultimatums.

Yet Alex did as his mother had told him to do. It was properly for the best.

Because when he was woken up by his mother a little week later he was very nervous. This was it. His exams were would be held over the next three days. He had to pass them otherwise, he had to retake the first year. He would still be at Hogwarts of course, but not with his friends.

"But what if I fail." Alex asked as he walked out of the Ministry with his mother, just having finished the last exam.

"You won´t fail. Your tutors have said that you were ready."

"Yes, but what if they are wrong?"

Cyrina stopped and looked at her son. "They aren´t. I am sure of it. Look you have gotten good grades on your assignments, and the exams will be the same. So just stop worrying."

"I know but-"

"No buts. Beside I have a surprise for you."

"What?"

Cyrina smiled, "wait and see."

…

The surprise was a trip to the Greengrass manor. Both Daphne and Blaise was there as Alex entered the hall. "Hey guys." Alex greeted.

"Hey man," Blaise, said giving Alex a high five while Daphne just hugged him.

"So did you like the last days of Hogwarts?" Alex asked as he sat down with his two friends.

"It was nice, but Slytherin lost the house cup." Daphne said sounding a bit annoyed.

"What? I thought Slytherin had a good lead."

"We did," Blaise said. "We did right up to the end, but then Dumbledore gave Gryffindor so many points so they won."

"It sounds really unfair." Both Blaise and Daphne nodded. "But why did he do it?"

"Well we don´t really know that much, but apparently Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Ganger saved the Philosopher's Stone from a Hogwarts professor ." Daphne explained.

"Wait what?"

"You heard me. Apparently, the Philosopher's Stone had been hidden at Hogwarts. Professor Quirrell tried to steal it and the golden trio stopped him. "

"Golden trio?"

"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Ganger." Blaise explained. "It is what we call them."

"Yes, but they are first years! How did they stop a Professor?"

"We don´t know." Daphne explained. "We just don´t know what the stone was protected by some obstacles and the golden trio manged to get though them and stop Quirrell from getting the stone."

"So Quirrell was arrested?" Alex asked.

Blaise shocked his heard. "No, uh he died. The rumour is that Harry Potter killed him."

Alex looked at the dark skinned boy. "Wait Potter killed a teacher?"

"It was by accident." Blaise said quickly.

"Uh but still. I mean what happened?"

"We don´t really know. Just that Quirrell died trying to get the stone." Daphne explained. "Anyway Dumbledore gave them all points for the efforts during the end of term feast, and along with the points he gave Neville Longbottom made the Gryffindor house win."

"It was so unfair," Blaise, added making Daphne nod.

"Yeah" Daphne agreed, "and it was all because of Potter."

Alex was silent for a few seconds as he looked at his two friends, both of them looked disappointed, annoyed and slightly angry. "Well if you ask me then they did deserve the points. I mean they did saved the school. Sure Dumbledore could have given them the points earlier, so you guys hadn´t thought that you had won. However that isn´t Potters fault."

"I suppose you are right." Daphne said, "But still we nearly won."

"Hey next year I can help." Alex said.

"I am not sure that will be good," Blaise said. "You just end up making Slytherin lose points."

All three children laughed at that.

….

Story end.

I know it was a short story, but I promise that book two will be longer. Honestly I hadn´t really any good idea for what Alex could do in year one that is why I originally decided to skip it. However then I got the idea of Alex getting sick, and I decided to it could be a cool plot to follow. I hoped you all have enjoyed and I expect to have the first chapter of book 2 ready later this week.

Thanks to those who have reviewed and added my story to thier faveorit list. I hope you will contiune to follow my story.