To Heal is to Fight

As time passed, it became increasingly evident to those around him that Alex relished his moments in the potions lab alongside Lily. Their shared enthusiasm for the subject had grown undeniable, culminating in Lily's decision to pursue an internship opportunity. In the wake of this revelation, Alexander's voice piped up, filled with a tinge of regret for not speaking up sooner, as Robert casually placed the application file on the counter. "You know, I could apply as well," Alexander interjected, his thoughts lingering on the missed opportunity. With a hint of longing, he added, "I am without any truly productive plans for the upcoming summer."

Lily listened with the sharpness of interest despite her typical hesitation to show enthusiasm outright. She was muted in her response, measured, but there was that unmistakable glimmer of keenness that betrayed her.

The fact that she wouldn’t just be doing apprentice work was astounding. She’d have been happy with a role indexing beakers and restocking ingredients, but to work alongside potioneers working on rare, difficult, and new potions was a dream she wouldn’t have even considered possible at her age. Not with her recent record.

“This sounds great.”

She glanced towards Alex as he chimed in, and she gave a firm nod to Robert. “Two applications please.”

"Certainly," Robert said, getting another application out and handing it to Alex. "Well, it certainly would be productive, that's for sure. And, I presume that you could both find someone..." he cast a fleeting glance at Teddy and then looked back at Lily and Alex, "who could drop me a note on your behalf attesting to your enthusiasm for and accuracy in potions. One should suffice, I should think. You're welcome to post them back to me or, if you complete them before you leave, you could simply drop them off with my secretary up on the fifth floor. Either way is fine. Now, providing you do get the positions, when do you think you could start?"

Robert was already planning on hiring them. Both Alex and Lily were being pretty transparent about their love of potions, and that gave them both certainly a leg up on Earl. If he had known them at that point well enough to tease them just a trifle, he'd have insisted they start work, like, yesterday, to rescue him from Earl. And, quite honestly, as much as Earl hated even attempting to brew a potion, he believed the inept young trainee wasn't going to be at all disappointed in being re-assigned to count glass potions bottles or to finding the right sized corks to go in said bottles.

Alexander eagerly accepted the application that was handed to him, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. The prospect it held was undeniably enticing. "How about the first Monday after school is out?" he suggested, contemplating the possibilities for himself. Deep down, he knew his parents wouldn't even notice his absence, let alone question his whereabouts after disembarking from the Hogwarts Express. He could easily retreat to the comforting refuge of the Leaky Cauldron, where he could find solace and freedom. Alternatively, he could conform to societal expectations and return home, albeit without any objection from his indifferent parents. As he pondered his choices, a nonchalant shrug escaped him, revealing the indifferent resignation that had settled within his soul. "My parents wouldn't mind."