Dinner that evening was louder than usual.
The Great Hall buzzed with conversation, but there was only one topic anyone seemed interested in—
The Potions incident.
Alexander Chen barely reacted as he took his seat at the Ravenclaw table, calmly cutting into his food while whispers drifted from every direction.
"…heard he accused Snape in front of everyone…"
"…walked out holding Cho's hand…"
"…Slytherin cauldron exploded right after…"
But the loudest voices by far came from the Gryffindor table.
Specifically—
Fred and George Weasley.
"—I'm telling you, Snape is racist!" Fred declared loudly, standing halfway on the bench.
George nodded beside him with equal conviction.
"Absolutely. Been targeting us for years."
"Ever since we got here!"
Fred pointed dramatically at his own head.
"Red hair. That's the reason."
George gasped theatrically. "You're right. Hair discrimination!"
A few Gryffindors snorted with laughter.
Fred continued, now trying to rally the hall.
"Think about it! First the twins—now Chen! Who's next?!"
George raised a fist.
"Stand up against Potion prejudice!"
Someone clapped sarcastically.
Others joined in just for the entertainment.
Alexander didn't even look up.
He took another bite of food, completely unbothered.
Cho, sitting beside him, glanced between him and the twins.
"…You're really just going to ignore that?"
Alexander swallowed calmly.
"Mm."
"That's it?"
"They're having fun."
Cho blinked. "…You started it."
Alexander smirked faintly.
"And they're finishing it."
Later that night—
Detention.
Again.
Professor McGonagall's office was quiet except for the sound of parchment shuffling.
Alexander sat at the side desk, sorting stacks of paperwork with precise efficiency.
Quills aligned.
Folders stacked.
Labels facing the same direction.
McGonagall watched him for a moment before speaking.
"Mr. Chen."
"Yes, Professor."
Her tone was measured.
"I believe we need to discuss your… accusation."
Alexander didn't look up.
"Which one?"
Her lips thinned slightly.
"Professor Snape being racist."
Alexander placed another finished stack aside.
"Well, Professor—"
He turned his head calmly.
"Can a professor not be racist?"
McGonagall inhaled slowly, patience firmly in place.
"Severus Snape is many things. Harsh. Severe. Intimidating."
She folded her hands.
"But he is not racist."
Alexander tilted his head.
"With respect, Professor, the facts suggest otherwise."
Her brow lifted.
"Oh?"
"He targets specific students repeatedly."
"Punishes disproportionately."
"Shows favoritism toward his own house."
He shrugged lightly.
"From a logical standpoint, bias exists."
McGonagall sighed softly.
"Bias and racism are not the same, Mr. Chen."
Alexander returned to sorting papers.
"Still under investigation then."
"Mr. Chen."
He looked up again.
"Yes?"
"You must understand the weight of your words. Accusing a professor of racism is serious."
Alexander nodded once.
"Understood."
But his expression said otherwise.
McGonagall studied him for a long moment before continuing her usual detention lecture—
Patience.
Conduct.
Responsibility.
How powerful wizards carried themselves with dignity.
Alexander didn't argue tonight.
He simply listened while organizing shelves, aligning books, and restoring order to the office.
His silence made McGonagall believe the lesson was sinking in.
It wasn't.
When detention ended, he stepped back into the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts.
The castle was quiet.
Peaceful.
Perfect.
Alexander stretched slightly.
"Now then…"
Time for real entertainment.
He slipped into the shadows of the hallway, footsteps silent as he resumed mapping routes, staircases, portraits, and hidden passages.
A faint meow echoed behind him.
He didn't even turn.
"Silencio."
Mrs. Norris's mouth kept moving—
But no sound came out.
Alexander grinned and broke into a light run.
From down the hall—
"Mrs. Norris?! Where are you, you mangy menace?!"
Filch's voice.
Right on cue.
Alexander ducked behind a statue, slipping through a side corridor he'd mapped two nights prior.
Footsteps passed.
Filch muttering.
Mrs. Norris was trotting beside him in silent outrage.
Alexander covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
Hide-and-seek continued deep into the night—
Through stairwells.
Behind armor statues.
Across moving corridors.
By the time dawn's light began creeping through the castle windows—
Alexander was already heading back toward his dorms.
Another section of Hogwarts mapped.
Another night well spent.
And tomorrow?
More chaos awaited.