By the time Alexander returned to the Ravenclaw common room, the place was buzzing.
Rumors had already spread.
Students whispered about a troll… professors running around… Gryffindors in trouble…
The moment he stepped in—
Cho spotted him instantly and waved him over.
Alexander grabbed the plate of food and sat beside her.
He started eating like nothing had happened.
After a few bites, he glanced at her and smirked.
"You're the best, you know that?"
Cho blinked, then blushed lightly.
Before she could reply, the question slipped out of her mouth.
"…Was there a troll?"
Alexander kept chewing.
"Yeah. But I beat it up."
He laughed casually.
Cho froze mid-breath.
She hadn't expected that answer.
Then her eyes widened.
"…Did you bring it into the castle?!"
Her voice rose just enough that nearby students turned to look.
Alexander waved his hand calmly.
"Relax. It wasn't me. Someone else brought it in."
He continued eating and said.
"I was just stretching my legs and taking a walk."
Then he explained everything—
Hearing Hermione crying.
Walking her to dinner.
The troll attack.
Harry and Ron showing up.
The professors arriving.
Cho listened silently the whole time.
Still stunned.
When he finished, she only asked one thing.
"…Are you okay?"
Alexander nodded while eating.
"Besides being hungry? I'm fine."
Then he grinned.
"Just wait. Peeves will come over soon."
As if summoned—
A sudden swirl of air passed through the common room.
Students startled.
Others hid their belongings.
Then Peeves appeared mid-air…
And bowed toward Alexander.
"Young Master Chen! That was splendid spell work!"
The room went silent.
"Taking down a troll at your age… you will be the next Dumbledore in the future!"
Alexander laughed.
"Thank you, Peeves. Did you get the photos?"
Peeves grinned wickedly.
"Of course."
He reached behind himself and pulled out a thick stack of wizard photos.
He handed them over proudly.
"Also, Young Master Chen… when will the next delivery come in?"
Alexander smiled knowingly.
"Soon. Once it comes in, I'll put it in the same spot as before."
Peeves clapped excitedly in mid-air.
"Wonderful! Goodnight, Young Master Chen!"
With that, he vanished through the ceiling.
Cho immediately grabbed the photos.
As she flipped through them—
Her eyes widened more and more.
Photos of Alexander's barrier.
The troll smashing against it.
The chained bindings.
The club being blasted back.
One even captured the exact moment the troll collapsed.
She slowly looked up at him.
"…You weren't lying."
Alexander raised a brow.
"Why would I lie to you?"
He puffed his chest slightly.
"I am an honest star student."
Cho laughed softly.
Alexander then opened his briefcase and pulled out enchantment potions.
"Help me enchant these. We'll turn them into enchanted photos."
Cho nodded.
Together, they worked quietly—
Infusing magic into the photos.
Animating the battle.
Replaying the troll's defeat in moving frames.
When they finished—
They sat shoulder-to-shoulder watching them.
The barrier shimmering.
Spells firing.
The troll falling again and again.
Around them, other Ravenclaw students peeked curiously—
Wanting to join—
But seeing the quiet mood between the couple, they stayed back.
Alexander noticed anyway.
Without looking away, he said:
"Go to bed. The twins will sell them tomorrow."
Students who weren't doing homework rushed off excitedly.
The common room grew quieter.
Alexander leaned back slightly.
"I will make copies for you. Go get some sleep."
Cho looked at him.
"You need your beauty sleep."
She blushed instantly.
"…You're one to talk."
Still, she carefully picked out her favorite enchanted photo—
The barrier scene.
The finishing blow.
Alexander watched quietly, smiling to himself.
Another chaotic night at Hogwarts.
He had turned a troll attack.
Into memories worth keeping.