Just like that—
The very next morning at breakfast, the announcement came.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood from the High Table, smiling calmly as always.
"With great pleasure, I announce the opening of a new Dueling Club. It will be led by Mr. Alexander Chen, with Professor Flitwick overseeing the club."
The Great Hall fell silent.
Dumbledore then sat down.
The entire Great Hall exploded into loud chatter.
At the Ravenclaw table, Cho turned her head toward Alexander.
"…Why didn't you tell me?!"
Alexander kept eating.
"I thought it was a dream."
He sighed deeply.
"Now it's real."
Cho burst out laughing.
The entire Ravenclaw table followed.
Other houses began talking loudly.
Some impressed.
Some shocked.
Some jealous.
The Weasley twins stopped selling their "Turkey War" enchanted photos mid-transaction.
They sprinted over like hunting dogs.
"You're in charge?!" Fred shouted.
"That's brilliant!" George added. "More practice partners for us!"
They kept talking excitedly.
Cho joined in teasing him.
Alexander, meanwhile, ate lifelessly.
As if his soul had left his body.
Classes passed in a blur.
Cho tried to cheer him up.
But he had already "given up on life."
At least—
Until dinner.
During dinner, his energy suddenly returned.
Cho noticed immediately.
"What changed?"
Alexander smirked slightly.
"…The Troll."
He paused.
"And the snake next year."
Cho blinked.
She decided not to ask.
After dinner—
A quick bathroom break.
Then he headed to the Great Hall.
The hall had been cleared.
Tables and chairs were pushed aside.
An open space in the center.
Professor McGonagall herself was present, helping with Transfiguration.
With elegant wandwork, she raised a proper dueling stage from the floor.
Students gathered around excitedly.
Alexander wanted to make an entrance.
So he cast a levitation spell—
His body floated upward.
Robes fluttering slightly.
He descended slowly—
Landing perfectly at the center of the stage.
Mysterious.
Dramatic.
The crowd murmured in awe.
He scanned the audience.
The majority were First Years.
Only a few Slytherins.
About half the Second Years.
A handful of upperclassmen.
Alexander didn't care.
He began anyway.
"For today, we start simple. Dueling posture. Stance. Awareness."
He called two volunteers up.
Cho and Fred.
The crowd immediately became lively.
Alexander demonstrated the proper stance first.
Foot placement.
Wand positioning.
Shield timing.
Then he stepped back.
"Only Protego and Expelliarmus. Nothing else."
They nodded.
The duel began.
They went back and forth.
Casting the spells.
Looked like a tie until Fred smirked.
He started taunting Cho.
"Careful, Cho. Don't embarrass your boyfriend."
Students laughed.
He kept going.
"Wouldn't want lovebirds fighting, right?"
Cho's eyes narrowed.
Then—
She spoke loudly.
"Yes. Alex and I are the perfect lovebirds."
The hall froze.
Fred froze harder.
Shock hit him so hard—
He forgot to cast Protego.
"Expelliarmus!"
His wand flew out of his hand.
Alexander stepped in instantly.
"Winner — Cho Chang."
Cheers erupted.
Cho's face turned bright red.
She immediately jumped off the stage—
And hid among the Ravenclaw girls.
Alexander laughed lightly.
Then turned back to the crowd.
He began explaining.
"You all just saw something important."
He gestured toward Fred.
"Trash talking works. It throws opponents off guard."
Students nodded.
"But remember — dueling is a sport between classmates."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"Do not be hateful or cruel."
He paused.
"…Save that for your enemies."
A few students gulped.
Then he smiled casually again.
"But here — we're all Hogwarts students. Friends. Classmates."
The crowd clapped.
Alexander began organizing groups.
First Years separated from older students.
Upperclassmen paired up evenly.
Alexander let the upperclassmen duel.
And took the first years away.