While Professor Flitwick moved to assist the upperclassmen, guiding stances, correcting wand angles, and occasionally demonstrating advanced shield timing.
Alexander turned his attention elsewhere.
The First Years.
He gathered them away from the dueling stage.
Some looked excited.
Some were nervous.
Some were curious.
Alexander crossed his arms.
"For now, Protego and Expelliarmus are too advanced for you."
The reaction was immediate.
Groans.
Complaints.
Whispers of disappointment.
Ron raised his hand, didn't even wait to be called on.
"Why? They look like they're having fun!"
He pointed toward the older students dueling with flashes of light and shield bursts.
Alexander stared at him for a moment.
"…Fine."
He beckoned.
"Come here, Ron."
Ron grinned confidently and stepped forward.
Alexander spoke calmly.
"You cast Lumos. I'll cast Nox. Protect your light."
Ron smirked.
"Easy."
He raised his wand.
"Lumos!"
The tip lit up brightly.
Ron smiled proudly—
"Nox."
Alexander's voice came instantly.
Ron's light vanished.
He blinked.
Stunned.
Alexander continued.
"Now switch. I cast Lumos. You cast Nox."
He raised his wand.
"Lumos."
Light flared.
Ron immediately fired back—
"Nox!"
But Alexander had already moved.
The spell missed.
Ron chased him.
Again.
"Nox!"
Miss.
Again.
"Nox!"
Miss.
For a full minute, Ron ran around trying to extinguish the light while Alexander casually dodged.
The First Years started laughing.
Even Harry was grinning.
Finally, Alexander stopped.
Ron was breathing harder now.
Alexander addressed the group.
"This is a game Ravenclaw students created last year."
He gestured between them.
"You learn magic control… while dodging at the same time."
Understanding dawned on their faces.
Alexander clapped once.
"Pair up. One casts Lumos. The other tries to remove it with Nox."
Soon—
The Great Hall was filled with a different kind of activity.
No loud shield blasts.
No wand disarms.
Instead—
Running.
Dodging.
Laughing.
Flashes of small lights flickering on and off.
Alexander walked among them, casually giving pointers.
"Don't wave your wand wildly. Aim."
"Predict movement, not where they are, but where they'll be."
"Control your breathing. Magic follows rhythm."
Some students improved quickly.
Others struggled—but were clearly having fun.
He glanced over at the upperclassmen.
They were deep in duels.
Shield clashes.
Disarms.
Competitive energy.
Seeing that they were fine under Professor Flitwick's guidance.
Alexander stayed with the First Years.
By the end of the session, the younger students were tired.
But all had big smiles on their faces.
Alexander gathered them again for a short lecture.
"Magic isn't just power," he said.
"It's control."
He paced slowly.
"If you can't manage small spells under pressure, you won't manage large ones in danger."
The students listened carefully.
"Today was foundation work. Boring to some of you—"
He looked directly at Ron.
"—but necessary."
A few students laughed.
Ron scratched his head sheepishly.
Alexander finished with practical advice.
Breathing control.
Wand grip relaxation.
Focus exercises.
Then he clapped once more.
"That's it for tonight. Thank you for coming. It's bedtime."
Some students thanked him enthusiastically.
Others complained—
"Just a little longer!"
"Five more minutes!"
Alexander waved them off.
"Sleep improves magic retention. Go."
They reluctantly left the Great Hall.
As they walked back toward their dormitories—
Harry and Ron were talking excitedly.
"I didn't know magic could be this fun," Ron admitted.
"And tiring," Harry added.
Hermione walked beside them.
She nodded thoughtfully.
"It's actually very impressive… a Second Year running a dueling club."
They all looked back briefly toward the hall.
Ron said it first.
"…He really is amazing."
Harry nodded.
"Yeah."
Hermione adjusted her robe.
"He deserves to be a star student."
For once—
All three agreed.