The corridor slowly emptied as the students returned to their dormitories.
Only a few people remained beneath the torchlight of the ancient hallway inside Hogwarts.
The professors stepped closer to examine the scene.
At the center stood Filch, clutching his stiff cat with trembling hands.
Dumbledore walked forward calmly and examined Mrs. Norris carefully.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Argus," he said gently.
"She is not dead."
Filch froze.
Dumbledore continued.
"She has only been petrified."
Filch's shoulders dropped with visible relief.
"My cat…" he muttered, clutching her closer.
A cheerful voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"Ah! Too bad I wasn't here earlier!"
Everyone turned to see Lockhart striking a dramatic pose.
"I knew the exact counter-curse that would have spared her," Lockhart said confidently.
The professors all looked at him.
Every single one of them.
The expressions were identical.
A very clear stop lying look.
Lockhart awkwardly cleared his throat.
Dumbledore calmly returned his attention to Filch.
"Argus," he said kindly.
"Tell me what happened."
Filch pointed a shaking finger toward Harry.
"It was Potter!" Filch shouted.
"He did it!"
He pointed angrily at the writing on the wall.
"Look at what he wrote!"
Before Harry could defend himself—
Alexander coughed lightly.
"Ahem."
Everyone turned toward him.
"I can explain," Alexander said calmly.
Dumbledore gave a small nod.
"Go ahead, Mr. Chen."
Alexander placed his hands behind his back and spoke casually.
"As a star student," he began, "I was doing some last-minute setup for the Halloween decorations."
Several professors already looked tired of hearing that phrase.
Alexander continued.
"When I noticed several spiders moving in the same direction."
"I followed them, and they led me down this corridor."
He gestured toward the wall.
"I was only slightly behind Mr. Potter and his friends."
"We all basically saw it together."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.
Filch, however, was still furious.
"My cat!" Filch cried.
"Mrs. Norris has been petrified!"
"I demand to see someone punished!"
Dumbledore raised a calming hand.
"Professor Sprout currently has Mandrakes growing in the greenhouse," he explained.
"With them, we will soon be able to make a Restorative Draught."
He looked at everyone present.
"Until then, I must recommend that everyone be extremely cautious and careful."
Alexander raised his finger.
"Umm… excuse me, Headmaster."
Dumbledore turned.
"Yes, Mr. Chen?"
Alexander shrugged slightly.
"We can cure Mrs. Norris right now if you want."
Silence filled the corridor.
Everyone stared at him with confusion.
Snape narrowed his eyes.
"You have a Restorative Draught?"
Alexander nodded casually.
"Well… yes."
"But it's in my room."
Snape crossed his arms.
"And how exactly did you obtain such a potion?!"
Alexander laughed lightly.
"Professor Snape," he said.
"You should know by now…"
"Never underestimate me."
He started walking away.
"I'll meet everyone at the Hospital Wing."
"I just need to run back to my room first."
Dumbledore looked amused, and he turned toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"You three may return to your dormitories."
They nodded quickly and hurried away.
Dumbledore then looked back toward Alexander's retreating figure.
"Mr. Chen," he said calmly.
"Please retrieve the potion."
"We will meet you in the Hospital Wing."
Alexander nodded and disappeared down the corridor.
After he left, Snape folded his arms.
"Do you truly believe he has one?" he asked.
Nearby, Flitwick smiled.
"Well," Flitwick said.
"Mr. Chen does have a habit of surprising us."
"As the head of his house, I hear many students praise him for being helpful."
"He truly is an amazing student."
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
Then he turned to Filch.
"Argus," he said kindly.
"Bring Mrs. Norris."
"We will head to the Hospital Wing."
Filch clutched his petrified cat carefully.
And the professors began walking down the corridor.
Curious to see if Alexander would once again accomplish the impossible.