Silver took a deep breath.
"Last night… After the Young Master went to sleep, nothing happened for a long time."
Alexander nodded.
"Then a rat came."
"A rat?" Alexander asked.
"Yes," Silver said. "It came carrying the black diary."
"It climbed onto the desk and dropped the diary there."
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And then?"
Silver continued.
"Before the rat left… something came out of the diary."
Alexander leaned forward slightly.
"Something?"
Silver nodded.
"A ghost."
Alexander immediately asked, "Did you see who the ghost was?"
Silver thought for a moment.
"It looked like a boy."
"Young… But older than Young Master."
Alexander nodded slowly.
"Okay. I understand."
He opened his briefcase and gestured toward it.
"You did well. Go ahead and get some rest."
Silver shook her head quickly.
"I'm not tired!"
Alexander chuckled.
"Well, get some rest anyway."
"Thank you for helping me."
Silver's eyes sparkled with happiness.
"Anything for you, Young Master!"
She stepped inside the briefcase and disappeared.
Alexander sat alone in the quiet classroom, deep in thought.
A rat carrying the diary…
That rat is probably Peter Pettigrew.
He leaned back in his chair.
And the ghost… it was probably Tom.
Alexander rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
But how did he become a ghost-like form?
Was it because I kept feeding the diary unicorn blood?
He paused.
Yes… that could be it.
The diary must be absorbing magical energy.
Alexander sighed.
There are limits to what Tom can do… but he is definitely getting stronger.
I need to be careful from now on.
He tapped the table slowly.
I still need Tom's help.
But if things get out of control…
I'll just hand the diary toDumbledore.
Alexander stood up and dusted himself off.
"Alright, problem solved... time for class."
He started to walk, then paused.
"Wait."
"Today is Thursday."
He groaned.
"Which means nap time."
Alexander rubbed his eyes.
"I'm not even tired."
He sighed.
"Stupid Tom ruining my sleep schedule."
Alexander walked into Hogwarts's History of Magic classroom and sat beside Cho.
Cho was already studying for other classes.
Alexander opened his Ancient Runes textbook and began reading.
After a while, the bell rang, and class was over.
They headed to their next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Inside the classroom, Alexander immediately opened his Ancient Runes notes again.
Lockhart had started lecturing about trolls.
Suddenly, a Ravenclaw student raised his hand.
"Professor, that's not how you fight a troll."
Lockhart blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"All you need to do is cast Stupefy, and they get stunned."
"Did you not read my book Travels with Trolls?"
The student nodded his head.
"Yes, I have."
"But from what we learned and seen. Professor trolls have strong magic resistance, and stupefy wouldn't work."
Lockhart frowned.
"Where did you learn that Stupefy wouldn't work?"
"Whoever taught you that is wrong."
"Who was it?"
The student slowly pointed across the room.
"Troll Slayer taught us."
Lockhart turned his head to follow where the student had pointed.
His eyes landed on Alexander, and he coughed.
"Ahem! Mr. Chen."
"Did you teach them about trolls?"
Cho quietly nudged Alexander.
He looked up from his notes and noticed the entire class was staring at him.
Alexander blinked.
"Sorry, Professor."
"I was too interested in your book to answer."
"Could you ask the question again?"
Lockhart coughed awkwardly.
"Did you tell your classmates that you cannot stun a troll with Stupefy?"
Alexander laughed.
"Every adult wizard knows that trolls have thick skin. So they have high magic resistance."
"Stupefy will only make them pause for maybe a second or knock them back a little."
"But it will not stun them."
Lockhart crossed his arms.
"And how do you know this?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Do you not know my title?"
Lockhart stiffened.
"Yes… I read... that you are the Troll Slayer."
"But wasn't that just… rubbish?"
Alexander laughed loudly.
"Does anyone have enchanted photographs of the fight?"
Almost the entire class raised their hands.
Alexander grinned.
"Well Professor, send someone to grab the photos."
Lockhart looked confused but pointed at one student.
"You. Go get them."
The random student looked excited and ran to grab the photos.
After a long wait, the student finally returned—completely exhausted.
"Here you go… Professor…"
Lockhart took the photographs and projected them for everyone to see.
The enchanted images began moving.
In the pictures, a giant mountain troll roared as Alexander fought it.
Students leaned forward eagerly.
Lockhart watched the photos with growing shock.
Alexander pointed at one of the images.
"See that one?"
"I cast Stupefy Duo."
The photograph clearly showed the troll getting blasted backward before standing up again.
"The best way to fight trolls," Alexander explained, "is to disarm them and knock them out."
"If you try to stun or bind them first…"
"You'll probably die before it works."
Lockhart slowly got rid of the projection and lowered the photos.
Alexander glanced at him carefully.
For a moment, he noticed something very interesting.
Lockhart looked tempted.
Like he wanted something.
My memories…
Alexander immediately understood.
Lockhart was famous for stealing heroic stories.
And he probably wanted Alexander's troll battle.
Alexander chuckled.
Go ahead and try.
Everyone already knows about the troll fight.
Photos. Witnesses. Proof everywhere.
If you dare to steal my memories…
We'll see who would be the better wizard.
After a moment, Alexander spoke.
"Any questions, Professor?"
Lockhart suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.
"Ah—yes!"
"Good fight, Mr. Chen!"
Then he quickly gathered the photographs.
"Well! I will keep these photos!"
"Class dismissed!"
Students began leaving the room.
Meanwhile, the student who owned the photographs groaned in despair.
"My photos…"
"They were rare…"
"To buy another set costs so much…"
Alexander laughed as he watched Lockhart hurry out of the classroom with the pictures.