Chapter 205
"You're not going?" Harry asked with surprise as he saw Alexander Smith still sitting on the couch reading a book.
Alexander flipped a page calmly and replied, "Why should I go? I've seen the Thestrals before. It's not like they'll show us something new."
Ron, standing beside Harry, looked conflicted. "But it's part of the Care of Magical Creatures class, and Hagrid's trying so hard to keep it interesting again..."
Alexander finally closed the book and looked up at them. "Let me guess, he's bringing in Thestrals again because last time, half the class either couldn't see them or ran screaming?"
Harry laughed despite himself. "Pretty much. But you can see them, right?"
Alexander's expression turned thoughtful for a moment. "Yes. I saw someone die when I was very young. I've always seen them."
Ron shifted uncomfortably. "That's... a bit grim."
"That's just life," Alexander said lightly. "Grim or not, it happened. But I don't feel like trudging into the forest again just to watch them nibble on meat."
Hermione appeared then, frowning slightly. "You really should come, Alexander. Hagrid asked everyone to come. He's trying to improve his standing with the headmistress."
Alexander stood and stretched. "I'll write him a note later. Tell him I had Potions homework or something."
Hermione didn't look pleased, but she nodded. "Fine. But don't blame us if he makes you shovel dung next class."
After they left, Alexander remained in the common room. He wasn't skipping the lesson out of laziness. He just had better things to do.
He pulled out a scroll from his bag, filled with magical formulas and arcane runes. He'd been working on a new spell—one that compressed protective enchantments into a smaller, portable form. If he could master it, it might be useful in a duel or even save someone's life.
As he dipped his quill in ink and began copying the runes onto a new parchment, his mind drifted again to what he saw the night before—those strange sparks of energy near the Astronomy Tower. Someone had been practicing magic in secret. And from the traces he sensed, it wasn't a student. It was far too advanced.
He'd told no one yet, not even Kate or Hermione. Until he had more information, he didn't want to start any rumors.
Suddenly, a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
It was Luna Lovegood.
She peered inside the common room, eyes dreamy but focused. "Oh, you're here. I thought maybe the Wrackspurts got to you."
Alexander chuckled. "Nope, still Wrackspurt-free, I think. What's up?"
Luna stepped in, holding a rolled-up paper. "You might want to read this. It's from The Quibbler—Dad published my piece on magical resonance patterns. But that's not why I came."
She handed him the paper, then said in a lower voice, "There's something strange going on in the western wing of the castle. The paintings there have stopped moving."
Alexander's smile faded slightly. "Stopped moving?"
She nodded. "All of them. Even Sir Cadogan. Just frozen. Like someone muted their magic."
That caught Alexander's full attention.
"Show me," he said, rolling up his scroll.
Together, they slipped out through the portrait hole.
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