As Halloween approached, Hogwarts transformed.
Floating candles multiplied across the Great Hall.
Black silk banners draped the walls.
Pumpkins of every size rolled in from Hagrid's patch, waiting to be carved, enchanted, or charmed into festive displays.
For most students, decoration duty was exciting.
For Alexander, it was an opportunity.
He stood in the Great Hall with Fred and George, sleeves rolled up, staring at the mountain of pumpkins like a general surveying a battlefield.
"So," Fred said, hands on hips. "Standard floating pumpkins?"
"Basic," George added.
Alexander nodded once.
"Unacceptable."
The twins grinned instantly.
Alexander tapped the nearest pumpkin.
"Pumpkins are symbols of Halloween," he said thoughtfully. "They should contribute to the atmosphere."
Fred blinked. "You mean… like lighting up?"
Alexander smirked.
"Like whispering secrets."
The twins' eyes lit up.
"Oh, that's vile," George said proudly.
Alexander layered multiple charms:
Levitation stability
Directional sound projection
Randomized whisper scripts
Soon, pumpkins floated gently through the Hall…
And whispered as students walked past.
"I know what you scored on your Potions essay…"
"You snore in the dormitory…"
"You fancy a Slytherin…"
Students jumped, spun, and accused each other of spying.
One Hufflepuff screamed when a pumpkin whispered:
"Your owl judges you."
Fred nearly fell over laughing.
Alexander observed the ceiling candles.
"With a conditional color trigger," he murmured, "we can create reactive lighting."
George tilted his head. "Reactive to what?"
Alexander didn't look up.
"Severus Snape."
Fred choked on air.
Within the hour, the charm was complete.
When Snape entered the Great Hall that evening…
Every candle flame turned sickly green.
Simultaneously.
The entire hall gasped.
Snape froze mid-step.
Looked up slowly.
The flames flickered ominously above him like he'd brought death itself into the room.
Students immediately began whispering.
"It's true…"
"He drains the warmth…"
"He's cursed…"
Snape's cloak snapped behind him as he turned sharply toward the Ravenclaw table.
Alexander sipped pumpkin juice calmly.
The flames returned to normal the second Snape left.
They turned green again when he re-entered.
Students continue whispering again.
Alexander also adjusted the Skeleton decorations lining the corridors. They were harmless animated displays meant to wave or rattle for fun.
"House morale enhancement," he explained.
Fred nodded seriously. "Very academic."
George added, "For school pride."
Alexander cast a recognition charm keyed to Ravenclaw house signatures.
Now…
Whenever a Ravenclaw walked past…
Skeletons bowed respectfully.
Some even saluted.
Ravenclaw's first years were stunned.
One asked if they'd been knighted.
But when Slytherins passed by?
The skeletons turned their head not looking at them.
When Gryffindors passed by?
The skeletons clapped their hands.
When Hufflepuffs passed by?
The skeletons waved at them.
House pride skyrocketed.
Inter-house irritation followed immediately.
Eventually, all the Professors noticed.
Professor McGonagall stood beneath floating pumpkins, lips thin.
"Interesting," she murmured, watching one whisper to a passing student.
Her eyes slowly drifted toward the Ravenclaw table.
Alexander smiled politely.
She just nodded to him.
But she also didn't remove the enchantments.
She was suspicious… but impressed by the execution.
Professor Flitwick was another story.
He floated up beside a pumpkin, listening.
It whispered:
"You were a dueling champion."
Flitwick beamed.
"Oh my! Delightful charm layering!"
He spent ten minutes inspecting the spellwork, nodding proudly.
He knew exactly who did it.
He simply chose not to say anything.
Professor Snape, however…
Was livid.
Green flames ignited the second he entered for dinner again.
Students snickered openly now.
Snape slammed into his seat, glaring directly at Alexander.
"If I discover you are responsible for this…"
Alexander tilted his head innocently.
"For atmospheric lighting, Professor?"
Snape's eye twitched.
Decorations alone weren't enough.
Halloween required fear.
So during one detention evening…
Alexander made another suggestion.
"We need a legend."
Fred leaned forward. "Go on…"
"An evil ghost story," Alexander said. "Something students believe is real."
George's grin widened slowly.
"Oh… we're haunting the castle."
Alexander nodded.
Within days, rumors spread:
An evil ghost was stalking the corridors at night.
It silenced students.
Stunned them.
Appeared only in torchlight.
Vanished instantly.
Filch blamed Peeves.
Peeves blamed "budget cuts."
Students began sprinting back to dorms after dark.
Prefects increased patrols.
Fear spread beautifully.
The truth?
It was the trio.
Naturally.
At one point, they projected a ten-foot phantom silhouette on a corridor wall.
A third-year student fainted.
Fred felt slightly bad.
George did not.