The Hogwarts Express thundered steadily along the tracks, its rhythmic clatter blending with the excited chatter of students returning for another year and nervous new first years.
Inside one of the mid-train compartments, Alexander sat next to Cho, the two of them comfortably settled by the window.
"So… how was your summer?" she asked.
Alexander leaned back slightly, relaxed.
"Busy," he admitted. "Besides having fun at the Weasleys and learning more spells, it was fun.
Cho laughed lightly. "Just like the letters."
He smirked. "What about you?"
Cho's eyes brightened. "I went back to my grandparents' place for part of the summer. It's quiet there. Lots of mountains, lakes… I practiced flying almost every morning."
"I'm not surprised," Alexander said. "You're still aiming for Ravenclaw's Quidditch team this year, right?"
"Of course," she said proudly, then hesitated. "I was a bit nervous… but now I'm excited."
Then Alexander spoke again.
"You should come visit next summer."
Cho blinked. "Visit… you?"
"Yeah," he said casually. "You'd like it. There's plenty of space. The Weasley family is also there, and you would enjoy our cookouts, too. And… it'd be nice."
A faint blush dusted her cheeks.
"I'll… talk to my parents," she said softly.
Alexander smiled. "Good."
They continued chatting, their conversation drifting from travel stories to magical practice mishaps, to small, personal moments.
Two lovebirds were lost in their own little world.
Alexander, mid-sentence, the door suddenly slammed open.
"Oi!"
Fred and George Weasley barged in without invitation, grinning like identical devils.
"Well, well," Fred said, looking between them.
"Are we interrupting something?" George added, smirking.
Cho straightened quickly, flustered. Alexander merely sighed.
"You didn't knock," he said flatly.
"Where's the fun in that?" Fred replied, dropping into the seat beside him.
George plopped down next to Cho, still grinning.
"You won't believe what we just did," George said.
Alexander gave them a side glance. "If it involves Ron, I already pity him."
Both twins burst out laughing.
"We embarrassed him in front of everyone," Fred said proudly.
"Absolutely everyone," George added.
"He was trying to act all important—talking about how he knew loads about Hogwarts."
"So we corrected him."
"Loudly."
"Repeatedly."
Cho covered her mouth, laughing despite herself.
Alexander shook his head. "You two are terrible brothers."
"Thank you," they said in unison.
Fred looked around suddenly. "Speaking of which… we lost him."
Cho blinked. "Lost him?"
George shrugged. "He wandered off looking for sweets."
"So we figured we'd join you two instead."
Alexander muttered, "Of course you did."
Still, the mood stayed light as the four of them began talking—discussing the upcoming school year.
Classes.
Quidditch.
Rumors about new professors.
Possible pranks.
Fred leaned forward. "This year's going to be brilliant. I can feel it."
George nodded. "Big things happening."
Before Alexandercould reply, there was a soft knock at the compartment door.
It slid open slowly.
Standing there was a round-faced boy, slightly chubby, looking completely lost. Beside him stood a girl with bushy brown hair—almost afro-like in volume—and slightly prominent buckteeth. Her posture was confident despite the situation.
Alexander's eyes flicked over them.
Neville Longbottom… Hermione Granger, he recognized instantly.
The girl spoke first.
"Hello. I'm Hermione Granger. This is Neville Longbottom. Have either of you seen a toad? Neville's lost one."
Everyone in the compartment blinked.
"A toad?" Fred repeated.
"Nope," George said.
"Haven't seen one," Cho added.
Alexander shook his head. "No."
Hermione looked mildly disappointed but nodded briskly.
"We'll keep looking then. Thank you."
As she turned to leave, Alexander spoke.
"Wait."
All eyes shifted to him.
He gestured lazily toward the twins.
"I volunteer them to help."
Fred's jaw dropped.
"Traitor!" George gasped.
Alexander smirked. "You're upperclassmen. It's your duty to help younger students."
Hermione immediately nodded approvingly. "That would be very kind of you."
Neville looked hopeful.
The twins groaned dramatically but stood anyway.
"Fine," Fred muttered.
"But if we get slimed by a toad," George added, "we're blaming you."
"You'll survive," Alexander said.
And just like that, the four—Fred, George, Neville, and Hermione—filed out into the corridor.
The door slid shut behind them.
Silence returned.
Cho exhaled softly, smiling. "You really just sacrificed them."
"They barged in," Alexander said. "This is karma."
He reached down and unclasped his briefcase.
Cho tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
Without answering, Alexander opened it—and began pulling out neatly packed snacks.
Chocolate frogs.
Sugar quills.
Crystalized pineapple.
Imported magical sweets.
Cho's eyes widened. "You brought all that?"
"I like being prepared."
He handed her a chocolate frog.
Then, casually—almost naturally—he reached over and took her hand with his free one.
Cho froze for half a second… then relaxed, fingers curling gently around his.
They ate, talked, and laughed quietly.
Outside, the countryside blurred past in streaks of gold and green.
After a while, Alexander's thoughts drifted.
Ron probably found Harry by now…
A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.
Oh, this year is going to be fun to watch.
Time passed comfortably—just the two of them, sharing sweets and stories.
Until—
BANG!
The door burst open again.
"WE'RE BACK!" Fred announced.
"And you won't believe who we saw!" George added.
Alexander didn't even look surprised anymore. "You found the toad?"
"…No," Fred admitted.
"But we found something better," George said, eyes gleaming.
They leaned in dramatically.
"Guess who's on this train?"
Cho blinked. "Who?"
Fred grinned widely.
"The Boy Who Lived."
Alexander raised a brow slightly. "Harry Potter."
The twins nodded eagerly.
"We saw him with Ron," George said.
"Skinny bloke. Glasses. Lightning scar and all," Fred added.
Cho looked intrigued. "So it's true… he's coming to Hogwarts."
The conversation shifted instantly.
They spoke about Harry.
About He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name or You-Know-Who, but when Alexander said the name Voldemort, they were all shocked by how calmly and bravely he spoke the name.
They thought he must not understand, so they explained to him never to say the name.
Rumors.
Speculation.
What it meant for the wizarding world… and for Hogwarts.
He just waved it off like it was nothing.
The excitement in the compartment grew as the train began to slow.
Outside, the sky had deepened into evening blue.
Castle lights shimmered in the distance.
Hogwarts.
A new school will begin soon.
Fred stretched. "Showtime."
George grinned. "Another year of chaos begins."
Cho squeezed Alexander's hand once before letting go as they all began gathering their things.
Alexander glanced out the window at the approaching castle, eyes calm but sharp.
Yes…
This year will be very interesting.
The Hogwarts Express gave one final whistle as it rolled to a stop.