When Alexander woke up…
Sunlight was already spilling across his dorm walls.
He blinked, squinting toward the window.
"…What time is it?"
A glance at the clock answered him.
Lunch.
He groaned softly, dragging himself out of bed.
"So much for a short nap."
After a quick wash, he headed down to the Great Hall.
Once he finished eating, he didn't return to the dorm.
Instead, he made his way to the Seventh Floor.
Opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls ballet.
He paced three times.
"I need a place to practice spells."
The door appeared instantly.
The Room of Requirement welcomed him once more — training dummies, defensive launchers, moving targets, and reinforced practice barriers already prepared.
Alexander smirked.
"Perfect."
He spent hours refining spell control:
Shield deployment timing
Stunning accuracy
Binding speed
Disillusionment mobility
Once another "Blackwood situation" happened again…
He wanted overwhelming readiness.
After dinner, he returned to Ravenclaw Tower.
Professor Flitwick's Christmas gifts waited on his desk.
He opened Advanced Charm Reinforcement Theory first — absorbing layered shield stacking methods and charm stability techniques.
Then he moved to Paths to Becoming a Dueling Champion.
Combat footwork.
Spell chaining.
Psychological pressure tactics.
Alexander read deep into the night.
By the time he closed the final page…
His mind was buzzing with applications.
The remaining days of break followed a steady rhythm:
Eat.
Train.
Eat.
Study.
Eat.
Review.
Sleep.
The castle remained peaceful — investigations happening far below student awareness.
Then…
The morning before students were due to return…
Alexander was walking to the Great Hall for breakfast when he saw them.
His parents stood near the doors — winter coats dusted with snow from travel.
He froze for half a second.
Then ran.
He jumped straight into his mother's arms, hugging her tightly.
"I missed you guys," he said into her shoulder. "I love you guys."
Eleanor Chen laughed softly, holding him just as tight.
"We missed you, too. Very much."
Jonathan Chen stood beside them — composed as always — but gave a small approving nod.
They joined him in the Great Hall for breakfast.
Alexander talked more than usual — about classes, professors, castle life (heavily censored), and winter break studies.
Afterward, he gave them a full castle tour.
His parents listened attentively, since this was their first time here.
Eventually, they returned to his dorm.
Alexander sat on his bed.
"So… now what?"
His mother smiled gently.
"Nothing. Just be a student. Keep your grades up."
His father crossed his arms.
"Good job… but now let the adults handle these matters. No more 'accidents.'"
Alexander sighed internally.
Jonathan continued:
"I'm getting annoyed receiving letters from your Headmaster. We are already busy as it is."
Eleanor nudged him lightly.
"Don't mind your father. We're happy to see you."
Alexander shrugged.
"Not my problem. It just happened. And I told you Blackwood was a Death Eater."
Eleanor sighed with amused resignation.
"Yes, yes — you're always right. Just remember to stay safe."
They chatted a while longer — lighter topics this time.
Family things.
Travel stories.
Future plans.
Before they left, Alexander pulled something from his trunk.
A motion photograph.
Him beating up the Sorting Hat.
He handed it to them.
Both parents stared…
Then laughed.
Even Jonathan cracked a visible smile.
"Don't cause trouble," he said, shaking his head.
Alexander smirked.
"No promises."
He shook his father's hand firmly.
Then hugged his mother again.
"Thanks for visiting. See you during summer break."
Eleanor held him close.
"Love you. Stay safe. We'll pick you up at the train station."
She pulled back slightly.
"And remember — no more causing trouble."
Alexander didn't answer that part.
He just smiled.
He watched them walk across the school grounds.
Snow crunched beneath their boots.
At the gates…
They turned once more, waved…
Then Apparated away.
Gone in an instant.
Alexander stood there a moment longer.
Then turned back toward the castle.
Back in his dorm, he reviewed his completed homework.
He reorganized his notes.
Reset his schedule.
Students would return tomorrow.
Noise.
Energy.
Chaos.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, a faint smile returning.
"…Hogwarts, what chaos should I create this semester?"
And laughed like an evil villain.