During breakfast, Alexander's attention was focused on the person next to him.
Cho looked exhausted.
Her hair was slightly messy, and her movements were slower than usual as she pushed food around her plate. Alexander tried — he really did — but the corners of his mouth kept twitching.
"You had too much fun last night," he said, failing to suppress a laugh.
Cho lifted her head slowly, giving him a tired glare that had no real bite behind it.
"Even though we have more free time," she sighed, "the homework is too much. I wanted to release all the stress… but I guess I overdid it."
Alexander chuckled.
"It's fine, it's been a while. That will do that to you."
She groaned softly but ended up laughing too.
They walked together to class, Cho still half-awake while Alexander looked perfectly energized — detention, pranks, and late nights never seemed to affect him.
Professor Quirrell continued his lectures on Dark magical creatures, talking nervously from the front of the dungeon classroom. The garlic smell was, somehow, even stronger today.
Alexander raised his hand.
"Yes… M-Mr. Chen?" Quirrell stuttered.
"What would be the proper defensive response if the creature attacks in a confined corridor rather than an open area?"
Quirrell answered.
Alexander raised his hand again.
"What if the creature is resistant to light-based charms?"
Again.
"And what if—"
The questions kept coming.
Each one was polite.
Each one was valid.
Each one made Quirrell stutter more than the last.
Students had their heads down, shoulders shaking, hands covering their mouths to hide laughter.
To Alexander, this was a game — just like it had been with Blackwood last year.
Finally, Quirrell adjusted his turban nervously.
"N-No more questions for now, Mr. Chen. L-Let us continue the lesson."
Alexander leaned back in his chair, smiling faintly.
Seems like the noseless parasite got annoyed.
He said nothing out loud, of course.
Herbology was still focused on the Flutterby Bush.
Alexander answered question after question, as usual.
"Excellent, Mr. Chen. Ten points to Ravenclaw."
He spent the remainder of class helping Cho and several other students trim and handle the plants properly, correcting wand angles and spell timing.
Cho, now more awake, did much better than in the previous lesson.
Instead of roaming the castle or napping, Alexander took Cho somewhere special.
The Room of Requirement.
When the door appeared, Cho blinked in shock.
"You never told me about this place…"
Alexander smirked slightly.
"Figured it'd be useful. This way, you can enjoy the hide-and-seek game more instead of practicing spells."
Inside, the room had transformed into a spacious spell-practice hall — reinforced walls, training dummies, floating targets.
Cho's eyes sparkled.
For the next couple of hours, she practiced:
Shield charms
Stunning spells
Levitation control
Basic dueling footwork
Alexander corrected her stance, wand grip, and spell timing.
"No — don't force the magic. Guide it."
"Your shield flickers at the edges. Reinforce the intent."
"Again."
She didn't complain once.
By the end, she was breathing hard but smiling brightly.
"That was fun."
They walked back toward the Ravenclaw corridor together.
Right before they split paths, Cho suddenly stepped closer.
Alexander barely had time to react.
She kissed him on the cheek.
"Have fun at detention with the twins," she said quickly — then turned and hurried off.
Alexander froze.
Completely stunned.
Usually, he was the one teasing her.
Usually, he made the first move.
Cho taking the initiative?
That caught him off guard more than facing Blackwood, the Death Eater.
He stood there for a few seconds before finally moving again.
Because of that moment, Alexander arrived late.
Filch was waiting.
"Late again, Mr. Chen!" he snapped. "You think detention is optional?!"
Alexander didn't argue.
"…Sorry, Mr. Filch."
Filch looked almost disappointed that he couldn't escalate further and shoved a polishing kit into his hands.
"Get to work."
The twins were already there, smirking.
They immediately noticed something was off.
Alexander was quieter than usual.
After detention, during their usual midnight wandering—
Fred nudged him.
"So… what happened?"
George leaned in.
"You look like someone hit you with a Bludger made of emotions."
Alexander shook his head.
"Nothing."
The twins stared.
Pressed.
Probed.
They got nothing out of him.
And as they roamed the halls that night, Alexander couldn't stop replaying that brief moment in his mind—
The kiss.
The smile.
And how unexpectedly warm his face had felt afterward.
Detention suddenly didn't seem so bad.