Alexander stood calmly in front of the ruined bathroom corridor, wand lowered, chains tightly binding the unconscious troll.
He could already hear footsteps approaching fast.
He expected professors.
Instead—
Harry and Ron ran around the corner and froze.
Both boys stared wide-eyed at the massive mountain troll… chained head to toe like a captured beast.
"…Bloody hell," Ron whispered.
Harry blinked repeatedly.
"You… you already beat it?"
Alexander raised a brow.
"You two?"
They hurried over, slightly out of breath.
"W-We came to help Hermione," Harry admitted.
"And fight the troll," Ron added, though far less confidently.
Alexander slowly crossed his arms.
"And how exactly were you planning to fight an adult mountain troll?"
He tilted his head.
"With what spells?"
Silence.
The two boys looked at each other.
Embarrassed.
Neither answered.
Alexander sighed.
"That's what I thought."
More rapid footsteps echoed down the corridor.
This time Professors arrived.
Leading them was Professor McGonagall, robes flowing with urgency.
Beside her was Professor Snape, eyes sharp as ever.
Other professors followed closely behind.
They all stopped the moment they saw the scene.
The chained troll.
The damaged bathroom corridor.
And Alexander standing there… lecturing three first-years like a disappointed parent.
Alexander gestured toward Hermione.
"Hermione, it's not your fault you didn't know. But missing dinner while you're still growing will affect your growth spurt."
She blinked.
He continued seriously.
"Do you want to stay short and small like a child forever?"
Hermione's head lowered instantly.
Reflecting.
Alexander turned to the boys.
"And you two."
Harry and Ron straightened subconsciously.
"It's nice — and sweet — that you wanted to save your friend."
His tone hardened slightly.
"But who caused her to cry in the first place?"
Ron flinched.
"You should cherish your friendship more. Protect and defend each other instead of always making her sad."
They both lowered their heads.
Then Alexander pointed directly at Ron.
"And Ron — I told your mother I would help improve your grades."
Ron's eyes widened in horror.
"If I hear from Hermione that you're sleeping in class or slacking off again…"
Alexander leaned closer.
"I will personally write your mother a letter — and make the twins harass you until you cry. Got it?"
Ron nodded like a chicken.
"G-Got it."
Alexander then turned toward Harry.
He opened his mouth—
But before he could speak—
McGonagall coughed loudly.
Twice.
"Ahem. Mr. Chen."
Alexander glanced back.
Her lips were tight, though her eyes flickered briefly toward the bound troll in clear astonishment.
"That's enough lecturing for one night."
She stepped forward, authority radiating.
"Let's take one hundred points from Gryffindor…"
Harry and Ron's faces fell instantly.
"…and give the two of you two weeks of detention."
They groaned softly but didn't argue.
They knew they deserved it.
McGonagall then turned her head.
"Professor Flitwick."
From behind, the tiny charms professor stepped forward, still staring in awe at the chained troll and layered spellwork.
"Yes, yes, of course!"
"Please take these three back to their dormitories," McGonagall instructed, gesturing to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"And inform the students that the troll problem has been taken care of."
Flitwick nodded enthusiastically.
"Taken care of indeed… remarkable spell layering… simply remarkable…"
He ushered the trio away, still muttering in amazement.
Hermione glanced back once at Alexander before leaving.
Now, only professors and Alexander remained.
The unconscious troll lay bound between them.
Snape's dark eyes slowly moved from the troll…
To Alexander.
Irritation.
The silence lingered.
Only the troll's heavy breathing—
And the faint crackle of fading magic in the air.