Alexander quickly returned to his room inside Hogwarts.
Once inside, he closed the door and immediately found his briefcase on his bed.
Click.
The briefcase opened.
Alexander leaned slightly inside and spoke calmly.
"Silver."
A small voice answered from within.
"Yes, Young Master?"
Alexander replied. "Bring out a bottle of Restorative Draught from the storage room."
A few minutes passed.
The house-elf Silver appeared, holding a potion.
"Here it is, Young Master."
Silver carefully handed it over.
"Anything else?"
Alexander took the bottle and shook his head.
"Thank you. Not at the moment."
Silver bowed politely.
"Very well, Young Master."
With a soft pop, Silver disappeared back inside the enchanted briefcase.
Alexander closed his briefcase.
Before leaving, his eyes drifted toward his desk.
He felt something was wrong and walked over to the desk.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he traced his desk with his hand.
"The diary… is missing."
Alexander stood still for a moment.
He picked up the briefcase and began walking toward the Hospital Wing.
While walking through the castle corridors, he thought carefully.
Maybe one of my roommates took it.
But the diary couldn't just run off by itself… right?
He chuckled softly.
"This is very interesting."
His mind continued connecting the pieces.
So I wasn't imagining things when I heard the basilisk talking.
Someone woke up my little pet.
Alexander rubbed his temple.
"I wanted to wake it up during Christmas break and quietly kidnap it before anyone noticed."
He shook his head.
"Whoever took the diary ruined my plans."
Still deep in thought, Alexander walked into the Hospital Wing.
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Chen."
Alexander looked up.
Standing there was Dumbledore, smiling.
"You seemed to be thinking about something."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly.
"Care to tell us?"
Alexander tilted his head.
"This school…" he said slowly.
"I mean this castle... It has a lot of secrets."
He looked directly at Dumbledore.
"If you don't mind sharing one secret with me in private…"
"I will share a secret with you, Professor."
"Deal?"
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
"Perhaps later."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"For now, have you brought the potion?"
Alexander nodded and took out the bottle.
Before he could say anything, Snape stepped forward and snatched the bottle from his hand.
Snape examined the potion carefully.
He uncorked it.
Smelled it.
Tested a small drop with magic.
A moment later, Snape said flatly,
"This is Restorative Draught."
He turned toward Dumbledore.
Dumbledore gave a small nod.
"Give it to Madam Pomfrey."
"Have her administer it to Mrs. Norris."
Snape passed the potion to Pomfrey, who quickly walked into the treatment room.
Snape then slowly turned back toward Alexander.
His eyes narrowed.
"How," Snape said coldly, "do you possess Restorative Draught?"
"I never taught you how to brew it."
Alexander laughed casually.
"Professor Snape."
"It's because you're such a talented professor."
Snape's eyebrow twitched.
Alexander continued.
"You've taught me well."
"I simply became curious and started learning other kinds of potions."
He smiled proudly.
"I am, after all, a star student."
Snape stared at him silently.
He didn't respond.
Dumbledore, however, looked curious.
"Mr. Chen," he said calmly.
"How did you obtain Mandrakes?"
Alexander shrugged.
"I grew them."
Everyone stared at him with disbelief.
Alexander continued.
"Professor Sprout is always talking about magical plants."
"So I asked my parents to send me some."
He lifted his briefcase slightly.
"Headmaster."
"You should already know what this is."
Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"I heard about it from an old friend of mine, and from your parents."
Alexander smiled and was about to say something else when.
Suddenly, Sprout stepped forward excitedly.
"Mr. Chen!"
"May we see your magical garden?"
Alexander laughed lightly.
"Not right now, Professor."
"It's still under construction."
He tapped the briefcase.
"And there are some things inside that frighten easily."
Snape narrowed his eyes again.
"Do you have anything illegal in there?"
Alexander gave him a bright smile.
"Of course not."
"Everything I have is perfectly legal."
The professors continued asking questions.
Alexander calmly answered each one.
Every answer sounded perfectly reasonable.
Eventually, they gave up.
At that moment, Madam Pomfrey returned.
"Mrs. Norris is fine," she announced.
"She only needs a few days of rest."
"After that, she will fully recover."
Filch rushed forward.
"Thank you!"
Then he turned toward Alexander.
"Thank you, Mr. Chen! Thank you!"
Alexander smiled politely.
"Mr. Filch."
"You should go see your cat."
Filch nodded rapidly.
"Yes!"
"Thank you again!"
He hurried off into the treatment room to see Mrs. Norris.
Alexander then turned back toward the professors.
"Well... It's getting late."
"May I go now?"
Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"Sometime this week," he said.
"I will ask you to visit my office."
Alexander smiled.
"Of course, Headmaster."
He turned and began walking toward the door.
"Goodnight, everyone."