The Dueling Club members were still shocked about what had just happened.
Cho hurried out of the room and chased after Alexander.
"Alex!"
She finally caught up with Alexander near the staircase.
"You can speak Parseltongue?"
Alexander laughed lightly.
"I can do many things."
Cho stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded as they continued walking side by side.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Alexander suddenly remembered something.
"Oh yeah."
Cho looked at him.
"For giving up the Dueling Club," Alexander said casually, "we no longer have to attend Professor Binns's History of Magic and Professor Lockhart's Defense of the Dark Arts this year."
Cho blinked.
Alexander continued calmly.
"We only have to take the final exams, but I believe we can easily get an Outstanding grade on both subjects."
Cho stopped walking and stared at him.
Alexander rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry for not asking you first. Headmaster Dumbledore already approved it."
He shrugged.
"If you still want to go to class, you can. But I won't be."
Cho stared at him for another second.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Those classes are boring anyway."
"Total waste of time."
Alexander laughed with her.
The two of them made their way to the Room of Requirement to practice spells together.
The next morning, during breakfast in the Great Hall, rumors spread like wildfire.
Students whispered everywhere.
"Did you hear?"
"Both of them can speak Parseltongue!"
"They must be descendants of Salazar Slytherin!"
Many students stared openly at Harry Potter.
But they also kept glancing toward Alexander.
Alexander continued eating his breakfast calmly.
He was already used to getting attention.
In fact, he was slightly pleased.
If they're scared… they won't bother me.
In the middle of eating, Fred and George walked over excitedly.
"Is it true?"
"You can speak Parseltongue?"
Alexander nodded casually.
"Of course. I can also speak many other languages."
The twins' eyes lit up.
"Cool!"
"Can you teach us?"
"Yes, teach us!"
"I want to learn!"
Alexander laughed.
"Maybe over the summer."
"For now, I just want to relax."
The twins nodded enthusiastically.
"Fair enough!"
"See you later!"
They ran off toward the Gryffindor table.
Cho watched them leave and smiled.
"I'm glad they're treating you normally."
Alexander shrugged.
"After this school year, things will go back to normal."
In the Room of Requirement, they were practicing spells.
Alexander suddenly stopped.
He turned toward Cho with a worried look.
"Are you okay?"
Before she could answer, he gently hugged her.
Cho hesitated before speaking softly.
"Some of my friends… are treating me a little differently."
Alexander held her a little tighter.
"Things will be fine."
Cho's voice trembled slightly.
"Are you sure?"
Alexander slowly pulled back and looked directly into her eyes.
Then he asked quietly,
"Do you want to break up?"
Cho froze.
Tears suddenly filled her eyes.
"Why would you say that?!"
She began lightly hitting his chest.
"Are you breaking up with me?!"
Alexander didn't let go of her.
He held her while she cried and hit him.
After a moment, she calmed down.
Alexander spoke gently.
"I just don't want you to be sad."
"If you want to break up for now… I understand."
Cho finally realized what he meant.
He wasn't pushing her away.
He was giving her a choice.
She wiped her tears, leaned forward, and kissed him.
For a moment, it felt like time stopped.
The room was completely silent.
After a while, Cho slowly pulled back, but she stayed in his arms.
Alexander smiled and joked softly.
"So does that mean we're not breaking up?"
Cho laughed and lightly hit him again.
"Never joke about that again."
Alexander nodded.
"I won't break up with you."
Then he grinned.
"It'll be you breaking up with me."
Cho raised an eyebrow.
Alexander shrugged dramatically.
"I don't want to be known as a heartbreaker."
"I'm a star student. I have a reputation to uphold."
Cho burst out laughing.
"What are we doing today?"
Alexander smiled.
"More spell practice."
He gestured toward the training space.
"Come on. I'll teach you."
Cho nodded eagerly, her mood completely lifted.
"Let's practice."