Just as the tables cleared, the Great Hall suddenly went completely dark.
Every candle.
Gone.
Students immediately began whispering.
"What happened?"
"Did someone mess up a spell?"
"Is it another attack?!"
Then suddenly—
Words appeared across the enchanted ceiling in glowing silver letters.
The Light of Hogwarts
A soft murmur spread across the hall.
At the Ravenclaw table, Alexander raised his wand.
At the tip of it, a red light appeared.
It grew brighter and brighter.
Then Alexander shot it up at the ceiling.
Halfway, it suddenly split—
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Until hundreds…
Thousands of tiny lights filled the air like glowing stars.
The Great Hall slowly brightened with their soft glow.
Students gasped.
The Heads of Houses stood up.
Each raised their wands.
Four beams of magic shot across the hall.
From Professor McGonagall, red and gold light streaked across the ceiling above the Gryffindor table.
The magic twisted together and formed a massive lion.
The lion raised its head and let out a mighty roar.
The Gryffindor table erupted with cheers.
Students stood up, roaring along with it.
Next—
From Professor Snape, green and silver magic surged above the Slytherin table.
The lights coiled together into a giant serpent.
The serpent hissed loudly, its glowing eyes sweeping across the hall.
The Slytherin students stood proudly, many with satisfied smirks.
Then Professor Sprout's spell.
Yellow and black lights burst above the Hufflepuff table, forming a stout but powerful badger.
The badger snorted loudly.
The Hufflepuffs burst out laughing and cheering.
Finally—
From Professor Flitwick, blue and bronze light swirled through the air.
The magic formed a majestic raven above the Ravenclaw table.
The raven cried out sharply.
The Ravenclaw students clapped excitedly.
Then glowing words appeared above each animal.
Above the lion:
Courage
Above the serpent:
Ambition
Above the badger:
Loyalty
Above the raven:
Wisdom
The four magical creatures suddenly leapt into motion.
They flew around the Great Hall in a massive circle above the students.
Faster and faster.
The glowing words trailing behind them.
Students watched in amazement.
Just as the animals blurred together—
Dumbledore raised his wand.
The four creatures merged in a burst of magic.
A massive phoenix appeared above the hall.
Red and gold light stretched across the enchanted ceiling.
The phoenix was enormous.
Its wings spread across the entire hall.
Everyone felt the warmth the phoenix was giving off.
Half the students stared in stunned silence.
The others whispered in awe.
The phoenix was even more magnificent than in the previous years.
At the Ravenclaw table, Alexander clicked his tongue quietly.
What a show off.
Then Alexander raised his wand again.
The phoenix flapped its wings a few times.
Golden sparks began drifting downward like magical snow.
When the sparks got near the students—
They transformed into glowing orbs.
The orbs floated gently around each house table.
Then the lights changed.
Inside each orb appeared illusions.
Moments from the school year.
Students are laughing in the corridors.
Groups studying in the library.
The Halloween pranks.
Alexander's Halloween show.
The Thanksgiving performance.
Quidditch celebrations.
Late-night study sessions.
Every major memory from the year.
Students pointed and laughed.
"Look! That's us!"
"I remember that!"
The entire hall was filled with happy voices.
Eventually, the illusions slowly faded.
The glowing orbs drifted upward again toward the phoenix.
Alexander reached into his robe.
He pulled something out and tossed it upward into the phoenix.
Once the item went inside the phoenix, Dumbledore waved his wand again.
A powerful spell shot out.
The phoenix exploded.
Thousands of glowing red and gold feathers burst across the hall.
The feathers drifted slowly downward.
Students reached out and caught them.
The feathers were warm in their hands.
Then—
The feathers shimmered and transformed into golden galleons.
For a moment, the hall was silent.
Then everyone burst into cheers and laughter.
The magic faded.
The Great Hall returned to normal.
But the noise was louder than ever.
The loudest voices came from the Weasley twins.
"CHEN!"
"YOU JUST SPENT THOUSANDS OF GALLEONS ON A SHOW?!"
They quickly ran over to the Ravenclaw table.
Fred pointed dramatically.
"How rich are you?!"
George held out his hands.
"Give us your galleons!"
"We'll keep them safe for you!"
Students around them laughed loudly.
Cho looked at Alexander in disbelief.
"That was amazing."
She shook her head.
"I can't believe the professors, and even the Headmaster, helped you."
Alexander grinned.
"Yeah, I was surprised. They made things easier."
"Less planning and I could enjoy the show more."
Cho then looked at the galleons students were still holding.
"…You just spent thousands of galleons."
Alexander shrugged.
Cho raised an eyebrow.
"What are your parents going to say?"
Alexander laughed.
"It's my money."
"Also, I haven't told them yet."
"I'll explain this summer."
Cho lightly punched his shoulder.
"You're unbelievable."
Alexander held her hand.
"Relax. I earn those galleons."
Cho snorted.
"You're ridiculous."
Later that night, the common room fireplace glowed warmly.
Students slowly drifted off to bed.
Alexander and Cho sat together in front of the fireplace, in the same chair as usual.
Cho leaned against him.
Alexander wrapped an arm around her.
Neither said anything.
The fire crackled softly.
Cho fell asleep first.
Alexander slowly waved his wand a few times.
The chair slowly transfigured into something comfortable for them.
A translucent barrier appeared and blocked them off from sight and noise.
He watched Cho's sleeping face and closed his eyes.
They both fell asleep together by the warm glow of the fireplace.