The weekend passed in a blur of whispers, stares, and evasive maneuvering. The group, now infamous within Hogwarts, had done their best to avoid the tidal wave of attention. They spent most of their time tucked away in their QG, slipping in and out through hidden corridors and secret staircases. Fame, they quickly discovered, had its drawbacks.
Monday morning brought with it the return of routine—or at least something close to it. Charles, as usual, peeled off toward his fourth-year classes while the rest of the group headed to Transfiguration.
Walking through the corridor leading to Professor McGonagall's classroom, Cho nudged Louis with a grin. "So, Louis. How does it feel to be Hogwarts' most eligible bachelor?"
Louis raised an eyebrow, nonplussed. "I feel exactly the same."
"Liar," Evangeline teased. "Half the school has developed a crush on you over the weekend."
"It's true," Cho added. "I caught a group of second-years giggling every time you passed by. One of them nearly fainted when you looked in her direction."
Louis sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "I preferred it when people only stared because they thought I was strange."
"Now they think you're mysterious, brilliant, and devastatingly handsome," Cho smirked. "That article in the Prophet didn't help, you know. They basically described you like some sort of angelic prodigy."
"He is," Evangeline chimed in dramatically. "With cheekbones that could slice bread."
"Please stop," Louis groaned.
As they entered the classroom, they were relieved to find the atmosphere calmer. Although glances still flicked toward them—especially toward Louis—the frenzy had cooled. The students had settled, and class began smoothly.
Professor McGonagall didn't mention the article or the book, for which they were grateful. She launched straight into the lesson, a complex discussion on human-to-object transfigurations. Louis welcomed the intellectual rigor—it gave him something to focus on besides fluttering stares and hushed whispers.
The lesson was long and mentally demanding. McGonagall demonstrated the transformation of a student volunteer's scarf into a silver goblet, and then had the class pair up to try the spell for themselves. Louis partnered with Cho, and after a few attempts, their scarf shifted into an extravagant metallic cup.
Time passed, and lessons fell back into normal rhythm. The strange storm of fame began to settle, even if Louis still caught lingering stares in the corridors. Not all of them were innocent. Over the past week, several girls had taken to dropping letters near his desk, brushing past him in the hallway, or staring dreamily across the common room.
Cho and Evangeline didn't help matters. They would tease him mercilessly, especially when Fleur was mentioned.
"She's going to hear about this, you know," Cho said one afternoon. "And when she does, she'll get so jealous."
"I'm never saying her anything about that," Louis muttered.
Evangeline chuckled.
Three hours before the Halloween celebration, the group gathered to prepare. Excitement buzzed through the halls of Hogwarts—pumpkins levitated above the Great Hall, enchanted bats fluttered along the rafters, and the smell of cinnamon and roasted apples drifted through the corridors.
Louis stood in front of the mirror, eyeing the reflection staring back. His robes were tailored to perfection, the midnight-blue fabric embroidered with fine silver runes that shimmered subtly in the light.
"I still don't see why this one," he said, adjusting the cuffs.
"Because it makes you look like a celestial prince," Evangeline replied.
"And it will absolutely devastate every girl who already had a crush on you," Cho added with a smirk.
"You're doing this on purpose," Louis accused.
"Of course we are," Evangeline said. "It's for scientific purposes."
They all burst into laughter—except Louis, who just shook his head, amused but a little wary.
What none of them mentioned was the fact that Fleur had, indeed, already heard the news. She had talked to Louis earlier in the week, her usual sweetness tinged with clear irritation. Though she hadn't directly addressed the fanfare, conversations were noticeably shorter and occasionally curt. Louis could feel the jealousy between the lines.
Still, he loved her for it. It reminded him that she cared.
They made their way to the Great Hall, which had been transformed into a glowing, autumnal wonderland. Floating candles flickered between branches of bewitched trees that rustled as though stirred by an unseen breeze. Music played softly from an enchanted harp, and the tables had been cleared to make way for dancing and treats.
Everything shimmered with warmth and charm. Students danced in costume, laughter echoed under the floating jack-o'-lanterns, and Louis, despite his outfit, managed to relax. He greeted a few admirers politely and even danced once—under massive pressure from Evangeline—with a shy Hufflepuff girl who barely spoke a word.
Then came the unexpected.
The doors to the Great Hall burst open, and Professor Quirrell stumbled inside, his turban askew, panic on his face.
"T-Troll! In the dungeons!" he screamed. "Thought you ought to know—"
And then he collapsed.
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then chaos erupted.
Screams. Scraping chairs. Students surged toward the exits in a rush of confusion.
"Silence!" boomed Dumbledore's voice, rising above the din. The Headmaster stood, his wand glowing faintly. The hall quieted immediately.
"Prefects," Dumbledore commanded, "lead your houses back to their dormitories. Do not panic. Professors, to the dungeons."
As students were gathered and ushered away, Louis and his friends walked calmly amid the frightened crowd.
"That was... dramatic," Charles muttered.
"Too dramatic," Louis said. "It felt wrong."
They were halfway to the Ravenclaw common room when two familiar voices called out from behind.
"Louis!"
It was Harry and Ron, breathless and pale.
"Hermione's not in the Great Hall," Harry said. "She doesn't know about the troll—she's in the girls' bathroom."
"We were going to get her," Ron added, "but we thought we'd need help."
Louis didn't hesitate. "Go ahead to the common room," he told Cho and Evangeline. "Charles, with me."
Charles nodded immediately.
"Be careful!" Cho called after them, worry etched in her face.
Without another word, the four boys turned and disappeared down a side corridor, heading straight into the heart of the castle, where danger awaited.