The morning after Halloween dawned with a low hum of excitement whispering through the corridors of Hogwarts. News spread fast in the castle, and by breakfast, a new rumor had taken hold of nearly every table in the Great Hall: Louis de Versailles had defeated a mountain troll.
Students gossiped between bites of toast and pumpkin juice, glancing toward the Ravenclaw table with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Louis, however, sat quietly among his friends, chewing a piece of bread as if nothing had changed. Charles was grinning.
"They're saying you decapitated it with your wand," Cho whispered as she leaned closer.
"That's not what happened," Louis replied calmly.
"I know," she said, smiling. "But it's what they're saying."
The group finished breakfast quickly and made their way to Charms class. The corridors were unusually busy, students constantly stopping to greet or congratulate Louis. Even a few upper-years nodded their respect.
Inside the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick was already organizing floating candles above the desks.
"Settle down, settle down," he chirped. "Today we'll continue with Aresto Momentum. This charm is tricky to master but incredibly useful. Not only can it slow falling objects—it can stop them entirely if performed correctly."
Louis and the others took their seats. Flitwick's enthusiasm was contagious. He demonstrated the charm again, suspending a falling stack of books midair, then gently lowering them to the desk.
"Concentration, precision, and intent!" he reminded them.
The class began practicing. Feathers, cushions, and other light objects were passed out for the students to work with. Evangeline and Cho practiced together, their results improving slowly. Evangeline was focused, her brow furrowed with determination. Louis, however, was already progressing to heavier objects, catching a falling chair with a swirl of his wand. The motion was smooth, practiced.
"Excellent, Mr. de Versailles!" Flitwick exclaimed, clapping.
As they practiced, the conversation remained hushed.
"Why would Quirrell stage that troll incident?" Evangeline asked as she balanced a book midair.
"Maybe to distract us," Louis said quietly. "Or test something. His reaction was so artificial, it was painful to watch."
"I just don't get it," Cho added. "He looked terrified, but it didn't feel real. And why faint like that?"
They continued casting as they spoke, their concentration divided but their suspicions united.
After the two-hour lesson, they left the classroom, walking through the chilled corridors toward their next subject: Potions with Snape.
The atmosphere changed instantly upon entering the dungeon classroom. The air was damp, the lighting dim. Snape stood like a shadow behind his desk, waiting.
"Today," he said, his voice a silken threat, "we'll be brewing a Calming Draught. If any of you manage not to explode your cauldrons, I might even be impressed."
Louis took a place beside Charles. They worked efficiently, following the recipe to the letter. Louis's potion shimmered with the perfect soft blue glow. Still, Snape gave no praise.
When class ended, the group gathered their things quickly and headed toward the secret path that led to their QG. On the way, they encountered Hermione near the archway.
"Louis," she began nervously. "Charles."
They turned to face her.
"I just wanted to say thank you. For yesterday. You saved my life."
Louis offered her a gentle smile. "We're glad you're alright."
Charles added, "Just don't try to tackle trolls by yourself next time, alright?"
Hermione smiled shyly, nodded, and walked away.
In their QG, the group settled in. They reviewed everything they'd observed about Quirrell. Every behavior, every hesitation, every odd glance. After nearly two hours of brainstorming, they were no closer to a conclusion.
After dinner, the group finally dispersed. Louis climbed the spiral staircase to the Ravenclaw dormitory and entered his room. He shut the door and used the link in order to talk with Fleur about his recent life.
"Bonsoir," Louis said gently.
"Bonsoir," Fleur replied coolly.
Louis understood her tone. "Still upset?"
Fleur responded quickly. "I've heard more than enough today. About you. About how 'incredibly beautiful' you are. About how you 'tamed a troll with your eyes'—honestly, Louis."
He chuckled softly. "That one's new."
She didn't laugh. "You know what I mean. I saw girls passing around a clipping from the Prophet. They cut out your picture and were comparing your jawline."
Louis leaned back in his chair, amused. "You've always said I was handsome."
"That's not the point," she said, irritated. "The point is, you're everywhere. And I'm not. And they're all trying to get your attention."
Louis's expression softened.
"Fleur, hear me," he said firmly. "I chose you. Long before any of them knew my name. You have nothing to be jealous of. You're not just the girl I'm with. You're the woman I love. My partner. My equal."
In Beauxbaton Fleur's eyes glistened for a moment, her mouth tightening.
"I just… I hate not being there to remind them. To remind you."
"You don't need to remind me of anything," Louis replied. "Every night, you're the voice I wait for. You're the last thought I have before I sleep. The person I trust the most. I don't want their attention. I want you."
Her breath quickly calmed itself, though her arms remained crossed.
"You know I'm not good at this," she said softly. "Not the jealousy, not the long-distance…"
"I know. But we're learning together. And if I have to tell you I love you a thousand times to make you believe it, I will."
This time, she smiled—faint, but real. "You're too perfect sometimes."
He smirked. "I've heard that today, actually."
She laughed, and the tension melted between them. They talked for over an hour. Not just about school or Quirrell, but about memories, hopes, and things they missed. Fleur told him how plain her life has been without him, and he spoke about the group's recent adventures and how he longed for her presence.
"I wish I was there," she whispered.
"We will see eachother the entire Christmas holiday" Louis said. "I promise."
As their conversation came to a gentle end, Louis whispered, "Bonne nuit, mon cœur."
"Bonne nuit, mon amour," Fleur replied.
He cut the conversation and lay down on his bed.
Outside the Ravenclaw windows, a breeze stirred the stars, and within the castle, the path ahead was filled with shadows and whispers. But for now, Louis slept peacefully, with Fleur's voice still echoing in his heart.