The corridors outside the dueling club buzzed like a disturbed beehive.
"Did you see those chains?"
"That wasn't normal magic—"
"Runcandel again, obviously—"
Keith walked through it all with his hands in his pockets, half-lost in thought.
Ciel, analyze mana feedback—
—Thump.
"Oof—!"
Keith stumbled a step and immediately reached out.
"Sorry—are you al—"
He froze.
The girl on the floor had long raven hair, soft features, and a calm elegance that felt… familiar.
Zhang Chunhua?
—No. Wrong world.
He shook his head and offered his hand.
"Are you okay?"
Cho Chang
She took his hand.
The moment their palms touched, her heart nearly stopped.
Come on, Cho… you've seen him a hundred times. You can talk to him.
"I—I'm fine," she said quickly, standing. "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."
Keith smiled apologetically.
"That makes two of us."
She inhaled, steadied herself, and bowed slightly.
"My name is Cho Chang."
"Keith Argus Runcandel," he replied.
Her eyes widened.
"I know," she said, then flushed. "I mean—everyone does."
She gathered her courage, words spilling out faster than she expected.
"You're… um… the most handsome and genius person in Hufflepuff. Some people call you the uncrowned emperor of Hufflepuff. And—well—everyone likes you."
Keith blinked.
Then turned slightly red.
"…That's a bit exaggerated."
She laughed, light and genuine.
"You're humble too. That's worse."
They began walking together toward the Great Hall, conversation flowing easily—about classes, about dueling club chaos, about how Hogwarts felt louder this year.
Keith listened.
Really listened.
And Cho found herself smiling more than she had in weeks.
Elsewhere — The Dungeon Classroom
Severus Snape stood alone.
The room was sealed. Warded. Silent.
He raised his wand.
"Glacies Vinculum."
Nothing happened.
He scowled.
"…Again."
He adjusted the mana flow—not power, but structure.
"Glacies Vinculum."
Four translucent portals snapped open.
Ice-forged chains erupted outward, slamming into the far wall with terrifying precision—binding, constricting, anchoring.
Snape froze.
Then slowly… his lips curled upward.
"…Efficient. Stable. Minimal mana loss."
He dispelled the spell and stared at his wand.
"…That boy," he muttered, "is a problem."
But there was no irritation in his voice.
Only admiration.
Back in the Great Hall
Cho paused at the entrance.
"I should—go sit with my friends."
Keith nodded.
"Thanks for the walk, Cho."
She hesitated.
"…Keith?"
"Yes?"
She smiled, soft but bright.
"I'm glad I bumped into you."
He returned the smile.
"So am I."
She walked away, heart racing.
And Keith watched her go, thoughtful.