Alexander Chen's private compartment did not stay private for long.
The door slid open once. Then again. Then again.
"Mind if—"
"Yes."
"Can we sit—"
"No."
"I heard you're—"
"Go away."
Alexander didn't even look up from the window as he waved people off with the absolute confidence of someone who had already decided he disliked everyone on this train. Boys, girls, first-years buzzing with excitement, older students pretending not to care—none of them made it past the doorway.
Word spread quickly.
There was a new student.
He was American.
He was Asian.
He had a private compartment.
And he absolutely did not want friends.
By the time the train rolled deeper into the countryside, whispers followed the corridor.
He's rude.
He thinks he's better than us.
Maybe he's dark.
Just stay away.
Good, Alexander thought. Perfect.
The door slid open again.
Alexander sighed without turning. "I said—"
He stopped.
Standing there was a girl about his age. Asian. Black hair falling neatly over her shoulders. She looked composed, curious, and far too comfortable for someone who had just ignored the unspoken rule about leaving him alone.
Before he could react, she stepped inside, shut the door behind her, sat down across from him, opened a box on the seat between them—
—and started eating his snacks.
Alexander stared.
She crunched thoughtfully, then looked up at him with bright, curious eyes. "These are good."
"…Those are mine," he said faintly.
"Oh," she replied cheerfully, taking another bite. "Thanks."
Alexander's brain short-circuited.
"I'm Cho Chang," she continued, wiping her fingers neatly. "Half-blood. I was getting bored walking around."
She tilted her head, studying him openly. "You don't talk much, do you?"
Alexander blinked.
Cho Chang.
That Cho Chang.
The future Ravenclaw.
The future Seeker.
Harry Potter's first crush.
Cedric Diggory's girlfriend.
Wow, he thought distantly. She really is pretty.
He sat up straight immediately.
"Uh," Alexander said, regaining his composure with great effort. "Yeah. So. Listen."
Cho popped another snack into her mouth. "Mm?"
"You're going to be in Ravenclaw," he said firmly.
She paused. "…What?"
"Ravenclaw," he repeated. "You and me."
Cho frowned, confused. "How do you know that?"
Alexander crossed his arms. "Because the Sorting Hat is racist."
There was a beat.
Then Cho laughed.
Like, actually laughed.
"You're joking," she said. "I heard we have to fight dragons or something. Depending on how you fight, that's how you get sorted."
Alexander stared at her. "What?"
"Yeah," she continued seriously. "My cousin said so."
"…There are no dragons," Alexander said flatly. "There's a hat."
"A talking hat?"
"Yes."
She considered that. "Still don't see how it could be racist."
Alexander leaned forward, deadly serious. "Just you wait."
Cho laughed again, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
He huffed. "Ravenclaw. Because the Sorting Hat is racist."
Cho smiled, clearly deciding he was entertaining rather than unhinged.
Alexander could have kicked her out.
He absolutely could have.
But he didn't.
He leaned back in his seat, pretending this was a logical decision.
She could stay.
Not because she was Asian.
Not because she was pretty.
Definitely not because she was Asian and pretty.
No.
It was because she was a future Ravenclaw.
Obviously.