Chapter 12: Strange Reveries
Continuing the conversation, Penelope turned sharply toward Kate, still blushing from earlier.
"And what about you, Mr. Lane? I've never seen him at school," Kate chimed in boldly, clearly unafraid of stirring the pot.
"We all broke the rules by sneaking into Hogsmeade," Penelope retorted in a low voice. "At worst, I'll report it. And as for that incident with the crying boy, Rocky—I know it was you."
Their banter went back and forth, and Alexander found himself forgetting the original purpose of his trip. Strangely enough, he was enjoying himself.
In the blink of an eye, dusk had already fallen.
"Penelope, look outside," Alexander finally said, snapping himself back to reality.
"It's already evening? How did time fly by so fast?" Penelope murmured, taking a sip of her now-lukewarm pumpkin juice to calm herself.
"Come on, Penelope! We need to get back in time for the party," Kate urged, bouncing in her seat. She had unknowingly finished her butterbeer and now seemed desperate for the bathroom.
Alexander chuckled and said, "Don't worry. The bill's paid. There's a bathroom at the Three Broomsticks, Kate—you can go first."
Without hesitation, Kate darted over to ask Madam Rosmerta where it was, then vanished behind the door.
Penelope slowly returned to her senses, cheeks still faintly pink. "Kate is such a busybody... Today's... date..." she paused, then muttered under her breath, "Next time, I'll be better prepared."
Alexander met her big blue eyes, and a wave of emotion swept over him—one he had never felt during his lonely adult years in his previous life.
But a troubling thought crept into his mind: If Penelope ever finds out I'm four years younger than her, I'm finished.
"Keep in touch when we're back at school," Alexander said awkwardly.
Ahhhhhhh, he mentally screamed, cringing at his own stiffness. If it were possible, he'd dig himself a five-bedroom house right there to hide.
Penelope laughed softly at his expression, her earlier tension slowly fading away.
Just then, Kate reappeared, and it was time to say goodbye.
Parting is for a better reunion, Alexander comforted himself as the girls slipped back into the secret passage.
In the dim tunnel, Kate followed behind Penelope, chatting incessantly.
"Neinei—Penelope, who exactly is Alexander? Does he live in Hogsmeade?" Kate asked, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
"Shut your mouth," Penelope snapped, turning around abruptly. "I haven't forgiven you for ruining our date yet. Watch your mouth when we're back at Hogwarts."
"Alexander is mine—only mine. You little gremlin, just be careful."
"Ah, Penelope! Get a boyfriend and suddenly forget your best friend? What happened to loyalty?" Kate teased, scratching her head and watching Penelope's reaction closely. But when she noticed that Penelope's pout had relaxed, she smirked and kept going.
She kept teasing until Penelope finally gave in.
"Alright, fine. I'll tell you a little," Penelope said, exasperated.
"Yay!" Kate stopped her barrage immediately, eyes wide with anticipation, looking just like an oversized, overly excited kitten. With her chaotic personality, it was a miracle Kate hadn't been hexed into silence already. Penelope wondered—perhaps it was because she was so adorable.
"Me and Alexander—"
Kate cleverly interrupted and sidetracked her again and again, and before Penelope realized it, she'd already said more than she meant to. Thankfully, they reached Hogwarts before Kate could dig too deep. If the girl found out Alexander's real age, things would get complicated.
Later, back in the dormitory, Alexander received a letter from Penelope. It brought a smile to his face, but he was surprised—Kate, that weird little witch, didn't appear at all in the original books. Maybe it was because she didn't fit Harry's taste?
Alone now, Alexander relaxed in the bathroom. During this rare bit of peace, he started to reflect.
He mentally replayed the seven Harry Potter novels, along with the movies. The flood of images and memories from both versions rushed through his mind.
He chuckled to himself. Harry was just a regular kid—not a time-traveling adult like me.
Harry's story never really had that adult perspective. Most characters were seen only as they related to him.
Take James Potter, for instance. He chased Lily for years with relentless persistence—starting from first year—and often dragged his friends into his chaotic romantic pursuits. The books don't say it outright, but you can imagine Sirius couldn't bear to watch it unfold alone and probably roped in Lupin and even Peter Pettigrew to "help." Brotherhood and solidarity in action!
Harry, on the other hand, didn't think about romance until his fourth year. He liked Cho Chang, but out of respect, he waited until her boyfriend Cedric died before he seriously pursued her.
Penelope barely appears in Harry's world—just a girl with long, curly hair. Many female characters aren't even named, let alone described.
Kate? Nonexistent. Likely because she was older and not Harry's type.
Even Ginny, who eventually became Harry's wife, was barely featured in the early books. Her spotlight came mostly because she was Ron's sister.
If Ron had been a girl, Ginny might never have entered the narrative.
Descriptions of Ron—tall, thin, freckled, long nose—were all from Harry's first impression.
In Western culture, freckles are common and even considered attractive. Tall and thin? That's a plus. And a long nose is... well, self-explanatory.
Besides, Ron had Lavender Brown fangirling over him in sixth year, despite not being much of a looker. The Weasley family had solid genes—Bill won over Fleur, a quarter-Veela, and Fred casually took Angelina, the Gryffindor beauty, to the Yule Ball.
Even when Ron wore that embarrassing dress robe, his partner Padma didn't abandon him mid-dance.
Padma, by the way, was officially certified "very beautiful" in the books—though Harry took a slight jab at her sister Parvati's not-so-straight nose.
Ginny, too, was clearly described as beautiful. Even some Slytherins admitted it. The movie casting just didn't do her justice.
Emma Watson as Hermione? Perfect choice. Once Hermione got rid of the bunny teeth and frizzy hair, she was a stunner.
Luna Lovegood? A charming lunatic. Great casting in the movies. The books didn't focus much on her looks—just her quirky energy and air of mystery.
As for Pansy Parkinson? No disrespect, but she was never meant to be attractive. The movie casting softened her, but in the books, Harry outright called her an "ugly Slytherin girl with a face like a pug."
Lost in thought, Alexander realized he'd been soaking in the bath for almost half an hour. The magical portrait across from him—one of dazzling mermaids—waved for him to stay longer.
He smiled, waved them off, got up, dried himself, and headed back to bed, a book in hand for a little nighttime reading.
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Author's Note:
I've read all the Harry Potter novels, but haven't seen the movies in full. My writing leans heavily on the original text. That said, I know the differences are minor—mostly aesthetic. Some characters are cast better in the films, some worse. This chapter reflects that!
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