The castle had quieted after dinner.The echoes of cheering students had faded, replaced by the hush of nightfall.Lanterns flickered along the courtyard, their soft golden light dancing on the cobblestones.
Roy sat on a bench near the fountain, sketching enchantment sigils into his notebook — refining the stabilization runes for the next generation of Firebolts. The water shimmered faintly violet from the reflection of the stars.
He heard soft footsteps behind him.
"I thought I'd find you here," said a familiar voice.
Roy turned. Cho Chang stood in the archway, still in her Ravenclaw cloak, hair loose from its braid. In the moonlight, she looked ethereal — graceful and alive, as if the night itself admired her.
"Couldn't sleep after all that cheering?" Roy asked with a teasing smile.
She laughed softly and walked over, hands behind her back.
"More like… I wanted to say thank you. For the Firebolt. For—" she paused, searching for words, "—for trusting me with something that powerful."
Roy closed his notebook, his expression gentle.
"You earned it. You fly like someone who understands the sky, not just chases it."
Cho's cheeks warmed. "Still, when I almost fell after Higgs hit me, I felt something… strange. It was like the broom caught me before I could react. That was you, wasn't it?"
Roy hesitated, then nodded.
"A failsafe enchantment. The Firebolt reacts to its rider's heart — it protected you because you didn't give up."
Cho smiled faintly. "You make it sound like it's alive."
Roy looked up at the moon, thoughtful.
"In a way, it is. Magic responds best to emotion — to intention. You didn't just ride the broom, Cho. You connected with it. That's why you won."
There was a quiet pause. The fountain murmured softly, and a gentle wind swept through, carrying the scent of autumn.
Cho sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
"When I was flying… it felt like freedom. Like the wind itself was laughing. I haven't felt that alive in years."
Roy smiled. "That's the real magic — not the runes or the alchemy. Just that feeling."
The Moment Between Them
For a while, neither spoke. The moonlight bathed them both in silver light.Cho turned slightly, her voice soft.
"Roy… I think sometimes people forget that you're a student too. You're always building, helping, protecting. Do you ever just… stop and breathe?"
He chuckled quietly. "Not really my specialty."
Cho tilted her head. "Maybe you should learn."
Roy glanced at her, curious. "You offering lessons?"
She smiled — a soft, knowing smile — and looked toward the stars.
"Maybe I am."
For a moment, their hands brushed — accidental, or maybe not. Roy didn't pull away.
The courtyard felt suspended in time. The moon, the fountain, the soft night air — all holding its breath around them.
"Thank you, Roy," she whispered. "Not just for the Firebolt. For believing in me."
He looked at her, and for the first time that night, there was a rare tenderness in his gaze.
"You don't need anyone's belief to shine, Cho. You already do."
Her heart fluttered — and she smiled, quietly radiant.
Cho stood, taking a slow step back toward the archway.
"Goodnight, Roy. Try to breathe, okay?"
Roy gave a small nod, his usual smirk softened by warmth.
"Goodnight, Cho."
As she disappeared down the corridor, he looked up at the moon again, the faintest trace of her laughter still hanging in the air — like the echo of wings.