Time passed quickly, and Thanksgiving dinner had arrived at Hogwarts Castle.
The Great Hall was filled with laughter and conversation as students from every house enjoyed the massive feast prepared for them.
The tables overflowed with roasted turkeys, vegetables, pies, and desserts. Students ate until they could barely move.
When everyone finally finished, Dumbledore calmly stood.
With a gentle wave of his wand, the plates, dishes, and remaining food all vanished from the tables.
Many students looked confused.
Alexander smiled.
Earlier in the week, he had spoken with Flitwick. Gave him a general idea of what would happen tonight. Flitwick approved of the idea and then informed Dumbledore.
Since everyone had agreed to let Alexander handle the event, the stage was his.
Alexander stood up.
He waved his wand a few times and calmly said.
"Periculum!"
Red spark shot into the air and exploded.
He sat back down beside Cho Chang.
A few students saw the red spark and quickly stood up.
They were holding musical instruments and began playing soft classical music.
The calm music started to quickly flow through the Great Hall, instantly changing the atmosphere.
The enchanted ceiling slowly transformed.
The night sky faded into a glowing, endless golden autumn sky. Warm sunlight stretched across the ceiling as golden leaves began gently falling from above.
When the leaves touched a person or a table, they dissolved into soft, warm light.
Students watched in awe.
Across the ceiling appeared glowing words:
A Feast of Gratitude
Cho, whose head was on Alexander's shoulder, asked.
"What's the theme this time?"
Alexander looked at her, kissed her on the forehead, and softly said.
"Warmth. Magical. Comfort."
He glanced up at the ceiling and chuckled.
"I'll save the flashy chaos for Christmas."
Cho smiled and continued to rest her head on his shoulder.
Alexander waved his wand again.
The Great Hall doors opened.
Lee walked in wearing a ridiculous giant turkey outfit.
Behind him, several other students followed wearing similar costumes.
They waddled through the hall, pecking playfully at students and flapping their fake wings.
The room burst into laughter.
Some students tried to shoo them away while others laughed so hard they nearly fell off their benches.
After a few minutes, the turkeys waddled back out.
But the show wasn't over.
From the glowing autumn sky above, animals made of golden light began descending slowly.
Deer.
Foxes.
Owls.
Rabbits.
Hundreds of glowing animals ran across the tables or flew gently through the air.
Students gasped in amazement.
Some reached out to pet them, but their hands passed through the glowing animals.
Each time someone tried to touch one, the animal dissolved into swirling autumn colors, reappeared a few inches away, and continued to run around again.
The magical creatures moved freely through the hall, weaving between students and across the long tables.
Then slowly the animals began dissolving.
Their glowing forms rose back toward the ceiling.
The lights gathered and began forming moving images.
Scenes from the school year appeared across the golden sky.
Students laughing with friends.
People studying together in the library.
Groups joking in the hallways.
Moments of fun and friendship were captured throughout the year.
Some students suddenly turned red with embarrassment.
They had no idea those moments had been recorded.
Of course, thanks to Peeves, plenty of unexpected pictures existed.
The magical show of memories continued for nearly twenty minutes.
The Great Hall filled with cheers, laughter, and occasional groans of embarrassment.
Once the memories all ended. Alexander spoke softly to Cho.
"I need to stand up now."
Cho lifted her head off his shoulder and watched him stand up.
Alexander lifted his wand and said.
"Sonorus!"
Sonorus is the Amplifying Charm, used to magnify a witch or wizard's voice, acting like a microphone.
Alexander held his wand near his throat and spoke.
"Everyone…"
His voice projected, and the hall slowly grew quiet.
"I hoped everyone enjoyed the show!"
Cheers and laughter while he smiled at everyone.
After a few minutes, the hall went silent again.
Alexander spoke again.
"Let's take a moment of silence."
He gently waved his other hand, and the professors all stood up and waved their wands.
Small glowing lights slowly floated down toward every person in the Great Hall.
"Quietly say what you are thankful for."
Alexander raised one hand slightly.
"Then raise the light toward the ceiling."
He held onto the glowing light, closed his eyes briefly, and quietly spoke into the small glowing light.
I'm thankful for my family… my friends… and having a wonderful girlfriend.
He lifted both hands.
The small glowing light slowly floated upward.
One by one, students began doing the same.
Soon, thousands of tiny glowing lights drifted upward through the hall.
When each light touched the enchanted ceiling, glowing words appeared beside it.
Family
Friends
Health
Home
Happiness
The ceiling slowly filled with messages of gratitude.
Alexander remained silent, letting the moment belong to everyone.
After a while, he gently waved his wand again and sat down next to Cho.
Warm-colored fireworks exploded across the ceiling—soft reds, golds, and oranges filling the hall with beautiful light.
Students clapped, believing the show was finished.
But suddenly—
BANG!
The Great Hall doors slammed open.
In rushed Fred and George Weasley.
"Hurry!"
"The turkeys are attacking again!"
Lee stormed into the hall once more.
This time, his turkey costume was twice as big, and a group of students followed behind him in turkey outfits.
At the same time, dozens of enchanted miniature turkeys suddenly appeared on the tables, running wildly.
Students burst into laughter again as the tiny birds ran everywhere.
Alexander held Cho's hand and laughed at the Chaos created by the twins.
Beside him, Cho whispered.
"You always make Hogwarts feel brighter."
Alexander turned and gave her a quick kiss.
"Someone has to."
He smiled warmly at her.
"But honestly…"
"I mostly do it because it is fun."