Roy Valvas settled into his seat, watching Professor McGonagall move across the classroom, demonstrating how to transfigure simple objects. Today's task was deceptively simple: turn a matchstick into a needle. Most of the first-years struggled, some turning their sticks into crooked pins or splintered twigs.
Roy picked up his matchstick, examining it briefly, feeling the magical flow around it. With a subtle flick of his wand, combined with the techniques he had mastered in his training, the matchstick elongated and sharpened perfectly into a fine, gleaming needle.
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Exceptional work, Mr. Valvas," she said, tapping her quill. She promptly awarded 10 points to Hufflepuff, causing a few heads to turn.
Ron Weasley's face fell. He muttered under his breath to Harry, "Of course, it's him… showing off again." He was clearly jealous, noticing how effortlessly Roy completed the task.
Roy noticed Ron's reaction but didn't react. Instead, he leaned slightly towards Hermione Granger, who was struggling to get her matchstick straight. "Here," he whispered softly, demonstrating a small adjustment in her wrist movement. "Focus on the core of the object, feel its essence. Don't push the magic; guide it."
Hermione's eyes lit up. She tried again and this time, her matchstick transformed into a straight, perfect needle. She beamed at Roy, whispering a quiet, "Thank you."
Next, Roy turned to Susan Bones and a few other Hufflepuff classmates nearby, explaining the technique in a simple, clear way without revealing the vast depth of his magical understanding. "Think of transfiguration like… shaping a river. You guide it, don't force it," he said.
Following Roy's subtle guidance, several students managed to transfigure their matchsticks successfully. Professor McGonagall, noticing the improvement across the class, awarded another 10 points to Hufflepuff at the end of the lesson, bringing the total points gained during the class to 20 points.
Ron's jealousy grew silently as he saw how Roy could help others succeed while performing perfectly himself. He muttered, "It's like he's showing off… again."
Roy, unfazed, smiled at Hermione and Susan. "Magic works best when you understand it, not just cast it," he explained simply, demonstrating his philosophy — subtle, helpful, and undeniably masterful.
By the end of the class, several first-years were whispering about Roy's skill, while Professor McGonagall noted quietly in her book, "Mr. Valvas shows unusual proficiency for a first-year — far beyond his peers."
Roy left the classroom with a calm confidence, already anticipating the next class, while his peers adjusted to the reality that Hufflepuff had a student capable of changing the pace of their magical education.