The Fifth House: Galegold

Soisen woke up the next morning when the alarm clock next to him let out a soft chime and released a wave of purple cloud with a faint lavender scent, a pleasant way to start the day. Heading towards the exit of the common room, he looked at the pure silver egg in the center and made the decision to earn the first points in his House's history by hatching it on the first day of lessons.

One detail he didn't notice yesterday was that there were miniature doors at his feet, perfect for Rada and any future Niffler or cat to roam the castle.

After a good breakfast, his first lesson was in the Transfiguration classroom with Professor McGonagall, whom he found in her cat form watching the students enter through the door. He nodded at her while giving her a knowing smile and sat at an empty desk, taking out a book and waiting for the show to begin.

His action caused the cat to look at him with intrigue, but she soon averted her gaze and continued observing the students entering through the door, silently judging their behavior.

How was he going to spoil the surprise?

Sure enough, he didn't take long to hear the snorts and hurried steps of Harry and Ron. When Professor McGonagall revealed herself to everyone in her human form, people looked down embarrassedly for trying to pet the cat or promising her some fish later.

But nothing was as funny as Ron and Harry's blank and red expressions.

"Mr. Galegold," Minerva said as she turned away from the troublesome duo and approached him. "I'm curious to know how you managed to recognize me, unlike the rest of your classmates."

"It's simple, Professor. I've never seen a cat with glasses marks around its eyes, too similar to the ones you're wearing now," explained Soisen as he pointed to himself and his eyes, as if he were wearing some invisible glasses.

Minerva nodded in understanding. Being able to pay attention to the smallest details was a necessary trait for proper Transfiguration learning. After giving the warning that they should take her class seriously or not come back ever, she began to explain the basic theory of how Transfiguration works and its laws while writing down the main points on the chalkboard behind her with a flick of her wand.

"Finally, you'll apply what you've learned and try to turn the matches in front of you into metal needles by the end of class. Now, take out your wands and remember the focus."

The students took out their wands from their sleeves or pockets and began waving them following her instructions.

BOOM!

"Mr. Finnigan! Are you all right?" Minerva startled at the sound of an explosion and seeing one of her students covered in wood splinters. "Be more subtle and patient! Fortunately, it didn't affect your classmates. Go to the infirmary, and Madam Poppy will have you fixed up in no time."

"Keep trying, Mr. Longbottom," she encouraged when she saw his face flushed with concentration. "And remember to breathe."

"Excellent, Miss Granger!" she applauded when she saw the transformation was halfway there.

"Mr. Galegold, where is your wand?" she asked after examining most of the students and noticing that one of them hadn't followed her instructions.

"It's a bit complicated, Professor, but in short, I don't have a wand."

Although Soisen's tone was casual, his statement caused everyone's concentration to break, and they turned to look at him in surprise.

"You don't have a wand?" Minerva was bewildered. "And how do you intend to follow the school curriculum without a wand?"

"Like this, Professor," said Soisen before snapping his fingers, producing white sparks.

Under everyone's gaze, the match was stylized as its surface began to glow. Once the needle assumed its most basic shape, carvings of an Occamy began to appear around the needle as they ended with its beak as the sharp part of the needle. The silver base along with the tiny sapphires acting as eyes and the colors of the fascinating creature resulted in a wonderful and detailed work of art on a small surface.

The students looked in awe at the change and unconsciously compared their poor work with Soisen's, feeling that something wasn't right.

Were they learning the same thing?

Why was the difference so big?

"Wonderful!" Minerva recognized the wandless magic display and the excellent result. "Few have such firm and delicate control of their magic at your age, Mr. Galegold. It seems you have talent for Transfiguration. Fifteen points to Galegold!" she announced happily. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep the needle; I have a hobby of collecting the best transformations from my students."

"Of course, Professor, it would be an honor," Soisen generously handed over his work.

After all, he had done it once already and could do it again if he wanted to. Besides, he didn't know the spell to make the transformation permanent.

Maybe he should look for Minerva later to see if she could teach him?

Just think about it for a moment, he could buy a box of a hundred matches, transform them, and apply the permanence spell to then sell the finished products for a few silver Sickles.

They would sell like hotcakes!

His next lesson was Charms with Professor Flitwick, who needed to stand on a stack of books so that the students could see him clearly to listen to the lesson.

"In today's lesson, we are going to learn two basic, very simple, and useful charms," declared Flitwick. "The first one is the charm to produce light, Lumos," he waved his wand while clearly pronouncing the incantation, and a light came out of the tip. "You've seen it already, a single gesture and clear pronunciation. Now, try it yourselves."

Given the ease of the charm, most students succeeded on the first try, and for those who didn't, it only took less than five repetitions.

"Excellent example, Miss Granger! Five points for Gryffindor," Flitwick nodded happily as he continued to watch the rest, and then suddenly his eyes widened with excitement. "By Merlin's beard!"

Soisen had his finger illuminated in the purest ET style, while the light turned into a fluorescent green color, spread to cover his palm, and began to float and split as if they were tiny fireflies. (Like Ace's Hidaruma in One Piece.)

"Incredible! A variation executed perfectly on the Lumos charm and masterful control that excellently mimics the movement of fireflies," Flitwick applauded so enthusiastically that he almost slipped off the book he was standing on. "Twenty points to Galegold!"

Soisen felt a fiery gaze and saw Hermione staring at him intently. He couldn't help but laugh and wink, he wasn't going to let her score points so easily. Plus, the application of the charm wasn't his idea; he pulled it from a series of his memories.

"Since everyone has successfully cast Lumos, let's move on to the next charm, one of the most elementary for any wizard: the levitation charm!" Flitwick explained. "Now, repeat after me, swish and flick."

"Wingar, Leviosa... Wingar... BOOM!"

"Mr. Finnigan! Are you all right?"

"I think we'll need another feather, Professor," Harry commented with one side of his face covered in soot.

Didn't he learn from the previous lesson not to sit next to the explosion guy?