The Hogwarts Express has arrived. The second year has begun.
Students spilled onto the platform, laughing, shouting, dragging trunks and owls, and the boats crossed the Black Lake. And the new students were welcomed.
Inside the Great Hall, candles floated as always, the enchanted ceiling reflecting storm clouds.
Professors stood at the staff table, their expressions were sharper. Professor McGonagall's gaze swept the hall. Snape's eyes lingered on the crowd.
Soren entered the Great Hall with Cassie, Jacqueline, and Penny at his side.
A familiar snicker came from behind them.
"Don't think I've forgotten what happened last year, Soren," Merula said coldly. "And don't think you'll reach the Cursed Vaults before me."
Penny leaned closer to Soren, and whispered in a warm tone, "Don't listen to her snide remarks. You're the hero of Hogwarts, Soren. And I'm sure the same will happen this year too."
A massive hand clapped Soren on the shoulder.
"Good teh see yeh again, Soren," Hagrid said with a grin.
"Hopefully, yeh'll make it through this year without tanglin' with Devil's Snare. And I'll be introducin' yeh to plenty of new creatures as well."
Then Dumbledore stood. And started giving the welcoming speech.
"Welcome to our new first-year students! For all you returning students, welcome back!"
"Focus on your studies, make time for your friends, but above all else, be careful as you journey about the castle."
"Every year is an interesting one at Hogwarts, but something tells me this year holds more surprises than most."
"Enough of my grand proclamations, and ominous warnings. Please enjoy the feast."
The feast continued, the Great Hall buzzing with murmuring. Platters refilled themselves, goblets chimed as they were topped with pumpkin juice, and laughter rose and fell beneath the floating candles.
Somewhere down the table, a group of first-years gasped as a dessert exploded into glittering sugar sparks.
Jacqueline leaned closer, lowering her voice over the noise. "So… what did you do this summer, Soren?"
"I read everything that was published about my sister and the Cursed Vaults in the Daily Bugle," Soren replied, pushing aside a plate of roast potatoes. "And my mum and dad also taught me a few advanced duelling spells. What about you?"
"Oh, wow," Jacqueline said, nearly dropping her fork in surprise.
"I spent most of my time with my family," Jacqueline said. "Especially with my little sister."
Her voice softened, then grew serious again. "But I couldn't stop thinking about the secret message we saw in that room."
Cassie paused mid-bite, lowering her goblet.
"The Ice Knights stand guard past the vanished stairs?"
Jacqueline nodded. "Exactly. I couldn't find anything about Ice Knights, but I did find descriptions of staircases at Hogwarts that no longer seem to exist."
Nearby, someone burst out laughing as a jug of gravy narrowly missed their sleeve. Penny leaned forward, eyes shining despite the chaos around them.
"That's amazing, Jacqueline. Those vanished stairs could lead to a Cursed Vault."
"And you discovered all this while researching potions?" Cassie asked, impressed.
Jacqueline smiled faintly. "Something like that."
Soren looked around at his friends as the hum of the Great Hall washed over them, the clatter of plates, the hoot of an owl swooping overhead, the distant voice of a professor scolding someone for using magic at the table.
"Thank you, all of you," he said quietly. "Even if we don't find a Cursed Vault… maybe we can still find my sister."
Penny hesitated, glancing up at the enchanted ceiling where thunder rolled silently across painted clouds.
"There are a hundred and forty-two known staircases in this castle. Searching all of them will take a very long time."
Cassie grinned, breaking the tension as a plate of treacle tart slid into place in front of her. "Don't worry. Together, we'll find the important clues."
"Good idea," everyone agreed, nodding as the feast carried on around them.
The four of them fell into thoughtful silence, each turning over ideas of what to do next while the feast continued around them.
Candles drifted lazily overhead, and the last of the desserts slowly vanished from the tables.
Cassie suddenly broke the quiet, her eyes lighting up. "Did you guys know Professor McGonagall was featured in Witch Weekly for being an immensely talented witch?"
"Oh, wow," Soren said, surprised. "I haven't really learned much from her yet, so I didn't realize just how talented she is."
"Well, this year we'll be learning Transfiguration from Professor McGonagall," Penny said with a smile. "So we'll find out for ourselves."
Before anyone could reply, a sharp voice cut through their conversation.
"Witch Weekly? Hah."
Merula had appeared beside them, arms crossed and eyes gleaming with arrogance. "One day, I'll be on the cover, as the most powerful witch Hogwarts has ever seen."
"Yeah, yeah," Soren replied calmly. With the year barely started, he had no desire to pick a fight. "I'm sure you will."
Merula smirked. "I'm glad you recognize that my rise to power is an undeniable fact."
She tilted her head smugly. "And yes, Professor McGonagall may be powerful, but surely there are limits. After all, she's just a Transfiguration professor."
That was enough.
"You're wrong, Merula," Soren said firmly. "Professor McGonagall is one of the most accomplished witches we know."
Merula's eyes narrowed, a smile spreading across her face. "Oh? Then prove it. Let's bet on it."
Soren nodded without hesitation. "Fine."
Cassie grinned, clearly pleased. "Brilliant. Let's show Merula the true power of Professor McGonagall."
Penny leaned in excitedly. "The article said Professor McGonagall won the Transfiguration Today Most Promising Newcomer Award!"
"And she's an Animagus," Penny added, barely containing her excitement. "That alone proves how extraordinary she is."
Soren nodded decisively. "Then the most logical place to start is with her Transfiguration skills. Transfiguration class is starting soon, let's head over."
---
The stone corridors grew quieter as they approached the Transfiguration classroom. When they stepped inside, rows of wooden desks faced a wide demonstration table, its surface scarred by years of spellwork. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, catching motes of dust in the air.
Students filled the room with hushed murmurs.
"Did you hear she can turn into a cat?"
"They don't just teach Animagi…"
"I heard she once transfigured an entire classroom by accident—"
A few students exaggerated wildly, adding nonsense fueled by excitement from Witch Weekly.
A sharp tap of a wand against the desk cut through the chatter.
Professor McGonagall stood at the front, posture straight, eyes sharp behind square spectacles.
"That will be quite enough."
Silence fell instantly.
"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall," she said coolly. "I will be teaching you Transfiguration this year."
She paused, letting her words settle.
"Transfiguration is not a subject you can guess your way through. It requires precision, focus, and discipline. A careless spell is not merely incorrect, it can be dangerous."
Her gaze swept the room before she continued.
"Today, we begin with a fundamental charm, Revelio. While simple in theory, it is often mishandled by those who rush."
From the demonstration table, she picked up a plain black quill and held it up for everyone to see.
"This," she said, "appears to be nothing more than a writing quill."
She placed it carefully on the table, raised her wand, and positioned herself with precise posture—feet firm, wand aligned, expression focused.
"Revelio."
There was no flash or burst of light. Instead, the quill shimmered softly, its form shifting as hidden enchantments unraveled.
Slowly, the quill flattened and unfolded, transforming into a neatly folded letter sealed with red wax.
Murmurs spread across the classroom as the parchment opened on its own, revealing lines of concealed writing.
McGonagall turned back to the students.
"Revelio is a revealing charm. It exposes what has been hidden, objects, markings, enchantments. However, intent is just as important as pronunciation."
"In this case, the quill was never a quill at all, it was a letter concealed by enchantment."
She turned to the blackboard and began explaining the theory in detail.
"Revelio, required a calm mind, clear intent, and controlled magical output. Too much force would disrupt the spell, while poor focus would cause it to fail entirely. The charm responded more to understanding than raw power."
After a brief pause, she added, "Now, a little history."
"Revelio is believed to have been formalized in the late medieval period by early magical scholars who specialized in uncovering concealed enchantments, particularly those used to disguise dangerous or restricted objects. At the time, witches and wizards relied heavily on illusion magic, and there arose a need for a counter-spell that could expose deception without damaging the object itself."
She glanced around the classroom.
"Initially, Revelio was used primarily by magical historians, curse-breakers, and Ministry inspectors. Over time, its use expanded into education, as it proved invaluable for identifying hidden transfiguration layers, false forms, and magically altered materials."
McGonagall tapped the board lightly with her wand.
"In practice, Revelio teaches discipline. It is often one of the first revealing charms taught because it trains young witches and wizards to separate intent from emotion. If you cast it impatiently, the spell will resist you. If you cast it recklessly, it may show you nothing at all."
She fixed the class with a stern look.
"Remember this: Revelio does not lie. But it does not explain itself either. What it reveals must be interpreted with care, logic, and restraint."
The room was silent as students absorbed every word, realizing this was more than a simple spell, it was a foundation for far more complex magic they would face in the future.
Next, she instructed the students to revise the spell carefully.
"Memorize the incantation. Study the wand movement. Learn the stance and the intent behind the charm," she said firmly. "Without these, casting is meaningless."
For several minutes, the class silently reviewed their notes while McGonagall observed.