Hufflepuff Table – Gossip, Teasing, and Tonks Turning into a Tomato
That evening, the Great Hall buzzed louder than usual.
Every table was whispering the same three headlines:
Ron Weasley peed himself on Day 1 Draco Malfoy also peed himself Keith Runcandel broke Hogwarts records in both Transfiguration and Potions
But the liveliest table was Hufflepuff.
Keith sat in the center:
Right side: Tonks and Cedric Left side: Rias, Helena, Susan
Tonks tried very hard to act normal, but her hair was a constant loop of pink → red → white → pink from the memory of Keith whispering in her ear.
Cedric stabbed a potato and grinned.
"Tonks… I've never seen you turn eight shades of red before."
Tonks choked on her pumpkin juice.
"I–I d-didn't—!"
Rias leaned over, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh? Tonks, what exactly happened between you and Keith after class?"
Helena tilted her head, an angelic yet suspicious smile forming.
"Yes, Tonks… you looked like a flustered fire fairy."
Tonks flailed.
"N–NOTHING HAPPENED!"
But Keith just calmly cut his meat, completely unfazed.
Tonks huffed, embarrassed, and impulsively punched Keith under the table.
Except—
Keith didn't even look.
He lifted one finger and stopped her fist effortlessly.
Tonks froze.
Then Keith gently slid his hand down, caught her smaller hand, and intertwined their fingers beneath the table.
Tonks's breath hitched.
Her hair exploded into a cotton-candy pink puff.
She didn't pull away.
Rias smirked knowingly.
Helena stifled a giggle.
Susan whispered, "How cute…"
Cedric placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
"Truly tragic. She's been defeated."
Tonks buried her face on the table.
Whispers Across the Great Hall
Meanwhile, gossip spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Keith actually taught half the Transfiguration class?"
"And Snape gave points to Helena and Keith!! Snape!!!"
"That wand… two cores merged? Never heard of anything like it."
"And the Runcandels are in Hufflepuff!"
Students kept glancing at Keith's table — where:
Tonks looked like a pink strawberry Keith held her hand like it was the most normal thing in the world Rias and Helena glowed with smug satisfaction And Cedric was laughing his soul out
Even the teachers noticed.
Professor Table – Reactions
McGonagall adjusted her glasses, looking visibly impressed.
"Albus, you should have seen the quality of Mr. Runcandel's transfiguration. Even I lacked the words."
Snape sipped his tea, expression neutral, though his eyes betrayed admiration.
"His brewing adjustments were… annoyingly precise."
"And Helena brewed flawlessly."
Dumbledore stroked his beard.
"Remarkable. Two prodigies from the same house… how very exciting."
Professor Sprout nearly burst with pride.
"My Hufflepuffs! Keith, Rias, Helena — all three of them shining so brightly on day one!"
Dumbledore chuckled softly.
"I believe Hogwarts will be… very lively this year."