Night – Hufflepuff Dorms / Portable Dimension
As soon as lights went out in Hufflepuff dorms, Rias waited for the familiar soft pulse in her mind.
Keith: I'm here.
Her lips curved into a warm smile.
Rias formed a perfect body double on the bed, slipped silently from her room, and stepped into Keith's.
He opened the portal to the portable dimension, and they walked through hand-in-hand.
Inside the serene, moonlit landscape—
Ho-Oh glided lazily above the sky Darkrai hovered near the house like a silent guardian
The moment the door closed behind them, Rias wrapped her arms around Keith's neck.
He hugged her back instantly, pulling her close.
Rias (softly): "I missed you."
Keith: "I missed you more."
They lay down together, his arm around her waist, her head on his chest.
Heartbeat steady. Breathing calm.
They fell asleep like that — tangled together, safe, warm, and at peace.
Next Morning – Hufflepuff Table
Keith and Rias walked into the Great Hall looking radiant, which made Tonks suspiciously narrow her eyes (and blush at the same time).
Keith: "Morning, Cedric. Tonks."
Tonks: "M-morning…"
(Hair turned light pink immediately)
Helena and Susan sat down with bright smiles.
Helena: "Keith, did you sleep well?"
Rias almost choked on her juice.
Keith: "Perfectly."
Tonks stared between them.
Tonks: "Something is going on…"
Cedric whispered, "He's unstoppable."
Breakfast went smoothly — until rumors about Keith improving transfiguration were brought up again — but Keith ignored them and focused on finishing his toast.
Charms Class – Hufflepuff + Ravenclaw
(Keith, Rias, Helena, Susan, Hermione) shared a long table.
Professor Flitwick bounced onto his stack of books energetically.
"Today, class, we begin with one of the simplest illumination charms: Lumos!"
He demonstrated the basic version — a standard, modest glow.
Students began practicing.
Hermione produced a small but stable light.
Helena and Susan managed faint glows.
Rias's glowed crimson.
Keith lifted his hand lazily.
Keith: "Professor, I have a suggestion."
Flitwick blinked.
"Yes, Mr. Runcandel?"
Keith explained the mana-flow inefficiency and how stabilizing the mana spiral at the tip could double brightness and halve mana cost.
Flitwick tested it on the spot.
A brilliant white light erupted from his wand — brighter than any student had ever seen — but costing almost nothing.
The class gasped.
Flitwick nearly fell off his books.
"A-amazing! Splendid! Revolutionary!"
"Twenty points to Hufflepuff!"
Hermione stared at Keith like he was a living spellbook.
Rias smirked proudly.
Helena and Susan cheered quietly.
After Class – Flitwick's Gift
As class ended, Flitwick stopped Keith.
He handed Keith a slim, old spellbook — clearly personal.
Flitwick:
"Your insight rivals master-level theorists.
I want you to have this — it contains my lifetime of spell notes.
I believe you will improve them further."
Keith accepted it respectfully.
Keith: "Thank you, Professor."
Flitwick practically sparkled.
Hogwarts Staff Room – The News Spreads
McGonagall looked up from her tea.
"You look delighted, Filius. What happened?"
Flitwick beamed.
"Keith Runcandel improved the Lumos charm."
Snape raised an eyebrow skeptically, tried the new method — and the wand's glow doubled instantly.
His expression flattened.
"…acceptable."
(Which, from Snape, meant "astonishing.")
McGonagall tested it too and nodded in genuine approval.
"Mana cost reduced by half… elegant work."
Sprout clapped her hands joyfully.
"I knew those three — Keith, Rias and Helena — would brighten Hufflepuff this year!"
Even Dumbledore smiled.
"Ah… what a marvelous start to a very interesting year."