Wilhelm stood frozen as he heard Terry's voice. Slowly, he turned around to face his friend who had seen him climb out of the trunk.
"You...just climbed out of your trunk," Terry said blinking, trying to make sure he was hallucinating. "Is that supposed to be normal?"
'I cannot wipe out his memory without knowing the consequences, the dorm can have protective wards which could trigger if I use magic on Terry.'
Wilhelm smiled awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck and replied,"It's uh...modified for extra storage. You know expansion charm and all that."
Terry let out a low whistle. "Blimey, that's brilliant. I'd never seen one up close, did you enchant it? I knew you were smart, but that's next level."
"Yeah, my mother was an enchantress. She taught me," Wilhelm said quickly, lowering his voice. "Please don't tell anyone."
Terry nodded, grinning. "Mate, your secret's safe with me. But you've got to show me the inside sometime."
Wilhelm chuckled under his breath. "Sure, after I properly clean it up a bit."
Terry grinned at Wilhelm's answer clearly excited,"Anyways, lets go to the Great hall dinner's in 10 mins."
---
The next day as sunlight filtered through the window, Wilhelm woke up with a yawn. He sat up and stretched his arms, while the other boys snored in their sleep. Slipping out quietly, he grabbed his pressed robes and uniform and headed for the showers.
After showering and a quick breakfast of toast and jam, Wilhelm checked his class schedule for today.
Nodding to himself he tightened his robes, slung his bag on his shoulder and made his way towards the charms classroom.
---
Professor Filtwick, the half-goblin dueling champion stood on top of a stack of books, using his wand to organize the room. Wilhelm took a seat in the Middle row, not far back to seem disinterested neither too close to catch attention. Around him the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws chatted excitedly about being able to learn their first spell.
"Welcome, welcome!" Filtwick said, beaming. "Today, we begin with the basics of spellcasting. The Wand-Lighting Charm, Lumos! A vital spell for young witches and wizards."
He demonstrated the spell, his wand tip bursting into a bright, warm light.
Wilhelm watched with a mild smile. Lumos. He had mastered it when he was 12.
"Now, everyone, give it a try!"
Around the room, students struggled to pronounce the incantation properly. Wilhelm took out his wand, gave a small flick, and muttered under his breath, "Lumos."
A perfect, steady light appeared at the tip of his wand.
Professor Filtwick walked towards Wilhelm, smiling slightly.
"Excellent work, Mr...?" Flitwick leaned closer to see Wilhelm's name written on the book.
"Wilhelm Grehman," he answered modestly, lowering his wand a little to dim the light.
"Excellent control, Mr. Grehman! Five points to Ravenclaw!" Flitwick announced cheerfully, clapping his hands together.
"Good work, mate." Anthony said patting Wilhelm's back from behind.
---
A chill ran through Wilhelm's robe as he entered the potion classroom in the dungeon. He quietly took a seat next to a Hufflepuff boy named Ernie Macmillan, who looked nervous like everyone else.
Professor Snape walked into the room his black robes flowing dramatically behind him.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class," Snape began in a low voice. "I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper to death… if you are not the dunderheads I usually have to teach."
The room fell silent.
Wilhelm, meanwhile, calmly opened his notebook and began taking notes as Snape asked questions.
Soon it was time to brew their first potion, Cure for Boils.
'Simple enough,' thought Wilhelm.
As the class fumbled with measurements and keeping the temperature right. Wilhelm calmly crushed the snake fangs, measured and weighed the porcupine quills and began stirring his cauldron counter-clockwise.
Snape swept past Wilhelm's workstation, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Mr. Grehman," said Snape in a sharp voice. "Have you brewed before?"
Wilhelm paused but slowly replied. "A little, sir. My...father taught me some basics, he was an alchemist."
Snape studied him for a moment before nodding as if satisfied with Wilhelm's answer. "Perfect texture and color."
Wilhelm nodded, he knew Snape won't hand out points but his acknowledgement was rare too.
---
For the last class before lunch Wilhelm made his way towards transfiguration classroom. The room quickly filled with Ravenclaws and Slytherins.
Professor McGonagall stood sternly at the front, surveying the new students.
"Today," she began, "we will attempt basic transformations of matches into needles."
Pulling out her wand she demonstrated the spell, the matchstick in her hand twisting and transformed into a shining silver needle.
Wilhelm took notes as McGonagall explained the mechanics behind the spell and the transformation process.
When McGonagall gave the signal, Wilhelm took out his wand and concentrated. At the Ark they had taught them how to transform items into different things, the process involved coating the object first with their own mana then using a spell on it resulting in a transformation, the process worked outer to inner unlike wands in which spells worked inner to outer. Wilhelm lightly tapped the matchstick with his wand while muttering the transformation spell.
The matchstick transformed instantly turning into a perfect silver needle, shining under the torchlights.
McGonagall walked past and stopped, lifting Wilhelm's needle with a slight curiosity.
"Very good, Mr. Wilhelm," she said crisply. "A perfect needle. Five points to Ravenclaw."
Some Slytherin students muttered in surprise or something else.
Wilhelm kept his head low looking as if he was taking notes.
---
By lunch, Wilhelm's stomach was growling. He grabbed a simple meal of chicken sandwiches, pumpkin juice and ate quietly among his fellow Ravenclaws.
Terry nudged him with an elbow. "You're amazing, mate. Flitwick and McGonagall both praised you in one morning!"
Wilhelm chuckled lightly, whispering, "I'd rather not have the spotlight. After class you all keep bombarding me with questions."
Terry shrugged, grinning. "Well, too late for that."
Wilhelm had unsuccessfully avoided drawing too much attention while still earning quiet respect from three professors. While also getting a reputation for being "quick to understand" rather than "unnaturally talented".
'So much for taking precautions.'
---
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter or any of the original elements from the books, movies, or universe. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling and the respective creators. This is just a fanfiction made for fun. I'm not a professional author—just someone who had an idea and wanted to write it down. Please don't expect perfect grammar or writing, I'm doing my best and learning as I go.