"What in Merlin's name is going on here?"
Prefect Gabriel Truman stood frozen at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, clutching a tray of late-night snacks—maple syrup pancakes fresh from the kitchens and a steaming mug of hot cocoa. His amber eyes were wide with shock, staring through the rising steam at the chaotic scene unfolding in the center of the room.
Just five minutes ago, when he'd left, the Hufflepuffs—wearing knitted nightcaps, noses practically glued to their parchment—were diligently working on their summer homework. Now, they were a jumbled mess, like a pile of toads hit with an Engorgement Charm.
Cedric Diggory struggled to break free from the crowd, his robes splattered with stray ink stains, waving a parchment filled with names. "No pushing! If you want your quills enchanted, line up on the left to register! If you're buying a new one, pay Adam directly!"
His voice was drowned out by the clamor, but it drew Gabriel's attention to the figure standing on a wooden table.
Betty, leaning against a rack, was absentmindedly scuffing her badger-embroidered socks against the black-and-yellow carpet. "I have no idea," she said, tugging at the end of her braid in frustration. "Two minutes after Adam walked in, the whole common room turned into a box of Filibuster Fireworks. Something about quills and homework, I think."
Before she could finish, Gabriel's silver tray quivered slightly. He quickly steadied his hot cocoa, wincing as the heat from the mug burned his palm.
The dark-haired boy, Adam, stood on the table's edge, his wand casting a soft glow that suspended a pile of empty burlap sacks in midair.
"Listen up, my fellow Hufflepuffs!" Adam's voice carried an infectious excitement. "I'm announcing that anyone who fills a sack with dirt from the passage outside the common room can trade it for a brand-new quill! Only thirty sacks available—first come, first served!"
He paused for a moment, waving his wand to distribute the sacks to eager hands. "Of course, you can also buy a quill for two Galleons, but this is a Hufflepuff-exclusive deal. Let's keep it hush-hush for now."
The crowd erupted in cheers, punctuated by knowing chuckles. A few impatient first-years bolted toward their dorms, the brass door knocker clanging loudly as they burst through.
Gabriel's temples throbbed as he watched two second-years wrestle over a shovel.
Worse still, others were already racing back from their dorms, clutching herbology shovels and charging toward the dirt passage outside the common room. The sounds of scraping and digging filled the air as clumps of hardened soil fell, some students methodically packing it into sacks.
When Gabriel saw Rand Torres from the next dorm trying to levitate an entire sack of dirt with a Hover Charm, he finally snapped, gripping his wand tightly. "Everyone, STOP!"
A sudden silence fell, as if a Silencing Charm had been cast. The clink of Gabriel's tray hitting the ground echoed sharply in the quiet room.
He froze. As a prefect, he'd never imagined his shout could halt dozens of Hufflepuffs in their tracks.
But it wasn't him they were staring at.
Adam cleared his throat, standing atop the table again, holding a quill. Scattered around his feet were quill parts—silver nibs rolling under the table, inky feathers strewn across parchment. A few intact quills were scribbling furiously on their own.
The once-smooth dirt passage was vanishing at an alarming rate, disappearing into the students' sacks.
"Oh, and one more thing," Adam continued. "Spread the word: if students from other houses bring in five or more customers, they can get the same deal. But for Hufflepuffs… double the referrals, and you'll get quills at half price—just one Galleon!"
The common room exploded with excitement, the badgers beaming with pride.
Gabriel's composure crumbled. He pressed a hand to his face, struggling through the noisy crowd. "Gabriel, mate, I know you're a prefect, but no cutting the line," Adam said, looking up with innocent eyes.
He poked at a sack by a Hufflepuff's feet, handing over a shiny new quill to the eager student. "Thanks, Adam! This is amazing—you're probably losing a fortune. I'll spread the word tomorrow, promise!" the round-faced badger said, clutching the quill.
Adam turned back and noticed Gabriel still standing there, staring at the mess with a complicated expression. "Oh, right!" Adam said, raising his wand. "I've also got a special custom quill—perfect for writing the ultimate love letter. Interested?"
Gabriel sighed, rubbing his forehead. "No, thanks. I just want to know how long you're going to keep digging up that passage. If Professor Sprout checks in a couple of days, we're done for."
Adam counted the sacks at his feet, nodding seriously. "It'll stop after tonight. I need some time to study it."
Gabriel glanced at the chaotic passage, letting out a weary sigh. He had a sinking feeling this wouldn't be the last time something like this happened. "Fine. Just… make your research last. Oh, and about that quill—give me one."
"Five Galleons," Adam said.
"What?! Didn't you just say Hufflepuffs get a discount?"
"That's for the standard model. But if you help spread the word tomorrow, I can knock it down to two Galleons."
"Deal."
…
Half an hour later, the chaos finally subsided.
Sherry, who'd been sitting beside Adam, recording names on parchment, counted the pile of Galleons in front of her. Leaning close, she whispered, "I don't get it. Why do you want all that useless dirt?"
Adam's lips curled into a sly smile. "You don't understand. That dirt might look ordinary, but to an alchemist, it's priceless."
Under Sherry's puzzled gaze, he pinched a small clump of soil from a sack. With a flicker of magic, the dirt twisted and reshaped into an intricate chess piece.
"Transfiguration?" Sherry asked, taking it and studying it with her dark red eyes. "But what's the point?"
"No, look closer," Adam said. "There's no magic sustaining it. Its essence has been completely transformed."
He tossed the chess piece to the floor, where it landed with a metallic clink. "The elements in this soil, from an alchemical perspective, have lost their spiritual essence. What's left is a shell brimming with elemental potential."
"With the right runes, it can be used in any field—even replace certain potion ingredients."
Adam's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the mountain of sacks filled with dirt. "This might just be the true relic Helga Hufflepuff left behind, generously tucked away in Hogwarts. She was a truly great and noble witch."
He looked up at a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff hanging nearby. She held a gleaming golden cup, raising it in a toast to the Hufflepuff students, her face glowing with a kind smile.
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