Three more students went before it was our turn, and the spectacle was worthy of a play, a circus, and a Greek tragedy all rolled into one.
The first, a tall boy with acne and a voice that hadn't yet decided whether to be deep or high-pitched, managed to cast Lumina Minor... although the light flickered like a firefly in its final days. But it worked, and he was met with supportive applause.
The second, a girl of about eight, cast the spell so delicately that it only produced a tiny blue spark the size of a glowing mosquito. Even so, Helga hugged her as tightly as if she had summoned a star.
The third... well... the third managed to make the light appear, which was the important thing, but the surprising thing was that he managed to weld the wand to his hand. They had to remove it with a special spell and some water. Don't ask.
I swallowed hard.
Edwin was so pale that if you put him next to a ghost, you'd have to guess which was which.
Godric checked his list.
"Okay, next... Arthur and Edwin!" he said cheerfully.
My stomach dropped to the floor and my legs wanted to give up their employment contract.
But before we could take a step, Rowena raised her hand calmly, a smile on her face.
"Wait a minute, Godric. Before the new students, I'd like one more to participate. I think it will be... instructive."
There was a murmur among the students.
Rowena turned her gaze to a young girl standing among the older students. She was about thirteen years old, with impeccable posture, dark hair pulled back into an elegant bun, and an expression of serenity that was almost intimidating... almost. Her blue eyes had an intelligent gleam that seemed to examine every detail.
"Helena, dear," Rowena said, proudly though she tried to sound neutral, "Would you show the newcomers how to perform the spell?"
A tingle of tension spread among the students. Apparently, the Ravenclaw surname came with expectations and a great... reputation.
Helena moved forward calmly, as if floating. Every step perfectly measured, every movement controlled. You could feel the elegance in her aura and also... a slight trace of "try not to disappoint my mother in front of thirty people."
She stood in front of the practice area, took a deep breath, and raised her wand with pinpoint accuracy.
"Lumina Minor," she said softly, clearly, and without ceremony.
The tip of her wand lit up.
It didn't explode.
It didn't flicker.
It didn't create webs, fires, or new religions.
It was a perfect light: white, steady, serene, and bright without being dazzling. A light that seemed... intelligent, if that made sense.
Rowena smiled with dignity, but her eyes betrayed a sparkle that said, "That's my girl."
The students applauded. Some with sincere admiration, others with envy gritted between clenched teeth.
Edwin whispered.
"I think we should have gone before her. It was impossible to do worse than the guy with the net... but now."
"Yes," I replied, "Now we have to try to replicate mini Rowena Ravenclaw. No pressure."
Helena turned off the light with an elegant twist of her wrist and returned to her place without showing off.
Helga clapped enthusiastically.
"Well done, Helena! Sweet, controlled, and perfect for a first attempt. Great work."
Godric smiled.
"Okay, now it's time... Arthur and Edwin, your moment has come!"
Edwin made a noise that I can only describe as the internal squeak of a mouse watching an owl sharpen its claws before attacking.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself.
Edwin was gently pushed by Godric toward the center.
"You first, boy. Breathe, aim, and remember, your magic flows better when you don't force it," said Godric, giving him one last pat on the back that almost knocked him over.
Edwin seemed to be torn between running away into the forest or faking his death, but finally he plucked up his courage and raised his wand with both hands as if he were holding a historical weapon with instructions in another language.
"Lu... Lumina Minor," he whispered.
A faint green glow appeared at the tip of his wand. Small but steady. Soft as the flame of a newly lit candle.
Helga clapped tenderly.
"Very good, very good, Edwin! That light was perfect for your first attempt."
Edwin stared at the light as if he had created the sun. He smiled for the first time since we arrived at Hogwarts and clumsily extinguished the light, but without causing any disaster.
Rowena looked at Edwin with approval.
"Control, calm, and focus. Good start."
I congratulated him quietly when he returned to my side.
"Brother... you didn't die. That's already a victory, haha."
He sighed with relief, still a little pale.
"Your turn, and please do it... normally, okay? Nothing weird. Nothing surprising. Nothing that will make history," he said between pleas.
I nodded with a smile.
Spoiler: I had never been "normal" in my life since I got here.
I walked to the center of the field breathing as if I were about to face a basilisk. Thirty-odd people were watching me, including the four founders judging me and a perfect, elegant teenage Ravenclaw looking on with a slightly raised eyebrow, expectant.
I swallowed hard and raised my wand.
"Lumina Minor, right?" I murmured, wanting to confirm the spell.
Godric nodded with a broad smile.
"Exactly. Trust your instincts and everything will be fine."
My instincts... right. My instincts were terrible at following instructions.
I took a deep breath and remembered how I had felt the magic that first time in the forest. From my stomach to my arms.
I concentrated the energy, perhaps too much, and said:
"LUMINA MINOR! ...I think."
The wand vibrated suspiciously and POOF!
Instead of a little light, a bright pink flame burst from the tip. It seemed that my magic had confused "soft light" with "festive fire."
The fire was clearly fire, hot and spreading rapidly... only it was a bright pink with sparkles that looked like it came from a carnival.
"B-but why is it pink?" I blurted out.
The students screamed and backed away as the flame jumped to the grass and began to burn everything in its path until it reached the bushes.
Godric acted immediately:
"Conjure water, quickly!"
"NO!" Rowena shouted. "Don't use water with magical fire! The water will only feed it!"
Godric stopped midway through the water spell.
"Why is there a fire that feeds on water?"
Rowena replied, without taking her eyes off the potential fire.
"Because some types of magic react with the elements. Water causes it to multiply. Use earth to extinguish it!"
Helga cast a containment spell as she ran.
"Circumscriptum!" A barrier of earth began to surround the flames, forcing them to stop spreading.
Although normal in magical nature, the fire was so striking in color that some students didn't know whether to run or stay and watch.
Salazar spoke with irritating calm.
"It's not unusual for a spell that gets out of control to generate fire. What is unusual is..." he pointed with his wand, "its color."
Rowena nodded as she finished containing the fire.
"Magical fire is usually red, blue, or violet. Pink is only seen when the caster's magic has... an unusual tuning. It can demonstrate... creativity and impulsiveness."
Salazar added, staring at me intently.
"And they're difficult to predict."
Helena, looking both surprised and fascinated, whispered.
"I've never seen a pink fire..."
Finally, it was extinguished and the flames died down when covered with earth. It ended up disappearing in a sweet-smelling smoke with the aroma of... strawberries?
Godric patted me on the shoulder, between nervous laughter and genuine enthusiasm.
"Arthur... that was, without a doubt, memorable."
I could barely say anything.
"My intention was just to create a little light..."
Edwin spoke to me in a defeated voice.
"What part of doing something 'normal' was so difficult to understand?"
The students looked at me with a mixture of respect, fear, and curiosity.
I don't know if that was a good thing... but they definitely wouldn't forget it.
That's when Thurkell decided to speak up.
With slow, exaggeratedly confident steps, he moved toward the center. He adjusted his cloak (which didn't need adjusting) and lifted his chin as if he were the heir to the universal magical throne.
"I think I could help little Arthur," he said in a feigned friendly tone that sounded more like "let me humiliate this brat." "A practical demonstration, perhaps a friendly duel."
The murmur of the students rose quickly.
A duel. On the first day! With a boy who barely knew how to conjure a light... well, a little pink flame, it didn't bode well.
Edwin paled again.
"No, no, no, no... this is a bad idea," he whispered to me. "Thurkell has much more experience than us, plus he's taller. He'll destroy you."
Godric raised an eyebrow.
"A duel between students is not appropriate in a first assessment, Thurkell."
The boy smiled with carefully rehearsed innocence.
"Oh, it wouldn't be a full duel, Professor Gryffindor. Just a controlled exercise for Arthur to learn... from someone with more experience." He looked around, making sure everyone was listening. "It would be a shame if such an unpredictable talent didn't receive proper guidance."
Translation: Let me show off and make him look ridiculous in front of everyone.
Salazar, who until then had been watching silently, fixed his gaze on Thurkell.
"Proper guidance comes from teachers, not from overconfident students."
Thurkell's face trembled for a second, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Of course, Professor Slytherin... I just wanted to lighten your load a little."
I didn't know whether to feel insulted or grateful for the "interest." Although more than "help," it sounded like "I want to mess with you."
Godric crossed his arms.
"I appreciate the intention, Thurkell, but dueling is formally taught later on. We won't be doing one today."
Rowena interjected softly.
"Besides, magic assessments are not for showing off one's ego, but for learning. Arthur needs support, not a spectacle."
Thurkell tried one last blow:
"With all due respect, Professor, how will he develop his control if he doesn't learn under pressure?"
Salazar smiled that sharp smile that made even the air tremble.
"Oh, don't worry. If Arthur needs pressure, I'll take care of it myself, and believe me... it will be more than enough for him."
The students fell silent.
Thurkell swallowed hard, bowed his head, and took a step back. Defeated.
As he returned to his seat, he took one last look at me. Not exactly with hatred... but with defiance.
A silent "this isn't over."
Salazar spoke to the group to close the subject.
"The duels will come, and when they do, it will be on our terms. Until then, control your magic before trying to show it off."
And with that, the day's evaluation continued... but the tension between Thurkell and me remained. Everyone knew that seeing that duel was only a matter of time.