Upon Valerius's return to Hogwarts, he was met with something he had never expected: a warm welcome from the school's professors, including each of the House Heads. They greeted him at the castle entrance, their expressions a mix of pride and admiration.
"Congratulations, Valerius," Professor McGonagall said, her usually stern face softened by a rare smile. "You've done Hogwarts proud."
Professor Snape, his own House Head, gave a respectful nod. "It's not every day a student achieves something of this caliber. Slytherin House is honored to have you, Valerius."
Valerius nodded politely, maintaining his usual composure but feeling a sense of satisfaction at the recognition. Each professor offered him their best wishes, a small but meaningful acknowledgment of his accomplishments in alchemy.
---
The next day, a special grand feast was held in his honor in the Great Hall, decorated in greens, silvers, and banners from each house. The hall buzzed with excitement as students from every year whispered about the "Hogwarts prodigy" and his accomplishments at the Ministry. Even though the welcome feast had already taken place, this celebration was arranged to recognize Valerius's extraordinary achievements—something no other Hogwarts student had done in recent memory.
As Valerius entered, a ripple of applause spread through the hall, echoing off the enchanted ceiling above, which showed a crisp evening sky scattered with stars. Seated at the head table, the professors raised their goblets in a toast.
Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat, his eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and curiosity. "To Valerius Grindelwald," he announced, his voice warm and resonant. "A student who has reminded us all that learning is a lifelong journey, and that innovation and tradition need not be enemies, but companions. May his journey continue to inspire others."
The applause intensified, and Valerius raised his goblet in acknowledgment. As he glanced around the hall, he felt the weight of all eyes upon him—admiring, curious, and, in some cases, envious. But he accepted it with the quiet confidence that had come to define him.
Sitting beside him, Cecilia leaned over and whispered, "Congratulations, Val. The entire school admires you."
Valerius gave her a small nod, his gaze cool yet appreciative. "It's only the beginning, Ceci."
---
The next morning, Valerius awoke to find himself on the front page of the *Daily Prophet*. The headline read:
"Hogwarts Prodigy Redefines Alchemy: Valerius Grindelwald Takes the Wizarding World by Storm"
The article praised his recent achievements, detailing his groundbreaking work in alchemical inventions, particularly his magical fax machine, and his triumphant appearance before the international alchemy panel at the Ministry. The words "Genius" and "Prodigy" were splashed throughout the article, drawing widespread attention to the young Grindelwald's name.
As Valerius walked through the corridors of Hogwarts that day, the buzz of whispers followed him, and heads turned from all directions, each student eager to catch a glimpse of the "legend in the making." But Valerius remained calm, his expression composed as ever, fully aware that this was only the start of the legacy he was building. In Slytherin, he was met with admiration from younger students, who looked at him with newfound respect, his recent achievements cementing his place as a role model among the house.
That night, at the feast celebrating his return, he met new faces among the Slytherin first-years. Miles Bletchley, Terence Higgs, Flora and Hestia Carrow, and a boy named Evans Victor Kedward, who seemed to stand out even among his peers. Valerius took note of the young Kedward's composed demeanor and his keen, observing eyes—traits that seemed unusually mature for his age.
Evans Victor Kedward, the son of Mia Kedward, the current undersecretary of Magical Britain, had already garnered a reputation. Known for his talent in Divination and a natural aptitude for management, Evans was an interesting addition to the Slytherin ranks. After the feast, as the crowd began to thin, Evans approached Valerius with a letter in hand.
"Mr. Grindelwald," Evans began, his tone respectful but confident, "I wanted to talk with you privately."
Intrigued, Valerius followed Evans to a quieter corner of the common room. Once there, Evans handed him the letter. "This is from my mother," he said, watching Valerius's reaction closely.
Valerius broke the seal and unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning Mia Kedward's neat, precise handwriting:
---
**Dear Valerius,**
Firstly, allow me to extend my congratulations on your recent accomplishments. You have, as expected, continued to impress. I must say, having someone with your gifts and dedication in Slytherin House reflects well on the values our community holds dear.
Now, to the purpose of this letter. I am entrusting you with a small, personal favor. My son, Evans, is starting his journey at Hogwarts this year, and while he is talented in his own right, he could benefit from the guidance of someone experienced, ambitious, and well-versed in the subtlety required in Slytherin. I could think of no one better suited than you, Valerius.
Evans has a natural talent for Divination and management skills I believe you might find useful. He is also keen to learn, so I trust he will be an asset to you, as I hope you will be to him. I ask that you keep an eye on him, guide him where you can, and perhaps even involve him in your circle if you deem it appropriate. I know he would be honored to have your respect.
Thank you, Valerius. I trust in your abilities and judgment.
Warmest regards,
*Mia Kedward*
---
Valerius refolded the letter, his expression unreadable, though a glint of interest sparkled in his eyes. The young Kedward had been sent to Hogwarts with both talent and connections, making him an intriguing figure to take under his wing.
Evans looked up at Valerius, meeting his gaze with a level of respect and confidence that Valerius appreciated. "Mr. Grindelwald, I will cooperate fully and prove my worth this semester."
Valerius smirked, a rare, warm expression crossing his face. "Call me 'big brother' when we're alone, and let me know if you need any help along the way."
The morning sun filtered through the high windows of Hogwarts as Valerius strode through the corridors, the quiet excitement of a new year humming around him. Today's first class was Charms, a subject where precision mattered as much as skill—a fitting start to the day. As he entered the Charms classroom, he saw Cecilia, Maximilian Nott, Orion Avery, Aurelia Green, and Adrian Prewett already settled in their seats.
"Look who finally decided to join us," Orion smirked, nudging Maximilian. "Thought you'd be too busy signing autographs, Val."
Valerius raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he slid into the seat beside them. "If I had to start every class with signing autographs, I'd never get anything done."
Cecilia leaned over, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him. "Though, you have to admit, the way everyone's talking about you… it's like you've already become a legend around here."
"Well, legends need a bit of peace to sharpen their skills," Valerius replied, casting her an amused glance.
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat at the front of the room, signaling the start of class. The small wizard stood on a stack of books to see over his desk, his usual cheerful demeanor tinged with curiosity as he looked over the group.
"Today, class, we'll be practicing the Summoning Charm!" he announced. "An essential spell, useful in countless ways—Accio is one of the building blocks of Charms mastery. I'll need a volunteer."
Cecilia gave Valerius a sideways glance. "Care to impress us?"
Valerius gave her a slight nod and stood, stepping to the front of the class. Professor Flitwick gestured to a stack of books on a high shelf across the room.
"Let's see if you can summon that top book, Mr. Grindelwald," Flitwick said, a hint of anticipation in his tone.
Valerius focused on the book, raised his wand, and with a clear voice said, "Accio book."
The book flew off the shelf with remarkable speed, landing neatly in Valerius's outstretched hand. The class broke into whispers and a few scattered claps.
"Brilliantly done, Mr. Grindelwald!" Flitwick beamed. "Ten points to Slytherin."
Adrian Prewett leaned back, a glint of competitive admiration in his eyes. "Alright, you're making the rest of us look bad, Val. Guess it's my turn."
Adrian stepped forward, trying to summon a small stack of books. With a slight flick of his wand, the books responded—though a bit slower and less graceful than Valerius's. They bumped into each other before landing in his hand, and Adrian shrugged with a grin. "Not quite legendary, but it'll do."
Orion smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Not bad, Prewett, but Val set a high bar. Maybe next time, yeah?"
Cecilia chuckled, giving Valerius a playful nudge as he returned to his seat. "Look at you, making the boys competitive."
Aurelia leaned in, her eyes bright with curiosity. "You really are enjoying this, aren't you, Val? The attention?"
"Perhaps," Valerius admitted with a faint smile. "Though I'd rather it come from a demonstration of skill than… just notoriety."
As the class continued practicing, Professor Flitwick occasionally offered pointers, but each Slytherin seemed keen to outdo the other, drawing on Valerius's example to push themselves further. Maximilian, a quiet but skillful student, managed to summon a quill from across the room with impressive precision.
"Not bad, Max," Orion muttered, giving him an approving nod.
"Just trying to keep up with the Grindelwald hype," Maximilian replied, his eyes glinting with friendly rivalry.
At the end of class, as they gathered their things, Professor Flitwick pulled Valerius aside, smiling brightly. "You have a remarkable talent, Valerius. I hope you'll consider helping your classmates—your mastery could be quite inspiring to them."
Valerius inclined his head. "Of course, Professor. It would be my pleasure."
As they left the classroom, Adrian threw an arm around Valerius's shoulders. "So, Val, where are you heading after this? Going to teach another class how it's done?"
"I do have Advanced Transfiguration next," Valerius replied smoothly. "But I'll leave the teaching to McGonagall. For now."
The group laughed, and together they headed down the corridors, the energy of competition and camaraderie brightening the day as they moved on to their next class. Valerius couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction—not just in his accomplishments, but in the loyal friends he'd gained along the way.