The Most Talented Student
Afternoon.
In the Headmaster's office, just as an old man had pulled on his cashmere dressing gown and nightcap and was getting ready to enjoy a nap, Professor McGonagall hurriedly knocked and barged in again.
"Oh—"
"What is it this time?"
"Minerva, don't tell me something's happened again..."
"I was just about to take a nap..."
As he asked, Dumbledore had no choice but to pick up his reading glasses and look helplessly at Minerva McGonagall, who had swept in like a gust of wind.
"Don't worry!"
"Nothing's happened..."
McGonagall shook her head and walked up to Dumbledore. She placed four sewing needles on his desk, then, under his puzzled gaze, continued in a grave voice:
"I taught my first Transfiguration class today, Albus. Take a look."
"You taught Transfiguration before too, didn't you?"
"Have a look at these four needles. If you were teaching Transfiguration, how would you grade them?"
As she spoke, McGonagall stepped back without offering any explanation. She made sure the light was bright enough, then gestured for Dumbledore to take a look.
"Oh?"
"Transfiguration?"
"Needles?"
Dumbledore looked at McGonagall in surprise. Seeing how serious she was, he glanced at the four needles on the desk. He couldn't understand why she'd come to him over something so trivial. After a moment's thought, he reluctantly picked up the needles and examined them closely through his reading glasses.
A few minutes later...
"Hmm..."
"This one is very good. She managed to transform it in her very first lesson. She has a real talent for Transfiguration!"
"She's not quite as good as I was at her age, but she's still a gifted student."
"I'd give her at least a B+."
Dumbledore set down the silver needle Hermione had made and nodded in approval.
"This one