Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 11 Transfiguration Lesson

When Karen pushed open the heavy oak door of the Transfiguration classroom, a group of Slytherin freshmen dressed in green robes were already seated. Professor McGonagall was standing at the podium. This notoriously strict witch did not appear in cat form as in the original story, but instead wore a dark green robe, her silver hair meticulously tied in a bun. Her gaze swept over the students as they entered through her square spectacles.

"What a pity Professor McGonagall didn't turn into a cat today," Wesley said quietly, plopping down next to Karen. "I heard from upperclassmen that she sometimes waits for students in cat form."

Fabian Brian smiled gently, closed the book, and placed it on the table. "That would certainly be more interesting, but I think Professor McGonagall looks scary enough as she does now." He pushed up his round-framed glasses, his voice so soft it was as if he were talking to himself.

Karen's lips curled into a slight smile. As a transmigrator, he naturally knew that the cat form was Professor McGonagall's Animagus form, but he simply said calmly, "Transfiguration is one of the most dangerous courses at Hogwarts, and it should be taken seriously."

"You talk as if you've been taking Transfiguration classes for years." Ernesto Griffith was the last to sit down, and he elegantly adjusted the cuffs of his dark blue robe.

Karen didn't answer, but simply blinked silently.

The school bell rang.

"Good afternoon, students." Professor McGonagall's voice was firm and authoritative, and the classroom immediately fell silent. "Today we will begin learning the most complex and dangerous magic in the Hogwarts curriculum—Transfiguration."

She waved her wand, and the chalk on the blackboard began to write automatically, listing several basic principles. "Gamp's First Basic Law of Transfiguration: Transfiguration is not permanent. Over time, all transformed objects will gradually return to their original state unless a powerful fixation spell is cast..."

Karen listened intently, secretly activating his Eye of Truth. In his vision, the flow of magic in the classroom became clearly visible. Professor McGonagall was surrounded by a stable and powerful magical field, like a silver-blue flame; the students' magic flickered like candlelight of varying sizes. Most interestingly, he could see how Professor McGonagall's magic flowed precisely along specific trajectories, transforming itself as she cast spells.

"...Transfiguration is more elegant and superior than other types of magic," Professor McGonagall continued, "because it requires a wizard to have a deep understanding of the nature of magic, not just to wave a wand and chant spells." She suddenly transformed the podium into a living pig, and then instantly restored it to its original form, eliciting gasps of amazement.

"Before you attempt to transform, we need to learn how to untransform. Observe my movements carefully." Professor McGonagall tapped her wand lightly, and a wooden teacup appeared in front of each person.

Then Professor McGonagall recited the incantation, her wand drew a small circle, and then she tapped it, thus dispelling the Transfiguration spell.

Karen gazed at the magical patterns swirling around the teacup; the blue light acted like a membrane, shaping the object into the form of the teacup. He mimicked Professor McGonagall's movements, easily dispelling the transformation spell. Around him, his classmates frantically tried to replicate it, chanting spells incessantly.

"Well done, Mr. Hawthorne." Professor McGonagall had somehow appeared beside Cullen, and looking at his perfectly reproduced object, a hint of approval appeared on her serious face. "Ravenclaw, add three points."

Wesley leaned closer and whispered, "How did you do that? I tried three times and failed."

Karen lowered his voice: "The key is the stability of the magic output. You can't just chant the spell; you also have to imagine the magic flowing like water and enveloping the entire teacup..." He paused, and seeing Wesley's confused expression, he rephrased it, "It's like you're gently holding the teacup with both hands and then slowly releasing it."

"Oh!" Wesley's eyes lit up, and he tried again. This time, the teacup was successfully restored to its original state.

Professor McGonagall returned to the front of the classroom, waved her wand, and matchsticks floated down in front of each student. "Today our goal is to turn these matchsticks into needles. It may seem simple, but it contains the basic principles of transfiguration: changing the shape and some properties of an object."

She demonstrated a perfect transformation, the matchstick turning into a gleaming silver needle in her hand. "Remember, Transfiguration requires complete concentration. You must clearly visualize the target form in your mind and have absolute confidence in yourself. Never forget that doubt is the greatest enemy of Transfiguration."

Wesley muttered to himself, "This sounds much harder than Charms class."

Ernesto scoffed, "Transfiguration is the subject that best tests a wizard's talent."

Karen picked up his match and recalled Professor McGonagall's transformation. In his vision, the silver needle that Professor McGonagall had just transformed into was actually a reshaping and remodeling of the match by wrapping it with magic. After the match was transformed into a silver needle, the magic wrapped around it would temporarily give it the characteristics of a silver needle, and this would last until the magic disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, Karen focused her mind and imagined the shape of the needle: a slender metal body, a sharp tip, and an eye at the end.

He waved his wand, and magic flowed from his body, precisely enveloping the match along the wand. With the aid of the Eye of Truth, he could see how the magic transformed the match, turning it into a silver needle according to his will. In the blink of an eye, the match in his hand had become a perfect silver needle, gleaming in the sunlight.

"Brilliant!" Professor McGonagall's voice drew the entire class's attention. "Mr. Hawthorne succeeded on his first try, and the transformation was flawless. Ravenclaw, another three points!"

A round of applause erupted in the classroom, but it was mixed with a few discordant murmurs. Karen noticed several Slytherin students whispering among themselves, occasionally casting gloomy glances at him.

"Now, everyone, give it a try," Professor McGonagall said. "Remember Mr. Hawthorne's example: focus your attention, visualize clearly, and hold firm to your beliefs."

For the next twenty minutes, the classroom was filled with intermittent chants, occasional cheers, and constant sighs. Karen noticed that Fabian had successfully sharpened one end of the match, but the other end remained wood; Wesley's match, on the other hand, had become a strange, curved shape, neither like a needle nor the original match.

"I don't understand this at all," Wesley said, frustrated. "Is there something wrong with my wand?"

Karen moved closer to him: "It's not the wand that's the problem. You're too tense when you're casting the spell, and the magic output is unstable. Try to relax, imagine you're drawing a picture, and remember you're not forcing the match to change, but guiding it into a new form."

Wesley took a deep breath and tried again. This time, at least half of his match had turned to metal.

Fabian looked at his half-finished product with distress: "I think I can see the shape of the needle in my mind, but I just can't completely transform it."

"It's probably because you're thinking about too many details at once," Karen suggested. "Focus on one feature first, like making the whole match metal, and then think about the shape."

Just as Cullen was helping her roommates, a cold voice came from the Slytherin desk: "It seems that Ravenclaw's 'genius' is not only good at Transfiguration, but also likes to play the role of a professor."

Then came another voice in agreement: "Maybe he should just stand on the podium?"

Ernesto turned immediately, his gray eyes narrowing. "At least he earned it through real skill," he said coldly, "not through family reputation."

A Slytherin student blushed: "Griffith, you actually helped someone—"

"Quiet!" Professor McGonagall's voice crackled through the classroom like a whip. Her stern gaze swept across both houses. "The classroom is for discussing Transfiguration, not for arguing between houses. Slytherin, five points deducted. Mr. Griffith, sit down. Now, everyone, continue practicing."

Karen looked at Ernesto with some surprise. Although he knew that Ernesto did not have the same prejudice against Muggle wizards as those pure-blood wizards from Slytherin, he still did not expect that his pure-blood roommate would refute the people from other pure-blood families on his behalf.

After Ernesto sat down, he whispered to Karen, "These so-called 'holy pureblood' families are always so unpleasant. Being pureblood doesn't mean you can be rude, especially when you're relying on your family's reputation rather than your own strength."

As the course drew to a close, only a few students had successfully transformed. Professor McGonagall summarized the key points and announced: "Homework: Read Chapter 1 of *The Beginner's Guide to Transformation* and write a twelve-inch-long essay discussing the first three of Gump's fundamental transformation rules. Next lesson we will continue practicing transforming a match into a needle."

The bell rang, and the students began packing up their books. Professor McGonagall stopped Cullen: "Mr. Hawthorne, you were impressive the first time I saw you. I never imagined your talent was so outstanding. Professor Flitwick has already bragged to me that Ravenclaw has a genius this year." A hint of regret flashed in her eyes, "It's a pity you weren't sorted into Gryffindor."

"Thank you, Professor," Karen replied politely. "I'm just more sensitive to the flow of magic."

Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze seemed to see right through his secret: "This sensitivity is a gift, and you have a rare talent for Transfiguration. If you are interested in Transfiguration, you are welcome to use my office anytime."

After leaving the classroom, Wesley excitedly patted Karen on the shoulder: "Did you hear that? Professor McGonagall said you're a genius! She's the second professor to say that."

Fabian adjusted his glasses. "It is indeed very rare. But Karen certainly has a unique understanding of magic."

Ernesto suddenly spoke up: "Don't take those Slytherin's nonsense to heart; they're just jealous of your talent."

Karen gazed at her pure-blooded roommate and nodded slightly. "Thank you for speaking up for me, Ernesto." He rubbed the matchstick in his hand, now a needle, his voice gentle yet firm. "But rest assured, I've long since learned to distinguish between valuable criticism and pointless jealousy."

Wesley suddenly grabbed Ernesto's shoulder, his reddish-brown curly hair bouncing merrily with the movement. "Ernesto, the way you snapped back at those Slytherins was so cool!" He turned and winked at Fabian. "Right, Fabian?"

Fabian gently closed the book "Beginner's Guide to Metamorphosis" in his hand, a slight smile curving his lips: "It's truly wonderful. Just like my father always said, true gentlemanly character often shines in the most unexpected moments."

Ernesto awkwardly twisted his shoulders without saying a word, but the tips of his ears were already slightly red.

The setting sun shone through the stained glass windows, illuminating the Ravenclaw emblem on the school uniforms.