“Neville, is Divination only available to third-year students?” During breakfast, John happened to start chatting with Neville and pulled him over to sit at the Ravenclaw table.
Although Neville was a little nervous at first, nobody unfamiliar paid much attention to them, so eating breakfast at the Ravenclaw table felt strangely refreshing to him.
It was his first time eating at another house’s table.
“Yes, but it’s actually an elective, along with Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies.” “We third-years only need to choose two of them.” Neville answered John’s question honestly.
“I see.
Which ones did you choose, Neville?” “Divination and Care of Magical Creatures.” “Are you especially interested in those two subjects?” “No, they’re just easier to pass…” “…” Damn it.
Even after transmigrating into a magical world, he still had to hear people talking about easy credits.
…
After finishing breakfast, John said goodbye to Neville and hurried straight toward the Transfiguration classroom.
According to Neville, Professor McGonagall liked to transform into a cat and sit on the lectern before the first lesson of the year, secretly observing the students’ attitudes.
John had been deeply shocked after hearing that.
Were catgirls actually real in this world?
Could he also turn into a cat and get adopted by a beautiful woman…
The more he thought about it, the more disturbing it became.
By the time he hurried into the classroom, it was almost full.
Ryan and Ethan had arrived earlier and were already sitting together.
The nearby seats were taken as well, so John simply chose the empty seat right at the front.
At a glance, he spotted the tabby cat sitting primly on the lectern.
According to Neville, this should be Professor McGonagall in her Animagus form.
Honestly, it was quite a shocking sight…
Today’s class was shared between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, so Titus, the chubby little boy, was not there.
He was probably attending another class instead.
“We meet again, Mr.
Merrick.” Just then, a female student sat down beside him and greeted him.
John turned his head and saw Astoria, whom he had met on the train.
Speaking of which, she really had been sorted into Slytherin, making her the only Slytherin student he knew.
Well, aside from her sister.
“Hello, Greengrass,” John replied politely.
Astoria looked as though she wanted to continue speaking, but the moment she opened her mouth, the tabby cat on the lectern suddenly leaped into the air.
Its body rapidly changed shape, transforming into the tall figure of Professor McGonagall.
“Wow!” Gasps immediately spread through the classroom, and Professor McGonagall proudly lifted her chin.
Yesterday afternoon, when she had demonstrated her Animagus transformation to the third-years, those young wizards had shown barely any reaction at all, which had left her somewhat disappointed.
Today’s response felt much more satisfying.
“Quiet, everyone.
I believe I was already introduced during the Sorting Ceremony at the start of term.” “However, I still need to make a formal introduction.
My name is Minerva McGonagall.
You may call me Professor McGonagall.” “I am one of only seven registered Animagi in the Ministry of Magic, and I will be your Transfiguration professor.” Although most of the students did not fully understand what an Animagus was, they still applauded enthusiastically in support.
Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction and officially began the lesson.
“Can anyone tell me what Transfiguration is?” Professor McGonagall asked slowly as she stood at the front of the classroom.
Astoria, sitting beside John, immediately raised her hand and answered, “It is magic that changes the appearance, form, or even the species of an object through Transfiguration spells.” “Very good.
Slytherin earns five points.” Professor McGonagall nodded before continuing.
“Transfiguration is an extremely complex, dangerous, and rigorous branch of magic that requires logical thinking.
It involves altering an object’s form, properties, and even its life state.” “Therefore, I expect all of you to approach this subject with seriousness and diligence.
Otherwise, I will have no choice but to ask you to leave my classroom.” Professor McGonagall spoke in an extremely serious tone from the lectern.
She was famous throughout Hogwarts for being strict, and none of the students dared behave carelessly in her class.
“Now then, open A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration to the first page.” “Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration, First Principle: Real objects cannot be created out of nothing, but the form of an existing object may be changed.” “This rule means that all Transfiguration has an important foundation, which is the transformation medium.” “I can turn the book in my hand into a turtle, or turn a turtle into a book.
I can even make the book contain actual text.” “But I cannot create either a book or a turtle out of thin air.” “This is the fundamental logic behind Transfiguration.
Transfiguration is not creation.” Professor McGonagall picked up the textbook, wrote on the blackboard as she spoke, and fluently explained the basic theories of Transfiguration to the class.
Her lessons were unlike Charms, where students were immediately taught spells and allowed to experiment.
Instead, she required everyone to firmly understand the theory before beginning practical work.
There were three core elements to casting Transfiguration.
Correct spell pronunciation, precise wand movement, and intense mental focus.
A wizard first needed a complete understanding of the object they wished to create, then they had to construct the object’s form, and even its molecular structure, within their mind in order to complete the transformation.
The former was relatively simple, but the latter required enormous magical power.
Of course, for first-year students like them, being able to accomplish the first step alone would already be considered excellent.
They were also strictly forbidden from attempting human Transfiguration.
Once the theoretical explanation ended, Professor McGonagall waved her hand, and matches flew from the lectern onto each student’s desk.
“Your task this week is to transform the match before you into a silver needle.” “The silver needle must contain no trace of wood and must have a sharp point at one end.” “Now, let us try it together.
Repeat after me: Vera Verto.” Vera Verto was the most basic Transfiguration spell.
Students had to tap the target three times with their wand while clearly imagining the transformed object in their mind, then cast the spell.
“Now, you may begin.” At Professor McGonagall’s command, the classroom immediately filled with eager students chanting spells at the matches on their desks.
However, nobody succeeded immediately, not even pure-blood students like Ryan.
John picked up his wand and looked at the match in front of him.
He focused his attention, and in his mind appeared the shape, material, and hardness a silver needle should possess.
Every detail became so clear that it was as though a real silver needle lay directly before his eyes.
Gradually, the image in his mind began overlapping with the match on the desk.
“Vera Verto.” John tapped the match three times and cast the spell.
Magic flowed from the tip of his wand into the match.
In the next instant, with a faint flash, the match transformed into a flawless silver needle.
Professor McGonagall was the first to notice the fluctuation of magic.
She immediately looked in John’s direction and saw that he had successfully completed the transformation.
She quickly walked over.
“Excellent, Mr.
Merrick.
You have successfully transformed the match into a silver needle.
Ravenclaw earns ten points.” Professor McGonagall stood beside John’s desk, speaking with obvious satisfaction.
Students who could master Transfiguration during their very first lesson were extremely rare.
She then picked up the silver needle and carefully inspected it, discovering that both its texture and hardness were impeccable.
“Another ten points for Ravenclaw, Mr.
Merrick.
Your silver needle is practically perfect.”