Transfiguration Club

"Do you want to learn how to use a wand to conjure an umbrella?" After hearing Albert's request, Professor McGonagall's facial muscles twitched slightly. She stared at him seriously and said, "That's part of the O.W.L. examinations."

"I know. Professor Flitwick told me," Albert said with a nod. "But I don't think that prevents me from learning it."

"Reaching too far is not a good habit, especially in Transfiguration. It is more rigorous than other subjects." Professor McGonagall clearly had no intention of telling Albert about the Summoning Charm, especially after the incident with the demolished door. "You still have much to learn before you can truly delve into that area."

"Oh, all right." After thinking for a moment, Albert asked, "Then may I ask which year covers the Summoning Charm?"

"Fifth years," Professor McGonagall replied casually.

"All right, I understand, Professor." Albert nodded and turned to leave. Since Professor McGonagall would not teach him, he could simply borrow a book himself or buy one at Flourish and Blotts to study on his own.

What did he mean, he understood?

What exactly did he understand?

Professor McGonagall felt a headache coming on. Her instincts told her that Albert might try to master the Summoning Charm on his own, which was undoubtedly a very bad thing.

"Mr. Anderson," Professor McGonagall quickly called out to stop Albert.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall?" Albert halted and turned back in confusion.

Of course, he did not think Professor McGonagall had changed her mind.

"Tell me honestly, how far have you progressed in Transfiguration?" Professor McGonagall beckoned him over and asked after Albert returned.

"How far?" Albert raised a hand to stroke his chin, then secretly glanced at his level-one Transfiguration skill.

Honestly, he did not know what level he had reached.

"Probably... I've learned almost everything in this book."

"You've learned almost everything?" Professor McGonagall's eyes widened, as though she could scarcely believe what she had just heard.

"I practiced Transfiguration and spells before the school term started," Albert muttered softly. "As long as you practice enough, magic isn't actually as difficult as people imagine."

"Not as difficult as people imagine?" Professor McGonagall felt her entire body trembling. She took a deep breath and quickly calmed down before saying to Albert, "Mr. Anderson, if you can turn a match into a mouse, I'll allow you to join my Transfiguration Club."

"Transfiguration Club?" Albert looked puzzled. He admitted that his memories of the book Harry Potter had become somewhat blurry, but it seemed that... there really had never been a Transfiguration Club... Yes, that was right. There had been no such club, only the Slug Club.

"It's a club I founded. We meet twice a week to discuss and study matters related to Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall explained.

Albert glanced at the match, then at Professor McGonagall, and nodded to show that he understood. He raised his wand, focused, and began reciting the incantation. The match visibly grew larger, transforming into a mouse—but the Transfiguration was incomplete, because one of the mouse's legs was lame.

Well, it was a lame mouse, but it was indeed a mouse.

Albert examined the limping mouse and shook his head helplessly. "I've never tried transforming an object into a living creature before. This is much harder than transforming one object into another. Maybe if I try a few more times, I'll succeed."

Although this was Albert's first attempt at transforming an object into a living creature, Transfiguration Theory provided him with theoretical support.

Succeeding on the first attempt was a little too difficult. Still, Albert was quite satisfied with the result. With a few more attempts, his chances of complete success would increase.

In Transfiguration, only a complete transformation counted as success.

"That won't be necessary. You've passed." Professor McGonagall drew her wand and tapped the lame mouse, restoring the poor little creature to its original form as a match.

"I've passed?" Albert was not actually surprised. It meant he had joined Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club.

As for why he was so certain?

Naturally, it was because of the panel's notification.

The quest to join the Transfiguration Club, which had appeared just a minute ago, had already changed to completed.

"I suggest you read more books." Professor McGonagall rattled off recommendations for several books, clearly hoping he would not recklessly attempt Transfiguration. After all, Transfiguration could be quite dangerous.

"All right, I understand." Albert nodded. He needed to read a hundred books anyway; he only hoped those books would not be too thin.

"What were you talking about with Professor McGonagall?" Fred could not help asking after Albert rejoined his roommates.

"I asked about the Summoning Charm," Albert explained. "But Professor McGonagall thinks it's too early for me to learn it now. Oh, and she invited me to join her Transfiguration Club."

"Transfiguration Club?" the three asked in unison. "What's that?"

"I heard it's a club Professor McGonagall founded herself," Albert said after thinking for a moment. "They discuss and study things related to Transfiguration."

"Are you joking?" The twins were so shocked by Albert's words that they were speechless.

"You're amazing. I'm so jealous," Lee Jordan said, a little envious. This was undoubtedly the Head of House giving Albert special treatment.

"Ahem." George cleared his throat and changed the subject. "By the way, do you two want to come with us to the Quidditch pitch later?"

"It wouldn't hurt to get a feel for flying before our flying lessons," Fred chimed in. "Charlie won't mind testing two more people."

"Want to go, Albert?" Lee Jordan asked.

"If we can take a test flight, that sounds good," Albert agreed.

Flying freely through the air.

He was looking forward to it a little!

Though he had ridden a toy broom once, that thing had actually been quite boring.

They had agreed to meet at four-thirty in the afternoon, and there was still a long time until four.

Albert planned to go to the library. After arranging to meet the other three in the Great Hall, he headed there alone.

"So, what should we do now?" Lee Jordan asked as he watched Albert's departing back.

"Go wander outside?" George pointed beyond the castle, and the other two agreed with the suggestion.

When Albert arrived at the library, he found that there were still only two or three people there. He found a seat and sat down, then, under the pretense of reading, opened the Quest Panel. The quest to join the Transfiguration Club had awarded Albert 2,000 experience points.

"A level-two skill?" he murmured inwardly. Going from level one to level two required exactly 2,000 experience points, so Albert casually upgraded Transfiguration Theory to level two.

Level-two Transfiguration Theory should be enough to last him until graduation. As for level three, that was already within a professor's domain.