Hogwarts: Please, Just Graduate Already!

Today, he was talking about the various deeds of wizards helping the city-states wage war against Persia during Ancient Greece. The epic that should have been grand and stirring had become dull and tedious in his telling.

Wayne's eyes were deep as he pondered Quirrell's performance just now. It seemed that he had ulterior motives regarding Ho-Oh. Was it Voldemort's intention?

Chapter 60: Professor McGonagall's Trial, the Shock Brought by Multiple Transfigurations

Wayne had no interest in Dumbledore's painstakingly managed Boy Who Lived cultivation plan.

That did not mean he had no interest in Voldemort.

To be precise, what Wayne wanted to understand was Horcruxes and how to create them. Creating a Horcrux was extremely advanced Dark Arts. It could hide part of one's soul inside an object, and as long as that fragment of soul existed, one could remain immortal.

The inventor of this magic was also history's most famous Dark wizard, the despicable Helpo.

This wizard, who had likewise come from Ancient Greece, lived several hundred years later than Invincible Andros and was one of the oldest known Dark wizards.

He had created many powerful and evil Dark Arts, even hatching a Basilisk through experimentation and modifying various magical creatures to form an evil army that terrified all who heard of it.

At the same time, Helpo was also the earliest known Parseltongue, as if he had been born as a seed of evil, carrying destruction and disaster from birth.

Most of the Dark Arts and curses passed down to the present day were connected to him. The only Dark wizard who could be mentioned in the same breath as Helpo was Enzo, who later created Avada Kedavra.

The more advanced the Dark Arts, the more evil their methods of use usually were. Creating a Horcrux required not only enduring the pain of having one's soul torn apart but also killing a living person as a sacrifice in some kind of evil ritual.

It sounded as though it had many drawbacks, but it was indeed a means of achieving immortality. Used properly, it was even more advanced than the Philosopher's Stone.

It was somewhat similar to the Lich Phylacteries in certain legends, but it did not possess the ability to resurrect its creator.

If one wanted to use a Horcrux to resurrect, other methods were still necessary.

Wayne was not considering how to live forever at such a young age. He merely wanted to study the mysteries of the soul.

In this world, souls truly existed. The legend of the Grim Reaper had always lingered in wizards' ears, and ghosts were another kind of existence caught between life and death.

All these secrets were tempting Wayne's curiosity.

When the class bell rang, many little witches and wizards finally came to their senses. Rubbing their bleary eyes, they walked out of the classroom.

As he walked toward the dining hall with Hermione, Wayne asked softly, "You have Herbology this afternoon, right?" "Yeah. Why?"

"After class, help me visit Hagrid's Hut and ask him to collect as many materials as he can."

George and Fred had only just begun learning, so they had wasted quite a lot of materials.

Wayne did not mind, though. A few trips to the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid would provide everything they needed.

As for what to exchange with Hagrid, Wayne could prepare some growth potions and insect-repellent potions. They would definitely come in handy in Hagrid's vegetable garden.

Hermione readily agreed, and the two of them began talking about what had happened that morning. "Are you really going to ask Snape for extra lessons?"

"Yes." Wayne said, "Snape's level can't be displayed at all during class. After I put in so much effort, he finally agreed to tutor me before Christmas.

"I have to drain him dry."

Hermione chuckled. "Aren't you afraid he'll seize the opportunity to deduct points from Hufflepuff?" Wayne looked at the little witch with the sympathy one reserved for the intellectually disabled. "When have you ever seen Hufflepuff care about points?"

Hermione opened and closed her mouth, unable to find anything to refute him. Hufflepuff generally gave people the impression that they were far too laid-back. If you wanted to award points, then award them. If you wanted to deduct points, then deduct them.

As long as they barely muddled through their homework, that was enough. If they really could not finish it in time, they would simply lie down and give up. Even the professors were helpless against these little badgers who had entered retirement early. At least they were better than the noisy little lions of Gryffindor, who could never sit still and were always causing trouble for others.

Hermione suddenly felt a little regretful.

Would it have been better if she had been sorted into Hufflepuff? Her relationship with her roommates in the dormitory was not very good.

But when she remembered that the Sorting Hat had not given her Hufflepuff as an option at all, Hermione treated it as nothing more than a fantasy.

After Transfiguration ended that afternoon, Wayne had planned to borrow another book from the library, but Professor McGonagall kept him behind.

Only after all the students had left and the two of them were alone did Professor McGonagall speak:

"Lawrence, I know you have already mastered all the material covered in class, but I still have to take everyone's pace into consideration."

Wayne froze. He had been feeling uneasy, thinking that Harry's purchased quill had been exposed.

But after hearing that this was not about that, Wayne hurriedly shook his head. "Professor, just teach according to your own plan. You don't need to worry about me."

Professor McGonagall nodded slightly, and a trace of a smile appeared on her stern face. "From the first time we met, I knew you were not an ordinary little wizard. I did not receive any letters from you during the summer, either."

Wayne smiled sheepishly. "I was afraid of disturbing your vacation, and besides, I didn't encounter any problems."

"Then would you mind demonstrating your true level?" McGonagall stated the purpose for which she had kept Wayne behind.

McGonagall wanted to see how far Wayne, who usually spent his days slacking off, had actually progressed in Transfiguration.

At the very least, the little fellow had succeeded on his first attempt with everything covered in class. Even she could not find fault with him.

To prevent Wayne from hiding his abilities, McGonagall even offered a reward.

"If you can surprise me, I can exempt you from your Transfiguration homework for the rest of this term."

Wayne's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Really, Professor?"

"Of course." The corners of Professor McGonagall's lips lifted slightly. "But my requirements are very high."

"I understand, Professor."

Wayne perked up. This was Transfiguration homework they were talking about.

Other than Snape's Potions homework, Professor McGonagall assigned the most work, and most of it consisted of essays.

Even with Miss Know-it-all to back him up and the Plagiarism Quill, avoiding a little trouble was still better than nothing.

Taking out his wand, Wayne lightly tapped the lectern and transformed it into a sow. It even let out a series of oinks.

It was precisely the trick Professor McGonagall had failed to demonstrate during her first lesson. "Professor, is this good enough?"

McGonagall's expression did not change. She even looked a little disappointed. "That's it?"

"Turning an inanimate object into a living creature can indeed be considered excellent, but it is nowhere near enough to surprise me."

"Quite a few third-years can do it." At least two could.

McGonagall added that in her mind. In fact, she was already very satisfied. She was merely pretending not to care.

Wayne had seemed far too relaxed just now, completely at ease. This level of difficulty did not reveal his true ability.

That was why she forcibly suppressed her urge to praise Wayne and wanted to see exactly how far he could go.

She's still not satisfied?

Wayne scratched his head, entirely unaware that Professor McGonagall was manipulating him. He waved his wand, and the sow transformed into a bull. This time, Professor McGonagall finally showed a slight reaction. "Multiple Transfigurations?"

Transfiguration Charms were categorized from easy to difficult as inanimate object to inanimate object, living creature to inanimate object, inanimate object to living creature, and living creature to living creature.

But that was only the most basic classification.

As the most difficult subject at Hogwarts, the mysteries of Transfiguration went far beyond that.

The multiple Transfiguration Wayne had just displayed was one of the more profound avenues of study.

Other areas included controlling Transfigured creatures, transforming multiple objects at once, and extending the duration of a Transfiguration.

Only true masters of Transfiguration could achieve impressive attainments in all these fields.

Professor McGonagall herself was one example, as was Dumbledore.

Multiple Transfiguration meant casting another Transfiguration on an object that had already been Transfigured. With every additional layer, the difficulty increased geometrically. The lectern became a sow, and the sow then became a bull.

What Wayne had used was a double Transfiguration, something even most older students could not accomplish.

McGonagall did not comment. Instead, she asked tentatively, "Can you continue?" Wayne nodded and transformed the bull into a python, then into a goshawk. Under McGonagall's gradually numbing gaze, the goshawk landed on the floor and turned into a male lion. After roaring furiously, it twisted and became a honey badger.

"Professor, is this enough? This is the furthest I can go." Wayne acted as though he was struggling to maintain the Transfiguration. The honey badger's form was somewhat warped, with one ear larger than the other and its eyes squeezed together. It was not particularly successful.

He looked as though he had reached his limit. In reality, that was more or less the case.

If he had not previously drawn some Transfiguration experience from a blue card, his current level would have been Wayne's limit.

But with the help of that experience, he could perform multiple Transfigurations once more. "Lawrence." Professor McGonagall sighed. "I admit it. You have finally surprised me. No, I should say you have shocked me.

For a first-year to achieve such attainments in Transfiguration was something McGonagall had never heard of, much less taught a little wizard capable of it.

Perhaps Dumbledore had been able to do so back then.

Unfortunately, the two had entered school decades apart, and McGonagall had never truly witnessed Dumbledore's brilliance as a student.

"About what you just promised me..." Wayne asked expectantly.

McGonagall gave him a half-smiling, half-serious look. "For the final test, transform every desk and chair in the classroom into a different animal. If you pass that, I'll consider you qualified."

At those words, Wayne said nothing more. His wand swept continuously through the air, and the entire classroom became a zoo, filled with every kind of bird and beast.

"All right. You don't have to write your homework for the rest of this term." McGonagall was a straightforward person as well, and she granted Wayne the privilege she had promised him.

Wayne immediately beamed. If he told Hermione, wouldn't she die of envy? No, that was not right. The little witch loved doing homework. If she were forbidden from doing it, she would probably be unhappy instead.

"Lawrence." McGonagall suddenly said, "I'd like to invite you to join my Transfiguration Club."

"Oh, you might not know what that is yet." Remembering that Wayne was a first-year, McGonagall explained:

"It is a private club I founded. Most of its members possess a solid level of Transfiguration ability."

"Every week, we choose one evening, or half a day on the weekend, to exchange ideas and share some of our experiences."

"Professor, I don't think that's necessary."

Wayne gave an awkward laugh. "At my level... what would I have to discuss with them?"

Wayne had too many things to do every day: developing new magical items, sneaking into the Restricted Section at night to supplement his knowledge, tutoring Hermione, and taking Cho on walks.

As an imperfect master of time management, he was already somewhat overwhelmed.

After all, he still had not visited the Forbidden Forest, which he had wanted to explore ever since arriving at school. He truly had no time to join some club. Professor McGonagall said:

She spent a full half-minute arranging her emotions before wearily waving him away. "Just pretend I said nothing, Lawrence."

"Honesty is certainly a good thing... but I hope you won't be so blunt in the future." Wayne put on a well-behaved smile. "I'll keep that in mind, Professor." He bowed slightly before finally leaving the classroom.

Professor McGonagall looked at the classroom that resembled a zoo, waved her wand, and restored everything to its original state. Then she gazed at the desks and chairs and muttered to herself.

"Six-stage Transfiguration, transforming dozens of objects at once... With talent like that, how did he end up in Hufflepuff?"

Unfortunately, Hogwarts' history included students who had been expelled, students who had been sent to Azkaban, and even students who had died.

But it had never included anyone transferring houses.

Otherwise, McGonagall truly wanted to pull some strings and get Wayne transferred from Hufflepuff. After leaving the classroom, she stood at the door and hesitated for a moment before heading toward Flitwick's office on the sixth floor.

She was feeling a little distressed and needed someone to share the burden.

The next morning, just as the little witches and wizards were eating breakfast, the owls appeared right on schedule and delivered their packages.

One owl landed laboriously in front of Wayne, set down a large package, and then gazed at him resentfully.

Wayne naturally understood what it meant. He took out some special pet feed and let the round-faced fat chicken enjoy breakfast nearby.

Hermione had only gone to see Hagrid yesterday, and he had already delivered the things today. As expected, this friend was reliable.

Then a phoenix flew out of the flames. It was Ho-Oh, and she had brought a package as well.

Ho-Oh's appearance naturally attracted everyone's attention, and some people even sighed repeatedly. They were utterly convinced. Even Dumbledore was not extravagant enough to use a phoenix as a mail carrier, yet this little wizard was willing to do so without hesitation.

They truly did not know what to say.

"What did you buy this time?" Cedric asked curiously from two seats away.

"Just a few books."

After opening the package, he found that it indeed contained only three books: A Detailed Explanation of Ancient Runes, Ancient Runes Comparative Dictionary, and How to Use a Dictionary.

"Ancient Runes?" a seventh-year student asked in shock. "Wayne, you can't take that elective until third year. Isn't it too early to buy these?"

Ancient Runes, also known as ancient magical symbols or the Runic Alphabet, were magical characters imbued with power.

Before spellcasting had developed concrete forms and standardized methods, many wizards used Ancient Runes to cast magic. Some Muggles had also obtained scraps of information about Ancient Runes and used them to deceive people by posing as fortune-tellers and occultists.

After their third year at Hogwarts, students could choose it as an elective.

However, few people did so. Even those who took Ancient Runes would give it up after passing their OWLs exam in fifth year.