The afternoon sunlight slanted through the tall windows of Professor McGonagall's office.
Lucretia stood outside the door, knocked on the half-open door, and waited for a response.
"Come in, Miss Crouch."
Professor McGonagall's clear voice came from inside.
Lucretia pushed open the door, holding the copy of Detailed Explanation of Magical Power Control Professor McGonagall had given her last time.
Professor McGonagall was seated behind her desk, holding a sheet of parchment.
"Good afternoon, Professor."
Lucretia tried to keep her voice steady, but she could not hide the weariness in her eyes.
Last night, she had researched the quantities of silverweed and substitutes for unicorn tears in the Ravenclaw Common Room until late at night, on top of the fright she had gotten from running into Lupin in the corridor...
Even after returning to bed, she could not stop her thoughts from racing. She had only dozed lightly for a while, then dreamed about something involving her mother and woke up again.
Professor McGonagall looked up, her gaze falling on her through her glasses.
That look differed from her usual sternness in class. It carried the gentle concern Lucretia had sensed even before the school term began, and warmth spread through her chest.
Professor McGonagall gestured for her to sit in the chair opposite the desk as she set down the parchment. "Sit. You look quite exhausted, Miss Crouch. Did Astronomy class end very late last night?"
Lucretia shifted in her chair and answered vaguely, "Yes, Professor. After class, I... reviewed for a while longer."
Professor McGonagall's tone was gentler than usual as she removed her glasses and wiped them. "When one first arrives at Hogwarts, it is easy to overwork oneself. But remember, magic does not rely on hard work alone. It also requires a clear mind and sufficient rest."
Lucretia nodded, not expecting Professor McGonagall not to question her further.
"Now then, let us look at your progress in Transfiguration this week. I assume you have already attempted the basic exercises in the book?"
Lucretia hesitated slightly. "Yes, Professor, I tried them, but I still encountered some... difficulties. I remember the method you taught me with the daisy last time, the principle of guiding rather than forcing. I practiced in my dormitory, but I still have some trouble when handling more complex objects."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Progress takes time, Miss Crouch. Last time, we used only simple petals. Today, we can try more complex transfigurations. Did you bring practice materials?"
Lucretia took a piece of wood from her robe pocket and placed it lightly on the desk.
"I brought this. I tried using the guiding method from last time to turn it into a silver goblet, but the result..."
She drew her wand, pointed it at the wooden block, and spoke the incantation.
The wood began to twist under the spell, its shape flowing as it reformed.
What sat before them was a warm, polished wooden vase.
Delicate patterns emerged across its surface. In the afternoon sunlight, those lines seemed to come alive, subtly shifting with the angle of the light like sap slowly flowing through a tree.
Professor McGonagall set down the parchment and examined the unexpected creation closely.
"Considerable improvement, Miss Crouch. Compared to the needlepoint last time, you can now maintain control over the object as a whole. Look at these lively patterns. Your Natural Magic is merging with Transfiguration rather than conflicting with it."
Lucretia spoke frankly. "But I still am not quite sure how to guide it in the direction I want, Professor. I can feel the life force within the wood, but whenever I try to turn it into metal, it always seems to retain some... original traits."
"That is precisely what we will explore in depth today."
Professor McGonagall rose and took several items from the cabinet behind her, placing them on the desk.
A stone, a leaf, and a feather.
"Last time, we used a transformation within the same category: plant to plant. Today, we will attempt cross-category Transfiguration while preserving your ability to guide through nature."
Lucretia raised her wand and met Professor McGonagall's eyes for a moment. Her breathing steadied as she recalled the techniques she had learned in the previous tutoring session.
This time, she focused her full attention on the oak leaf.
She closed her eyes and felt the faint yet resilient life energy within it.
It was like the strength of the first tender shoots breaking through the earth in spring.
Using the method from before, she sensed the direction of her magic's flow more clearly this time.
The edges of the leaf changed first. The green gradually faded, and its texture became hard and smooth.
Yet it retained the outline of a leaf, as though nature's design was too perfect for even magic to bear altering completely.
A moment later, an exquisite porcelain dish appeared on the desk.
The dish's rim retained the leaf's original serrated shape, while delicate vein-like patterns emerged across its surface.
Those patterns changed color beneath the sunlight, as if they were breathing.
This time, Professor McGonagall did not display the surprise she had shown at the vase. Instead, she had the satisfied expression of a teacher watching her student grow.
"Much better than last time, Miss Crouch. You have begun to grasp how to guide your Natural Magic and Transfiguration to work in harmony. This ability is extremely valuable in Advanced Transfiguration."
"Advanced Transfiguration?"
Professor McGonagall rose and walked to the bookshelf, her fingers brushing across the spines.
She pulled out a thick theoretical text. "Miss Crouch, traditional Transfiguration has a fatal limitation: decay. Ordinary transfigurations reverse themselves over time, and the more complex the transfiguration, the faster it fails."
She returned to the desk and opened the book for Lucretia to see.
"That is why the Ministry of Magic strictly regulates transfigured objects. Imagine a transfigured bridge reverting while pedestrians were crossing it, or transfigured coins turning back into stones after a transaction... What chaos that would cause."
Lucretia listened attentively.
"Your ability, however, can create transfigurations with vitality. Because they preserve the object's original essence, these transfigurations are more stable and enduring. Just like this porcelain dish, it is exceptionally valuable when creating long-lasting magical items. Another important branch of Advanced Transfiguration is biological transfiguration, including animal and human transfiguration, such as Animagus transformation. The most dangerous risk in this type of transfiguration is incomplete conversion."
Seeing that the girl seemed very interested, Professor McGonagall did not hurry her to continue practicing and instead began explaining.
"My Animagus form is a cat. When I transform, I can still retain human thought, but if there is a risk of incomplete conversion, one's body may return to human form while one's mind remains in an animal state.
"Of course, the most profound Transfiguration includes Elemental Transfiguration, turning objects into elemental forms such as fire, water, and wind. For most wizards, this type of transfiguration is almost impossible to control steadily, because elements themselves lack a fixed form.
"Headmaster Dumbledore is exceptionally accomplished in this area. I believe he would also be very willing to answer these questions for you."
Lucretia leaned forward slightly. "So that means... as long as I find the right method, I can learn this kind of Advanced Transfiguration too?"
Professor McGonagall gently tapped the parchment on the desk, her tone mild yet serious. "In fact, one key criterion in the N.E.W.T. Transfiguration examination is understanding and respecting the essence of matter. In other words, wizards who can allow an object to retain certain original traits after transfiguration are considered to have grasped the true essence of Transfiguration.
"Miss Crouch, your talent has great potential. As long as we can find a suitable method, I believe you will improve very quickly. But more importantly, magic requires a clear mind, and you, my dear, look as though you might fall asleep at any moment."
Lucretia lowered her head embarrassedly. "I will, Professor. It is just... some things have been troubling me lately."
Professor McGonagall nodded and added gently, "If there is nothing else, you can try taking these three items back to the Common Room to practice with, and we will continue at the same time next week. Remember to practice according to what you learned today, but do not forget to rest. If you encounter any difficulty, whether with Transfiguration or another subject, my office is always open to you. Just as I told you last year."
Lucretia looked at Professor McGonagall gratefully. "I will remember, Professor. Thank you."
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