Blue-and-White Bowl

Harry was naturally familiar with Animagi. There were quite a few Animagi in The Ashwinder Party, and they liked transforming into wolves, tigers, leopards, and other aggressive, agile animals.

The consequence of turning into a beast was that Harry felt no psychological burden when casting Ancient Magic. He could use his favorite Ancient Magic without hesitation—shrinking animals down, then stomping them flat underfoot.

It was not very hygienic, but it was certainly stress-relieving.

He just did not know why members of The Ashwinder Party always screamed in terror whenever they saw that spell...

Did they not like it?

Before long, the classroom was gradually filled by arriving classmates.

Perhaps because they saw that no one dared approach the cat, the new classmates merely watched from afar in curiosity. Not one dared step forward.

Once everyone had taken their seats, the cat suddenly sprang forward, and Professor McGonagall, dressed in a Dark Green Robe, appeared before them.

"That was so cool!" Ron blurted out in praise.

"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said to Ron.

This unconventional introduction immediately captured the young wizards' curiosity. They all sat up straighter, eagerly awaiting the start of Transfiguration Class.

"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will study at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be asked to leave, and will never be allowed back in—I have warned you."

"I bet, Harry," Ron whispered, "she was thinking of Fred and George when she said that."

Professor McGonagall cast Ron a glance as he whispered, then transformed her desk into a pig before quickly changing it back.

Every student was captivated, wishing they could begin learning immediately. But they soon realized that turning furniture into animals was still a long way off.

After taking a great many complicated and profound notes, Professor McGonagall handed each of them a matchstick and had them try to turn it into a needle.

Naturally, this was child's play for Harry. He waved his wand and transformed the matchstick on his desk into a needle, complete with beautiful patterns.

"Whoa, cool!" Ron praised him without thinking.

"Mr. Weasley?" Professor McGonagall gave him a stern look. "No talking during class!"

"But, Professor," Ron protested. "Harry turned his matchstick into a needle right away..."

Hearing Ron's words, Professor McGonagall stepped over and found that Harry had indeed transformed the matchstick into a needle.

"Excellent Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall praised. "Mr. Potter earns five points for Gryffindor."

The students all applauded, partly because of Harry's outstanding performance and partly because Gryffindor had gained five points.

The Gryffindor students all knew that losing points was easy, while earning them was difficult—even if they were new students.

Harry's expression remained calm as he elegantly thanked Professor McGonagall.

If he still could not manage this much on his second playthrough, then his six years of schooling would have been for nothing.

Professor McGonagall rarely smiled. Looking into Harry's green eyes, she became even more certain that the boy resembled his Mother.

By the end of class, Hermione was the only other student whose matchstick had shown any change.

But with Harry's performance setting the bar so high, Hermione only earned two points for Gryffindor.

After class, Hermione came over and squeezed herself between Harry and Ron.

"Goodness, Harry, how did you do it?" She spoke rapidly, like a machine gun. "Professor McGonagall had barely finished explaining before you turned the matchstick into a needle."

"After all, Harry is The Savior," Seamus said behind them. "You do not think The Savior could be an ordinary person, do you?"

Oddly enough, Seamus's reasoning convinced Hermione.

That made sense. Without some special talent, how could he have been recorded in so many books?

They walked all the way to the Great Hall and sat down at Gryffindor's long table.

"Um, Harry," Neville said, "how exactly did you do it? Could you teach me?"

"Oh, it is not difficult at all." Harry drained the juice from his cup and drew his wand. "Take this cup, for example. If I want to turn it into a bowl, then I need to picture what the bowl looks like in my mind, and then..."

As Harry spoke, the cup transformed into a blue-and-white bowl.

"Whoa." Neville eagerly pulled out his wand as well and aimed it at his own cup. A flash of light appeared at its tip.

Unfortunately, the cup merely became a little wider around the middle.

"That is already very good, Neville," Harry praised. "Making the cup undergo an initial change is a good start—you must remember, the stronger your desire, the better the Transfiguration... Well done, Ron."

To his left, Ron had already turned his cup into a bowl with a tall stem.

To achieve that with a wand that did not suit him was enough to make Ron one of the better students.

Harry increasingly felt that he should give his good friend a wand for Christmas.

Being praised always felt good. Ron broke into a happy smile, then said with some frustration, "I was already trying hard to picture the bowl, but I just could not make it any better."

"You need to believe in yourself," Harry encouraged him. "A believing heart is the greatest magic."

Encouraged, Ron picked up his wand again and cast a spell at the cup before him.

This transformation was far better than the last one. At the very least, it looked like a proper bowl in shape.

"Nice one, Ron," Seamus praised. "Watch this!"

For an instant, Harry felt a sense of foreboding rise in his heart.

Just as he expected, when Seamus waved his wand, there came a Loud Noise.

The cup did not transform. Instead, it was blasted high into the air before crashing down heavily in front of the five of them.

"In a sense, it did have a little effect," Hermione said, picking up the cup. "Look, at least the opening is wider."

The afternoon class was Herbology. A short, plump witch named Sprout led them to the Greenhouse behind the castle to learn how to cultivate these strange plants and fungi, as well as understand their uses.

Herbology was probably one of Harry's better subjects.

After all, the person who had taught them Herbology a century ago was Hogwarts's greatest beauty, Professor Garick, who wore her hair in two braids.

It had to be said that a teacher's appearance really had a major impact on students' enthusiasm for learning.

Harry naturally liked the gentle and beautiful Professor Garick as well. She was always like the kind Sister next door. After class, he often found excuses to ask her questions, and Garick naturally liked the adorable Harry too. Not only did she patiently answer his questions, she even taught him how to cultivate Chinese Chomping Cabbage.

Cassandra had even complained about it.

"Look, like a dog chasing a Flying Broomstick. He will never catch it, and even if he does, he will not be able to ride it."