Hogwarts on a Needlepoint

A survey was conducted: which teacher's class did everyone fear the most in their student days? Most people would probably answer their homeroom teacher's class.

Just like how Horatio was about to attend his Head of House's class now.

After enjoying the new steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk from the Hogwarts kitchens, Horatio felt a strange sense of awkwardness seeing his classmates eat steamed buns with knives and forks, despite the undeniably excellent cooking from the Hogwarts kitchens.

Cho Chang from Ravenclaw felt the same way. Sharing Chinese heritage and tastes, Horatio and Cho Chang found common ground in their appreciation for food.

Cho Chang's interactions with Horatio and Harry Potter were a story for another time. For now, let's turn our attention back to the Hogwarts Transfiguration class.

Hermione, seeing Horatio dry-heaving by the desk, asked in confusion, "Horatio, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Horatio glanced at the cat on the podium. As his understanding of the soul deepened, he could directly perceive the souls of things. Take Ron's pet rat, for instance. To others, it was just an ordinary mouse searching for food on the table. But to Horatio, it was a short, fat, ugly man hunched over the table. Terrified, he immediately lunged at the rat.

Although the rat dodged, it seemed to have not dared to appear before Horatio afterward.

Because he had used the Killing Curse in the common room in front of everyone, the Gryffindor students were somewhat distancing themselves from him. Ron, in particular, often secretly told Harry Potter that he was a Slytherin dark wizard disguised as a Gryffindor.

Horatio didn't pretend not to notice. He secretly cast the Nightmare Curse on Ron, causing him to frequently dream of an old man pressing down on his chest. This left him unable to sleep every night, forcing him to seek help from Professor McGonagall.

When Dumbledore learned of the situation, he grabbed Horatio by the ear and brought him to the Headmaster's office for an hour-long "educational session." In the end, Horatio lifted the Nightmare Curse from Ron.

Still feeling indignant, Horatio concealed the truth, anticipating Ron's reaction when he discovered it.

"Horatio, don't you like Hathor? Why are you throwing up when you see that cat?" Hermione asked, patting Horatio's back helplessly, trying to make him feel better.

Can you imagine Professor McGonagall squatting on the podium like a cat? Horatio thought to himself.

As the class bell rang, Harry and Ron rushed into the classroom.

"Good thing Professor McGonagall hasn't arrived yet, or we'd be in trouble," Ron said to Harry, still shaken.

The cat that had been sitting on the podium leaped up, did a 180-degree turn in mid-air, and landed... transforming into Professor McGonagall.

"It seems I need to turn you into pocket watches so you can remember the time."

"Sorry, Professor, we just got lost."

"Then you shall become maps. Now, return to your seats. And Mr. Horatio, please stop vomiting. Are you feeling unwell because you see me?" Professor McGonagall glared at Horatio before turning and walking behind the podium.

"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. I warn you, anyone who misbehaves in my class will be expelled and never allowed to enter again."

"Really?" Horatio's eyes lit up. This was a legitimate reason to skip class!

"Mr. Horatio, you are an exception. If you dare to cause trouble in my class, I will deduct points from your House..." Professor McGonagall suddenly realized that deducting points from him would backfire on her own House. She quickly changed her mind, "I will confine you to detention every evening and make you write Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration 100 times each night."

"Tch, that's no fun." Horatio's spirit deflated like a beaten eggplant.

"Alright, everyone, please ignore the distractions and let's begin today's lesson." With that, Professor McGonagall turned the podium into a pig and then back again.

"Miss Granger, do you have a question?" Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione, who had been raising her hand for a while.

"Professor, what is Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration that you just mentioned?" Hermione stood up and asked.

"A good question, Miss Granger. While Transfiguration is magical, it must still adhere to certain fundamental laws. These laws are known as Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration.

One, food cannot be conjured from nothing. Two, life cannot be created or resurrected. Three, magical items cannot be conjured; they require the enhancement of goblin magic or Alchemy. Four, the quantity of an item cannot be increased. Five, substances that do not exist in nature cannot be created."

"If Transfiguration cannot increase the quantity of an item, then why was Horatio able to turn a small boat into a large one at the start of the term?"

Horatio covered his face. Before Professor McGonagall could answer, he said, "Is it possible that I first turned the small boat into a pirate ship of the same size and then used the Engorgement Charm to enlarge it?"

"As Horatio said, Transfiguration cannot increase the quantity of an item, but it can be used in conjunction with other spells, such as the Engorgement Charm and the Gemino Curse. However, it's important to note that items created with the Engorgement Charm and the Gemino Curse are still fundamentally the original item.

For example, if you transfigure a glass marble into an iron ball and then use the Gemino Curse to duplicate it, you will still get two glass marbles because you haven't changed its fundamental nature.

If you need to change the essence of an item, that falls under the realm of Alchemy."

"Then, Professor, what magic did you use to turn into a cat just now?"

"That is an advanced application of Transfiguration called Animagus transformation. This magic is very dangerous and can only be attempted by older students with my approval."

After concluding her conversation with the curious Hermione, Professor McGonagall began explaining the key points of Transfiguration in class. The young wizards listened, utterly bewildered, and could only bury their heads in their notes, trying to record these obscure and difficult points.

Only Horatio, with nothing to do, looked around and boredly drew Peppa Pig in his notebook, earning a furious glare from Professor McGonagall.

Subsequently, Professor McGonagall handed out a matchstick to each young wizard, allowing them to try freely. However, when she reached Horatio, she skipped him directly.

"??? Professor, I accuse you of discrimination! You know, political correctness is popular now, and they might replace you with a professor with a darker complexion." Horatio protested.

"Mr. Horatio, I know you have a good grasp of Transfiguration, but I hope you will behave with humility and not disturb other students during class." Professor McGonagall still gave Horatio a matchstick, but she was afraid he would pull some stunt in her Transfiguration class, not because of political correctness.

Hermione tried. After dozens of failures, she succeeded in making the matchstick change. She turned it silver, and one end became very sharp.

"Miss Granger has done an excellent job." Professor McGonagall held up Hermione's matchstick and showed it to the young wizards. "Since Miss Granger was the first to make the matchstick change, Gryffindor gains one point."

Hermione retrieved her matchstick and looked provocatively at Horatio.

"???"

Does she not remember who's boss? Didn't I show you my Transfiguration skills before I enrolled? You dare to provoke me.

Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione with satisfaction, and shot Horatio a look of disdain.

Fine, fine, so this is how it's going to be, huh? If I don't pull off something big, then all those points I added to my Transfiguration talent up to level 11 were for nothing?

Horatio picked up Kei and pointed it at the matchstick. The matchstick instantly turned into a silver needle.

"Not bad, but you need to remember we're in Transfiguration class, not Alchemy class." Professor McGonagall saw that the essence of the matchstick had changed at a glance.

"Tch, take another look at the tip of the needle." Horatio produced a microscope and placed the needle under the lens.

Professor McGonagall leaned in for a closer look. A silver Hogwarts castle appeared on the tip of the needle. Not only was the castle lifelike, but one could also see tiny figures inside the windows attending class. Moreover, those tiny figures were moving.

As Professor McGonagall turned the silver needle, she finally saw the Transfiguration classroom. She discovered that the Hogwarts on the needle's tip was actually synchronizing with what was happening in the real Hogwarts. Even everyone's expressions could be seen clearly.

Professor McGonagall fell silent. Finally, she said helplessly, "Exquisite Transfiguration. Your talent is truly undeniable. Forget it, you can do whatever you want in my class, as long as you don't disturb the other students."

"Oh, and for your brilliant Alchemy and Transfiguration, Gryffindor gets five points. Class dismissed."

After class, the young wizards crowded around the microscope and saw the Hogwarts on the needle's tip, exclaiming in amazement.

Hermione fell silent after seeing it.

Horatio, looking smug, made the gesture that "Oppa" fans hate the most with his right hand: "Actually, the gap between us is only a tiny bit."