3: On the Train

All seven subjects with Outstanding grades?

Sean pondered this difficult question as he carried his suitcase.

He had arrived fairly early, and the first few carriages were not yet full.

So he found an empty compartment in the second carriage and tried to drag and haul his suitcase aboard, but he could not lift it. He tried twice, and the case crashed to the floor both times.

Sean paused where he was. Then he flicked his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

You practiced the Levitation Charm once at Beginner level. Proficiency +3

As the incantation and the System Panel's notification sounded, the brick-like suitcase quickly floated into the air.

This thing was still the most useful.

Sean put away his wand with satisfaction and pulled the suitcase into the compartment.

What he did not notice was that a little witch was looking at him curiously.

Outside the train window, thick smoke from the steam locomotive drifted above the chattering crowd, while cats of every color weaved between people's feet.

Amid the hum of conversation and the clamor of people dragging heavy luggage, owls hooted and chirped as well.

Sean opened Hogwarts: A History, a book nearly half the size of the tabletop. One page stated that Hogwarts' seven core subjects were:

Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Astronomy.

They were also Hogwarts' compulsory courses...

So how could he achieve Outstanding grades?

Sean found a benchmark to measure himself against: Hermione, the top student of the trio.

If he remembered correctly, she had earned an excellent nine O's for Outstanding and one E for Exceeds Expectations in her O.W.L.s—the Ordinary Wizarding Levels.

And Hermione's grades had always been consistent, so comparing himself to her performance would tell him what level he needed to reach.

Was it difficult?

Of course it was. His magical talent was utterly dreadful. Aside from historical subjects like History of Magic, every other class required magical talent.

But was it impossible for him?

If he still could not do it with this advantage, he might as well smash his head into a block of tofu.

"Just grind!"

Sean thought for a few seconds while putting away his luggage.

"Then I'll start with Transfiguration..."

Sean sat down on a velvet-cushioned seat, put Hogwarts: A History away, and took out Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration instead. It was a reddish-brown book with gold-edged patterns, detailing the rules and techniques of Transfiguration. It was the textbook for Hogwarts first- and second-year students.

Its most classic example was turning a matchstick into a needle. If he could reach that level within a month, Sean felt that getting an Outstanding would be easy.

When performing Transfiguration, it was extremely important to move the wand firmly and decisively.

Do not wave or twist the wand unnecessarily, or the transformation would certainly fail.

Before using a Transfiguration spell, clearly picture in your mind what you wanted the target to become.

Beginners should pronounce the incantation clearly, while advanced Wizards did not need to say it aloud...

Sean carefully read every sentence in Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. He intended to memorize this book of more than two hundred pages before attempting Transfiguration.

His reason was simple. Hermione had memorized all her books when she first began learning magic, and she had earned exceptional grades.

That meant memorizing books worked.

The path to success lay right ahead of him, so why not imitate it?

Besides, his talent was lacking to begin with. He ought to work even harder.

There was another important reason: these books had cost him a full eleven Gold Galleons. The expense hurt so much that Sean frantically absorbed knowledge out of sheer spite, like someone at an all-you-can-eat buffet desperately trying to get their money's worth.

And so, without realizing it, he had roughly memorized every book he had bought.

He had already finished more than 180 pages of the one in his hands. He would finish memorizing it today, then begin practical Transfiguration exercises.

Sean, whose grades in his previous life had been average, could not help but sigh.

Poverty truly made people capable of anything.

Steam hung over the station as Sean immersed himself in his book, so much so that he did not notice a little witch entering the compartment.

"Excuse me, is anyone else coming here?"

A little witch with bushy brown hair pushed open the compartment door, lifted her chin, and asked Sean.

"No."

Sean continued memorizing. If his half year in the orphanage had given him any benefit, it was enough focus. They were like blades of grass whose lives were completely beyond their control; if they did not learn to grow on their own, they could be swept away by the wind in an instant.

After that simple reply, Sean said nothing more. Even after the train rumbled into motion and the compartment's occupants grew from two to three, he did not stir in the slightest.

The scenery outside the window was like an Oil Painting.

Winding rivers stretched into the distance, waves of wheat rolled one after another, and the occasional farmhouse, cattle, and sheep appeared before being hidden by the Ink green hills that followed.

Hermione read her book, occasionally glancing at the view outside the window and the focused Young Wizard opposite her.

The hair at both sides of his head was fluffy and slightly raised, his long eyelashes fluttered, and his entire being radiated tranquility. More importantly...

"He really looks like my cat. Of course I know a Wizard can't be a cat, but he really does..."

The black-haired boy murmured, then scratched his head awkwardly. To his surprise, the person beside him immediately agreed.

Hermione nodded vigorously. She met the black-haired boy's eyes, her face showing the excitement of being understood.

"Justin, that description is... so fitting!"

Justin's eyes lit up, and the two immediately began whispering to each other.

Immersed in his book, Sean did not notice in the least that he had become the subject of someone else's discussion.

The train swayed rhythmically, its windows like canvases carrying painting after painting of beautiful, fantastical scenes.

Other than Hermione and the black-haired boy Justin whispering, the compartment held only the soft rustle of turning pages.

Sean finally finished memorizing the last passage. He let out a long breath, looked up, and rubbed his aching eyes.

"I don't lack anything now!"

Soon, Sean's large eyes gleamed. He set down the book, took a matchstick from his robe, and repeatedly pictured its shape, structure, and properties in his mind.

His memories of Transfiguration from his previous life corroborated the knowledge he now possessed—

"Trans-figura-tion!"

Carried by that confidence, Sean murmured the incantation in one breath.

Unfortunately, the matchstick did not change much.

Yet Sean curled his lips into a smile.

You practiced basic Transfiguration once at Beginner level. Proficiency +3

"Did he just say something? And what is he doing?"

Justin whispered to Hermione, with a huge question mark practically written over his head.

"It seems... to be Transfiguration. Oh no! The book says that's a dangerous spell. If you pronounce it wrong, it could have terrifying consequences!"

Hermione clutched the edge of her clothes, frowning as she prepared to interrupt Sean's attempt.

You practiced basic Transfiguration once at Proficient level. Proficiency +10

You practiced basic Transfiguration once at Proficient level. Proficiency +10

Sean continued trying, growing increasingly skilled. It was a sensation he had never experienced before. Magic... seemed to be getting easier.

Could I be a Transfiguration genius?!

You practiced basic Transfiguration once at Proficient level. Proficiency +10

Beginner Transfiguration unlocked

A new Transfiguration field Title has been unlocked. Please check it.

A Wizard Talent has been unlocked. Please check it.

When the System Panel's notification sounded, Sean narrowed his eyes.

One more Scholarship Fragment!

Just then, an discordant voice rang out.

"You can't use dangerous Transfiguration here! You can't control it!"

Hermione spoke loudly, her tone angry and stern.

The moment she finished speaking, the matchstick trembled. Before the little witch's widened eyes, it slowly turned into a needle, its silvery-white tip gleaming.

The air froze for an instant, and Hermione's last syllable caught in her throat.

"Merlin's beard... I saw this example in a book. Did he... succeed?"

Justin's eyes widened as well, and he muttered in disbelief.

Sean looked up and met Hermione's gaze, the tips of her ears flushed pale pink, as well as Justin's, who was observing at close range.

"Sorry, could you say that again? I didn't hear you."

Sean had no idea what had happened. He had been too focused to hear even a single word.