Hairpin Needle

Professor McGonagall walked to the podium without any unnecessary preamble.

"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous branches of magic," she began. Her voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire classroom. "It requires the caster to possess precise control, strong willpower, and a deep understanding of the target object."

She paused, scanned the classroom, and continued, "Today, our goal is simple—to turn the matchsticks in front of you into needles."

Then, with a wave of her wand, she chanted, "Forma Verto!" (Author's original Latin-based incantation, meaning 'change form').

A matchstick on the podium, under everyone's watchful eyes, slowly transformed into a shining silver needle.

A wave of gasps filled the classroom.

"Begin," Professor McGonagall commanded. "Try it, what are you waiting for!"

Strange sounds and gestures erupted around Yulian.

"Ferula Vero!" Kayson waved his hand grandly. The matchstick seemed to grow slightly, but its shape remained unchanged.

"Your pronunciation is wrong," Edgar corrected from the side. "It should be Forma. Watch me!" He demonstrated, but the matchstick didn't budge.

Yulian had actually mastered this Transfiguration spell completely. Of course, it was only after repeatedly practicing what he learned from Murphy's "Twenty-Three Variations of Turning a Matchstick into a Needle" in the Magic Resonance Library.

At this moment, Edgar raised his hand and asked, "Professor McGonagall, I don't think my pronunciation is wrong. Why didn't it work? Is it the hand gesture? Like, should I wave first and then flick?"

Clearly, this fellow had also previewed Charms class, just like Hermione.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Mr. Finch's question is excellent. As I said at the beginning, the core of Transfiguration is precise magical control, a clear mental image, and a profound understanding of the principles of transformation. These are more important than any flashy spells."

"Therefore, in Transfiguration, the incantation is not the most important thing. Your understanding and imagination of the object you wish to transform are paramount. That's why a Wizard cannot conjure something they know nothing about."

"Professor McGonagall, that makes so much sense," Kayson whispered, leaning closer to Yulian. "So, what should we do?"

Yulian smiled and shook his head helplessly. "So, you need to imagine the image of a needle in your mind, as detailed as possible, and then work on the matchstick in front of you."

"I get it now, just watch!" Kayson tried again.

A faint light flashed from the tip of his wand. The matchstick trembled, one end becoming sharp, but the other end swelled into a small wooden ball, looking like a comical comma.

"Actually, that's not bad, Mr. Moretti," Professor McGonagall said, appearing behind him from who knows when. "You've grasped the concept of 'sharpness,' but you've neglected the overall form. Concentrate! Remember, Transfiguration is not destruction, but reshaping!"

"Huh? Mr. Black, why haven't you started yet?" Professor McGonagall noticed Yulian, who was leaning on his hand, grinning and watching his classmates.

"Oh, it's like this, Professor McGonagall. I have another question," Yulian quickly sat up straight and argued. "You asked us to turn it into a needle. Are you referring to a sewing needle like yours, a knitting needle, or a magnetic compass needle?"

Professor McGonagall was slightly taken aback. Before she could speak, Yulian continued, "As far as I know, there's also a type of projectile weapon called a needle, and also..."

"Enough! Mr. Black!" Professor McGonagall interrupted sternly, thinking this student might be here to cause trouble. He was so well-behaved during the home visit. He wasn't like Evans at all, but more like Black.

"Mr. Moretti's imagination wasn't focused enough, but yours is far too scattered, Mr. Black!"

Fortunately, Professor McGonagall had been teaching for many years and had seen all sorts of students. "From now on, you can turn it into any kind of needle, as long as you can successfully transform it. If you succeed, you can be exempted from your homework."

After saying that, Professor McGonagall turned to the rest of the students. "This applies to all students as well. Anyone who succeeds can be exempted from their homework!"

"Alright! Just watch!" Yulian shouted loudly, mimicking Kayson's tone.

Yulian closed his eyes and meditated for a while.

Then, he clearly said, "Forma Verto!"

The tip of his silver lime wood wand tapped lightly, and a silver light like a thread wrapped around the dry, slender wooden stick. The wood color quickly faded, and a cold, metallic luster bloomed from the tip, stretching into a sharp and smooth silver arc.

At the tail, a faint light condensed, extended, and finally formed an exquisite, small five-pointed star, faintly swirling where it was still. It looked as if it had captured a piece of solidified starlight.

"WTF!" Edgar and Kayson, watching from the side, exclaimed in unison.

"This is an Eastern hairpin needle, or hairpin stab, a sharp weapon used by women to adorn their hair, or for self-defense, or even assassination. I'll give it to you."

Professor McGonagall inwardly exclaimed, "Merlin's pants!" Then she gently picked up the hairpin and examined it for a long time before putting it away.

"Very well, Mr. Black, I accept your gift. This can already be considered a masterpiece of Transfiguration. I will apply a strengthening charm to it so it can be preserved for a long time. I'm awarding Ravenclaw 10 points!"

"Oh, and Mr. Black, please stay after class. The rest of you, continue..."

The matchstick in front of Lyria did not turn into a needle. It gradually elongated, as if the wood was growing again. One end became sharp, while the other grew roots.

Lyria's face was a little pale. She seemed dissatisfied with her transformation.

"Interesting." Professor McGonagall, who had been pacing, noticed this scene. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Lyria and the elongated matchstick.

"Miss Lyria, your magic seems to have strong regional characteristics. But this isn't standard Transfiguration; it's more like... the materialization of nature magic."

Lyria lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's. "I'm sorry, Professor. In my hometown, we're used to doing things this way, but... I don't know how to use the method you taught."

The classroom fell silent. The Gryffindor students looked on curiously, while the Ravenclaw students wore thoughtful expressions.

Professor McGonagall was silent for a moment, then said, "Magic has countless forms, and there is no absolute right or wrong. But here, at Hogwarts, what we need to learn is a universal, controllable magical system. Miss Lyria, I suggest you temporarily suppress your natural power and focus on understanding the basic principles of Transfiguration."

"To put it into practice," Professor McGonagall chose her words carefully, "it's not about changing the object's shape, but changing its properties."

She paused and added, "However, your ability is very unique. It might be of great use in Magical Creatures class in the future."

"I understand." Lyria looked up, a flicker of gratitude in her ice-blue eyes, and tried again. The final transformed object, while not exactly a needle, was at least a piece of wire.

By the time class ended, very few students had successfully transformed their matchsticks. It was then that Yulian realized how much help that book from the Magic Resonance Library had been to him.

"Mr. Black, would you be willing to join my Transfiguration club?"