The First Lesson of the School Year, the Core Essence of Transfiguration!

Devero glanced down at his watch.

There wasn't much time left before class started.

The classroom was already filling up with students.

The environment began to grow noisy.

Devero waved at Hermione to signal that he was heading to the Slytherin table.

He then turned and walked away.

Devero's appearance at this moment clearly exceeded the expectations of the first-year Slytherin students.

They all stared at him with wide eyes.

They had likely assumed that since Snape had dragged him away yesterday before he could even finish his meal, his expulsion was a foregone conclusion.

Yet, here he was, standing before them, alive and well!

Whispers about Devero began to spread among the students.

"What's going on? He wasn't expelled? I thought for sure I wouldn't see him today!"

"Yeah, exactly! Could it be some other punishment? Like detention?"

"I can't figure it out!"

However, Devero couldn't care less about the children's gossip.

He had absolutely no interest in them.

Even the entries on their bodies had already been harvested yesterday.

They were safely stored away in his Entry Library.

He casually found a seat near the front and sat down.

Although he hadn't loaded any Transfiguration-related entries from anyone else yet, he wanted to give it a try.

Was his talent really as useless as it seemed?

He refused to believe it today!

Therefore, Devero was exceptionally focused.

He was determined to prove his own capability!

Of course, Devero sat in the front row for another reason as well.

He wanted to get a good look at Professor McGonagall performing her most advanced Transfiguration later on.

The entire process of becoming an Animagus.

He wanted to see if he could grasp the details thoroughly, relying solely on his Magic Prodigy entry.

Unfortunately.

He did not succeed.

As the bell rang for class.

The tabby cat that had been lying on the podium instantly leaped down.

Its body twisted and contorted rapidly.

Before Devero could even catch a single detail, a stern lady in black and green robes stood before the podium.

The Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Head of Gryffindor House, and a officially registered Animagus!

Professor Minerva McGonagall!

Devero was dumbfounded!

This process wasn't just magic!

Or rather.

This process wasn't entirely magic at all!

Magic was only a tiny fraction of what was involved!

Devero could swear to it, based on his status as a Magic Prodigy.

The amount of magic Professor McGonagall had used just now was not insignificant.

However, to complete a transformation of such vast difference.

With Devero's limited knowledge of Transfiguration.

This was absolutely impossible!

Unless...

The caster had modified their own body!

Devero recalled the fragmented records of Animagi from the original work.

He vaguely remembered.

The process required the consumption of a very complex potion.

The requirements were extremely harsh.

Then, under specific environments and conditions.

The potion had to be consumed.

So, that meant an Animagus.

Was actually a product of the intersection and fusion of Transfiguration and Potions!

That was why it could achieve such an effect.

Thinking of this, Devero's eyes lit up.

He wasn't proficient in Transfiguration.

But as a Potion Spirit.

He was a professional when it came to potion innovation!

Several potion ingredients that might produce the corresponding effects immediately surfaced in his mind!

He began to constantly arrange and combine them.

Trying to see if he could deduce the potion formula on the spot.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sound of knocking on the wooden desk suddenly pulled Devero out of his deep contemplation.

Devero looked up as if waking from a dream.

He saw Professor McGonagall staring at him with an angry expression.

"Mr. Alexander, could you tell me what you were thinking about?"

Devero immediately sat up straight.

A cat with its fur standing on end was truly terrifying!

"Professor, I was wondering if an Animagus is a product of interdisciplinary study."

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

It seemed she had not expected to hear about Animagi from a first-year student.

"Because based on my observations, the magic you used while transforming was quite minimal, which doesn't seem like what is required for such a complex transformation, so I suspect that advanced human transfiguration shouldn't just be the effect of Transfiguration itself."

Professor McGonagall put away her anger and looked at Devero with some surprise.

It wasn't just the obscure term "Animagus."

More importantly, Devero had actually been able to discern her magic consumption.

This was truly unprecedented.

With that, Professor McGonagall became interested in Devero's line of thought.

"Hmm, that is indeed the case. So, what are your thoughts on how to achieve human transfiguration?"

Devero breathed a sigh of relief.

He continued, "My current line of thinking is to combine Transfiguration with Potions. In Potions, the brewing logic of Polyjuice Potion references, to a certain extent, the transformation principles of the rare Metamorphmagus in the magical world. Perhaps this logic could be further deepened for Animagi, only this time, the potion would need to thoroughly alter the user's body structure, rather than the temporary effect of Polyjuice Potion."

Professor McGonagall nodded slightly upon hearing this.

A rare smile even appeared on her face.

"Your line of thought is very similar to the mainstream views in academia. General human transfiguration is indeed deeply integrated with Potions. However, Animagi is a very dangerous magic. While it is possible to turn a person into an animal through just potions and Transfiguration, it cannot avoid other problems that arise during the process. You will learn about that after you reach your sixth year."

"Listen carefully. You still have much to learn at school; don't try to bite off more than you can chew."

After saying this.

Professor McGonagall turned and returned to the podium.

Devero nodded in thanks.

The professor likely didn't punish him because it was his first offense and what he was thinking about was somewhat related to the lesson.

However, the other young wizards were completely bewildered.

"What are they talking about?"

"Yeah, what is an Animagus? I've never heard of it at all!"

"I heard the professor say it seems to be sixth-year material!"

"No way, did I walk into the wrong classroom? Is this still a first-year Transfiguration class?"

"What first year? This is definitely not a topic that should be discussed in the first year!"

"Good heavens, it's the very first lesson, and the professor is already chatting with other students about sixth-year content? What's the point of even learning now!"

Even the Slytherins who had been criticizing Devero just moments ago began to doubt his identity.

"Could he be the illegitimate son of some pure-blood family?"

"It's possible! Otherwise, how could he know so much!"

"And he hit Malfoy... yet wasn't expelled or anything..."

"Yeah, so are we still going to..."

Hearing this, Malfoy's mouth twisted in anger.

Seeing Devero hog the spotlight was even more unbearable to him than being insulted himself!

Clearly, these young wizards, unversed in the ways of the world, had been "rolled" for the very first time.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."

Professor McGonagall said, standing at her desk.

"Anyone who messes around, sleeps, or lets their mind wander in my class will be asked to leave and never allowed to return. I have warned you."

As she spoke, she cast an intentional, fleeting glance at Devero.

Devero shrugged helplessly.

Next came the formal lesson.

Professor McGonagall turned her desk into a pig and then back again.

She performed several more transformations in quick succession.

Suddenly, the room full of young wizards became quite interested in the subject.

Perhaps even more excited than they were when they saw Professor McGonagall turn from a cat into a human earlier.

Maybe they felt that turning into animals themselves wasn't so bad after all?

But all in all, everyone's interest was immediately piqued.

Devero watched with great relish as well.

It had to be said, she was truly a Good Mentor.

Professor McGonagall certainly had a knack for setting the mood.

Then, Professor McGonagall began to explain the various precautions.

"Transfiguration is an extremely complex branch of magic, and correspondingly, it carries a very high level of danger. Why do I say that?"

Professor McGonagall flicked her wand.

Countless colorful powders sprayed from the tip of her wand.

They instantly coalesced into something resembling a 3D holographic projection.

The powder continuously shifted into various twisted human forms.

Bodies fused between humans and animals.

And even completely collapsed masses of flesh!

The nauseating scene turned the faces of the young wizards present deathly pale.

Devero, however, watched with a thoughtful expression.

So these are the consequences of casting Transfiguration incorrectly?

It seems the risks are indeed not low.

If one were to act rashly, they might end up turning themselves into some kind of monster.

The matter of learning to be an Animagus would have to be considered carefully.

"These are all tragedies that occurred because the practitioners forgot the most fundamental principle of Transfiguration."

Professor McGonagall emphasized to the students with extreme gravity.

"And the most important principle of all is caution! They all rashly performed Transfiguration on themselves or others without making full preparations, ultimately leading to tragic ends!"

"The legendary Anubis, who protected Egypt, was an incredibly powerful master of magic who could even bring the dead back to life. Yet, even such a powerful wizard lost half his sanity because he rashly used human Transfiguration and was unable to change his head back from that of a jackal!"

"There are too many such examples: the half-human, half-lion Sphinx; the bull-headed Minotaur; the Centaur, who became half-man, half-horse to gain the stamina of a stallion, and so on and so forth."

"Therefore, I hope that throughout the process of learning Transfiguration, you will always remain cautious and focused."

Devero listened.

He nodded slightly.

When he had first seen the Transfiguration Prodigy trait.

He had been puzzled.

Why was the most important quality of a Transfiguration master caution?

Now he understood.

Because without caution, one would likely meet the Grim Reaper long before becoming a master.

The young wizards, who had been eager to try just a moment ago.

Suddenly all looked a bit dejected.

It seemed they were terrified of such an outcome.

After the pep talk was finished.

They moved on to the theoretical portion.

Just as described in the original work.

These Transfiguration notes were truly pedantic and obscure!

Even now that he possessed the Exam Prodigy trait.

He still found them somewhat difficult to handle.

Of course, he was certainly much better off than the other first-year student sitting next to him.

Devero could look back and see Malfoy gnawing on his quill, tortured by the course material.

His mood improved slightly.

And after the dry and tedious theory.

Finally, the practical session that Devero had been eagerly anticipating arrived.

He wanted to truly test just how great his talent for Transfiguration really was!