What are you looking at me for? Is there writing on my face?

"Lucien, can you teach me Transfiguration?"

Lucien felt someone lightly tug at the hem of his clothes and turned to look.

He saw blond-haired Daphne sitting diagonally behind him, holding up something that was a needle on the left half and a matchstick on the right, smiling at him.

Wow, when other people transformed something halfway, it was usually top and bottom. How had this girl managed to make the left and right sides different? Looked like she had quite the talent too.

He could give it a try. If he could teach others clearly, that would prove he had a solid grasp of the knowledge himself.

"Let me ask you a question first. Why are we turning a matchstick into a needle? Why not the other way around, turning a needle into a matchstick?"

Lucien's question not only made Daphne start thinking, but Terry beside them also began mulling it over.

After these past few days of classes, Terry had figured it out: Lucien was a top student. Stick with him—no, learn from him—and you couldn't go wrong.

"Uh, because matchsticks are cheaper? One box is enough for the whole class?"

Seeing Lucien and Daphne both turn caring looks his way, Terry scratched his head.

"Hehe, I want to learn too. My matchstick can still only change color."

"Of course, no problem."

Lucien gave the two of them a pointer.

"In Transfiguration, when turning an inanimate object into another inanimate object, or an inanimate object into a living thing, there's a very interesting point."

"That is, the wizard only needs to consider the properties of the object they want to transform it into, and doesn't need to pay too much attention to the original object."

"For example, if you still want to transform something into a needle, there actually isn't much difference between using a matchstick that can burn or Chalk that can write."

Lucien's words made both of them suddenly understand, and Daphne asked, "Lucien, you mean that when we cast Transfiguration, we should be thinking about producing a needle, not turning the matchstick into a needle?"

Lucien smiled and nodded.

Sure enough, using this kind of guided-question teaching method could make people think on their own, and their understanding of the knowledge should become deeper too.

Not bad. The effect was pretty good. Next time he tutored Harry, he could use more of this method to teach him Potion-making.

After all, he was going to borrow books from Harry's family, so he had to teach him properly too.

He wondered what field of magic books the Potter Family had passed down. Mm, if they could develop a Shampoo that monopolized the wizarding world, they probably had no shortage of books on Potions and Herbs.

"That's right, Daphne. You think very quickly."

Lucien casually offered his habitual encouraging education.

But his words made Daphne lift her chin slightly, her earlobes faintly red.

"It's because you explained it well, Lucien."

Lucien neither confirmed nor denied it and continued, "If you keep thinking about turning the matchstick into a needle, then the properties of the matchstick and the needle will alternately appear in your mind."

"To be honest, at our age, our control over magic still isn't precise enough. When our thoughts get mixed up, the transformed object will end up displaying a mixture of characteristics from both objects."

Daphne, however, wanted to ask: at this age, control over magic isn't precise enough, but that doesn't include you, does it?

The Non-verbal Spell Lucien had used in the library that morning had left far too deep an impression on her.

"A needle's properties are relatively simple and pure. It's hard, sharp, and the whole thing is made from the same material: metal."

"By contrast, a matchstick is made up of a wooden stick and combustible chemical substances. Uh, chemical substances—you can just treat that as meaning alchemical materials."

Lucien had spoken too smoothly and had actually brought in knowledge from his previous life. How could this bunch of magic-users know the charm of physics and chemistry?

"To transform something into a matchstick already involves the transformation of certain properties. No matter how you look at it, it's not something first-years would come into contact with."

Terry listened with a cheerful look on his face, but Daphne was thinking further.

Transfiguration that changed properties wasn't something first-years would come into contact with. But then, complicated mechanical transformation shouldn't be either, right?!

Just now, Daphne had personally seen the whole process of Lucien turning a matchstick into a needle, then turning it into a Telescope. The shock brought by that kind of mechanical change was still echoing in Daphne's heart.

That was why, while everyone else had gone to crowd around the Telescope, Daphne had mustered up the courage to strike up a conversation with Lucien.

"All right, now that you've heard the theory, start trying it for yourselves."

Hearing Lucien's words, Terry could hardly wait to begin practicing.

But Daphne was still staring blankly at Lucien.

Noticing that the little girl was staring at him, lost in thought for who knew what reason, Lucien suddenly thought of something and wanted to laugh, but held it in.

"Miss, why are you still looking at me? Is there a spell written on my face?"

"Hurry up and take out your wand to practice."

Only then did Daphne come back to herself and quickly lower her head to pick up her wand.

Fortunately, her blond hair was long enough that when it fell down, it covered her bright-red ears.

Seeing Daphne bury her head and practice Transfiguration, Lucien finally laughed.

Yes, yes, yes, that was exactly the effect. Back when he had been in school in his previous life, he had always heard teachers say:

"What are you looking at me for? Are there words on my face? Pick up your pen and write! What are you picking up your pen for? Look at the blackboard! What are you looking at the blackboard for? Listen to me..."

So this was why talking like a teacher felt so satisfying.

Lucien felt it deeply. You old fossils—oh no, teachers—I finally understand all the painstaking effort you put in back then!

With Lucien's guidance, Daphne and Terry gradually perfected their transformations.

And the one making progress as well was Malfoy, not far away.

He had originally wanted to squeeze over and see what that Telescope looked like, but the cane by his leg made Malfoy give up rationally.

But precisely because he had not gone over, Malfoy instead caught bits and pieces of Lucien's explanation.

Though he could not hear everything, it still enlightened him, and his transformation progress suddenly sped up.

"Lucien really is extraordinary. The heir of the Malfoy family ought to make friends like this!"

Malfoy tightened his grip on his cane, preparing to go talk to Lucien after class.

As soon as the dismissal bell rang.

Lucien left the Transfiguration Classroom, planning to wait for Professor McGonagall outside her office first.

However, just after he turned a corner, someone called out to him.

"Lucien, do you want to go play by the Black Lake this weekend? I heard from an older student that it's really fun there."

Lucien turned around and saw that it was Daphne inviting him.

Uh, play. That word felt so unfamiliar.

Besides, by the weekend, the little Qilin would be awake, and he could also begin exploring the Forbidden Forest and search inside it to record magical beasts.

How would he have time to paddle around on a lake?

"Thank you for inviting me. I'm happy you asked, but I really do have something to do this weekend."

Lucien's tactful refusal made obvious disappointment appear in Daphne's eyes. She asked gloomily:

"Didn't school only just start? What are you so busy with?"

"Don't tell me you're planning to spend the whole weekend in the library?"

Lucien thought over his recent plans: brewing potions, studying spells, researching the Transfiguration Pocket Watch he had just obtained, planting cabbage, searching for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and tutoring Harry...

Right, school had only started a few days ago, so how had he already ended up with so many things to do?

Mm, how fulfilling. He really did love this feeling of chasing knowledge while being chased by knowledge in turn.

Eh, wait. Why was Daphne asking whether he was going to the library?

Lucien noticed the key point.

"Daphne, were you in the library this morning too?"