Transfiguration

Wade had assumed that, with proper guidance, most spells would be easy for them to pick up. But that was not the case. In the end, a wizard's magical ability still depended on individual talent.

With simple spells like the Scouring Charm and Repairing Charm, there was little difference when they cast them. But once the spells became more difficult, Theo began to struggle. Even after practicing the Levitation Charm more than a dozen times, he still could not quite get it right. Ryan and Michael were somewhat better, but their spells worked only intermittently. Hermione still succeeded on her first try, yet she found it difficult to make heavy objects float.

Still, for students who had only just begun Magic School, even successfully mastering a simple spell was thrilling. As they headed toward the Great Hall at dinner, Michael was still showing off to Theo. "Did you see that last Repairing Charm of mine? It was perfect! The chandelier on the ceiling went back to normal immediately! I'd wager it wasn't even that bright when it was first hung up there!"

Ryan was still muttering and waving his Wand as he silently practiced the spell. Before he noticed, sparks burst from the tip of his Wand and nearly set Hermione's hair on fire.

"Oh, please! Don't point your Wand at people," Hermione said at once, then asked helpfully, "What are you practicing?"

Her face practically said—come on, ask me!

"The Levitation Charm," Ryan said. He had a good temper and could sense the girl's eagerness to help beneath her seemingly overbearing attitude, so he remained calm throughout.

Hermione said in surprise, "But you already succeeded just now!"

Ryan shook his head. "I always feel like my spell is missing something."

They reached the Great Hall, where the lavish dinner gave off an enticing aroma. Only then did they seem to realize how hungry they were.

Theo muttered, "Merlin! I think I could eat a cow right now!"

The sense of accomplishment from learning spells was wonderful, but the process of working hard was exhausting. After dinner, Michael could finally no longer wait to leave the Study Group. He arranged to play Gobstones in the courtyard with Terry, who shared his Dormitory. Hermione and the others returned to their respective Common Rooms to do their homework, while Wade hurried to borrow two books he had picked out at noon before the library closed.

They had already finished Cleaning the Practice Room that afternoon. After repairing the tables and chairs, they placed them against the wall, and used an empty cabinet beside them as a bookshelf. Wade turned on the light and set out his ink and quill. Cheers and laughter from Young Wizards drifted in through the window, while Wade opened his book and immersed himself in reading.

Theory of Magic—[To freely alter the deepest secrets—life's origins, the essence of the self—one must be prepared to bear the most extreme and dangerous consequences.]

Analysis of Basic Spell Principles—[Magic is the manifestation of a wizard's will.]

Whether they wanted to show off among their companions or gain powerful strength, young wizards were often more readily drawn to flashy, wondrous spells. They were willing to spend vast amounts of time practicing advanced magic, while dismissing difficult, awkward, tedious theory with contempt. Even though Theory of Magic was a first-year textbook, Young Wizards would rather learn two Dark Curses like [Fiery Hot Charm] than read such a boring book.

But Wade was different. Perhaps it was because, when he had attended school in his previous life, his teachers had repeatedly emphasized—recognize the essence, understand the principles, and grasp the patterns. Only then could one break free from endlessly changing question types and rote memorization. There would be no need to grind through countless exercises to earn high marks, and even unfamiliar problems could be solved smoothly. That was what high-efficiency learning meant.

In other words—know not only that it worked, but why it worked.

This study habit had made Wade a "Study God" in the eyes of his teachers and classmates in his previous life. He went to bed early, rose early, never stayed up late, and still had time to play ball and video games. Yet his grades remained among the best, even amid countless classmates who burned the midnight oil.

Wade maintained the same habits in this life. He believed that whether it was science or magic, and whether or not he had a Golden Finger, a solid foundation would be tremendously important and beneficial to his studies.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was even worse than Wade had imagined.

Wade had originally heard that Professor Quirrell was an exceptionally intelligent Ravenclaw who had taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts a year earlier. He was young, handsome, knowledgeable, and popular with the students. Wade had thought that even with Voldemort hanging off the back of his head, his knowledge had not vanished, and his classes should at least teach something useful.

But in reality, Quirrell merely read from the textbook. He spoke incoherently and muddled his words, his voice so indistinct that anyone sitting farther away could barely hear him. Those sitting close, however... the stench of garlic coming from his body left the nearby Slytherins wearing pained expressions.

Putting himself in Quirrell's position, Wade could understand his state—anyone with an utterly evil soul parasitizing their head would have no mind to prepare lessons. But understanding did not mean accepting it. By the second Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Wade had moved to the farthest seat and read on his own.

"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will study at Hogwarts. Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be thrown out and never permitted to return!"

Professor McGonagall spoke sternly during Transfiguration Class. With a wave of her Wand, she turned the lectern into a pig, then changed it back again. Every student's eyes lit up.

"Transfiguration is the most elegant branch of magic, but to learn it, you must first understand Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration... Write this down, students! Don't just sit there like idiots."

"—Before using a Transfiguration Spell, you must clearly picture in your mind what you want the target to become—there must be no distracting thoughts. Chaotic thinking will inevitably lead to failure, and history is filled with such examples..."

"It is extremely important to wave your Wand firmly and decisively... When first learning, you must clearly speak the Spell, but skilled wizards can complete a transformation without saying the Spell aloud..."

"Incomplete transformations are neither simple nor safe, especially in Transfiguration of Living Beings. This involves three theories of Transfiguration laws... Failure may lead to extremely serious consequences. A few years ago, for example, there was a French wizard... Therefore, if a transformation fails, you must immediately stop and restore it to its original form. The Spell is [Restoration Charm]. Now practice it with me once—"

Wade wrote at least thirteen inches of notes on his parchment and practiced [Restoration Charm] several times before Professor McGonagall finally let them begin practicing Transfiguration itself. She handed everyone a matchstick and instructed them to turn it into a needle. Some students loudly recited the Spell and poked at their matchsticks, but nothing changed.

Wade did not immediately begin. A sentence he had read in a book yesterday flashed through his mind—magic was the manifestation of a wizard's will.