Learning Transfiguration

The next day, during Minerva McGonagall's Transfiguration class, the first-years had their heads lowered, diligently studying ahead, when Ron rushed into the classroom, lost his balance, and crashed into the corner of a desk with a bang!

"Hi!"

Hermione turned and gave the two of them a meaningful look, signaling that they were on their own.

"If your eyelids are twitching, you should see Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse!" Ron retorted under his breath.

"Let's sit down. Luckily, Professor McGonagall isn't here yet, otherwise..."

Before Harry could finish, the tabby cat on the teacher's desk leaped into the aisle and transformed into a tall witch. "Otherwise what?" she asked sternly. "Listen, Harry. Talent is certainly important, but talent alone cannot earn you the title of a great wizard. Look at Robin Sear. He is even more gifted than you, yet he was the first to arrive. Ever since he sat down, he has been reviewing the key points of Transfiguration. If you don't start working harder, the gap between you and him will only grow wider!"

Praising me by putting someone else down?

I just want to learn magic in peace. Who did I offend?

Luo Bin looked up from the obscure, difficult spell, nodded respectfully to Professor McGonagall, and met the fiery gaze of the hot-tempered Hermione.

Hermione Granger, the female lead of Harry Potter, was an argumentative little academic star, prickly and fiercely competitive. She wanted to come first in everything. Before arriving at Hogwarts, she had already memorized the contents of all her first-year textbooks.

She had planned to use her talent and extensive knowledge to steal the show in their first lesson, earn points for her house, and establish herself as the best first-year. But now someone else had been praised first—and a student from Slytherin House, at that. How could she not be furious?

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall. Ron and I ran into Peeves. He deliberately sent us the wrong way, otherwise... Sorry. It won't happen again!"

Seeing Professor McGonagall's gaze grow colder, Harry abandoned his explanation and apologized sincerely.

Peeves was a fat, wide-mouthed poltergeist who loved tormenting first-years. Students passing him might have wastepaper thrown at them, the rug yanked out from under their feet, or chalk hurled at them. Asking him for directions? Were they hoping to tour the entire school building?

"Since this is your first time being late, I'll let it pass. Sit down at once. If it happens again, you needn't attend my Transfiguration classes for the rest of the term!"

Once the two had taken their seats, McGonagall stepped onto the platform and tapped her wand. The dark brown teacher's desk transformed into a little pink pig, which raced around the classroom, drawing cries of amazement.

After the pink pig ran back onto the platform, another tap of her wand turned it into the desk again. The first-years' shining eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Pleased with their reaction, McGonagall declared in a ringing voice, "Transfiguration is a complex and dangerous form of magic. You must find a connection between objects. For example, this desk is made of applewood, and apples are part of a pig's diet. Once you have that connection, you can picture a pig in your mind. Then channel the magic within your body into your wand, shape its flow into a simple outline of a pig, focus your mental energy, and recite the Transfiguration incantation..."

On the platform, Professor McGonagall explained the key points of Transfiguration with great dedication. Below her, the first-years, attending their first magic lesson, gripped their quills and frantically took notes!

After finishing her explanation, Professor McGonagall gave each first-year a match. She approached Luo Bin's desk and said, "Robin Sear, your talent far exceeds that of most people, and you have been listening very attentively. Please demonstrate for everyone how to turn a match into a pointed needle using Transfiguration!"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall!"

The Fire Phoenix's inheritance consisted of nine stages. The first contained only three spells: the Memory Alteration Spell, the Meditation Spell, and the Gale Spell. The Memory Alteration Spell could alter memories, the Meditation Spell increased the speed at which he absorbed magic from the air, and the Gale Spell made him run faster. Luo Bin had yet to find a way to unlock the other eight stages.

The original story never mentioned terms such as absorbing magic, storing it, or meditation. When wizards fought, victory usually depended on the quality of their wands, the breadth of their magical knowledge, the speed of their reactions, and so on. Otherwise, the Main Character Group could never have defeated Voldemort and the Death Eaters!

Yet after receiving the Fire Phoenix's inheritance, Luo Bin had happened to try meditating and actually seen magical elements drifting through the air. The red fire elements were especially lively, bouncing about as they tried to squeeze into his skin.

From then on, his sleep had increased from seven hours to nine. Over nearly three months, his stamina and magic had grown increasingly abundant, as had his desire to learn magic.

Unfortunately, the first-year textbooks covered only the basics, such as a brief history of the Wizarding World, an overview of fantastic beasts, and an introduction to herbology. Even when they mentioned spells, they did not explain their intricacies or key points. Hagrid, the giant, had also refused to teach him magic on the grounds that he was not a professor.

That was why he had listened so intently when McGonagall explained the principles of Transfiguration!

Luo Bin stood up, placed his match on the tray, and reached into his pocket. The instant he pulled out half a wand, the entire class burst out laughing!

"Mudblood. Pauper. You can't even afford a whole wand. What right do you have to learn magic?" Draco sneered, curling his lip.

"Heavens! Half a wand! How could Ollivander do that? I'm definitely telling Gran during the holidays!" Neville said indignantly.

"Professor McGonagall, Robin Sear's wand clearly cannot perform Transfiguration. I've memorized all the points you just taught us. Why don't I demonstrate instead?" Hermione suggested, standing up.

"Hermione Granger, I expect you to respect classroom order. Do not stand up and speak unless I call on you. Listen, everyone: the wand chooses the wizard, not the other way around. If half a wand chose Luo Bin, it must have its reasons. Now, quiet down. Luo Bin, begin your demonstration!"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall!"

Matches were made of wood, while pointed needles were made of iron. Refining iron required fire, and wood was fuel for fire. Having successfully found the connection, Luo Bin held his wand and pictured the form of a pointed needle in his mind.

Then he fed a thread of magic into his wand, controlled its path, and shaped the magical current into a simple outline of a pointed needle. Fixing his gaze on the match in the tray, he recited firmly, "Transform!"

With a swish, the red-headed, white-stemmed match became a pointed needle gleaming with cold light. The whole class was stunned. Even Hermione's fiery, jealous gaze gave way to admiration and curiosity. McGonagall smiled approvingly. "Albus was right. You truly are a genius. One point to Slytherin!"

Professors at the Wizarding School had the authority to award and deduct points. At the end of the term, the house with the highest total would win the House Cup.

Luo Bin had earned a point for his house in their very first lesson. Apart from Draco and his two no-good friends, every Slytherin student in the classroom applauded, refusing to stop even as their palms turned red!

McGonagall waved her wand, silencing the first-years' uproar. "Enough. There will be many opportunities to gain or lose points in the future. As wizards, you must learn to handle things calmly. Now practice Transfiguration on your own. Remember, before casting the spell, you must first find a connection between the objects!"

With that, McGonagall transformed into a tabby cat and leaped onto the teacher's desk.

Her feline eyes, surrounded by markings resembling spectacles, watched the first-years' every move. Unfortunately, this year's intake varied far too much in their grasp of magic. Aside from Luo Bin, only Hermione succeeded in turning her match into a pointed needle!