Transfiguration class

What had to come would come eventually.

The moment Su Er entered the Great Hall, he spotted Hermione from behind, her bushy brown hair unmistakable.

He hurriedly rubbed his face, putting on an exhausted expression.

As he passed the Gryffindor table, Su Er quietly sat down beside Hermione and took a ham roll from her plate.

Startled, Hermione raised her fork defensively and turned to look at whoever had taken her bread.

"Good afternoon, Hermione," Su Er said, pretending to be weak and drained.

Hermione ignored him, but she relaxed and turned back to her lunch.

"What's wrong, Su Er?" Neville leaned over at just the right moment.

Feigning nonchalance, Su Er explained in a slightly raised voice that he had overslept, missed breakfast, and lost points at the hands of his Head of House, then made some mistakes in Herbology and suffered a minor injury, and so on.

Sorry, Professor Sprout...

As he spoke, he watched Hermione's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Unfortunately, Hermione showed little reaction. Neville, on the other hand, was alarmed. "Is Professor Sprout really strict? We have Herbology this afternoon."

Though a little disappointed, Su Er still answered Neville's question.

"Don't worry, Neville. Professor Sprout is a very nice, very kind professor, as long as you don't go around touching the other plants in her greenhouse."

"I'd better go back to our table for lunch. I need a nap afterward-we have Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class this afternoon. See you at dinner, Neville."

"See you at dinner, Hermione." Su Er slowly rose from his seat as he spoke.

Hermione kept eating without even turning around. If Su Er hadn't had such sharp hearing, he might have missed her quiet grunt.

That did it!

Once his back was turned, a delighted Su Er dropped his feigned exhaustion and happily returned to the Hufflepuff table.

"Who's that Gryffindor girl?" His roommates crowded around him. They had seen everything clearly.

"What's your relationship with her?"

"I know! She must be his girlfriend. My brother spent the whole summer sending letters to his girlfriend by owl," another young Hufflepuff said.

"Does your brother go to Hogwarts too?" another young wizard asked, leaning over.

The young wizards forgot about Su Er and launched into an animated conversation.

Su Er had no intention of answering them. He simply speared a juicy piece of beef and popped it into his mouth.

Mmm, delicious.

That afternoon, the young Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws sat quietly in the Transfiguration classroom, waiting for class to begin.

"Why do you think Professor McGonagall isn't here yet?" Justin asked softly, lowering his head.

Su Er glanced at the tabby cat sitting as still as a statue on the teacher's desk.

"Professor McGonagall's been here all along," Su Er murmured.

"?" A question mark seemed to appear above Justin's head as confusion filled his face. An instant later, it turned into an exclamation mark.

"!"

Justin wasn't the only one startled. The other young wizards were, too.

The tabby cat on the desk suddenly moved. After taking a few steps forward, she leaped into the air and, before landing, transformed into a witch wearing dark green silk wizard robes.

Tabby cat = Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall seemed quite pleased with her handiwork. The corner of her mouth lifted briefly before she turned and walked to the front of the classroom, facing everyone with a stern expression.

"Transfiguration is a very, very, very dangerous and complicated branch of magic. I expect you to remember every point I make in this class. Anyone who misbehaves in my classroom will be sent out and will not be allowed back in."

Professor McGonagall's commanding presence left the entire room silent.

Under the young wizards' watchful eyes, Professor McGonagall waved her wand, effortlessly turning a desk into a large pink pig, then transforming textbooks into lively birds.

One landed on Su Er's desk, but just as he reached out to touch it, it flew away.

That exquisite display of Transfiguration made the young wizards' eyes light up.

Coach-no, Professor, I want to learn that!

Professor McGonagall could see it in their eyes.

"I imagine those of you who have read your textbooks ahead of time will know Gamp's five laws of Transfiguration. Does anyone know them?"

A Ravenclaw girl raised her hand, and Professor McGonagall called on her.

"Miss Turpin."

Lisa Turpin had been among the last few students at yesterday's Sorting Ceremony. The hat had shouted "Ravenclaw" the moment it touched her head.

She stood with flushed cheeks, her voice full of confidence.

"There are five principal exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. First, we cannot conjure delicious food out of nothing. Second, we cannot permanently turn an inanimate object into a living creature, but we can bring it to life temporarily. Third, Transfiguration cannot produce objects with magical properties; that falls within the realm of alchemy. Fourth, we cannot use Transfiguration to turn one object into several other objects-for example, turning one table into two deer. Fifth, Transfiguration cannot create something from nothing."

"Very good. Five points to Ravenclaw." Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly. "Why aren't you writing down what Miss Turpin said?"

The young wizards immediately set their quills moving.

"Now, close your books and take out your wands! We'll begin by practicing the incantation."

The young wizards all took out their wands and obediently practiced according to Professor McGonagall's instructions.

"When performing Transfiguration, it is very important to move your wand firmly and decisively. Do not make unnecessary movements."

After surveying the young wizards' movements, Professor McGonagall suddenly spoke.

"Mr. Finnegan has given us a demonstration. His wand movements are very graceful and elegant, but unfortunately, Transfiguration is not a dueling performance. It does not require you to dance for us."

Quiet laughter rippled through the classroom, and Justin Finch-Fletchley lowered his wand, his face red.

It was only a brief interruption. Professor McGonagall continued sternly correcting the young wizards.

"When speaking the incantation, your voice must be clear and firm. Remember, there should be a pause between 'gu' and 'ra,' but it needn't be too long."

The classroom filled with the quiet sound of chanted incantations.

This is practically a cult's recruitment session... Su Er grumbled inwardly, though his body obediently followed Professor McGonagall's instructions.

"Magic is not merely theory. It is a practical subject."

With the theoretical portion of the lesson finished, Professor McGonagall handed out matchsticks, one to each young wizard.

"Your task is to turn the matchstick in front of you into a needle," Professor McGonagall said. "The key is that, as you move your wand, you must have a clear, detailed understanding of the object you are transforming."

"Professor, I want to learn the Transfiguration you used to turn those books into birds," a young Hufflepuff said, raising his hand.

"Mr. Morn," Professor McGonagall said sternly, "this is a step every beginner must go through, as I explained earlier-if you were listening attentively."

"Transfiguration is an advanced and dangerous subject. I expect you to take it one step at a time and build a solid foundation."

"All right. Begin."