Transfiguration Class

Transfiguration Class

After receiving a harsh scolding from Professor McGonagall, Harry and Ron hurriedly found two adjoining seats and sat down. The Transfiguration class officially began.

Professor McGonagall stood at the very front of the classroom with a stern expression. Even without saying a word, the air of authority she radiated immediately silenced the few Little Wizards who had still been whispering among themselves.

"Transfiguration is the most complex and, at the same time, the most dangerous subject you will study during your time at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said sternly. "So if any of you dare to fool around in my class, I will send you out and never allow you back in. Remember what I have said today."

With a flick of her Wand, Professor McGonagall turned the desk beside her into a pig. With another flick, it changed back into a desk. As expected of a veteran professor—such a small display not only intimidated the Little Wizards, but also stirred their enthusiasm for learning Transfiguration. Very impressive!

The lesson officially began. Professor McGonagall instructed the Little Wizards to open their textbooks, then began explaining the material.

At that moment, Bell awkwardly discovered that he did not have A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration in his pocket. He had probably been too groggy that morning and forgotten to bring it? After all, he had stopped reading that book many years ago.

Fortunately, Bell was seated in a corner of the classroom. As long as Professor McGonagall did not deliberately come over to inspect him, she would not be able to tell what book was on his desk. So he casually found a book of roughly the same size, spread it open on the desk, and pretended to read it.

Although the first-year material was far too simple for Bell, and he had mastered all this knowledge who knew how many years ago, as the saying went, "Stones from other hills may serve to polish jade."

Britain probably had a saying with a similar meaning too, right? Probably?

So Bell still listened very attentively to Professor McGonagall's explanation. As he compared it against his own understanding and recalled the related knowledge, he also tried to see whether it might inspire any new insights.

In short, it was not particularly useful for now. Still, Bell did not mind spending the time. He could treat it as if he were keeping Shanna company while she played at home. Being wound too tight all the time was no good; one had to learn to relax properly.

What the other Little Wizards detested as class time was actually relaxation time to Bell. If they learned what Bell was thinking, who knew whether they would want to sink him to the bottom of the Black Lake.

Before long, Professor McGonagall finished explaining the relevant key points. In truth, much magical knowledge was not particularly complicated at the beginning. However, to successfully cast magic, one still needed to practice diligently.

"Now, I will give each of you a matchstick. Your task for the rest of the lesson is to successfully turn it into a needle."

Professor McGonagall walked around the classroom once, handing a matchstick to every Little Wizard.

Bell looked at the matchstick before him and felt a little troubled. For him, such a trivial matter did not even require a Wand. But he did not want to attract attention, and yet he also did not want to waste time. Staring blankly at a matchstick would be far too stupid.

Fortunately, Bell did not have to struggle over it for long before Professor McGonagall's voice rang out again.

"Very good, Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor."

Professor McGonagall picked up the needle Hermione had transfigured and displayed it to the other Little Wizards.

It was clear that Hermione's transfiguration had not been very successful. That needle could barely be called a "needle," since it was far too thick to sew clothes with. Still, for a first-year student to complete a transfiguration during the very first Transfiguration class after school began was already extremely impressive.

Once there was a first place, no one would pay attention to second place. So Bell confidently took out his Wand, gave it a perfunctory wave, and turned the matchstick before him into a needle. Then he picked up Ultimate Transfiguration again and continued reading, while also casting a Transfiguration spell on its cover to make it look like A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration.

Why hadn't I thought of that just now?

Bell felt slightly annoyed. His mind must still have been foggy, making him slow to think. At the same time, he decided to make full use of Transfiguration in the future. He could do this in all his classes from now on. Professor McGonagall really ought to give him a hundred points.

Before long, Professor McGonagall walked over to Bell. She looked at Bell, who was quietly reading, then at the needle on his desk.

"Mr. Menethil, did you successfully turn the matchstick into a needle?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, Professor."

"Very good. Could you demonstrate it for me again?" As Professor McGonagall spoke, she took out another matchstick and handed it to Bell.

As a veteran professor, she had decades of rich experience in outwitting Little Wizards. She knew one thing well: there was nothing she could not imagine, only things these little brats could not do! So although it felt somewhat unfair, she still asked Bell to prove that he had transfigured the needle rather than taking one he had prepared in advance from his pocket. After all, this needle was even better than the one Miss Granger had transfigured earlier.

"Of course, Professor."

Bell gave his Wand another performative wave, deliberately controlling the speed of the transfiguration.

"An excellent transfiguration. Other than being a little slow, it is perfect in every respect. Five points to Ravenclaw."

Professor McGonagall looked very pleased.

"Remember to practice more after you return. Once you become proficient, your speed will improve."

Hearing Professor McGonagall's praise, the Little Wizards all looked over. Most of them gazed at Bell with envy. Only Hermione, seated in the very front, was looking at Bell with an oddly unhappy expression.

After that, Bell sat quietly in his seat and went about his own business.

Not long afterward, the bell rang. After Professor McGonagall assigned homework, she dismissed the class. The Little Wizards gradually filed out of the classroom. After finishing the last passage, Bell stood up to leave as well. At that moment, however, he saw Hermione marching toward him aggressively.

"Bell, I have something I want to ask you," Hermione said to Bell in a soft voice utterly at odds with her imposing manner.

"What is it?"

Bell was puzzled. He thought back over what he had done today, then realized it was not even noon yet. Other than staring blankly and attending class, he had not done anything at all. There was no way he could have offended Hermione.

"Your Transfiguration is clearly so good. Turning a matchstick into a needle must have been easy for you, so why did you only complete the transfiguration after I did?"

Hermione felt insulted! Bell clearly should have been the first one to succeed, so Bell should have received ten points while she should have received only five! Although Hermione was still quite happy to receive five extra points, there was a problem! She did not need points handed to her out of charity. She would earn more House Points for Gryffindor through her own efforts!

So Hermione was unhappy now—very unhappy, extremely unhappy! If Bell could not give her a reasonable explanation, then this would not be over!