The essence of Transfiguration! Teacher Argus takes the stage

They were both using Transfiguration.

Yet he could only change an object's outward appearance.

For instance, while fighting Alexia the previous night, he had turned splintered wood into birds and buttons into venomous snakes.

It looked much like what Professor McGonagall had done, but Argus knew better.

The essence of the objects had not changed at all.

Wood was still wood, and buttons were still buttons.

But in Professor McGonagall's hands, the pig transformed from the lectern seemed to have a soul.

Its expressions and movements were indistinguishable from those of an ordinary pig!

The thoughtful look in Argus's eyes caught Professor McGonagall's attention.

Compared with the other first-years' amazement, she appreciated students like Argus more, students who could spot problems in the details and think them through.

Unfortunately, she was not Argus's teacher alone.

As Hogwarts' Transfiguration professor, she had to prioritize the progress and concerns of the majority of her students.

"All right, young witches and wizards."

"Transfiguration is far more wondrous than you imagine."

"Now, open your textbooks. Today, we will learn how to turn a match into a silver needle."

Professor McGonagall handed each of them a match in turn and demonstrated according to the textbook.

This included the gestures for casting the spell, the angle at which to wave their wands, the force to use, and so on.

Only after confirming that all the first-years had grasped these did she feel comfortable letting them try for themselves.

"Your next task is to turn the match in your hand into a silver needle."

"Don't rush. Think through the steps and their order!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the first-years, who had long been itching to try, eagerly drew their wands and waved them at the matches before them.

Unfortunately, no matter how they waved their wands or applied what little magic they had learned,

the matches did not change at all!

"Argus, take a look for me. Why can't I do it, no matter how I wave my wand..."

"Merlin's flowery underpants! What are you doing!"

After his fruitless efforts, Draco turned to Argus, only to see the silver needle on his desk constantly shifting into different shapes!

One moment it was a silver needle, the next a little pig.

What made it horrifying was that the pig's body could not fully transform: the four limbs attached to its body were actually four slender silver needles!

"Argus!"

The sight made Professor McGonagall break into a cold sweat.

With a forceful flick of her wand, she dispelled all the Transfiguration on the match.

Argus breathed a sigh of relief and was about to explain when Professor McGonagall's stern voice sounded in his ears.

"Argus, have you forgotten what I just said!"

"I will not allow mischief in my classroom!"

"I'm sorry, Professor." Argus obediently lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

"I finished the task you assigned. I was just practicing how to turn a desk into a real pig, like you did."

"A real pig!" Professor McGonagall keenly picked up on the meaning behind Argus's words.

A trace of delighted surprise entered her eyes.

"That's right. I once turned wood into birds, but later discovered that only their shape had changed."

"Their bodies were still wood. I couldn't give them life the way you did."

"Mr. Grindelwald, your talent for Transfiguration is even greater than I imagined."

Professor McGonagall had originally thought she would be satisfied if Argus's talent for Transfiguration was seventy or eighty percent of his talent for Charms.

After all, a person's energy was limited. No one could be flawless in every area.

She had never expected Argus to touch upon the essence of Transfiguration, or even the soul, in his very first year!

Her annoyed expression gradually softened, and she slipped her wand back into her sleeve.

She explained to Argus, "The question you raised involves a crucial aspect of Transfiguration."

"Changing an object's essence."

"Essence?"

"That's right. To turn wood into flesh and blood, you must first understand the essential transformation between the two. This is material covered only in Advanced Transfiguration, and it is still too early for you at your current stage."

"You can start by trying to turn wood into stone or a lump of iron."

"That will be much easier for you."

"I understand, Professor McGonagall! Thank you for your guidance!"

At that moment, Professor McGonagall looked at Argus like a master craftsman gazing upon a flawless piece of uncarved jade.

She simply could not suppress the urge to carve it.

"If you would like, you can come to the Transfiguration Club every Sunday morning to study. I will explain the material concerning essence to you in detail."

"Of course I'd like to. Thank you very much for your guidance!"

"There is one more thing I must remind you of, Mr. Grindelwald!"

Professor McGonagall changed tack, her tone turning stern again.

"Because you failed to observe classroom discipline, I must deduct five points from Slytherin as a warning."

"As for your splendid Transfiguration..." The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she turned to announce to everyone,

"Five points to Slytherin!"

"A fair verdict!"

Argus smiled faintly, expressing his approval of Professor McGonagall's approach.

Merit was merit, and fault was fault. Rewards and punishments were clearly distinguished.

No wonder she would become the undisputed choice for Hogwarts Headmaster in the future.

"Mr. Grindelwald, if you don't mind, could I trouble you to help the other young witches and wizards complete this lesson's task?"

"My pleasure, Professor McGonagall!"

Cheers erupted from the Slytherins, and Draco impatiently pulled Argus over to his side.

"Argus, come help me! Why won't my match ever behave!"

"Try it once so I can see."

With Argus watching, Draco waved his wand and tried again.

"Stop! I know where your problem lies."

"Where?"

"Draco, you need to understand that much of magic's power comes from within you. It will only change if you believe from the bottom of your heart that it is a silver needle."

Argus patiently explained it to Draco, drawing his wand to demonstrate over and over.

The Slytherin first-years crowded around the two, asking one by one about the problems they had encountered while casting.

With Argus's help, the Slytherins progressed rapidly.

Those making faster progress, such as Pansy, Daphne, and Theodore, were already showing signs of sharpening their matches.

Some Gryffindor first-years looked at their matches, which had made no progress at all, and hesitated for quite a while.

They shyly approached Argus to ask questions.

Argus did not mind at all and treated students from both houses equally.

While gaining the Gryffindors' friendship, he also earned an approving look from Professor McGonagall.

Harry really wanted to ask Argus for help, but Ron was exceptionally opposed to the suggestion.

"Harry, you actually believe that rubbish from a Slytherin?"

"They're always this hypocritical, putting on a show of giving advice when they've actually cursed you who knows how many times in their heads!"

"His dad is a dark wizard, so he must be one too!"

"Seamus, am I right?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"

Seamus, who had just returned from seeking advice from Argus, had no desire to pay him any attention.

Without even hearing clearly what Ron had said, he nodded casually.

By the end of the lesson, with Argus's help, the matches in most students' hands had undergone noticeable changes.

At the very least, they could sharpen one end of their matches.

Only Harry and Ron remained.

Their two matches had not changed in the slightest.