Chapter 19: Transfiguration Class
If you were to disregard the pursuit of power and choose a class that interests him the most, Vaughn would definitely choose Transfiguration!
Then Vaughn would definitely choose Transfiguration class!
Its vastness, complexity, and versatility touch upon almost every aspect of the wizarding world.
If one had to choose a subject that could represent magic, Transfiguration would absolutely be number one!
Especially its advanced content, Animagus!
Casually dismissing Neville, Vaughn and Hermione sat in the front row, and he kept staring at the tabby cat.
Hermione found his actions very strange: “Vaughn, what’s wrong with that cat?”
“Nothing.”
Vaughn didn’t dare to expose Professor McGonagall’s little trick.
Honestly, if he hadn’t read the original work and known Professor McGonagall’s methods.
At Vaughn’s current level, with a cursory glance, it would be impossible to tell that it was an Animagus transformation.
It was too natural, from the distribution of colors to the amount and growth of fur, it was flawless.
Only by observing carefully could one discover that the tabby cat lacked animalistic habits, but that was also the result of Professor McGonagall’s deliberate control.
She just wanted to give the young wizards a show of force, not to secretly pry into anything.
Hermione didn’t think much of it, but Professor McGonagall on the podium was startled.
In her many years of teaching, she hadn’t encountered young wizards who liked cats and stared at her, but when she and Vaughn made eye contact, she knew that this Weasley, who also liked cats, looked at her with inquiry and amazement.
He had indeed discovered her identity!
Perhaps, another good seedling for Transfiguration… even if he was a Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall couldn’t help but nod at Vaughn, who bowed in return. Their silent exchange startled Hermione.
“Vaughn, it, no, she…”
“Shh—this is the professor’s surprise.”
Hermione quickly covered her mouth, looking at Professor McGonagall with curiosity.
As class approached, students gradually arrived in the classroom.
Occasionally, someone noticed the tabby cat on the podium, but no one looked at it again.
When the famous Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, who shared a dormitory, finally walked in, Professor McGonagall leaped from the podium, dispelled her Animagus form, and resumed her human shape.
The entire classroom erupted in gasps of amazement.
Such an entrance was undoubtedly very successful, as evidenced by the wide-eyed young wizards, but Professor McGonagall was not happy.
Because two people were late for the first class.
“Mr. Potter, Mr. We… Ron Weasley, perhaps I should turn you both into pocket watches to ensure you remember class time?”
“We got lost, Professor,” Harry explained dryly.
“Then perhaps I should turn you into maps?”
Professor McGonagall’s expression grew sterner. “Why don’t you find your seats? Do you need a map to get back to your seats? Also, because you are late, Gryffindor loses 5 points. I hope you remember this lesson!”
The two were struck dumb, and shamefacedly went to sit next to Vaughn and Hermione.
That was the only empty spot in the classroom. It seemed that no matter where you were, the seats closest to the teacher were not very popular.
“Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts.”
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, turning the lectern into a pig, and amidst the collective gasp of the students, she declared loudly, “Anyone who dares to be mischievous in my class will be punished. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Harry and Ron turned pale with fright.
“The professor is just trying to scare you,” Hermione whispered. “Hogwarts hasn’t allowed the use of Transfiguration for punishment for a long time. I read about it in a piece of school history.”
However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief, they heard Vaughn interject, “But no one can supervise the professors. If she secretly turns you into pigs, no one will know.”
Ron glanced at Vaughn with a sullen expression, wanting to say something, but he just listlessly refrained.
Harry, on the other hand, still had a good impression of Vaughn and didn’t pay attention to his teasing.
Even though from the moment he knew about the wizarding world, everyone around him said how wicked Slytherin was.
He ultimately had no real feeling about it.
Therefore, when Professor McGonagall continued, “Before we begin the class, I need to commend Mr. Vaughn Weasley. He is the only one in the class who discovered my Animagus transformation, so I will award Slytherin 5 points.”
Harry and Hermione applauded vigorously.
Ron mumbled softly, “Traitor!”
But no one paid him any mind.
Afterward, Professor McGonagall began her lecture.
Vaughn opened his textbook, the Beginner’s Transfiguration Guide. Hermione noticed that the book was densely filled with notes.
“You’ve already tried it?” Hermione exclaimed.
Vaughn nodded, “Only object transfiguration, and there are still many questions.”
As he spoke, noticing Hermione’s eager expression, he couldn’t help but caution, “I don’t recommend you try it on your own, Hermione. You can ask me or the professor if you have any questions.”
From Vaughn’s own experience, Professor McGonagall’s opening was not an exaggeration at all.
Transfiguration was indeed the most complex and dangerous. Simple shape changes of objects were manageable—
What Vaughn had tried last night, turning dried fish into a mouse, was still object transfiguration and had not reached the level of living transfiguration.
That mouse was fake; it was not a living creature.
Living transfiguration involved turning a living creature into another state of matter or another type of living creature. Such changes in life forms and forms of existence, even if brief, were fraught with unpredictable accidents.
Imagine turning a rabbit into a teacup, but upon dispelling the charm, it doesn’t revert to a rabbit, but rather a twisted mass of rotten flesh, even more terrifyingly, it had been alive for a while, constantly struggling and screaming. The impact…
After trying it once, Vaughn couldn’t eat for several days.
This was still with his mature mind and his caution.
If a young wizard rashly attempted human transfiguration and such a situation occurred, how tragic would it be…
Class began with Professor McGonagall’s explanation.
For the young wizards without a foundation, Professor McGonagall’s explanations were both complex and profound, and they could only hastily jot down various key points.
However, for Vaughn, it was an opportunity to confirm his foundation and ideas.
He spent the entire class engrossed in taking notes, then comparing them with his own, marking out all the similarities and differences.
At the end of the class, Professor McGonagall gave everyone a match and asked them to turn it into a needle.
She also taught a spell, the Transfiguration Spell.
Everyone learned it, but the spell only served as an aid; it was not the key to determining the transfiguration, so by the end of class, only Vaughn had succeeded.
Hermione had managed to make her match change, with one end already forming a point.
“Very good, very good! Mr. Vaughn Weasley and Miss Granger.”
Professor McGonagall held up their results for the entire class to see. “As you can see, Mr. Vaughn Weasley’s transfiguration is perfect. Miss Granger, although not completely successful yet, has achieved my requirements. I believe another 10 minutes and she will be able to produce a needle.”
“Slytherin and Gryffindor each gain 10 points. Alright, for homework…”
After assigning the homework thesis and announcing the end of class, Professor McGonagall called out to Vaughn, “Mr. Vaughn Weasley, please stay behind. I have something to discuss with you.”
