Hogwarts: What wicked thoughts could a little wizard possibly have?

Chapter 19 Transformation Lesson

If we set aside the pursuit of power, and let Vaughn choose the subject he is most interested in.

Then Vaughn will definitely choose Transfiguration!

Its vastness, complexity, and versatility encompass almost every aspect of the magical world.

If you had to choose a subject that represents magic, Transfiguration would definitely be number one!

Especially its advanced content, Animagus!

After casually dismissing Neville, Vaughn and Hermione sat in the front row and kept staring at the tabby cat.

Hermione found his behavior strange: "Vaughn, what's wrong with the cat?"

"It's nothing."

Vaughn dared not expose Professor McGonagall's little trick.

To be honest, if I hadn't read the original book and known Professor McGonagall's tricks, I wouldn't have been able to understand it.

With Vaughn's current level of skill, a quick glance wouldn't be enough to tell that it was an Animagus variant.

It's so natural; the color distribution, the amount of hair, and the growth pattern are all perfectly natural.

Only through careful observation can one discover that this tabby cat lacks animalistic behavior, but that is also the result of Professor McGonagall's deliberate control.

She just wanted to give the young wizards a warning, not to secretly spy on them.

Hermione didn't think much of it, but Professor McGonagall on the podium was taken aback.

Having taught for so many years, she had encountered many young wizards who liked cats and stared at her, but when she and Vaughn exchanged a glance, she knew that this Weasley, who also liked cats, was looking at her with eyes full of inquiry and amazement.

The other party did indeed discover her identity!

Perhaps, she's another promising Transfiguration talent... even though she's a Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall couldn't help but nod to 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 a curious expression.

As class approached, students arrived at the classroom one after another.

Occasionally, someone would notice the tabby cat on the podium, but no one would give it another second glance.

When the famous Harry Potter and his roommate Ron Weasley finally walked in, Professor McGonagall leaped off the podium, deactivated her Animagus powers, and transformed back into human form.

The entire classroom erupted in a huge gasp.

Such an entrance was undoubtedly a success, as evidenced by the gleam in the eyes of those young wizards, but Professor McGonagall was not happy.

Because two people were late for the first class.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Ron Weasley, perhaps I should turn you both into pocket watches to make sure you remember the time of class?"

"We're lost, Professor," Harry explained dryly.

"Then let's turn you into a map?"

Professor McGonagall's expression grew increasingly stern. "Why didn't you find your seats? Do you need a map to get back to your seats? Also, because you were late, Gryffindor will deduct 5 points. I hope you'll remember this lesson!"

The two fell silent, slinking away to sit down next to Vaughn and Hermione.

That was the only empty seat in the classroom; it seems that no matter where you are, the seat closest to the teacher is never very popular.

"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."

Professor McGonagall waved her wand, transforming the lectern into a pig. Amidst a collective gasp from the students, she proclaimed, "Anyone who dares to misbehave in my class will be punished! Don't blame me for not warning you!"

Harry and Ron turned pale with fright.

"The professor was just trying to scare you," Hermione whispered. "Hogwarts has long since banned the use of Transfiguration to punish students. I read about it in 'A History of the School.'"

Before the two could even catch their breath, they heard Vaughn add, "But no one can supervise the professors. She can turn you into pigs in secret, and nobody will know."

Ron glanced at Vaughn with a sullen expression, wanting to say something, but still listlessly remained silent.

Harry, however, still had a good impression of Vaughn and didn't pay attention to his teasing.

Even though from the moment he learned about the wizarding world, everyone around him said how bad Slytherin was.

But ultimately, he didn't really feel it.

Therefore, when Professor McGonagall continued, "Before the lesson begins, I need to commend Mr. Vaughn Weasley, who was the only one in the class to discover my Animagus transformation, so I will give Slytherin 5 points."

Harry and Hermione clapped enthusiastically.

Ron muttered under his breath, "Traitor!"

But nobody paid him any attention.

Professor McGonagall then began her lecture.

Vaughn opened his textbook, "The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," and Hermione noticed that the book was filled with notes.

"You've already tried it?" Hermione exclaimed.

Vaughn nodded. "There's only object deformation, and there are still many questions."

As he spoke, noticing Hermione's longing expression, he had to remind her, "I don't recommend you try it on your own, Hermione. If you have any questions, you can ask me or the professor."

From Vaughn's own experience, Professor McGonagall's opening remarks were not deliberately exaggerated at all.

Transformation is indeed the most complex and dangerous; simple changes in the shape of objects are relatively easy to handle.

Last night, Vaughn tried to turn dried fish into mice, but it was still just object deformation, not the transformation of a living organism.

That rat was fake; it wasn't alive.

Metamorphosis is the process of transforming a living being into an object in another state or into another type of living being. This kind of change, which involves life forms and forms of existence, is full of unpredictable accidents, even if it is very brief.

Imagine you turn a rabbit into a teacup, but after the spell is broken, it doesn't turn back into a rabbit; instead, it becomes a twisted mass of rotting flesh. Even more terrifying, it continues to live for a while, struggling and screaming in agony. The shock of that...

Anyway, after trying it once, Vaughn couldn't eat for several days.

This shows that he is mature in his thinking and knows how to be cautious and restrained.

Imagine how disastrous it would be if a young wizard were to rashly attempt shapeshifting...

The class began with Professor McGonagall's lecture.

For the young wizards who had no prior knowledge, Professor McGonagall's explanations were both complex and difficult, and they could only hurriedly jot down the various key points.

But for Vaughn, it was a good opportunity to validate his fundamentals and ideas.

He spent the entire class taking notes, then comparing them with his own notes, marking the similarities and differences between the two.

At the end of the class, Professor McGonagall gave everyone a match and asked them to turn it into a needle.

She also taught her a spell: Transform quickly.

Everyone learned it, but the spell only played a supporting role; it was not the key to the transformation. Therefore, only Vaughn successfully completed it by the end of get out of class.

Hermione then changed the shape of her match, giving it a pointed end.

"Excellent, excellent! Mr. Vaughan Weasley and Miss Granger."

Professor McGonagall held up the two students' work for the whole class to see. "As you can see, Mr. Vaughn Weasley's transformation is perfect. Miss Granger, although not completely successful, has already met my requirements. I believe that if I give her another 10 minutes, she will be able to transform into a needle."

"Slytherin and Gryffindor each get 10 points. Okay, the homework is..."

After assigning the homework and papers and announcing the end of get out of class, Professor McGonagall stopped Vaughn: "Mr. Vaughn Weasley, please stay. I have something to say to you."