Professor McGonagall stared intently at Chang.
Her usual stern and steady expression had completely vanished.
Anyone could see how shocked she was in that moment.
The changes in magic form and magical nature that Chang had just spoken of, though not phrased in the traditional terminology of the Transfiguration academic world, were clearly his own summarized insights. Yet, Professor McGonagall naturally understood what Chang meant.
This was no longer a superficial classroom question—it touched upon the very essence of Transfiguration.
She had never imagined that she would hear such a profound inquiry from a first-year wizard. Even when she herself had been in her first year, she certainly hadn't grasped concepts with such depth. She remembered hearing long ago that even Dumbledore, who was known for extraordinary talent, had once stunned his professors during his very first Transfiguration class. The Transfiguration Professor at the time had declared that young Albus Dumbledore would surely become a monument in the field of Transfiguration.
Until today, McGonagall had never truly understood what it meant to teach such a student. But now, looking at Chang, she suddenly did. The feelings her predecessor must have had when first teaching Dumbledore were probably the same as what she felt now.
Of course, Dumbledore's brilliance had been recognized by everyone. In a century, only a handful of wizards could rival his magical perception and magical strength. What others needed a decade of effort to achieve, Dumbledore grasped as easily as eating or drinking.
But what about Chang?
With far weaker innate talent, he had managed to comprehend such truths about Transfiguration within a single semester. That was, in its own way, even more astonishing than Dumbledore's early performance. The amount of effort, pain, and perseverance hidden behind his progress was beyond imagination.
At the same time, McGonagall felt a deep pang of regret.
Heaven truly was unfair.
If only Chang had been born with just a little more natural talent, he might one day rival even Dumbledore himself.
Gradually, her turbulent emotions subsided. She steadied her thoughts and finally addressed Chang, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
"Chang," she said softly.
"What you have perceived is correct. Few at your age possess such insight. This proves that you have an extraordinary gift for Transfiguration."
The classroom fell silent. McGonagall's uncharacteristically generous praise stunned the little badgers and little lions alike. Her words carried immense weight. After all, this was Professor McGonagall, whose seriousness and high standards were legendary.
Never before had they heard her praise a student at such length. Not even Hermione—her most favored pupil—had ever received such glowing recognition.
Chang himself was embarrassed. He knew his own reality better than anyone. He did not have any remarkable natural aptitude for Transfiguration. His progress came largely from mastering several Platinum-Level Charms that had allowed him to glimpse the microscopic structure of magic far earlier than most wizards. Later, by sheer fortune, he had acquired Shadow, whose repeated slow-motion playback ability enabled him to observe changes in magical properties in a way others could not.
And now here he was, being hailed by Professor McGonagall as a once-in-a-lifetime Transfiguration prodigy.
After offering her praise, McGonagall finally began answering his earlier question.
"Your observations are mostly correct," she said gravely. "But there are a few misunderstandings I must clarify."
She paused, then continued with a deliberate tone:
"Transfiguration indeed has two directions when it comes to microscopic changes in magic. The first is what we teach in class—turning a match into a silver needle, a table into a teapot, or, at a more advanced level, transfiguring statues and armor into living creatures for combat. This is known as Gamp Transfiguration, named after Gamp, who also proposed Gamp's Law of Transfiguration. Gamp laid the foundation for classical Transfiguration, which is why this direction is also called the classical school.
"The other direction," McGonagall continued, "is what you described as a change in magical nature. It manifests as turning sparks into lightning, floods into swamps, or conjuring things with unique magical properties—such as a shield of mithril capable of resisting most spells.
"This approach was proposed centuries ago by the Transfiguration Master Tolleman. At first, the academic community thought Tolleman insane, since his theories seemed to contradict Gamp's Basic Law. But Tolleman argued that his and Gamp's discoveries were simply two sides of the same greater truth.
"For centuries his ideas were rejected. Yet over time, his school of thought gained recognition. Roughly one hundred and fifty years ago, his theories were officially named Tolleman Transfiguration, also known as the new wave."
Chang listened intently, absorbing every word. None of this appeared in the original textbooks. The first-year Transfiguration book mentioned Gamp, but not Tolleman. The reason was obvious: just as advanced theories are withheld from younger students in ordinary schools, young wizards were deemed unready for such profound knowledge. Introducing Tolleman's school to first-years would be like teaching advanced calculus in elementary school. For most, it would only crush interest and motivation.
McGonagall then addressed Chang's earlier misconception.
"As Tolleman himself said," she explained, "his school and Gamp's school are not in opposition. They are merely two different manifestations of a higher rule of Transfiguration. Gamp's is more suitable for beginners; Tolleman's has a much steeper barrier to entry. But neither is inherently more advanced or profound.
"Anyone who reaches the forefront of either school deserves the title of Transfiguration Master.
"And furthermore—"
She lifted her wand. A spark erupted at the tip, which instantly transformed into lightning, then into frost.
"Academics evolve constantly. Tolleman's theories incorporated many of Gamp's foundational theorems. Likewise, modern Gamp Transfiguration has absorbed aspects of Tolleman's methods. That is why most masters today study both.
"It is a fallacy to believe that one school is superior to the other. True power lies in mastering both to a profound level. Only then may one approach the ultimate essence of Transfiguration."
McGonagall sighed, her face tinged with longing.
"In all my years, I have seen or heard of only three individuals who achieved such mastery. Each profoundly changed the magical world. Some may have been morally corrupt or dangerously ambitious, but that does not diminish their accomplishments in the art of Transfiguration."
She fixed her eyes on Chang.
"Child," she said quietly.
"Perhaps you may have a faint chance of becoming the fourth."
The classroom fell utterly silent.
The Hufflepuff badgers' eyes shone with pride. They didn't fully understand the theories McGonagall had explained, but they could understand her meaning: Professor McGonagall herself believed Chang could one day achieve greatness.
"Who said we Hufflepuffs are foolish?" they thought proudly. "For a subject as difficult as Transfiguration, the best is none other than Chang from our house!"
Even the Gryffindor lions were shaken. Their own Dean praising a rival house's student so highly left them uneasy. Hermione, in particular, looked quietly frustrated.
Chang, however, paid no attention. His gaze was locked on his system panel.
As McGonagall finished her explanation, the bronze glow surrounding "Transfiguration" on the panel suddenly deepened, spreading across nearly half the word. If not for her masterful explanation, Chang might not have reached such progress even with weeks of practice on his own.
A smile tugged at his lips.
When the bell rang, McGonagall asked him to remain behind. She gave him the password to her office and told him he could visit any time with questions. Gratitude welled up in Chang's heart.
In his past life, when he had sought guidance from professors, he had been met only with impatience:
"If you need to ask me everything, then what kind of academic are you? Is your thesis for me to publish?"
He had soon learned to rely on senior students instead of tutors. In contrast, the professors of Hogwarts were towering figures in their fields, yet they offered guidance freely.
Leaving the classroom, Chang glanced once more at the bronze glow of Transfiguration on his system panel. His mood was soaring.
Then a letter from Hagrid lifted it even higher.
The batch of Goldfish Vines they had planted had matured again. Excited, Chang hurried to Hagrid's hut. Harvesting the plants, he felt the familiar reward orbs merge into his body. His Magic Perception sharpened further, the golden glow of [Magic Perception Enhancement] dazzling on his system panel.
His eyes shone.
"Trolls really are excellent catalysts for Goldfish Vines," he muttered. "Now I can reliably harvest a batch each week. The decay rate is steep, but each harvest still improves me significantly. If this continues, reaching Platinum level is only a matter of time."
A thought stirred within him:
"If I could tame more Trolls, the process would accelerate even faster."
Hagrid had once said there were several larger Troll settlements deeper within the Forbidden Forest—seven or eight Trolls per settlement, totaling at least fifty. If Chang could tame them all, his Goldfish Vine yields would increase tenfold.
But he quickly shook his head.
At present, Quirrell was still prowling the Forbidden Forest hunting unicorns. The noise of taming Trolls would not go unnoticed. Within Hogwarts walls, Quirrell acted with caution; in the forest, he would be far more dangerous. Chang knew better than to think he could match a professor in combat.
There was also the issue of food. Trolls were insatiable. Feeding the three adult Trolls and two juveniles he already managed pushed him and Hagrid to the limit. Taming dozens more would make even Hogwarts' food stores insufficient.
"I'll wait until summer, when food is plentiful in the forest," he decided. "Or I must cultivate a magical plant that can sate Troll hunger. Only then will it be possible to tame more."
Pushing distracting thoughts aside, Chang stretched his body with a deep breath. His joints cracked sharply.
He picked up his beater's bat and walked toward the Trolls.
"As before," he called. "Come on."
The Trolls exchanged eager glances, roared, and charged at him with their massive clubs.
Chang did not dodge. Muscles bulging, veins standing out, he swung his bat with full force.
The impacts thundered across the clearing. Each collision sent Trolls stumbling back while leaving Chang's arms tingling from the recoil. On his system panel, Legendary Life and Legendary Strength glimmered ever so slightly brighter.
The progress was minuscule, but enough to ignite the fire in his eyes.
Whenever his magical strength plateaued, he would return here to clash with the Trolls, using their brute force as a forge to temper himself. Each day's improvement was nearly imperceptible, yet it kept hope alive.
"Again!" he roared. "Again!"
The clearing echoed with low, booming thuds, like a blacksmith's hammer shaping iron into steel. Birds scattered from the Forbidden Forest, startled by the sound.
Only when the Trolls collapsed in exhaustion did the thunder stop.
And the next day, it would begin again.
Day after day, Chang pushed himself forward on the long road to Mythical Life and Mythical Strength.
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