Chapter 19: Transfiguration Class
If he set aside his pursuit of power and had to choose the single subject that interested him most, Warren would undoubtedly pick Transfiguration.
Its scope, complexity, and versatility permeated almost every aspect of the magical world.
If a single discipline had to represent the essence of magic, Transfiguration would be the definitive choice.
This was particularly true of its advanced branch, the study of Animagi.
After a brief exchange with Neville, Warren and Hermione took seats in the front row. Warren could not take his eyes off the tabby cat perched on the podium.
Hermione found his behavior odd. "Warren, is something wrong with that cat?"
"Nothing."
Warren had no intention of exposing Professor McGonagall's little trick.
Honestly, if he hadn't read the books and known McGonagall's habits, he wouldn't have been able to identify an Animagus transformation at a casual glance. Not with his current skill level.
It was simply too natural. The coat patterns, the thickness and texture of the fur, everything was flawless.
Only by observing closely could one notice that the tabby cat's mannerisms were not quite those of a true animal. But that was also Professor McGonagall's intention. She simply wanted to give the first years a small scare, not spy on them.
Hermione didn't think much of it. Professor McGonagall, however, watching from her perch, was secretly startled.
In all her years of teaching, she had met plenty of young witches and wizards who stared at her because they liked cats. But when she caught Warren's gaze, she knew that this Weasley, another apparent cat lover, was looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.
He had indeed recognized her.
Perhaps he would be another promising Transfiguration student, despite being a Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall nodded at Warren. Warren nodded back. Their silent exchange surprised Hermione.
"Warren, it's... no, she is..."
"Hush. It's a surprise from the professor."
Hermione quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at Professor McGonagall with wide eyes.
As class time approached, students trickled in.
Occasionally, someone would notice the tabby cat on the podium, but no one paid it any mind.
When the famous Harry Potter and his roommate Ron Weasley arrived last, Professor McGonagall leaped down from the podium, ended her Animagus transformation, and returned to her human form.
The entire class erupted in gasps of amazement.
It was certainly an effective entrance, if the starry-eyed first years were anything to go by. Professor McGonagall, however, was far from pleased.
Two students had arrived late for her very first lesson.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps I should turn you both into pocket watches? That way, you might actually remember the time."
"We got lost, Professor," Harry offered weakly.
"Then perhaps I should turn you into maps?"
Professor McGonagall's expression grew even sterner. "Why don't you take your seats? Or do you need a map to find them? Five points will be taken from Gryffindor for your tardiness. I hope this is a lesson you won't forget."
The two boys shrank under her gaze and slunk into the only remaining empty seats, right next to Warren and Hermione. It seemed that no matter the setting, the seats closest to the teacher were universally unpopular.
"Transfiguration is among the most complex and dangerous magic you will study at Hogwarts."
Professor McGonagall waved her wand, transforming her desk into a pig. As the students gasped in unison, she declared loudly, "Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be punished. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Harry and Ron turned pale.
"She's just trying to scare you," Hermione whispered. "Hogwarts doesn't allow Transfiguration to be used as punishment anymore. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
Before they could relax, Warren chimed in. "But there is no one keeping an eye on the professors. She could turn you into a pig without anyone noticing, and no one would ever know."
Ron shot Warren a sullen look, but he didn't say anything.
Harry, however, still liked Warren and didn't mind his teasing.
Even though everyone he had met since entering the magical world had told him how awful Slytherins were, he had no firsthand experience with them.
Professor McGonagall continued, "Before we begin, I must commend Mr. Warren Weasley. He was the only student in the class to recognize my Animagus transformation. For that, Slytherin earns five points."
Harry and Hermione clapped enthusiastically.
Ron muttered under his breath, "Traitor."
No one paid him any mind.
Professor McGonagall launched into her lecture.
Warren opened his textbook, *A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration*. Hermione noticed the book was crammed with handwritten notes.
You've already tried it?" Hermione exclaimed.
Warren nodded. "Just inanimate objects. And I still have a lot of questions."
Seeing the eager look on her face, he felt compelled to add, "I wouldn't recommend trying it on your own, Hermione. If you have questions, ask me or the professor."
From his own experience, Warren knew Professor McGonagall's dramatic opening wasn't just for show.
Transfiguration was indeed the most complex and dangerous branch of magic. Simple shape-changing of inanimate objects was one thing.
Last night, he had successfully transfigured a cat treat into a mouse. However, that still counted as inanimate Transfiguration rather than true living Transfiguration.
The mouse was not alive. It was a mere replica.
Living Transfiguration involved transforming a living being into an object or a completely different life form. Because this fundamentally altered the essence and nature of life, even for a brief moment, it was fraught with unpredictable dangers.
Imagine transfiguring a rabbit into a teacup. If one attempted to reverse the spell, it would not revert to a rabbit. Instead, it would become a twisted, pulsing mass of flesh. Worse still, it would remain alive, twitching and screaming. The sheer horror of such an outcome was beyond imagining.
Understandably, after a single attempt, Warren had been unable to eat for days.
And that was with his mature and cautious state of mind.
If a young witch or wizard rashly attempted human Transfiguration and encountered similar results, the consequences would be too terrifying to imagine.
The lesson began with a lecture from Professor McGonagall. To the first years who lacked a foundation, her explanations were complex and difficult. They could only frantically scribble down the key points.
For Warren, however, it was the perfect opportunity to test his own fundamentals and theories.
He spent the entire class taking detailed notes, then comparing them against his own knowledge to note the similarities and discrepancies.
At the end of the lesson, Professor McGonagall gave each student a match and instructed them to transfigure it into a needle.
She also taught them a charm known as Vera Verto. Everyone learned the incantation, but the charm was merely an aid, not the key to the transformation itself. By the time class ended, only Warren had succeeded completely.
Hermione had managed to partially transform hers. One end had sharpened to a point.
"Excellent, excellent. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger."
Professor McGonagall held up their results for the class to see. "As you can see, Mr. Weasley's transformation is flawless. Miss Granger has not entirely succeeded yet, but she has accomplished what I asked. I have every confidence that given another ten minutes, she would produce a perfect needle."
Five points to Slytherin and five to Gryffindor. Now, your homework is...
After assigning an essay and dismissing the class, Professor McGonagall called out, "Mr. Weasley, please stay behind. I need to speak with you."
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