The three-person team barely made it into the classroom before the final bell echoed through the heavy stone corridors.
"I bet those stairs were deliberately designed to make us late." Ron rubbed his nose—red from a trick step—and was the first to cross the threshold. He breathed a sigh of relief at the empty podium. The room was quiet, filled with the scent of old parchment as students prepared for their first real academic challenge.
"Looks like we're not too late; the professor hasn't even arrived yet." Harry glanced at Ivan with relief. Luckily, he had managed to get up early today, or the shifting staircases would have ensured he was late.
"No, I think the professor has already arrived…" Ivan ignored their chatter. His eyes were locked onto a tabby cat sitting with unnerving stillness on the wooden podium. Its eyes were fixed on the door, unblinking. Without waiting for a response, Ivan moved quickly to a seat in the front row, setting his bag down with a focused thud.
Harry and Ron exchanged a bewildered look, but as soon as they took their seats, the cat suddenly leaped into the air. In mid-flight, its body twisted with fluid, magical grace. Before it even touched the floor, the fur had vanished, replaced by emerald-green robes and the stern features of Professor McGonagall.
Harry and Ron were stunned. Only then did they understand Ivan's warning, though they couldn't fathom how a fellow first-year had seen through a high-level Animagus transformation so effortlessly.
Professor McGonagall seemed equally surprised. She had disguised herself to observe the new students, but she hadn't expected to be recognized so casually. She gave Ivan a sharp, approving nod before stepping up to begin the lecture.
"Before we begin, I must warn you... Transfiguration is arguably one of the most complex and dangerous branches of magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she stated, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "Anyone who tries to cause trouble in my class can get out of here right now and never come back!"
To emphasize her point, McGonagall waved her wand. In a blur of motion, the heavy wooden podium morphed into a large, snorting pig. The young wizards gasped. With another effortless movement, the pig vanished, and the wooden podium stood in its place once more.
Ivan, sitting in the front row, watched the entire process with rapt attention. *Precise, fast, and flawless...* The ability to alter the molecular structure of matter revealed the true depth of this world's power. It wasn't just a spell; it was a fundamental rewrite of reality.
As Professor McGonagall began explaining the specific wand movements and the mental visualization required for the Transfiguration Charm, a crisp chime echoed in Ivan's mind.
[Ding! You listened attentively to the professor's explanation. Your proficiency with the Transfiguration Charm has slightly improved...]
Ivan silently called up his status panel. Sure enough, a new entry had manifested:
[Transfiguration Charm: Level 0 (6/100)]
The sight of the progress bar brought a surge of delight. This confirmed his advantage: as long as he put in the work to grind his proficiency, he could master any spell regardless of his talent. However, as the practical portion began, Ivan realized the grind was going to be more grueling than he had anticipated.
Professor McGonagall handed a matchstick to each student. The goal was to turn the wood into a silver needle.
...
"Ivan Hales!"
The stern voice snapped Ivan out of his concentration. Professor McGonagall moved toward the desk of a little witch with messy brown hair. Her match had already changed significantly, tapering into a metallic sheen. McGonagall's lips softened into a satisfied expression before she returned her attention to Ivan.
"Mr. Hales, I warned you that casting spells is extremely dangerous. You must stay focused!" she scolded. "Repetitive practice won't help if your mind is wandering. You must clearly visualize the silver needle in your mind's eye..."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, I will be careful…" Ivan nodded. Under the witch's sharp gaze, he gripped his wand and began waving it at the required frequency.
On the desk, the matchstick seemed to vibrate. It twisted and began to silver at the tip, deforming under the pressure of his magic. But just as the transformation seemed to take hold, his focus flickered, and the matchstick instantly snapped back to wood.
Professor McGonagall didn't seem surprised; most first-years couldn't even get the color to change. She simply gave him a curt nod and moved on. Ivan let out a soft sigh. "It seems accumulating proficiency isn't so easy..."
After the initial surge of 6 points, the rate of increase had slowed. Proficiency only moved when the cast was "meaningful" and his focus was absolute. He realized the System was a mirror reflecting his actual effort.
By the end of the hour, Ivan still hadn't maintained a stable transformation. Just as he was deep in thought, he felt a sharp poke in his side. He turned to see Harry, looking thrilled, pointing at an object on his desk. It was pointed at both ends and had a distinct luster.
"Hey, Ivan... look! I actually did it!"
"Yes, Harry, you're amazing. That's genuine talent right there." Ivan nodded. Achieving a visible, lasting change in the very first lesson put Harry at the top of the class.
"Really? I didn't expect it to work. My uncle's family are all Muggles, you know. Before I got here, I was terrified I wouldn't be able to cast anything at all..."
Harry poured out his worries. To the world, he was the "Boy Who Lived." But inside, he was still just an eleven-year-old boy who had spent his life in a cupboard, terrified of failing expectations.
Ivan wasn't surprised. The Sorting Hat had been right: Harry possessed raw magical talent. Ivan knew that in a few years, Harry would be performing magic that adult wizards struggled with. If talent wasn't on his side, he would simply have to grind harder. He looked back at his own matchstick
To Be Continue....
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