19 Chapter 17

I woke up early next day and practically forced myself to go for a jog. I really don't like physical workout, it's just feels boring and tiring for me. But it is necessary, I can't afford to make excuses like in my last life, I have decided that I will live this life without regret and realize my true potential. I will have to make a habit of exercising in this life and the earlier, the better.

The grounds were pretty much empty in the morning for Hagrid, who was working on something in his garden. I ran for about half an hour with some breaks here and there, till I was really tired.

'This feeling really sucks', as I sprawled on my bed after the run, still breathing heavily. 'I have to stop thinking like this, I have to stop taking it as a chore otherwise it will become a chore and I will again find excuses not to do it.' I got up and slapped myself on the cheeks with both hands. I know myself best, I have issues with discipline and self control especially with the things I don't enjoy doing.

I showered and got ready for the day ahead. I met Flitwick in the common room, waiting to greet first years on their first day.

"Good Morning, Professor", I greeted him.

"Good Morning to you too Mr. Haven, ready for your second year?", he said.

"Yes, Of course Professor, I could hardly wait for the summer to end", I said excitedly. He then handed me my schedule for the week and I departed for the great hall.

Breakfast was a loud affair as Ron got the howler for flying a car to Hogwarts with Harry. After breakfast , the first class was double Transfiguration. McGonagall made us do a revision of spells we were taught last year, which I did perfectly, then gave us a beetle to turn into a button.

Transfiguration of living organisms is a lot harder than inanimate objects. Still turning living thing is into an object is considered easier than vice versa. Giving life or sentience to an object even temporary is way harder than turning them into an object. You have to imagine their actions and reactions after they are transfigured, which is difficult for even adult wizards. Usually transfigured animals or insects have only a few actions they do on a loop, they don't have the sense to react at all. Like a button transfigured into a beetle which is "programmed" to crawl on the table will continue to do so even if it's at the edge and will fall down unlike a real beetle which has the sense to turn at the edge. It will be up to the magic caster and his imagination to make the transfiguration as life like as possible.

Back to turning beetle into the button, Professor McGonagall specifically instructed to keep the beetle alive, as if it's dead it will just become an inanimate object which will be a lot easier to transfigure. I guess living organisms' own will and intent somewhat interferes with the transfiguration even when they have no magic, which makes it a lot harder.

We don' just have to transfigure it while it's alive but also make sure that it stayed alive after the magic is lifted which will be harder still.

"I don't that expect from anyone of you to accomplish this in your second year, this is just to give you a measure of what will be expected of any decent witch or wizard. You can continue", McGonagall said.

'Alright I'm going to try to do it in this class, I will keep it alive', I thought as I looked at my beetle.

After a few tries, I successfully transfigured the beetle to a simple button. I waited a few minutes then reversed the transfiguration to find that the beetle was dead.

'Tch, how do I keep it alive after it is turned into a button?', I thought frustatedly.

"Well done as usual Mr. Haven", I heard McGonagall's voice behind my shoulder, she really has eyes on each and every students activities. She immediately noticed that I can have successfully transfigured the beetle. "10 points to Ravenclaw", she announced, then she continued with lowered voice to me, "Don't worry about it being dead, take a new beetle and try again. I can give you some pointers on how to keep it alive but I'm sure you would rather figure it out yourself. I have full confidence that you will be able to do it in a few more classes", she said with a pat on my shoulder.

"Thanks Professor, I will figure it out soon enough", I said to her.

After much thought and even more tries, I formed a theory- I have to imagine it being alive as a button, it sounds easier but is very hard to apply. Next few tries I transfigured the beetle into a beetle shaped button to make it easier for me to imagine it alive. I imagined it being able to breathe normally, just as a wooden statue.

I finally succeeded just before the end of the class. When I reversed the magic, the beetle slowly started to crawl, a little unsteady but it was definitely alive.

"Yes", I stood up and fist pumped in excitement, then I realized I said it out loud and everybody was now looking at me, I quickly sat back down. Professor McGonagall came to my table and examined the beetle.

"You never cease to surprise me Mr. Haven, the beetle is a little damaged but it's alive. Take 25 points for Ravenclaw. This is some spectacular prowess of transfiguration you are showing Mr Haven", Professor McGonagall praised me.

"Thank you professor", I said.

I was feeling pretty good about myself after the class, so much so that I didn't even sleep during Binns' History of Magic.

But my euphoria didn't long as the next class after lunch was Defence against the Dark Arts. When we the class, we were shocked by the classrooms condition. The classroom looked like a storm has passed by it. The tables were flipped, there was a lot of pieces of parchment lying, bottles of ink were smashed and the ink was splashed everywhere. I sighed.

'Of course, the first class of Lockhart was of Gryffindor second years and the moron released the Cornish pixies in the class', I thought as my earlier jovial mood turned irritated.

Gilderoy Lockhart really irks me.

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Authors Note- For some reason all characters like Lockhart, who take credit for other's work really annoys me- Mr. Satan from DBZ, King from One punch man, Reign from Mob Psycho, Buggy from One piece, etc. Tell me your thoughts.

Sorry for delay, my health is fine now. I will try to keep regular updates (alternate days) from now on.