28. Transfiguration Lesson

A group of Hufflepuff girls were ready to take action, but they had not yet made up their minds.

As the class approached, it felt like Professor McGonagall would be arriving soon.

To ensure they didn't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Hannah gathered Bones, Juliet, and several other girls together, each holding snacks in their hands.

"Damn it," Wayne exclaimed, his eyes widening.

"Miranda," he questioned, "where did you get the catnip?"

At that moment, the tabby cat, surrounded by the girls, suddenly showcased a human smile, jumped back, and transformed back into the serious appearance of Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Abbott, Miss Livingston," Professor McGonagall's voice reprimanded, "do not engage in reckless behavior in the magical world, especially when you cannot identify the creature in front of you."

Professor McGonagall glanced at the catnip, her mouth twitching without a trace.

"He truly is a Hufflepuff student," she muttered, "always able to acquire the most peculiar plants."

"M-Mc, Professor McGonagall," the frightened little witches stuttered.

"Alright, class is about to begin," Professor McGonagall announced. "Please return to your seats."

The girls quickly scurried back to their seats, relieved expressions mixed with lingering fear.

Even the other students who had been watching the excitement were startled and sat upright, waiting for the class to begin.

This was a trick Professor McGonagall often used. When young wizards entered the school, she would transform into her Animagus form to scare them, establishing her authority. And it always worked.

Soon, the class bell rang, and Professor McGonagall transitioned into teaching mode.

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

"If anyone dare misbehave in my class, I will dismiss them and they will never step foot in this room again."

Professor McGonagall's authoritative aura filled the room, silencing everyone. Even Malfoy and his two followers shrunk in their seats.

On the podium, McGonagall waved her hand, and the blackboard filled with dense text, displaying the well-known Gamp Transformation Laws of the magical world.

These laws were the foundation, the ironclad rules, of all transfiguration.

It was essential for every student to commit this knowledge to memory before starting their studies to avoid any irreversible harm.

As the students took notes, Wayne did the same, but selectively. He already possessed a wealth of knowledge, so he saw no need to waste ink.

When they finished writing, McGonagall pulled out her wand and tapped the table, instantly transforming it into a pig.

This display immediately captured the little wizards' attention, their previously bored expressions transforming into ones of excitement and anticipation. As a seasoned professor with decades of teaching experience, McGonagall's exceptional teaching ability is beyond question, and he knows exactly what young wizards desire most.

Each individual was given a match. The objective of this class, or perhaps even the entire month's class, is to transform the match into a needle.

Transfiguration is categorized based on difficulty, ranging from simple to challenging: inanimate objects transforming into other inanimate objects, living beings transforming into inanimate objects, inanimate objects transforming into living beings, and living beings transforming into other living beings.

As one delves further into the past, the disparity in difficulty increases.

Well, even the initial class left everyone perplexed.

Hannah nearly shattered the toothpick with her wand, but there was no alteration in her toothpick.

Her deskmate Susan fared much better. Within five minutes, she successfully turned the match... into green.

"Change, change, change for me!"

Malfoy clenched his teeth and filled the barrel with wands.

Boom!

A firework burst forth from the top, nearly exploding his table.

"Mr. Malfoy, I specifically instructed you to concentrate; anger serves no purpose."

McGonagall furrowed her brow and admonished, "Due to your recklessness, Slytherin house will have one point deducted."

"Yes, Professor, I understand." Malfoy, too afraid to provoke her further, fetched another match.

"This is too difficult." Toby caused his match to flash with a silvery light. At first, he believed it was a success, but soon realized the match had not changed at all.

"It's alright, just focus on the match. Don't concern yourself with the consequences of success or failure."

Wayne mentioned this nonchalantly and, with a flick of his wand, transformed the match into a silver needle, thick at one end and slender at the other.

The thicker end also boasted intricate patterns.

As McGonagall passed by, she was taken aback and delighted by his achievement.

"Fantastic, Mr. Lawrence!"

This skill alone is something many young wizards struggle to accomplish in a whole semester.

She gazed at Wayne with admiration, saying, "You possess great talent in transfiguration. Keep up the excellent work, Mr. Lawrence. Five points to Hufflepuff."

"Thank you, professor," Wayne obediently expressed his gratitude.

Both Toby and Norman, seated at the front desk, regarded Wayne as a traitor.

"Aren't you the one who claimed to have no prior exposure to magic? How did you achieve success so quickly?"

"Fraud!"

Confidently, Wayne responded, "I had a preview of it when I was bored during summer vacation. What's the issue?"

Toby muttered, "Who seriously previews in their free time? This truly reflects a lack of faith in the professor's teaching abilities!"

Alright, alright, you may continue speaking.

Numerous students also stared at Wayne with envy, particularly those from Slytherin, who were even more resentful.

What they couldn't accomplish with their pureblood status had been achieved by a mere Muggle wizard.

Indeed, it was nothing short of humiliating.

What a shame. Until the end of class, no student succeeded in changing the shape of the match, nor did the material change at all.

However, Wayne's success surprised Professor McGonagall so much that she exempted him from Transfiguration homework for the week.

This made Toby and Norman's eyes turn red, but it didn't deter them from their job.

After class, Wayne hurried to the cafeteria with his schoolbag in hand, making him an anomaly compared to his usual unhurried self. Lost in thought about ways to make money, he walked towards the canteen with his head lowered.

Following his routine from the previous night, he discovered how much pocket money the young wizards had. With their wallets at their fullest at the start of the school year, it was only a matter of time before they spent a lot of money.

Wayne realized he needed to act quickly. However, due to his absorbed thoughts and lowered head, Wayne didn't notice a girl approaching him around the corner, causing them to collide. "Ouch!" The sound of collision startled Wayne. "Sorry, are you okay?"