Chapter 069

"That is a very impressive display of knowledge and magic, Mr. Potter," a voice came from the front. Harry looked up to see Professor McGonagall standing before him.

Most of the other students stared at him in unmasked amazement. The only one who didn't seem to quite share their sentiment was Hermione, who didn't look pleased.

"Twenty points for Gryffindor, ten for getting the spell right, and another ten for the enlightening and knowledgeable explanation," Professor McGonagall said, giving him a rare smile.

"Thank you, ma'am," Harry said with a small nod, wondering if he might have gone a bit overboard. When he explained anything, especially anything involving theories he'd come up with through his own hard-earned research, he tended to get... a little too passionate at times.

"And since you can clearly do this, perhaps I should give you a more advanced task," Professor McGonagall began, but Harry interrupted her.

"Actually, I was thinking it might be a good idea if I went around and helped out some of the students who were struggling," Harry suggested. Professor McGonagall looked surprise by his offer, but soon her lips turned into that smile-grimace he was coming to recognize that told him she was proud.

"An excellent idea, Mr. Potter. You may assist your fellow students for the rest of your time in my class. And take fifteen more points for Gryffindor."

"Thank you, Professor."

And so went the rest of class. Harry helped students who appeared to be having trouble. By the end of the class, he had managed to walk both Hannah and Susan through the steps he'd devised and they had managed to change their matchsticks into needles, though Susan's looked better than Hannah's. Neville had gotten close, and only needed to fix the head, while Seamus' had inexplicably blown up when he tried to transfigure it. Dean changed the matchstick's tip into a point, but not much else. On the other hand, Sally-Ann Perks, a Hufflepuff with light brown hair and eyes, alo turned the match into a needle. The only other person who accomplished that task was Fay Dunbar, who sat beside Pavarti Patil and Lavender Brown, two girls who were far too giggly to actually make much headway when Harry tried to help them.

He had even gone out of his way to help Ron a bit, though the boy seemed leary of him. Not that Harry could blame him—he would be wary, too, if someone who had verbally reemed him was suddenly being so helpful. Still he tried, and that's what mattered to Harry.

The only person Harry had not been able to help was Hermione Granger, who had refused to use his unorthidox methods under the claim that it was not in the book they'd been assigned, and therefore was not the proper way to do transfiguration. Harry assumed the girl's real reason for not wanting his help was jealousy. From what he had seen of Hermione so far, the bushy-haired witch was used to being at the top of her class, and to see someone doing better than her had sparked her competitive streak. It was unlikely she would accept help from him.

In the end, she had only managed to change the matches color and gain a pointed tip, a fact that seemed to humiliate her. By the end of class she looked like she was just a few seconds from crying.

Harry might have felt pity for the girl, but considering it was her own pride that spurned his help, felt nothing more than exasperation. It wasn't like he could do much anyway. One could only help those who wanted it, and Hermione Granger clearly did not want his help.

When class finally ended, Harry stood up with the rest of his friends, but rather than leave, turned to them and said, "you three go on ahead to lunch without me. I'll meet up with you in a few minutes."

They looked at him for a second, but decided to just go along with it and said goodbye before heading out the door.

With everyone gone, Harry walked up to Professor McGonagall, who looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, actually," Harry said with a polite, inquisitive smile. "I wanted to ask you about your ability to turn into a cat."

It had been on his mind ever since he'd seen it. He knew what it was, of course; Sirius could change into a dog and Harry had even ridden on his back before he and his parents had gone into hiding. And he knew that his father had the ability to transform into an animal, though he'd never seen it before.

Professor McGonagall's other eyebrow joined its bretheren in being raised. "You mean my animagus ability?"

Harry gave her a nod.

"Yes, I was wondering if you could tell me more bit about it."