Transformation Guide

The academic pressure in the third year is much greater compared to the previous two years.

Several new courses have been added, and the existing courses and their content are more advanced and complex.

Many third-year students were complaining about this, expressing their frustration with the increased number of courses and homework, which limited their time for extracurricular activities like Quidditch.

Although Jon didn't feel pressured, the heavy workload did affect his free time in Hufflepuff House.

It wasn't until Thursday afternoon, after finishing his first Ancient Runes class of the semester, that he made his way to the eighth floor of the castle.

As he approached the room on the eighth floor, he noticed a group of Gryffindor students chatting nearby.

Jon quickly shifted his gaze, pretending to admire the oil painting of the giant club striking the foolish Barnabas, located across from the entrance to Hufflepuff House.

Barnabas the Barmy was a "notorious" wizard known for his failed attempt to teach a troll to ballet dance. During the endeavor, he was struck on the head by a troll wielding a hammer while wearing a tutu. The oil painting depicted this comical scene.

"Oh!" The troll in the oil painting seemed to have noticed Jon's presence. It turned around and roared at him.

The troll's roar caught the attention of others.

"Jon?" A cheerful voice called out from the group of Gryffindor students.

A short girl emerged from the crowd of Gryffindors and approached Jon.

"You go ahead, I'll join you later!" The girl waved to her classmates. "I just need a few more minutes."

Jon's mouth twitched slightly, but he turned around and greeted her, "Good afternoon, Natalie!"

...

"Are you settling in well at school?" Jon asked, trying to sound caring.

"It's wonderful!" Natalie replied, folding her hands in front of her with a smile. "These days have been amazing. I've never had access to so much delicious food, and I've never slept in such a big bed. Professor McGonagall takes good care of me too..."

"That's great to hear..." Jon suddenly remembered that Natalie came from a slum in East London. Compared to her difficult past, life at Hogwarts must feel like heaven.

"Are you interested in this painting?" Natalie asked, shifting her gaze to the oil painting in front of them.

The troll wearing a tutu in the painting noticed another spectator and grinned, shouting at her.

Startled, the little girl took a couple of steps back.

Jon quickly reached out to support her. "Are you alright?"

"Thank you!" Natalie wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The portraits, staircases, and statues in the school are so strange... They often try to scare me!"

"You'll get used to it," Jon said casually. "Natalie, do you want me to accompany you back to the Gryffindor common room?"

"No..." Natalie shook her head quickly, changing the subject. "Where are you going now? I heard that the Hufflepuff common room is in a crypt?"

Jon pretended to glance at the wall behind them, which was the entrance to the Hufflepuff House. Then he said slowly, "Yes, it's located beneath the castle. I'm actually going to find Professor Flitwick to ask him something..."

He made up a reason on the spot.

"Professor Flitwick?" Natalie blinked thoughtfully. "Can I come with you? I have some questions I'd like to ask him!"

Jon felt a slight headache, as if he had an unwanted companion he couldn't shake off...

As they walked towards Professor Flitwick's office near the Charms corridor, Natalie kept chattering away.

"Ginny Weasley told me that you've been at the top of the class since you started at Hogwarts. Is that true?" Natalie asked curiously.

"I suppose so..." Jon replied vaguely.

"That's amazing!" Natalie exclaimed. "How do you do it? I always feel like I'm a bit behind the students from wizarding families!"

"Well... I guess I'm just more diligent..."

"Professor Sprout praised you highly in Herbology class!" Natalie continued. "She said you're the most talented student in Herbology she's ever encountered. And Professor Snape praised you too, although I can't remember when..."

Being praised and admired by others, especially by a cute little girl, was somewhat amusing. However, Jon didn't let it go to his head. He still maintained some caution.

When they were about ten yards away from Professor Flitwick's office, Jon suddenly patted his forehead.

"Sorry, Natalie," he said with a serious expression. "I just remembered that I left my 'Magical Characters and Phonemes' book in the Magical Texts classroom... I apologize for leaving you alone for a bit!"

With that, he quickly retraced his steps.

Natalie Pavlova looked at Jon's hurried departure, feeling a bit disappointed. After a while, she turned around and made her way back to the Gryffindor common room with a sigh.

...

Finally free from Natalie's company, Jon quickly returned to the oil painting of the giant club beating the foolish Barnabas.

Taking advantage of the absence of others, he entered the Hufflepuff common room through the hidden entrance in the wall.

The familiar cozy interior greeted his eyes...

Jon sat on a cushion, opened his backpack, and emptied all the books onto the floor.

One particular book, a rather worn and unfamiliar one, caught his attention as it landed in a prominent position in front of him.

This made Jon frown. It was the "Cutting-Edge Transformation Guide" that Zacharias Smith had asked him to help return to the library.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he picked up the book from the Restricted Section and gently opened it.

After flipping through the pages, he arrived at a section marked by a bookmark with the initials "ZS" written roughly in ink.

The section focused on becoming an Animagus.

Jon shifted his gaze to the beginning of this chapter:

"Warning! Becoming an Animagus requires exceptional talent in Transfiguration and Potion-making... Animagus magic is highly dangerous, involving multiple steps, and failure to execute them properly can lead to severe physical and psychological problems. Prior to attempting this magic, it is crucial to file an application with the Ministry of Magic and receive guidance from the Transfiguration instructor..."

Jon gently set down the "Cutting-Edge Transformation Guide" and fell into deep thought.