Chapter 23: Cats! Cats! Cats! Super Cats!

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Transfiguration can be a dry and complex subject that should be excruciating for young witches and wizards. However, with Professor McGonagall's "Cat Treat" illustrations, even the most tedious material became bearable.

Over the course of an hour, the young witches and wizards filled several sheets of parchment with notes. The complex and profound content required thorough review after class; otherwise, the next lesson would feel like another two hours of reading arcane texts.

With half an hour left before the end of the lesson, Professor McGonagall handed out a matchstick to each student and demonstrated how to transform it into a shiny silver pin. Though this basic introductory transfiguration seemed simple, no one except Harry could make the matchstick move.

Realizing the difficulty of transfiguration firsthand, the young witches and wizards felt both frustrated and increasingly eager for Professor McGonagall's upcoming demonstration.

"Professor, can we see the Animagus transformation now?"

The quiet inquiry from somewhere in the room made the entire classroom fall silent. Dozens of eyes turned expectantly toward Professor McGonagall.

"I believe we can, Miss Wimbourne."

A rare smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. The students had performed well in class, and now it was time for her to fulfill her promise.

"Before the demonstration, let me briefly introduce what Animagus transfiguration is."

With a wave of her hand, the blackboard was cleared, replaced with a new set of writings.

"I must reiterate that Animagus is a highly dangerous and advanced transfiguration, where improper practice can pose severe life threats. This is no exaggeration; history is filled with accounts of deaths resulting from incorrect practice, including those of renowned and powerful witches and wizards."

"Originally, the purpose of Animagus transfiguration was for reconnaissance. If you took 'History of Magic Warfare' in your third year, you would find a detailed description in your textbooks. Initially, Animagus allowed wizards to transform into a non-magical creature, such as an insect or an animal. After transformation, the wizard would acquire all the traits of the transformed creature."

"For example, if your Animagus is a hunting dog, your sense of smell would be enhanced thousands of times. If your Animagus is an eagle, you would be able to soar at over ten kilometers high and clearly see rabbits running on the grass. Animagus transformation is a semi-permanent form of transfiguration, so as long as the wizard does not actively reverse the magic or is not forcibly reverted by someone else, the Animagus form can be maintained until death."

"As long as the wizard's magical energy is not exhausted, any damage sustained in Animagus form will not break the transformation. This is the most unique aspect of Animagus transfiguration, making it the closest thing to permanent transformation."

"However, since the transformed creature is a non-magical being that cannot perform magic, the wizard also loses their ability to cast spells. Although it is highly effective for reconnaissance, a wizard who has forfeited their magical abilities faces significant dangers on the battlefield."

"As the intensity of wars increased, simple biological transformation no longer met the needs of wizards. Only elite wizards could achieve Animagus transformation, and they could not accept the outcome of dying due to self-imposed limitations. Thus, the second generation of Animagus transfiguration was developed."

"The second phase of Animagus transformation no longer solely serves reconnaissance but greatly enhances the wizard themselves. Wizards, using the principle of 'a complete transfiguration unit,' create their own personalized battle armor through alchemy. By treating the wizard, the first-stage Animagus creature, and the alchemical battle armor as one transfiguration unit, they perform multiple fusion transformations, achieving the miraculous second phase, the final form of Animagus."

"And wizards who complete the second phase of transformation," Professor McGonagall said with a barely perceptible, proud smile, "are commonly referred to in the magical world as Super Witches or Super Wizards."

Professor McGonagall withdrew her ornate USP handgun, lightly waving her wand to transform it into a massive (40mm caliber), sleek (6-round revolver), and strikingly violent-looking MGL grenade launcher.

Its platinum coating was adorned with crimson patterns, and red lines depicted a roaring lion. Harry had no doubt that if Professor McGonagall accidentally pulled the trigger, a single shot could wipe out more than half the students in the classroom.

"Animagus Phase Two transformation will fix the wand's form, so it's necessary to decide on it in advance. That's the only inconvenient aspect," Professor McGonagall said with a smile, her mood evidently quite good.

"Each professor has their own unique combat focus, and choosing the wand's form is crucial. In your future Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, Professor Flitwick will teach you about this."

"Alright, the class is about to end. I hope my upcoming demonstration will spark your interest in transfiguration, a complex and profound subject, and motivate you to study it diligently. If anyone meets the requirements, my elite enhancement class will offer Animagus training starting in fifth year."

The young witches and wizards, their curiosity piqued, watched Professor McGonagall intently. She made no additional wand movements; with a flash, her form became incredibly blurred. Countless silver, fish-scale-like glimmers appeared and vanished in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the silver light disappeared, replaced by a pattern of dark brown stripes that quickly coalesced into a tiger-like pattern.

Professor McGonagall, already tall, seemed to gain an additional four or five inches. Her previously tightly bound brown-black hair now fell smoothly to her shoulders. Her bright yellow cat-like eyes glinted with a cold, predatory light, emanating an invisible aura of intimidation.

A form-fitting exoskeleton armor appeared as if growing from her body, its brown and black striped plating shimmering with a steel-cold luster. A three-foot-long cat's tail swished gently.

When the focus shifted to Professor McGonagall's face, the young witches and wizards gasped in surprise.

Professor McGonagall, though not young, had a face marked by the years of her age. Now, with a hint of wildness, her face bore three brown claw marks on each side, and the wrinkles seemed to smooth out. The professor appeared at least forty or fifty years younger, transformed into a powerful and agile cat-woman, erasing the slow aging from her appearance.

"During the advanced second phase of Animagus transformation, the current physical state is also recorded."

A slightly clearer voice followed, "I completed the second phase of Animagus transformation when I was twenty."

She smiled gently, causing many young witches and wizards to catch their breath. The wisdom accumulated over the years combined with the youthful grace of her smile was an eye-opening lesson for these inexperienced students. Professor McGonagall, however, did not enjoy showcasing her Animagus form much, believing that too much youthful exuberance could make it challenging to manage students effectively.

"As for the power brought by transformation," Professor McGonagall said, lifting her hand. Her metal claws replaced her slender fingers. The MGL grenade launcher was now only a barrel on her right wrist. With a soft, muffled sound, a subtle transformation spell hit the classroom floor, instantly setting the entire room in motion.

Desks melted into the floor, walls began to grow, and a large-scale transfiguration transformed the classroom into a complex maze. Numerous obstacles emerged, and the upper part of the classroom became a convoluted labyrinth. The young witches and wizards looked up to see a blurred figure darting around.

The agile cat-woman twisted her body just before hitting a wall, weaving through the maze with lightning speed. The target statues shattered into pieces with a blinding flash of light. The elegant but chilling display, though only targeting stone statues, left a lasting impression.

The demonstration ended as the classroom returned to its original state. Professor McGonagall, back at the front of the classroom, lightly rubbed her sharp claws together. The fleeting look of satisfaction suggested she hadn't exercised in a while.

"Well, class is dismissed."

The familiar, authoritative voice of Professor McGonagall resumed, her demeanor back to its usual strictness as she nodded to the students and left the classroom with the ringing of the dismissal bell.

(End of Chapter)