48: Naville: Can I do it too?

RIP MAGGIE SMITH! 

I'm certain she is in heaven, spending her time relaxing with her friends. She was a legend, and legends never die. ♥

.....

Also, my little brother said that maybe she transmigrated into the HP world as Professor McGonagall for real and I believe my lil bro on this. 

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"Subjective transformation starts from the wizard, using their own thinking to analyze things and make them change according to the wizard's ideas."

"Objective transformation is based on the wizard's understanding, giving the transformed object the ability to interact with the outside world."

For example, if Ivan has eaten a particular kind of ice cream and knows its taste, he can transform water into that kind of ice cream.

In this process, the higher the wizard's thinking attribute, the greater the scope for manipulation, and the higher the precision of the transformation.

The same principle applies to deceiving machine detection. Only by understanding the underlying principles can a wizard perform transformations that are lifelike.

Take Professor McGonagall as an example. She doesn't understand the intricacies of Muggle electronic devices.

So, while she can transform electronic devices into small animals, plants, or other substances, she can't turn stones into functioning TVs.

Even if she were to perform such a transformation, it would merely be an empty shell with the appearance of a TV, with its inner workings existing in a Schrödinger-like state.

'Thinking.'

At this moment, Ivan fully grasped the importance of the thinking attribute. Its greatest manifestation in magic is in transfiguration.

The thinking attribute serves as a tool for exploring the world, enabling calculation, analysis, and understanding.

If one day Ivan masters magical transformation and permanent transformation, along with a sufficiently high level of thinking, he might indeed become like a god, capable of creating anything.

"I have one last question, professor."

Ivan and McGonagall continued their discussion, paying no mind to the confused looks of the other little wizards. The only one who could follow along was Hermione.

Even then, Hermione could only grasp the general meaning of their conversation.

But when it comes to magic, Hermione is completely confused.

"Can air be transformed?"

"Uh..."

Professor McGonagall frowned slightly. She found that Ivan's question was indeed a bit unusual.

Tricky?

Not quite, because every question Ivan asked touched upon the fundamental aspects of Transfiguration.

Including the question about air transformation, which is also a very important topic.

"No."

McGonagall shook her head and said, "Transfiguration cannot transform air."

"What about 'wind'?"

In Ivan's understanding, there are magics in the wizarding world that can summon wind, create clouds, fog, and even storms.

If air cannot be transformed, then what exactly are those spells?

"Ivan, what you're referring to isn't Transfiguration."

McGonagall clarified, "Transfiguration doesn't just alter the appearance of something; it changes its essence."

If what Ivan wanted was merely to manipulate the shape of gas, that would fall under a different category of magic, more akin to elemental control—like the spells used to manipulate fire or water flow.

The real air transformation should involve turning air into water, food, plants, or animals.

However, such feats...

Perhaps only gods could achieve them....

"I just mentioned that Transfiguration cannot change the number of objects, so how do we define this 'number'? Have you ever thought about that?"

McGonagall looked directly into Ivan's eyes and said seriously, "We cannot turn two separate apples into a single entity."

Are apples and apples really separated by nothing?

No, there is something between them, and that is "air."

Some might think that what separates matter is space.

But in reality, the concept of "separation" in Transfiguration does not extend to the manipulation of space.

Even separating air is already pushing the boundaries of magic.

Additionally, this also implies that wizards' Transfiguration cannot transform individual molecules, such as an oxygen molecule or a water molecule.

Ivan didn't know what the upper limit of Transfiguration was.

But as for the lower limit—bacteria and viruses aside—molecules and atoms are certainly beyond the scope of ordinary wizards' Transfiguration.

After the Transfiguration class, Ivan stood up and left.

The little wizards around him made way and watched as Ivan and Hermione walked out together.

'Eh? What's wrong?'

Ivan was taken aback. He wasn't used to being the center of attention, but the little wizards were full of admiration.

Especially the young lions in Gryffindor House, who almost instinctively saw Ivan as their leader and wanted to protect him!

Even the students in Ravenclaw were impressed by the knowledge Ivan had displayed during his exchange with Professor McGonagall.

"That guy.. So cool."

Ron and Harry also walked alongside Ivan.

Ron was envious and wished he could carry himself with the same authority as Ivan.

Harry, on the other hand, hoped Ivan could teach him a few spells. He didn't expect to be as impressive as Ivan, but mastering one or two spells would be enough to satisfy him.

"Ivan, you were incredible!"

Following close behind, Hermione eagerly praised his conversation with McGonagall, her eyes filled with admiration.

At only 12 years old, the young witch looked up to Ivan as her idol. "It's nothing," Ivan replied modestly.

He then noticed Neville, who appeared a bit shy, and invited Hermione to their dormitory that evening.

He planned to continue teaching Hermione magic and hoped that she could also help teach Neville a few spells.

Though Neville was slow to catch on, he was a Longbottom, and his magical bloodline was certainly strong.

What Neville lacked was confidence and a mind affected by the effects of the Memory Charm.

But this wasn't a big problem.

Ivan valued Neville's simplicity and loyalty.

Since he had decided to become the White Lord, his personal strength was crucial, but so were the allies and followers he would gather around him.

Hermione and Neville were undoubtedly the two people closest to Ivan at Hogwarts.

"I... can I do it too?" Neville asked hesitantly, lacking confidence.

Hermione quickly encouraged him: "Ivan is amazing, Neville. You need to believe in his teaching ability."

She thought it might be asking too much for Neville to work harder immediately, but there was no excuse for him not to trust Ivan.

"Yeah!"

Sure enough, Neville understood what Hermione meant and admired Ivan even more.

That evening, the three of them had dinner in the Great Hall and then headed to Ivan and Neville's dormitory as planned to practice magic together.

According to Hogwarts' school rules, girls could enter the boys' dormitory, but the opposite was not allowed.

Moreover, Ivan and Neville were the only ones in their dormitory, which made things a lot easier.

"Meow~~"

On the dormitory floor, Yuumi and Crookshanks were playfully wrestling while Trevor, Neville's pet, stayed off to the side, staring at the door.

However, with two big cats more like crazy raccoons by his side, the poor, weak and helpless toad had no chance to play its disappearing game.

"Ahem."

Ivan placed three sofas and a table in the open space in the dormitory, and placed the textbooks for Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology and Potions on top.

"Neville, don't be nervous."

Seeing that Neville was a little embarrassed, Ivan comforted him: "Hermione and I have held many study sessions. This is no big deal."

"Yes, Neville."

Hermione had a good impression of the shy boy, and with her and Ivan here, there was no reason that Neville couldn't be taught.