Chapter 13: Transfiguration
Chapter 13: Transfiguration
Vidal had assumed that with proper guidance, most spells would be relatively easy for them to pick up. However, the truth was that one's innate talent still played a significant role in determining their proficiency in magic.
For simple spells like the Cleaning Charm and the Mending Charm, the group showed no noticeable differences in their initial attempts. But as they progressed to more challenging spells, Theo started to struggle. Even after practicing the Levitation Charm over a dozen times, he still couldn't quite get it right. Ryan and Michael fared slightly better, but their success was inconsistent. Hermione, on the other hand, continued to excel, mastering the spell on her first try, although she found it challenging to levitate heavier objects.
Nevertheless, for students who had just started at a magic school, even mastering a simple spell was thrilling. As they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner, Michael couldn't help but boast to Theo, "Did you see my last Mending Charm? It was flawless! The chandelier in the ceiling was instantly restored to its original state, and I'd wager it looked even brighter than it did before it broke!"
Ryan, on the other hand, was still quietly practicing his spells, waving his wand and muttering under his breath. Unbeknownst to him, sparks shot out from the tip of his wand, nearly singeing Hermione's hair.
"Oh, please! Don't point your wand at people," Hermione said immediately, her tone softening as she added, "What spell are you practicing?"
Her expression seemed to say, "Go ahead and ask me!"
"The Levitation Charm," Ryan replied, his pleasant demeanor reflecting his ability to recognize the helpful intention behind Hermione's seemingly haughty attitude. He maintained a calm attitude throughout.
Hermione looked surprised. "But you just performed it successfully a moment ago!"
Ryan shook his head. "I feel like there's something missing from my spell."
As they entered the Great Hall, the aroma of a sumptuous dinner filled the air, and the group suddenly realized how hungry they were.
"Merlin's beard!" Theo exclaimed. "I could eat a whole cow right now!"
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The sense of accomplishment that came with learning new spells was exhilarating, but the process of practicing them was arduous. After dinner, Michael finally escaped from the study group and headed to the courtyard to play a game of Rolling Stones with Terry, his roommate. Hermione and the others returned to their common rooms to work on their homework, while Vidal made his way to the library before it closed to borrow the two books he had eyed earlier that day.
In the afternoon, they had cleaned up the practice room, repairing the tables and chairs and placing them against the wall. They used the empty cabinets nearby as bookshelves. Vidal turned on the lamp and laid out his ink and quill. Outside the window, the sounds of young witches and wizards laughing and cheering filled the air, but Vidal immersed himself in his books.
Magic Theory: "Tampering with the deepest secrets at will—the source of life, the essence of self—one must be prepared to face the most extreme and dangerous consequences."
Analysis of the Operation Principles of Basic Spells: "Magic is the manifestation of a wizard's will."
Young wizards, driven by the desire to impress their peers or attain greater power, often found themselves drawn to flashy and awe-inspiring spells. They were willing to dedicate significant time to mastering complex and advanced magic, while dismissing the tedious and abstruse theories as boring and irrelevant. Even though Magic Theory was a first-year textbook, young witches and wizards would rather learn curses like Fire-Hot and Fiery than bother with such a dry and uninteresting book.
But Vidal was different. Perhaps it was due to his previous life's experiences, where his teachers had repeatedly emphasized the importance of understanding the essence, grasping the principles, and recognizing patterns. Only then could one excel in solving diverse and unpredictable problems, break free from rote memorization, achieve high scores without excessive drilling, and successfully tackle novel questions. This, they had said, was the key to efficient learning.
"To know why something is the case, and not just that it is so."
This study habit had earned Vidal the title of "academic god" among his teachers and peers in his previous life - he slept and rose early without pulling all-nighters, had time to play sports and games, and still managed to rank at the top among his peers who toiled tirelessly over their studies.
In this life, Vidal maintained the same habit, believing that a solid foundation was of utmost importance and benefit to his studies, be it in the realm of science or magic, and regardless of any innate advantages he may possess.
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The Dark Arts class was worse than he had imagined.
Vidal had heard that Professor Quirrell was an exceptionally intelligent Ravenclaw who had taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts just a year ago. He was young, handsome, and erudite, making him quite popular among the students. Vidal had assumed that even if he was now sporting a Dark Lord on the back of his head, his knowledge wouldn't have vanished, and his lectures would still offer some value.
However, the reality was that Quirrell lectured by rote, speaking incoherently and muddling his words. If one sat too far away, they couldn't hear him clearly, and if they sat too close... the strong garlic odor emanating from him was enough to make the nearby Slytherins don pained expressions.
Empathizing with his situation, Vidal could understand his state of mind - anyone would be distracted from lesson planning if they had an evil soul latched onto their head. But understanding didn't mean acceptance; during the second Dark Arts class, Vidal chose to sit as far away as possible and study on his own.
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"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous form of magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be expelled, never to return!"
Professor McGonagall's stern words rang out during the Transfiguration class. With a wave of her wand, she transformed the lectern into a pig and then back again, capturing the attention of the entire class.
"Transfiguration is the most elegant form of magic, but to master it, you must first understand Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration... Take notes, students! Don't just sit there gawking."
"-Before using a transfiguration spell, you must first clearly visualize in your mind the desired outcome - no distractions, as a chaotic mind will surely lead to failure, and there are countless examples of this throughout history..."
"It is important to wield your wand with firmness and decisiveness... When you're first learning, clearly articulate the incantation, but a skilled wizard can perform transfiguration without uttering a word..."
"Incomplete transfigurations are not only irresponsible but also dangerous, especially when dealing with living beings. This involves the three theoretical principles of transfiguration... If a transfiguration goes awry, it can have dire consequences, as evidenced by the case of a French wizard a few years ago... Therefore, if a transfiguration fails, it should be immediately terminated and reversed with the spell 'Finite'. Now, practice this with me -"
Vidal took copious notes, filling at least thirteen inches of parchment, and practiced the 'Finite' spell several times before Professor McGonagall allowed them to attempt actual transfiguration. She gave each student a matchstick and instructed them to transform it into a needle. Some students waved their wands vigorously while chanting the spell, but their matchsticks remained unchanged.
Vidal didn't rush into action; instead, a phrase he had read the previous day flashed through his mind - 'Magic is the manifestation of a wizard's will.'
(End of Chapter)
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