Chapter 13: Transfiguration

Wade had thought that with Correct’s guidance, most spells would come easily to them. But reality proved otherwise—magic ability still ultimately came down to individual talent. Simple incantations like the Scourgify Spell and Repairo Spell didn’t reveal much difference in performance at first. Yet once the difficulty level rose, Theo began to struggle. He’d tried Wingardium Leviosa over ten times, but still couldn’t get it right. Liam and Michael fared a little better, though their results were hit-or-miss. Hermione, as always, succeeded on her first try—but even she couldn’t manage to keep heavier objects floating steadily in midair.

Still, for first-year wizards, merely mastering a single spell was cause for great excitement. As they walked toward the Great Hall for dinner, Michael couldn’t resist bragging to Theo:

“You saw my last Repairo Spell, right? Perfect! The ceiling chandelier was restored instantly—better than before! I swear, it didn’t look this shiny when it was hanging up there originally!”

Liam, meanwhile, kept muttering incantations under his breath, waving his wand absentmindedly. A sudden spark shot from the tip and nearly singed Hermione’s hair.

“Oh, for Merlin’s sake—don’t point that wand at people!” Hermione snapped, then immediately softened, asking, “What are you practicing?” Her expression practically screamed: Come on, ask me!

“Hovering spell,” Liam said. He had a calm demeanor, able to sense the girl’s outwardly brusque but inwardly helpful nature, so he remained patient and composed throughout.

“But you just did it successfully!” Hermione said, surprised.

Liam shook his head. “I just… feel like something’s missing from my spell.”

They arrived at the Great Hall. The rich aroma of the feast made their stomachs growl. Only then did they realize how hungry they truly were.

Theo muttered, “Merlin… I could eat an entire bull right now!”

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The thrill of mastering a spell was intoxicating—but the journey to get there was grueling. After dinner, Michael finally couldn’t wait any longer and broke away from the study group, heading out to the courtyard with Terry, a dorm mate, to play Stone Rolling Game. Hermione and the others returned to their Common Room to work on assignments. Wade, meanwhile, seized the last moments before the Library closed to borrow two books he’d spotted earlier that afternoon.

The practice room had already been cleaned. The repaired desks and chairs were lined up along the wall, and the empty cabinet beside them had been repurposed as a makeshift bookshelf. Wade switched on the light, set out ink and a feather quill, and settled in. Outside the window, the laughter and cheers of younger wizards echoed through the air. But Wade was already lost in his reading.

Theoretical Magic — Arbitrary Alteration of Fundamental Secrets — Source of Life, Essence of Self — Must Be Prepared to Bear Extreme and Dangerous Consequences.

Principles of Basic Spellwork — Magic is the manifestation of a wizard’s will.

Young wizards, whether driven by the desire to impress their peers or to gain power, were naturally drawn to flashy, dramatic spells. They’d spend hours perfecting complex incantations while dismissing the dense, dry, and seemingly dull theory as boring. Even though Theoretical Magic was a first-year textbook, many students would rather learn two Scourgify (joke spell) curses than read a single page of it.

But Wade was different.

Perhaps because in his previous life, teachers had always stressed: understand the essence, grasp the principles, master the patterns. Only then could one rise above ever-changing problems, escape rote memorization, and achieve high performance without endless drills. That was true efficiency—knowing not just how, but why.

That habit had made him the “study god” in his former school: early to bed, early to rise, no late-night cramming, still plenty of time for sports and games, and yet always at the top of his class, outshining those who sacrificed sleep and health for grades.

Now, in this life, Wade carried that same discipline. He believed that whether in science or magic, and regardless of whether one possessed a Unique Ability or not, a solid foundation would always provide a decisive advantage.

…………………………

Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts turned out to be even worse than expected.

Wade had heard Professor Quirrell was an exceptionally bright Ravenclaw, who had taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts just a year ago. Young, handsome, and erudite, he’d been popular with students. Wade had assumed that even if the Dark Lord now resided in his head, Quirrell’s intellect hadn’t vanished—surely his class would still offer something valuable.

But no. Quirrell droned on from his textbook, his speech disjointed and mumbled. From a distance, you couldn’t hear a word. From close up? The stench of garlic was so overpowering it made nearby Slytherins grimace in discomfort.

Wade could empathize—anyone with a malevolent soul lodged in their mind would struggle to focus on teaching. But understanding didn’t mean acceptance. On the second class, Wade deliberately sat at the back, buried in a book, avoiding the lecture entirely.

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“Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic you’ll encounter at Hogwarts. Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be expelled—and never allowed back.”

Professor McGonagall’s voice cut through the room with icy precision. With a flick of her wand, she turned the teacher’s desk into a pig—then back again. The students stared in awe.

“Transfiguration is the most elegant form of magic. But to master it, you must first understand Gamp’s Laws of Transfiguration. Write it down, students—don’t just stand there like fools.”

“—Before casting, you must clearly visualize the object’s final form in your mind. No distractions. A scattered mind guarantees failure. History is full of such examples…”

“—A firm, decisive wand motion is essential. When you’re starting out, speak the incantation aloud clearly. But an experienced wizard need not speak at all—mere intent suffices.”

“—Incomplete transfiguration is irresponsible and dangerous, especially when applied to living beings. This involves three core principles of the transfiguration laws. Failure can have catastrophic consequences—such as the French wizard several years ago, who… well, let’s not dwell on it. If a spell fails, stop immediately and reverse it using the Reversion Charm. Now, repeat after me—”

Wade filled at least thirteen inches of parchment with notes. He practiced the Reversion Charm again and again. Only then did Professor McGonagall allow them to begin real transfiguration.

She handed each student a match and instructed them to turn it into a needle. Some students shouted the incantation, jabbing the match repeatedly—nothing happened.

Wade didn’t move immediately. Instead, a line from yesterday’s reading echoed in his mind:

Magic is the manifestation of a wizard’s will.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end