Chapter 13: Teaching Transfiguration.

The classes started but the firsties never really got to see Thomas around and as it looked, and the professors did not seem to mind that.

The Slytherin folks had slowly started to change because of the influence of Thomas became friendlier and more forthcoming with the other houses. This change was slowly accepted, and the inter-house relationship became better, slowly but surely Hogwarts was turning into one big family.

There was a little secret that was closely guarded by the faculty. Thomas would often take classes in place of the professors and they were very satisfied at his performance teaching the class. Being a perfect Metamorphagus really helped it along, and no one ever doubted a thing.

Thomas took a liking to a few first years, with Hermione and Daphne leading the list. For the rest of his free time when he was not studying or researching, he would sit in class with his peers and help them along.

For his handsome appearance and fairness, he was already called the Little Prince by the witches and wizards alike.

He would often help people with their homework and research materials as long as he was free and he was given a compensation.

The first official class was 'Transfiguration' with Prof. McGonagall.

Thomas was first to the room and saw Minerva preparing her teaching materials which were trusty little matchsticks.

"Thomas, good that you are here, just distribute the matches and settle the ink bottles will you."

"Will do Minnie, you going to show off that Animagus form of yours?"

"Nothing better to make them interested in transfiguration than the Animagus ritual. Besides, I have heard of a few rumors about a lovely Kneazle going around, playing with students and taking catnaps in classes"

Minerva said with an amused chuckle while fiddling with a stack of parchments.

"Well, what can we say, it's good to relax in that form. Plus, I only play with Tonks, she's going to leave Hogwarts this year." *sigh*

"I'm sure you will find other playmates Thomas, the students will arrive any minute now, less talking and more working now."

Thomas clapped his hands and the matchbox levitated and opened, the matchsticks floated out and rested on the benches beside the parchments Minerva kept.

"Beautiful demonstration of wand less levitation, Filius would be proud, 10 points for Slytherin"

"Thank you, after all I aim to please." Thomas made a gentleman's bow, saying the words.

"Let's do something awesome this year, this is the plan"

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The students entered the room to see Professor McGonagall and a tabby cat sitting on the table. The last two who entered the room were the Potter and Weasley duo.

"Fashionably late, are we?" Thomas in Minerva's form asked the two late comers.

"We were lost professor."

"Then I might consider transfiguring one of you into a pocket watch and the other a map, to keep you gentlemen from being lost or late."

Minerva who turned human from her Animagus form chided.

The whole class was stunned to see two of their Transfiguration professors who were supposed to be the same person.

"Who can tell me what can change a person to look like another?"

The smarter of the yet to form golden trio raised her hand.

Thomas pointed at her, "you there miss with the fluffy hair."

"There are two ways to do that, the first being the Polyjuice potion and the other is the advanced usage of the illusion spell."

"Nicely said, but there are three more ways to do that, two temporary and one can be permanent if you want it to. The goal is to look like the other person perfectly, who can name them?" Thomas asked still in Minerva form.

"Take your seats, Potter and Weasley." Minerva said while she was thinking about the answer to Thomas' question. She could think of one more but what are the others, specially the permanent one.

A blond Slytherin girl raised her hand.

"Greengrass, tell the answer." Minerva asked the only one who raised their hand.

"A Metamorphagus can do the same and that is my most probable guess about the duplicate professor's identity. That's the only way I know a person can look like another without illusions or Polyjuice."

"Very nice, now that I see no more hands, let me give the answers. The other two ways are to use human transfiguration and the final way is to perform the ritual of possession. You can possess another's body after wiping out their soul as long as you want."

The students were shocked and scared to hear about possession and wiping out souls. Minerva coughed and calmed the students while giving Thomas a reproachful glare.

"Yes, all of these are the methods that can be used to transform into another person. But, none of them are what the run of the mill witches or wizards can pull off.

You need a skilled potion master to brew the Polyjuice.

The illusion method requires immaculate control over a huge amount of magic that only a master wizard can pull off.

Then comes the Metamorphagus, it's something that is hereditary right now. Because, how to make a Metamorphagus has been lost in time, only a super few know, but none will reveal, so it's out again unless you are born as one, then train that ability to perfection.

The human transfiguration is way more complicated than the Animagus. There being less than 10 Animagus in the last century can attest to its difficulty and complexity.

So, even if you do your very best in transfiguration, you need the knowledge of human anatomy and the magical capacity of a grand-wizard.

And, the final way, possession. Being a banned form of magic, I won't give you any information about it, and like the Metamorphagus, the possession is a very old magic and is now considered lost. So, you don't have to worry about it.

The only ways left for you is to excel in the fields of illusions or potions or transfiguration if you want to do any of shapeshifting."

Thomas made an amazing demonstration. The students were very much interested in what their identical professors had to say, as all their fear and uneasiness had changed into curiosity and motivation.

"Professor, what are the Arch-Wizards and Grand-Wizards that you mentioned. We only know that there are only us the Wizard-Apprentices and Master-Wizards, are there further ranks?"

"A good question Nott. Yes, this is an open secret that there are more than the Master-Wizards in the world. The Head Master is one of the very few Grand-Wizards and as for the Arch-Wizards, they are the ones who stand on the peak of the world, take the founders for examples."

"Was Merlin an Arch Wizard too?" a Gryffindor asked.

"Merlin, that man rose beyond the Arch-Wizard level and rose to the level of Saint-Wizard; something that has not been done for centuries."

"Morgana on the other hand was another Saint-Wizard who was later killed by Merlin before she was able to breakthrough to become the first Wizard God."

"Now that you know that there has never been a Wizard God, what do you feel?"

"Don't you want a shot at it, don't you wish to be immortalized in history as well as in physique? Just think about the glory that awaits you or the adventure of a lifetime awaiting your first step."

"Make Hogwarts proud, doing what her two of the best failed, to be the first Wizard God."

"Was Merlin a student of Hogwarts?" The Emma Watson look-alike asked.

"Yes, he was and so was Morgan Ley Fay or Morgana as you know her, Merlin was a Slytherin and Morgana, a Gryffindor. Enough of a history lesson, back to transfiguring things."

Thomas waved his hand and a life-like illusion appeared before them. There was a figure of Minerva transfiguring a Matchstick into a needle.

"The first step is the will or the intent to cast magic, then is the proper incantation and wand movement."

Have faith in yourselves, this will be the first step to your magical journey. Look at the illusion, see how the matchstick slowly turns into a silver needle. Have faith and give it a try.

The life-like illusion method of teaching was very much helpful for the children on the image aspect. Minerva was spellbound by Thomas, she was mesmerized by how well Thomas taught in the class.

Even she was in wonder how the life like images were formed in the air, how beautiful and alive the images looked.

The class ended and everyone was able to complete the transfiguration on their very first day. Unpreceded in centuries, this happened right before Minerva's eyes, though she and Tom had to help a few students here and there, it was no less remarkable.

'I must ask Tom about the illusion spell. This might just be the best way to teach transfiguration. Better get the elves to make something nice, Tom certainly deserves rewards for this, I also need to report this to Albus.' Minerva thought as the students were leaving class.

The first years were flying on cloud nine leaving the Transfiguration room. Passionately discussing about the class and how brilliant Professor McGonagall was at teaching.

The other house students were a bit envious of the Gryffindor students because they had McGonagall as their head of the House.

And the Slytherins were strutting even prouder knowing that Merlin himself belonged to the same house as them.