32 Chapter:31 Start Of The Term(4) - Transfiguration

As the Gryffindors dashed through the bustling castle corridors, the school came to life with students rushing to their classes.

Among the hurried crowd, there were other first-year students, a sea of blue and yellow surging toward the History of Magic classroom, while several third-year students zipped past juniors and seniors, muttering about a morning prophecy of doom. A couple of seventh-year students perched on a moving staircase, taking in the spectacle of students scurrying beneath them. From their vantage point, the scene must have resembled an anthill in motion.

Victoire led the charge, her fellow Gryffindors hot on her heels, giving the impression that they were fleeing from something. For indeed, they barely had just a few minutes to reach Professor McGonagall's class, but they found themselves scrambling on the first-floor stairs, having lost their way during their hurried descent.

The infuriating moving staircases, or "Moving Stairs" as they were called, had somehow led them to the eighth floor instead of the first. Over the past ten minutes, the Gryffindor First-years had frantically attempted to navigate their way down to the ground floor. It was only after Victoire asked a portrait for directions, did they found the correct way down the castle. But what awaited them was far from pleasant.

To their horror, the feeling was mutual it seems, the Slytherins were somehow also converging upon the corridor. The Weasley twins and Montague exchanged a fleeting glance, and without a second thought for any prohibitions, they raced each other to reach their destination. In their collective haste, they dashed forward, each determined to make it to their class before the other. 

Finally, the Transfiguration classroom's entrance was in sight, and the Gryffindors and Slytherins were neck and neck in their race to reach it first. They jostled and pushed, all desperate to secure the lead when suddenly,

*CRASH!*

With a thunderous impact, Montague collided headlong into Hagrid's massive frame.

The Weasley twins, showing uncanny foresight, had somehow anticipated such a mishap and had intentionally slowed their pace, inadvertently impeding those behind them. Believing it to be a sign of defeat, the Slytherins, led by Montague and his cronies, turned to mock their rivals but instead slammed headfirst into a wall of flesh and fur that was Hagrid.

"Watch where yer goin',"

Hagrid grunted and then lumbered on along the corridor.

Thanks to the unexpected roadblock provided by the giant Gamekeeper, the Slytherins found themselves lagging far behind. The Gryffindors reached the Transfiguration classroom and swung the door open. Fred and George's grins vanished in an instant, replaced by a bewildering blend of confusion, apprehension, fear, and, above all, the realization that was quite clearly spelled out,

As the crowd of red and green-clad students burst into the classroom, their journey abruptly halted. At the front of this tumultuous group stood the formidable figure of Professor McGonagall.

She stood just behind the door, her expression far from pleased. Her gaze bore into the students with an unwavering, no-nonsense look, making it abundantly clear that she was in no mood for any nonsense on this particular morning.

Victoire exchanged glances with her friends, and a shared understanding of their predicament spread across their faces. They fell into a hushed silence and entered the classroom one by one, scanning for vacant seats and swiftly occupying them.

As the professor's penetrating gaze continued to hold the students in thrall, they retreated into their chairs until every last one of them was fixed on her, their breaths held, and their attention undivided.

With a stern clearing of her throat, Professor McGonagall commenced her instructions.

"Welcome to your first Transfiguration lesson of the year,"

she began, her voice carrying through the room with the authority of a teacher who had enough experience to take control of the rowdiest of the students. 

And with a pang in her heart, Victoire suddenly remembered that she wouldn't be able to see the Professor in her animagus form,

'Pity'

She muttered under her breath as her hands groped around the bag of catnips she had prepared for her first lesson.

"You will find that Transfiguration is a complex and demanding subject, but I have every confidence in your ability to learn it."

Professor McGonagall continued and the Gryffindors and Slytherins sat in rapt attention, listening intently to her every word.

"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and potentially hazardous branches of magic you'll encounter at Hogwarts,"

Professor McGonagall cautioned.

"Anyone who chooses to engage in foolishness during my class will be promptly dismissed, and they should not expect to return. Consider yourselves duly forewarned."

With those stern words, she wielded her wand, effortlessly transforming her quill and ink bottle into a pair of magnificent black and white owls. The avian duo took flight, soaring gracefully through the classroom, and then gracefully returned to her desk, where she promptly restored them to their original forms.

"Today, we will begin with a simple and fundamental transformation exercise,"

she continued.

"It is called the 'Match to Needle' exercise, and it is a Transfiguration exercise that you will need to master throughout your magical education."

With her wand in hand, McGonagall demonstrated the incantation and the precise wand movements required to perform the spell. The students watched with a mixture of awe and admiration as she turned a wooden matchstick into a gleaming silver needle. The transformation was seamless and precise,

"Now, I expect each of you to replicate this transformation in a controlled and precise manner,"

McGonagall stated, her eyes locking onto each student as if she could read their thoughts. In particular, she seems to pay extra attention to the Weasley twins.

"Transfiguration is a subject that requires focus, discipline, and practice. It is not for the careless or inattentive."

She began by dividing the students into pairs, pairing Fred with his brother George and Alicia with Angelina. Victoire, once again, found herself as the odd one out. However, Professor McGonagall, in contrast to Professor Sprout, did not approve of her request to work alone.

"You most certainly may not work alone, Miss Victoire. Partner up with the Weasley twins. Lord knows they could use the assistance,"

Professor McGonagall declared firmly, pointing at the twins who had just sent their fifth matchstick flying straight toward the podium. Victoire instinctively flinched, but Professor McGonagall waved her hand, causing the matchstick to vanish into thin air.

Professor McGonagall gave Victoire a knowing look that seemed to say,

'See, I told you so.'

And turned her attention to admonishing a pair of Slytherins who had managed to set their matchstick on fire, again.

Victoire slipped next to the twins and saw their faces twisted in concentration, if someone didn't know better they may have thought they were constipating.

However, despite all their determined efforts, their matchstick remained perfectly unchanged. The only noticeable change was the phosphorus end, which seemed to be rubbing off after the persistent prodding of their wands. Not like the others were faring any better. 

The majority of the matchsticks remained stubbornly unaltered, with only a few exceptions. A pair of Gryffindor boys had succeeded in turning their matchstick white, though that was the extent of their achievement. Another group of Slytherin boys had somehow managed to bend their matchstick into the shape of a 'C' without breaking the wood or transforming it into silver.

Alicia and Angelina huddled together, their expressions mirroring the determined contortions of the Weasley twins and many others. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, their matchsticks continued to defy their intentions, remaining stubbornly unaltered.

Professor McGonagall refrained from intervening immediately. She observed each student's progress, taking note of their errors and hesitations. Transfiguration, she understood, was a subject that demanded patience and perseverance. Her role was to guide them, not to provide the answers. However, her patience wavered when she observed Victoire, who was seemingly amused by the results achieved by others without making any effort of her own. 

McGonagall couldn't resist addressing the matter,

"Class, it seems a demonstration by Miss LeFevre is in order,"

Professor McGonagall declared as the students began to gaze at the white-haired young witch who was looking at their professor with a tilted head and a quizzical expression.

"Yes, Miss LeFevre,"

the professor continued,

"Please exemplify the correct method for casting the spell for the benefit of your classmates."

Victoire, though initially taken aback by the unexpected request, swiftly regained her composure. Her spirits had been somewhat dampened after realizing that Professor McGonagall wouldn't start the lesson with the Animagus demonstration she had hoped for. And of course also because she wouldn't get to use her premium quality catnip anytime soon.

Nonetheless, with the sudden attention upon her, she raised her wand and executed the precise flick necessary to complete the Transfiguration. The matchstick initially gleamed before gradually thinning into a streamlined structure and undergoing a color transformation. Before the eyes of her classmates, the matchstick had transformed into an ordinary silver needle, a common item found in every sewing kit around the world. 

The entire classroom, previously filled with the sounds of spell incantations, fell into a hushed stillness as all eyes turned to Victoire's successful transfiguration.

"Well done," Professor McGonagall acknowledged with a nod. "At least some of you have the acumen to master such a fundamental Transfiguration."

She then addressed the class, "Five points to Gryffindor for Miss Victoire's flawless transfiguration."

Fred and George exchanged an exuberant grin, and the other Gryffindor students exhibited signs of joy. However, they quickly subdued their excitement when McGonagall directed a stern gaze their way.

"The next step," McGonagall continued, "will be adding patterns and designs to the needle. Here's a proposition: if you can successfully transfigure a finely decorated needle by the end of the class, you won't be required to complete today's homework."