Chapter 12

William and the rest of Ravenclaw were seated in the Transfiguration classroom, waiting for Professor McGonagall to begin the lesson. On the desk at the front of the class, a sleek black cat sat, its green eyes watching the students intently. William knew this was Professor McGonagall in her Animagus form. He had read about Animagi, but seeing one up close, especially when it was his strict yet respected professor, was another experience altogether.

Soon, the Slytherins arrived. They entered the room with their usual cold stares, attempting to assert an air of superiority over the other students. Most of the Ravenclaws felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny, but William remained unfazed, acting as though he didn't notice them at all. Among the Slytherins, Severus Snape stood out, lost in his own thoughts and indifferent to the actions of his peers.

As the last student settled into their seat, the black cat leapt gracefully from the desk, landing softly on the floor before transforming into Professor McGonagall. The transfiguration was seamless and left many students wide-eyed in amazement. Even William, who had seen such transformations in movies, found witnessing it in real life far more impressive.

"Welcome, class," Professor McGonagall began in her stern voice. "Since I have introduced myself before, I hope there will be no need for further introductions."

"Man, she's scary," whispered Chris to William, who sat beside him.

Minny, sitting on the other side of William, nodded in agreement, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and respect.

Professor McGonagall's eyes swept across the classroom, ensuring she had everyone's attention before continuing. "Today, we will be learning about Transfiguration magic. Transfiguration is a complex and precise branch of magic that involves changing the form or appearance of an object. This is not to be taken lightly, as a miscalculation can lead to dangerous consequences."

She began explaining the theory behind Transfiguration, emphasizing the importance of concentration, precise wand movements, and a deep understanding of the object being transformed. "Transfiguration requires a combination of skill, power, and knowledge. It is crucial to understand the properties of both the original and the target object. Only then can you control the transformation process effectively."

McGonagall then introduced the concept of the Transfiguration alphabet, a set of symbols representing various elements and properties of objects. "These symbols are the building blocks of Transfiguration. You will need to learn and memorize them to master this art."

Next, she explained the Transfiguration formula, a magical equation that guided the transformation process. "This formula will help you determine the necessary steps and magical energy required for a successful transfiguration. Pay close attention, as even a small mistake can lead to unintended results."

To demonstrate, she pointed her wand at the desk and with a few precise movements and an incantation, the desk transformed into a pig. The class watched in awe as the pig oinked and trotted around the front of the room before she turned it back into a desk.

"Now, it's your turn," McGonagall said, distributing matches to each student. "I want you to transfigure these matches into needles."

William knew this would be an easy task for him, but he didn't want to draw too much attention to himself. He waited and watched as his classmates struggled with the assignment. After a few minutes, when many of the students were still unsuccessful, he decided it was time to act. With a subtle flick of his wand and a mumbled incantation, he transfigured his match into a perfect needle. He made sure to appear as though it had taken some effort.

Professor McGonagall approached his desk, picked up the needle, and examined it closely. "Perfectly done, Mr. Dawkins," she said, her voice carrying a note of approval. "Ten points to Ravenclaw."

The Slytherins looked annoyed, while some of the Ravenclaws, impressed by William's skill, began asking him for advice. Even Snape seemed slightly taken aback before returning to his own work with renewed determination.

"Dude, could you help me as well?" asked Chris, holding up his match that had only partially transformed.

"Me too," said Minny, her match still stubbornly unchanged.

"Sure, guys," William replied with a smile, spending the remaining class time helping his friends and others who asked for his assistance.

By the end of the lesson, some students had managed to complete the transfiguration, while others had only partially succeeded or failed entirely. A few of the Slytherins, including Snape, managed to perform the spell correctly, though the annoyance on their faces was still evident.

After the class, it was time for lunch. William was impressed by the quality of the food at Hogwarts and thought he could kiss the chef in gratitude. Chris and Minny sat with him, enjoying their meals.

"So, what's the next class?" Minny asked between bites.

"It's Charms," Chris replied. "It will be taken by Professor Flitwick."

"Wait, isn't Professor Flitwick the head of our house?" Minny asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Chris looked at her with his mouth open in mock surprise. William joined in the fun by mimicking Chris's expression.

"W-What? Did I say something wrong?" Minny asked, looking confused.

"No, it's just that Chris is usually the one providing information. So, it's quite surprising to hear you know something," William teased, while Chris tried to hide his laughter.

"Y-you bullies," Minny said, pouting in anger. Both Chris and William laughed at the scene, and soon Minny joined in.

Lunch ended, and it was time for Charms class. William and the rest of the Ravenclaws headed to the classroom, where they were joined by Gryffindors. Lily Evans was chatting with James Potter and Sirius black. When she noticed William, she waved at him.

"Hi, Will. How are you doing?" Lily asked cheerfully.

"I am fine, my lady. And who are these handsome young men?" William asked, looking at James.

"They are James Potter and Sirius black, my new friends. James, Sirius, this is William," Lily introduced.

William shook James's and Sirius's hand, and they exchanged pleasantries. He also noticed Remus and Peter as well. William then introduced Chris and Minny to them. As they chatted, Professor Flitwick arrived. Due to his small stature, he looked like a goblin, a fact explained by the small amount of goblin blood in his ancestry. Despite facing discrimination because of it, Flitwick had remained strong and had earned William's respect.

Professor Flitwick was also known for being a master duelist, which added to his reputation. He wore a monocle and had a mustache, and his cheerful expression made him seem approachable.

Standing on a stool to be seen by everyone, Flitwick introduced himself with enthusiasm. "Welcome to Charms class! I am Professor Flitwick, and I am delighted to be teaching you this year. Charms is a fascinating branch of magic, one that is practical and versatile. It allows us to perform everyday tasks and also to achieve extraordinary feats."

He began with a briefing on Charms, explaining their nature and importance. "Charms involve enchanting objects to perform specific tasks or behave in certain ways. They are different from Transfiguration, which changes the object's form or nature. Charms enhance the properties of objects without altering their inherent characteristics."

Flitwick's lecture was engaging, filled with examples of everyday charms and their applications. He explained the theory behind charms, the significance of correct pronunciation, and the necessity of precise wand movements. "Even the slightest mistake in pronunciation or wand movement can result in a spell backfiring or not working at all."

After the briefing, he handed out white feathers to everyone. "Today, we will start with a simple yet fundamental charm: the Levitation Charm. The incantation is 'Wingardium Leviosa'. Remember, it's Wing-GAR-dium Levi-O-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

William waited patiently as the class attempted the spell. He planned to follow the same strategy he used in Transfiguration, waiting for the right moment to perform the charm. Soon, Lily Evans succeeded in levitating her feather.

"Well done, Ms. Evans!" Flitwick exclaimed. "Ten points to Gryffindor!"

Everyone turned to look at Lily, whose feather was floating gracefully above her desk. Following her success, James and William managed to levitate their feathers as well. William, once again, made it appear as though he had put considerable effort into it.

As the class progressed, more students began to succeed, though many struggled, some even had their magic backfired, which was something to laugh at. When the lesson ended, Professor Flitwick bid them goodbye with a cheerful wave.

"Wow, that was quite the class," Minny said as they left the classroom.

"Yep, definitely my favorite one so far," Chris replied.

William nodded in agreement, but his thoughts were already on the next class—Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was a subject he was particularly looking forward to, knowing its importance and potential challenges.