Dylan was suddenly wrapped in Professor McGonagall's magic, and his vision flipped upside down.
One moment, he was standing upright, and the next, he was looking up at Professor McGonagall's face from an entirely new perspective. The previously ordinary office desk now seemed like a towering cliff, blocking his path.
Dylan reflexively tried to lift his hands—only to see two short, pink, plump pig's trotters swaying in front of him.
His mind went blank.
In a panic, he tried to speak, hoping to beg Professor McGonagall to undo the Transfiguration spell. But when he opened his mouth, all that came out was—
"Oink!"
The strange noise startled him so much that his whole body trembled, and his ears drooped in fear.
Dylan tried to move, but his short legs were like noodles—wobbly and uncoordinated. The moment he attempted to take a step, he stumbled and fell to the ground.
He waved his pig's trotters frantically toward Professor McGonagall, trying to gesture for help. But his new limbs were completely disobedient, flailing helplessly in the air.
"Hehehe!"
Professor McGonagall, watching Dylan roll around on the floor struggling to stand up, couldn't hold back her laughter. The stern expression she usually wore melted away, replaced by a clear and hearty chuckle that echoed throughout the office.
"Dylan, don't panic," she said with a smile, waving her wand. "This is a rare opportunity for such a special scene. I need to capture it."
"Shua!"
A small and exquisite magical camera appeared out of thin air.
As soon as it materialized, it adjusted its angle and locked onto Dylan—the tiny, struggling piglet.
"Whoosh!"
The camera zoomed in, moving back and forth around him.
"Click!"
"Click!"
The shutter snapped continuously, capturing every movement.
Dylan tried to dodge, but it was useless. The more he moved, the more ridiculous the photos became.
In the end, he gave up.
He shuffled his little pig feet, turned around, covered his face with his trotters, and curled up in the corner—his back facing the camera, his tiny tail twitching slightly.
"I'm done… Just take the pictures… I don't care anymore!"
Professor McGonagall burst into laughter again.
With another wave of her wand, the camera floated in front of her, and the photos began popping out one by one.
She picked up a few, glancing through them, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
Then, raising her wand gracefully, she muttered, "Vera Verto!"
A bright magical light enveloped Dylan, and his body began to transform once more.
Moments later, he returned to his human form.
Dylan sat on the ground, dazed. His hands were back to normal.
His face flushed with embarrassment.
Right then and there, he made a decision.
"I must! I must learn more advanced spells!!!"
From now on, he would wake up at 3 AM every morning.
If he didn't die from studying, he would study until he died!
Dylan clenched his fists, his heart filled with resolve.
Professor McGonagall had gone too far!
Turning him into a pig? Really?!
Seeing that Dylan was still sulking, Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, trying to hide her amusement. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from curling up.
With a flick of her wand, a gentle magical force lifted Dylan to his feet.
Professor McGonagall walked over and patted his shoulder.
"This was an unforgettable experience," she said, her voice warm. "For both you and me. It's the first time I've ever used a Transfiguration spell on a first-year student—and turned them into a pig, no less!"
Dylan: "...Professor McGonagall!"
She chuckled, pulling out a chair for Dylan to sit in before taking a seat herself.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore," she said.
Leaning slightly forward, she looked at him seriously.
"During the transformation, you must have felt the magic at work, right?"
Dylan hesitated, then nodded.
Professor McGonagall smiled, and the fine lines around her eyes softened.
"That experience is an invaluable treasure for you," she continued. "You didn't just read about Transfiguration in a book—you felt it firsthand."
"When a spell is cast on you, and your body changes under its influence, you can sense the flow of magic. That understanding—how magic reshapes and transforms—is something that no amount of theory can replace."
"When you study Transfiguration in the future, remember this moment. Recall how it felt. It will help you grasp the spell's mechanics more deeply."
"Every transformation is a delicate manipulation of magic," she added, her tone serious. "And a profound exploration of its essence."
Professor McGonagall gently patted Dylan's shoulder again, a nostalgic expression on her face.
"When my own teacher taught me Transfiguration, he turned me into a… cough, cough!"
She abruptly stopped, quickly changing the subject.
Dylan narrowed his eyes.
"Your Transfiguration teacher was Headmaster Dumbledore, wasn't he?"
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and dodged the question. "Yes, well, in any case, I'm glad you got to experience this. It will be especially useful when you start learning Animagus transformation."
Dylan's eyebrows twitched.
"But we were having a duel, Professor," he reminded her. "That's not exactly fair."
Professor McGonagall laughed, her chest shaking slightly. "That's true. But don't worry—your Animagus form won't necessarily be a pig."
Dylan let out a breath of relief.
Although he had already reached level seven in Transfiguration, he had yet to progress to level eight—mainly because he hadn't learned Animagus transformation yet.
It wasn't that he didn't want to learn.
Professor McGonagall had simply insisted that he needed a strong grasp of magical theory and practical knowledge before attempting it.
And Dylan agreed.
According to Hogwarts' curriculum, students typically needed to reach at least fifth or sixth-year Transfiguration proficiency before even attempting to learn Animagus transformation.
Even then, it was only a preliminary requirement.
Since the Animagus process was incredibly complex, even a minor mistake could result in permanent consequences.
That was why the Ministry of Magic strictly regulated Animagus transformations—requiring wizards to undergo rigorous study, practice, and assessments before officially registering as Animagi.
Because Dylan had never attempted the transformation, he had no idea what form he would take.
"I just hope it's not… the thing that was oinking just now."
For now, he pushed the thought aside.
His immediate goal was clear—he needed to study harder.
If he ever faced Professor McGonagall in a duel again, he'd make sure she wouldn't get the chance to turn him into a pig!
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