Professor McGonagall becoming Headmistress might have been by chance.
But the power of Transfiguration is undeniable.
In Roger's opinion, Transfiguration is the closest magic to being 'godly'!
It can turn metal into cotton, toxins into nutrients, water and fire into gentle breezes. Even the 'summoning and vanishing' under the Transfiguration Charm can directly alter the existence of matter. With just this one spell, all non-magical means in the world today are rendered almost meaningless.
Calling it 'The Ultimate of Matter Manipulation' wouldn't be an exaggeration!
Even the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, such as 'food conjured by Transfiguration cannot satisfy hunger,' are fundamentally due to the fact that Transfigured items, once changed, are 'integrated and cannot be disassembled before the spell is undone.' This prevents nutrients from being broken down and absorbed by the body.
If a wizard were to transfigure matter particle by particle and then assemble it into bread, it could still satisfy hunger... It's the wizard's weakness that limits Transfiguration's effectiveness, not a problem with Transfiguration itself.
If there were a wizard with mental power approaching divinity, so powerful they could understand all of magic, they could simulate the effects of nearly all magic using only Transfiguration!
It has the qualification to be the fulcrum that moves everything.
Furthermore, Roger had received systematic scientific education in his past life, and he wasn't a particularly emotional person. Compared to those who emphasize extreme emotions and spirituality, casting spells through 'fantasy,' Transfiguration, which is more aligned with rationality and better suited for casting through 'conception,' was more fitting for him.
Among the pile of theoretical books Professor McGonagall lent Roger, besides "Ritual Magic is More Than Just Blood Sacrifice," there was another book that Roger found quite interesting.
It was this book that made Roger feel that, unless absolutely necessary, it was best to stay away from Dark Magic, and also that Transfiguration might be the magic most suitable for his path to immortality.
"Is Extreme Emotional Spellcasting a Wrong Path?"
This book was written in ancient Europe, during an era when bloody and terrifying ancient magic was prevalent. The author was an old wizard nearing the end of his life.
In the era when the author wrote this book, the 'Modification Path,' 'Ritual Path,' and 'External Object Path' had not yet undergone extensive validation to become the three great acknowledged disciplines they are today, developing into the systems known to the world now: Bloodline and Soul Modification, Transfiguration, complex Ritual Magic, Alchemy, and Potions.
At that time, in the author's region, another school of thought was popular among wizards pursuing power.
The Emotion Path! As is well known, emotions constitute a significant portion of mental power. Extreme love, hatred, sorrow, joy, and the desire to protect others can often unleash unimaginable power! Just like the love magic Lily Potter cast on her son, which even Voldemort's Avada Kedavra couldn't break through.
Even after ten years, Voldemort suffered significant backlash from just a slight touch.
Extreme pain and emotion created terrifying creatures like the Dementors of Azkaban.
Self-hatred and suppression give rise to the powerful Obscurus.
Different emotions could trigger phenomena that surpassed the power of ordinary wizards in various ways.
Ancient wizards of that era believed that manipulating emotions was the correct path to break through the limitations of mental power and allow wizards to become gods.
The current reclusive lifestyle of wizards and the reality of ancient magic being replaced by modern magic silently speak of the fate of these people.
The book "Is Extreme Emotional Spellcasting a Wrong Path?" largely consists of the reflections of an old wizard, on the verge of death, on his life. It's a book somewhat akin to a personal biography and memoir.
What Roger found most valuable were two theoretical conjectures the old wizard mentioned in the book.
The 'Magic-Mind Echo Theory' and the 'Magic Selection Theory.'
When the old wizard discussed these theories, he used the 'wand,' the 'starting point' for almost all wizards, as his entry point.
"When I bought the wand for my first wand, Mr. Ollivander told me that wizards choose wands, and wands also choose wizards."
"Don't look at those legendary, extraordinary wands; you are not compatible with them. Even if you hold one, you won't become a legendary figure. You will only be rejected by the wand, unable to cast any magic, and even suffer backlash."
"This is your wand. It looks ordinary, but it will grow with you. Every choice you make will change yourself, and it will change it too."
"Human greatness stems from every choice one makes."
—Humans and wands choose each other and influence each other, and spellcasting is the same.
"Wizards choose magic, and magic also chooses wizards!"
Just as someone without happy memories cannot cast a Patronus Charm, someone without killing intent cannot cast Avada Kedavra.
"Wizards influence magic."
Those who are more resistant to the outside world will have stronger expulsion charms, and those who love the feeling of unrestrained freedom will be better at the Levitation Charm.
"Magic also influences wizards."
Those who have spent years researching Dark Magic, which requires extreme negative emotions to cast successfully, will become increasingly gloomy, filled with malice towards their surroundings, and irritable...
"Not just Dark Magic, this emotional influence applies to all spells!"
For example, the Shield Charm makes people tend towards conservatism, while the Patronus Charm makes people lean towards optimism... But this doesn't matter, as the influence also follows basic principles.
The stronger the will you pour into a spell, the heavier the influence the spell will exert back on you.
If you pour in very little will, the influence received will be negligible.
In other words, as long as you avoid casting spells with extreme emotional will, and don't push yourself to the limit every time as if your life depended on it, with your blood pressure soaring and veins bulging, there won't be too much of an issue.
How many times in their lives will an ordinary wizard cast spells for their life? Minor influences will be smoothed over by time.
If you insist on using Dark Magic, which cannot be cast without extreme emotions, then you can't be saved.
... The above not only made Roger wary of Dark Magic and exploitative spellcasting but also made him realize how important it is to choose a spell that suits him.
For example, Harry Potter used Expelliarmus from beginning to end; does that mean he doesn't know other combat spells?
Wizards choose spells, and spells also choose wizards. A compatible spell, using 1 unit of power, can potentially unleash 10 units of effect! Roger wants to achieve immortality, and the path he has currently chosen is the 'Modification Path' proposed by ancient wizards.
Wizards couldn't walk this path because they lacked a sufficient number of experimental subjects.
He intends to use his 'Experimental Sacred Body,' which can predict danger, to violently crack the secrets of life.
Roger didn't know how long it would take to achieve his goal.
It might take years, decades, or perhaps he might never accomplish it before his death, like Kuafu chasing the sun, or Don Quixote charging at windmills, leaving behind a legend whispered with regret after their passing.
But since he had decided to pursue the path of longevity, Roger absolutely would not give up any option that could increase his chances of success!
After Roger's testing, Transfiguration not only had high potential, but his compatibility with it was also quite good.
Naturally, when it came to matters concerning his own life and destiny, Roger wouldn't just 'assume' and work in isolation.
"Professor McGonagall, what do you think of my idea?" After the Transfiguration class ended and the other Gryffindor students had left the classroom, Roger stayed behind. He wanted to seek advice from this knowledgeable professor who had helped him greatly in the past.
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