Chapter 34: The Case of the Stolen Lab Rats
"As I understand it," Ryan began, "Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration makes it quite clear. Transfiguration cannot create something from truly nothing." He placed a special emphasis on the word "truly."
"A very precise choice of words, Mr. Welles," Professor McGonagall said. "Perhaps you would care to demonstrate your reasoning."
"Of course, Professor." Ryan held up a quill for the other club members to see. "This quill is six inches long and weighs approximately half a pound." He tossed it into the air. As it rose, it expanded rapidly, and when it landed, it covered the entire length of the table.
"Now," he said, "this quill is approximately three meters long and weighs thirty-nine and a half pounds. I have enlarged it with an Engorgement Charm, and I could also duplicate it with a Gemino Charm. In these processes, the size and mass of the quill have changed."
"However," he concluded, "I cannot create a quill from truly nothing, nor can I make these changes permanent. Once the magic fades, it will revert to an ordinary quill."
The students all nodded in agreement, not because they were just now understanding the concept—as Transfiguration prodigies, they were all intimately familiar with Gamp's Law—but in admiration of Ryan's effortless, nonverbal and wandless Transfiguration.
Just then, Penelope spoke up. "Ryan," she asked, "if a person were to eat food created by a Duplication Charm, would they have actually eaten a meal?"
Penelope Clearwater's question landed like a critical hit.
Ryan was momentarily stumped. "Perhaps," he said uncertainly, "it's related to how long the Transfiguration can be sustained?" He looked pleadingly at the true master of the room, Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Welles," she asked, turning the question back on him, "why do you believe it is related to the duration of the spell?"
"That touches upon Muggle knowledge, Professor," Ryan said, launching into a string of impressive-sounding, utterly incomprehensible terms. "According to Muggles, it has to do with caloric intake, the digestion and absorption of substances, the metabolism of sugars, the citric acid cycle, and so on and so forth."
Professor McGonagall's expression froze. She had no idea how to respond to that. The other students just stared at him, their eyes wide. What is he talking about?!
Even Penelope, a Muggle-born, had never encountered these concepts. The brilliant light in her beautiful, clear eyes dimmed.
Ryan, frowning thoughtfully, continued, "I hypothesize that if the duplicated food can go through these processes, then a person could, in fact, derive the corresponding energy from it. In that case, they would have eaten a meal." The implications of that were staggering. In such a scenario, magic itself would be converted into sustenance. His head began to ache. It all came back to the fundamental nature of magic. Professor McGonagall, it's your turn, he pleaded silently, his eyes fixed on her.
"I'm afraid, Mr. Welles," she said, finally recovering from the barrage of biology terms, "that while there is no definitive consensus in the wizarding world, the prevailing view is that consuming food created by Transfiguration does not count as eating."
All eyes turned to Ryan.
"I suggest we conduct an experiment," he announced. "We will need some materials and a test subject. White mice, for example."
"White mice?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"A small animal commonly used in Muggle experiments," Ryan explained. "They have the advantage of having most external variables bred out of them." He then looked directly at the Professor. "I believe this experiment will require your assistance. Without amplifying materials or a formal ritual, my own magical reserves are insufficient to sustain a Transfiguration for several hours."
Professor McGonagall agreed. A spark of her youthful curiosity, the kind she hadn't felt since she had first encountered magic, was reignited. What if the accepted wisdom of the wizarding world was about to be overturned tonight?
As per Ryan's plan, the other students headed to the kitchens to gather different types of food. He and Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, went to "borrow" some high-quality test subjects.
Cambridge University, England.
Students hurried to and fro, a constant stream of academic ambition. In a deserted corner of the campus, two strangely dressed individuals appeared.
"Mr. Welles, where are we?"
"Cambridge University," Ryan said. "One of the most prestigious universities in the world. A place where, unlike at Hogwarts, the students are often older than seventeen before they even get in." He then offered an innocent smile. "We're here to borrow some white mice, Professor. I'm sure they won't mind."
"Why must we get them from here? Can we not just buy some?"
"It's a matter of controlling for variables, Professor," Ryan said with a shrug. "It's a bit complicated to explain, but the lab mice from a place like this have been bred for generations to be genetically similar and free of disease. It eliminates outside interference in our experiment."
Professor McGonagall nodded, though it was clear she didn't fully understand. She then watched as Hogwarts' most brilliant student cast a Disillusionment Charm on them both and transfigured their robes into the impeccable suits of well-dressed Muggles. They then strode out of the corner and confidently asked a student twice their age for directions. A few minutes later, they were inside the biology laboratory.
Along the way, Ryan had been firing Muggle-Repelling Charms at the small, camera-like devices mounted in the corners. Professor McGonagall knew that these charms caused Muggle electronics to malfunction. "Mr. Welles," she asked, watching his practiced movements, "what are you doing?"
"Disabling the surveillance, destroying the evidence," Ryan said with that same innocent smile. "I'm strictly adhering to the Statute of Secrecy, Professor!"
Is this how one adheres to the Statute of Secrecy? she wondered. Something felt very, very wrong about this.
The electronic lock on the lab door was formidable, but after a "friendly chat" with the Alohomora charm, it opened with a click.
"I need to borrow some white mice for an experiment," Ryan announced to the now-defunct surveillance camera. "I'll count to three. If no one objects, I'll take that as a yes. Three… two… one! Excellent. Since you've all agreed, I won't stand on ceremony. Accio white mice!"
Hundreds of small, white mice suddenly found themselves floating into the air, all flying towards a single point. Professor McGonagall's mind short-circuited. She stood there, utterly speechless, as a legion of adorable, pink-pawed lab mice were levitated into a sack that Ryan had transfigured from the shattered remains of a security camera.
Hogwarts Castle Entrance.
The two of them Apparated back.
"Merlin's beard, Mr. Welles!" Professor McGonagall finally exploded. "That was armed robbery!"
"Of course not, Professor!" Ryan said righteously. "I am certain that a world-renowned institution of higher learning such as Cambridge would have taken their silence as consent!"
"Mr. Welles," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and something that might have been amusement, "your actions tonight have severely violated both school rules and the Statute of Secrecy. For that, I must deduct fifty points from Ravenclaw." She had never, in all her years, encountered such brazen audacity. Even the most Gryffindor of Gryffindors wouldn't have broken into a Muggle university to "borrow" lab mice.
"Shall we head back, Professor?" Ryan said, hefting the wriggling sack. "Penelope and the others should have the food ready by now. I, for one, can't wait to see what kind of impact these fifty-point mice will have on the wizarding world."
He turned and strode towards the Transfiguration classroom, a man with a mission.