All seven subjects with Outstanding grades?
Sean dragged his suitcase along, mulling over this daunting challenge.
He'd arrived early, and the first few train carriages were still mostly empty. Spotting an unoccupied compartment in the second carriage, he tried to hoist his suitcase up, but it was too heavy. After two failed attempts, the suitcase crashed to the floor each time.
Sean paused, then flicked his wand with a flourish:
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
[You've practiced the Levitation Charm at a beginner's level. Proficiency +3]
With the incantation and a faint system-like chime, the brick-heavy suitcase floated effortlessly into the air.
Now that's more like it.
Satisfied, Sean stowed his wand and pulled the suitcase into the compartment.
He didn't notice a young witch watching him curiously.
Outside the window, steam from the locomotive curled above the chattering crowd, and cats of every color wove through people's feet. Amid the buzz of conversation and the clatter of dragging luggage, owls hooted softly.
Sean opened Hogwarts: A History, a book half the size of a desk. One page listed the seven core subjects at Hogwarts: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Astronomy. These were all mandatory courses.
So, how does one achieve an Outstanding in them?
Sean's benchmark was the trio's academic star, Hermione Granger. If he recalled correctly, she'd scored nine Outstandings and one Exceeds Expectations in her O.W.L.s—Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. Her grades were consistently stellar, so matching her performance would give him a clear target.
Was it tough?
Of course it was. Sean's magical talent was, frankly, abysmal. Except for History of Magic, which leaned on memorization, every other subject demanded raw magical ability.
But was it impossible?
If he couldn't do it even with effort, he might as well ram his head into a block of tofu and call it a day.
"Just grind it out!" Sean muttered, resolute.
As he stowed his luggage, he thought for a moment. "Let's start with Transfiguration."
He sank into the plush, cushioned seat, set Hogwarts: A History aside, and pulled out A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. The reddish-brown book, edged with gold, detailed the principles and techniques of Transfiguration—a staple textbook for first- and second-year Hogwarts students. Its most iconic exercise? Turning a matchstick into a needle. If Sean could master that within a month, an Outstanding grade felt within reach.
[In Transfiguration, a firm and decisive wand movement is critical. Avoid unnecessary flourishes or twirls, or the spell will fail. Before casting, clearly visualize the object's desired form. Beginners must enunciate the incantation clearly, while advanced witches and wizards can cast silently…]
Sean pored over every word in A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. His plan? Memorize all 200-plus pages before attempting any practical spells. Why? Because Hermione had memorized every textbook before starting at Hogwarts and earned stellar grades. Clearly, memorizing worked.
The path to success was right there—why not follow it? Especially since his talent was lacking, he'd need to work harder than most. Plus, those books had cost him eleven precious Galleons. The sting of that expense fueled his determination to absorb every ounce of knowledge, like someone at a buffet desperate to get their money's worth.
Before he knew it, Sean had roughly memorized every book he'd bought. He was already 180 pages through A Beginner's Guide and would finish it today before diving into practical Transfiguration.
For someone whose grades in his past life were average at best, Sean couldn't help but marvel: Poverty really makes you unstoppable.
As steam swirled outside the station, Sean was so engrossed in his book that he didn't notice a young witch enter the compartment.
"Excuse me, is anyone else coming here?" a bushy-haired witch asked, tilting her chin up as she slid open the door.
"Nope," Sean replied, eyes glued to his book. If his six months in an orphanage had taught him anything, it was focus. For a "weed" like him, whose fate was never in his own hands, learning to grow strong on his own was the only way to avoid being swept away by the wind.
After that brief reply, Sean said nothing more. The train rumbled to life, and the compartment's occupants grew from two to three, but he remained oblivious.
Outside, the scenery unfolded like an oil painting—winding rivers, rolling wheat fields, occasional farmhouses with grazing sheep and cows, all giving way to dark green hills. Hermione, the bushy-haired witch, alternated between reading her own book, glancing at the view, and sneaking peeks at the focused boy across from her.
His hair was fluffy, slightly raised at the sides, and his long lashes fluttered as he read. He exuded calm—and something else.
"He looks like my cat," a dark-haired boy whispered. "I know wizards can't be cats, but… he really does."
The boy, Justin, scratched his head awkwardly, but Hermione nodded vigorously, her eyes lighting up with agreement. "Justin, that's exactly it!"
Justin's face brightened, and the two began whispering excitedly.
Sean, lost in his book, had no idea he'd become the topic of their chat. The train's rhythmic sway turned the window into a canvas of breathtaking, fantastical landscapes. The compartment was quiet, save for Hermione and Justin's hushed voices and the soft rustle of turning pages.
Finally, Sean finished the last paragraph. He let out a long breath, rubbed his tired eyes, and grinned. "I'm ready for anything!"
His big eyes sparkled as he set the book down and pulled a matchstick from his robe. In his mind, he pictured its shape, structure, and properties, cross-referencing his past-life memories with his newfound knowledge.
"Transfiguration!" he whispered confidently.
The matchstick didn't change much, but Sean's lips curled into a smile.
[You've practiced Basic Transfiguration at a beginner's level. Proficiency +3]
"Did he just say something? What's he doing?" Justin whispered to Hermione, confusion practically written on his face.
"It's… Transfiguration, I think," Hermione said, clutching her robe. "But the book says it's a dangerous spell! If you get it wrong, it could go horribly!"
She was about to interrupt when—
[You've practiced Basic Transfiguration at an adept level. Proficiency +10]
[You've practiced Basic Transfiguration at an adept level. Proficiency +10]
Sean kept trying, each attempt smoother than the last. Magic… it was starting to feel easy. Am I a Transfiguration prodigy?
[You've practiced Basic Transfiguration at an adept level. Proficiency +10]
[Basic Transfiguration Unlocked]
[New Transfiguration Domain Title Unlocked. Please Review]
[New Wizard Talent Unlocked. Please Review]
As the system's chime rang in his mind, Sean's eyes narrowed with excitement. Scholarship fragment, plus one!
But then, a sharp voice broke his focus. "You can't use dangerous Transfiguration here! You're not ready for it!"
Hermione's tone was loud, tinged with anger and concern. Before she could finish, the matchstick trembled. Under her wide-eyed gaze, it slowly morphed into a needle, its silver tip glinting in the light.
The air froze. Hermione's words caught in her throat.
"Merlin's beard…" Justin muttered, stunned. "I read about this in the book. Did he… actually do it?"
Sean looked up, meeting Hermione's faintly pink-tipped ears and Justin's astonished stare.
"Sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't catch it," Sean said, completely unaware of the commotion. He'd been too focused to hear a single word.