"Leonardo, could you teach me Transfiguration?"
Leo felt someone gently tug at his sleeve and turned around. He saw blonde-haired Daphne sitting diagonally behind him, holding something that was half needle, half match—the left side was needle while the right side remained match—smiling at him hopefully.
Wow. Other people's transformations were split top and bottom, but this girl had managed to make left and right different. She seemed quite talented too.
He could give it a try. Being able to explain things clearly to others would prove his own knowledge mastery was solid.
"Let me ask you something first. Why transform a match into a needle? Why not the other way around—transform a needle into a match?"
Leo's question made not only Daphne think, but also Terry beside them started pondering seriously.
After these few days of classes, Terry understood that Leo was a top student. Following him around—no, learning from him—was definitely the right approach.
"Um, because matches are cheaper, and one box is enough for the whole class?"
Seeing both Leo and Daphne looking at him with sympathetic eyes, Terry scratched his head sheepishly. "Hehe, I want to learn too. My match can only change colours so far."
"Of course, no problem."
Leo explained to both of them: "In Transfiguration, when transforming inanimate to inanimate objects and inanimate to animate objects, there's something interesting to consider."
"Wizards only need to think about the characteristics of the object they want to create, not worry too much about the original object."
"For example, if we want to create a needle now, it doesn't matter much whether we use a flammable match or chalk that can write."
Leo's explanation made both of them visibly brighten with understanding. Daphne asked: "Leo, you mean when we cast Transfiguration, we should think about creating a needle, rather than turning a match into a needle?"
Leo smiled and nodded. Indeed, using this guided questioning method could make people think actively, and their understanding should be deeper too.
Not bad, good effect. Next time he tutored Harry, he'd use this approach more for teaching potion brewing.
After all, he was going to borrow books from Harry's family collection, so he had to teach seriously. He wondered what kind of magic books the Potter family would've inherited. Well, being able to develop something like magical hair products in the wizarding world, there should be plenty of texts on potions and herbology.
"That's right, Daphne. Your thinking's quick."
Leo casually offered his habitual encouraging feedback. But these words made Daphne lift her chin slightly, her earlobes turning faintly red.
"It's because you explained it so well, Leo."
Leo continued matter-of-factly: "If you keep thinking about turning a match into a needle, your mind will alternately picture the characteristics of both matches and needles."
"Honestly, at our age, our control over magic isn't refined enough. When thoughts get mixed up, the transformed object displays mixed characteristics of both."
Daphne wanted to ask: At this age magical control isn't refined enough, but that doesn't include you, right?
The silent spell Leo had used in the library that morning had left too deep an impression on her.
"The characteristics of a needle are relatively simple and pure—hard, sharp, and made entirely of the same material, metal."
"In contrast, matches are composed of wooden sticks and combustible chemical substances. Um, chemical substances—you can think of them as alchemical materials."
Leo had slipped into his previous life's knowledge, actually bringing up chemistry to people who played with magic and wouldn't understand the appeal of physics and chemistry.
"To transform into a match would involve partial property changes, which definitely isn't something new students encounter."
Terry just listened happily with a cheerful expression, but Daphne thought more deeply.
Transfiguration involving property changes wasn't for new students, and neither were complex mechanical structures, right?!
Daphne had personally witnessed the entire process of Leo transforming a match into a needle, then into a telescope. The shock from that mechanical transformation still echoed in her mind.
That's why she'd gathered courage to approach Leo while others crowded around the telescope.
"Good, you've got the theory down. Now comes the fun part – let's practise."
Hearing Leo's words, Terry eagerly began trying. But Daphne was still staring blankly at Leo.
Noticing this girl watching him instead of practising, not knowing what she was daydreaming about, Leo suddenly thought of something. He wanted to laugh but held it back:
"Student, why're you still looking at me? Are there spells written on my face?"
"Hurry up and practise with your wand."
Hearing this, Daphne finally snapped back to reality and quickly lowered her head to pick up her wand. Fortunately, her blonde hair was long enough that when it fell forward, it could hide her reddened ears.
Seeing Daphne burying herself in Transfiguration practice, Leo finally smiled.
Yes, yes, that was the effect. In his past life at school, he could always hear teachers say, "Why are you looking at me? Are there words on my face? Pick up your pen and write! Why are you holding your pen? Look at the blackboard! Why are you looking at the blackboard? Listen to me..."
So this was how satisfying it was for educators to talk like this.
Leo felt deeply moved. Teachers, I understand your dedication back then!
With Leo's guidance, Daphne and Terry gradually improved their transformations. Also making progress was Malfoy, not far away.
He'd originally wanted to squeeze over to see what the telescope looked like, but the crutch by his leg made him rationally give up. However, precisely because he didn't go over, Malfoy caught fragments of Leo's explanation.
Although he couldn't hear everything, this still enlightened him, and his transformation progress increased rapidly.
"Leo really is extraordinary. The heir of the Malfoy family should make friends with people like this!"
Malfoy gripped his crutch, preparing to approach Leo for conversation after class.
As soon as the class bell rang, Leo walked out of the Transfiguration classroom, preparing to wait for Professor McGonagall at her office door.
But just after turning a corner, someone stopped him.
"Leo, do you want to go to the Black Lake this weekend? I heard from upperclassmen that it's really interesting there."
Leo turned around to see Daphne extending another invitation.
Play—that word felt so foreign.
Besides, by the weekend, Aurelius would awaken, and he could begin his Forbidden Forest adventure to search for and record magical creatures. Where would he have time to go paddling around the lake?
"Thank you for the invitation. I'm flattered, but I do have things to do this weekend."
Leo's polite refusal made obvious disappointment show in Daphne's eyes as she asked dejectedly: "We just started school. What could you possibly be busy with?"
"You're not planning to spend the entire weekend in the library, are you?"
Leo thought about his recent plans: brewing potions, studying spells, researching the newly obtained Transfiguration pocket watch, growing cabbages, finding where magical creatures lived, and tutoring Harry...
Right, it'd only been a few days since school started—how'd he already have so many things to do?
Well, it was genuinely fulfilling. He loved this feeling of pursuing knowledge while being pursued by it.
Wait, why would Daphne ask if he was going to the library?
Leo caught the key point. "Daphne, were you also in the library this morning?"