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~~Guess who Louis and Gabriel Igleasis are~~
Chapter 25 - Transfiguration
I walked into Transfiguration with my dorm buddies at my side. The room smelled of polished wood and old paper. Benches in neat rows and the light fell in straight lines across the desks. There was a little hum of nervous talking, but it stopped the moment the teacher's desk came into view.
A tabby cat was sitting on the desk. It looked ordinary enough but it flicked its tail sitting upright, with green eyes scanning the room as if it was taking attendance. After the bell rang, I barely had the time to blink before the cat gave a single leap and became Professor McGonagall.
Several students gasped. Jack's mouth fell open and his quill nearly slipped out of his hand. I don't jolt. I knew her. I remember her Animagus form from the movies. It did not surprise me, but still it was amazing to see it in reality.
McGonagall's voice was firm and measured, "Transfiguration is the art of changing the form and appearance of an object. It is precise, it is exacting, and it will punish you if you try to rush it. Anyone fooling around in my class will leave and not come back. Understood?"
The room snapped to attention. Her eyes skimmed across us like she was reading the backs of our heads.
Then, she tapped the nearest desk with her wand. The wood rippled, wobbled, and after a breath, a small squealing pig stood where the desk was. A few people gasped. With another smooth flick the pig was a desk again, not a hair out of place.
"Simple demonstration," she said. "Precision, intent, repetition. That is Transfiguration."
She moved us through the basics. Don't try advanced work alone; always visualise what you want, not what you fear; match the movement of your wand to your thought. The explanation were clear and without any nonsense. Then she set a small box on every desk.
"Your task," she says, "is to turn the matchstick into a silver needle. Begin."
Jack and I set to work. We were sitting together in the front row, Corin and Callum were behind us on the next bench, as close as they managed to get. I glanced back. Corin blinked and Callum nodded. We spread our fingers around the match like we were warming them.
A few rows to the side, I spot Gabriel Iglesias and Louis. Gabriel is round and cheerful, the sort of boy who laughs loudly. Louis is thin, with a warm brown complexion and fast mouth that can't seem to stop moving. He chattered so much that McGonagall had to warn him in the second minute.
"I told you, it's Fera- something," said Louis.
Gabriel waved his wand with too much enthusiasm. "I'm saying it! It's just not working."
"Talk less, Mr. Louis, Mr. Iglesias," McGonagall said sharply without turning her head. "And work more."
The room snickers quietly. Gabriel blushes and lowers his wand. "Yes, Professor." They shut up, cheeks hot, and got trying again.
I looked at my matchstick again. The truth is, I've already done this several times. Back at home, I had practiced almost every spell from all the first year books and made great progress. But I did not want to show that here.
I did not like being the center of attention. If you are a genius and a muggle-born, people will start watching too closely. A little notice is fine.
Time ticked by. A few students had tiny bits of metal, a few catch their matches on fire. I kept my breath slow, my hand steady and faked some tries. When the class seems stuck in a long, grumbling silence I tried for real.
I held the matchstick steady, focused on its length, its smoothness, the shine of a polished needle. My wand felt warm in my hand. I pictured the change in my mind, soft and certain, and whisper, "Feraverto."
A flash of light, soft, silver.
The match shivered once, a thin silver sheen crawling up, and with a soft ping there was a needle on my desk.
Jack gave a barely audible whistle. Corin leaned forward, eyes wide. Callum looked pleased and a little surprised too.
McGonagall passed behind our bench and paused. She looked at the needle, then at me. Her mouth twitched, the faintest crease at one corner for approval, and nothing more. She said, "Very good, Mr. Dursley. Five points to Hufflepuff."
I said noddingly, "Thanks, Professor".
Gabriel dropped his wand in a small clatter. Louis muttered something comic under his breath and then tucked back to work. Jack leaned over, grinning, "Nice one," and then asked "How did you do it? I am doing the same thing but my matchstick is not turning." Corin and Callum also leaned in to listen.
"Just focus and steady your mind. Keep the image of the needle in your mind as well defined as possible." I said quickly, trying not to sound showy too much.
The rest of the lesson turned into a mix of small triumphs and quiet disasters. A boy near the window made his match look like a tiny fork for a second and then it melted back to wood. Someone else managed a needle but it was bent. McGonagall's moves were quick and precise whenever she corrected a wand flourish.
We spent the rest of the lesson practicing. Some students managed small transformations. Some had wooden sticks turning silver at the ends, or sprouting a metallic glint.
Louis and Gabriel started whispering again, this time more carefully. Gabriel's matchstick briefly turned pink, then back to brown. Louis laughed so hard he dropped his wand, earning another raised eyebrow from McGonagall.
"Mr. Iglesias, Mr. Louis," she says dryly, "if your matchsticks are to remain matchsticks, perhaps you might turn them into quiet ones." The class laughed but McGonagall's stare quickly stifled it.
When the bell rang, we tucked our things away. The matchstick-needles clink softly as McGonagall collected a few of the best ones from each desk.
"Your homework," she announced, "is to practice with your concentration. After that, we shall attempt beetles into buttons. You may go."
We packed up our things quickly. The hallway outside was bright and echoing, full of the noise of other classes ending.
Jack stretched his arms. "That was mad. Did you see her turning from a cat?"
"Hard to miss," Corin grinned, "I thought I was seeing things."
I laughed. "You and me both. Though I'd rather not try that spell at home."
"Yeah, imagine explaining that to Mum. 'Sorry, I turned into a housecat. Pass the tuna.'", joked Jack.
We all laughed again as we headed toward the stairs.
Gabriel and Louis caught up behind us, still whispering. "We'll get it before the next class," Gabriel said, half to himself. "Mine was nearly a spoon for a second."
Louis nodded earnestly. "Yeah, but I don't think spoons count."
Jack grinned at them, "Maybe if we need to stir tea."
We laughed with ease now. Outside the classroom, the corridor smelled of stone and warm air. We all walked out together in a small cluster, feeling the sort of tired happiness that follows after doing a thing well.
I told myself to keep steady. I was not here to shine and dance in the spotlight. I'm here to learn and to be ready for things when Harry will start his schooling. I will keep him safe from those malicious people and also those with schemes in their head.
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End of Chapter 25 - Transfiguration