The morning sunlight streamed through the tall arched windows of the classroom, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air like golden powder.
The Transfiguration classroom was located on the first floor of the castle. The desks and chairs were neatly arranged. The podium was empty, save for a tabby cat sitting primly on the corner of the desk, watching the door.
Rove was the first to enter.
Wearing his neat Hufflepuff robes and carrying his backpack stuffed with "survival supplies," he pushed the door open cautiously.
> [High-Energy Reaction Detected!]
> [Target: Creature on the Podium]
> [Race Identification: Nature Avatar / Druid Shapeshifter]
> [Danger Level: S (Inviolable)]
Rove froze in his tracks.
In his vision, the seemingly ordinary tabby cat was shrouded in a dazzling emerald aura. It wasn't ordinary magic; it was pure will of nature, an ancient presence that felt like it came straight from the Golden Wood of Lothlórien.
He took a deep breath, his expression becoming incredibly solemn.
Instead of looking for a seat while laughing and chatting like other students, Rove walked quickly to the podium, dropped to one knee, placed his right hand over his heart, and bowed his head deeply to the cat.
"Good morning, Avatar of Her Majesty."
His voice was low and reverent, spoken in a tone usually reserved for reciting poetry.
"May your radiance illuminate this dim age, and may the forest breeze always favor your steps."
The classroom went instantly silent.
Harry and Ron, who had just walked in, gaped, unsure whether to step forward with their left foot or right. Hermione stood at the door hugging her books, her brow furrowed.
The tabby cat seemed stunned as well. Its tail froze in mid-air, and a flash of very human bewilderment crossed its yellow eyes.
The next second, the cat leaped from the desk.
Mid-air, the emerald light exploded.
> [Form Release]
> [True Form Revealed: Galadriel]
As the light faded, Professor McGonagall stood before Rove. Her lips were pursed, her expression stern, but behind her spectacles, there was an imperceptible glint of amusement in her eyes.
"Mr. Baggins," McGonagall said coolly. "While such ancient etiquette is not common at Hogwarts, your observation skills are indeed sharp. Few first-years can see through an Animagus at a glance."
"Disguises may deceive mortal eyes, but they cannot hide the brilliance of the soul, my lady." Rove stood up, still maintaining a slight bow. "Your power of nature shines as bright as the moon."
The class erupted in laughter. Malfoy shouted from the back row, "Look! The Hufflepuff fool is worshipping a cat!"
McGonagall shot a severe glare at Malfoy, who shut up immediately.
"Take your seat, Mr. Baggins," she said. "Five points to Hufflepuff, for your politeness."
...
The lesson officially began.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, standing on the podium and waving her wand. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
She turned her desk into a pig and back again.
The students were all suitably impressed and eager to begin.
Rove sat in the corner, staring intently at the desk.
> [Analyzing]
> [Target: Matter Reconstruction]
> [Principle: Forcing reality to bend through high-intensity willpower, altering the object's original molecular structure.]
> [Evaluation: This is the authority of gods. Only the most powerful Elven Lords can master this power.]
"Now, it is your turn."
Professor McGonagall handed out a match to everyone. "Your task is to turn this match into a needle."
The room was soon filled with the sounds of wands waving and incantations being muttered.
"Watch this!" Ron waved his wand like he was swatting a fly. "Change! Change! Change!"
The match didn't react at all.
Hermione Granger was much more composed. She stared at the match, her lips moving slightly, and tapped it gently with her wand. The match changed immediately; one end became sharp, and the wood turned into silver metal.
"Look! Professor McGonagall!" Hermione raised her hand.
"Excellent work, Miss Granger." McGonagall gave a rare smile. "A perfect needle. Ten points to Gryffindor."
Hermione lifted her chin proudly and subconsciously glanced at Rove in the corner.
Rove was staring at the match in front of him, sweating profusely.
He had tried. He really had.
He waved his Blackthorn wand and silently chanted "Turn into a needle," "Turn into a needle," "Change for Daddy" countless times.
But there was zero reaction.
> [Tip: You do not possess "Matter Reconstruction" authority.]
> [Tip: Your Mana is 0 (Sealed).]
> [Advice: Find an alternative solution.]
"Alternative solution?!" Rove gritted his teeth. "Damn it, this must be a trial designed for those without Elven blood."
If magic couldn't change the matter, then physics would change the form!
Rove took a deep breath and fished out a table knife he had secretly swiped from the kitchens.
"The essence of transfiguration..." he muttered to himself, "is to eliminate the false and retain the true. Remove the parts that aren't 'needle,' and what remains is a 'needle.'"
He pinned the match down with his left hand and gripped the table knife with his right, beginning to whittle frantically.
Swish swish swish!
His movements were shockingly fast. This was thanks to the knife-skill bonus from [Hobbit's Culinary Talent] and the wrist stability from [Basic Swordsmanship].
Wood chips flew.
Under his blade, the rough matchstick rapidly became thinner and rounder. He used the edge of the blade to scrape the surface with extreme precision, removing every splinter.
Then, he used the tip of his wand to drill forcefully into the tail end of the match.
Thock.
A tiny hole appeared.
Finally, he pulled a pebble he'd picked up by the Black Lake out of his pocket and began polishing the wooden sliver furiously.
Buffing, waxing (using butter saved from breakfast).
Five minutes later.
When Professor McGonagall patrolled to Rove's desk, she froze.
On the table lay a needle.
It had a perfect streamlined shape, its surface as smooth as jade, and it even emitted a faint aroma of butter. The eye of the needle was round and regular, and the point was sharp enough to prick a finger.
But it was definitely not metal.
It was a wooden needle. A wooden needle carved to the extreme, a work of art.
"Mr. Baggins..." McGonagall picked up the wooden needle and examined it closely through her glasses. "How... how did you do this?"
"Through sheer will, Professor," Rove bullshitted with a straight face. "I infused my will into the blade, carving away the impurities of it being a 'match,' and returning it to the essence of a 'needle.'"
McGonagall was silent.
She had taught for many years. She had seen students turn matches into toothpicks, set matches on fire, and even turn matches into hedgehogs.
But she had never seen anyone doing micro-carving in Transfiguration class.
"But this is not Transfiguration," McGonagall put down the wooden needle, her expression complex. "Transfiguration requires changing the nature of the material. You merely changed its shape."
"Nature is hard to change, Professor," Rove said seriously. "Just as an Orc can never turn into an Elf. Forcing a change in nature only brings distortion."
McGonagall's eyebrow twitched.
She looked into Rove's sincere eyes and finally sighed.
"While your theory is... unique, and your hands are indeed very skillful," she said, "I must point out that this is not the magic we are here to learn. However, given the exquisite craftsmanship of this needle..."
She waved her wand, and the wooden needle instantly turned into a silver one.
"You may keep it as a souvenir. Also, next time please use your wand, not a table knife."
McGonagall turned and walked away.
Rove let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
> [Quest Complete: Pass the Transfiguration Trial (Fake)]
> [Evaluation: You used physical means to deceive magical rules. Although the effect was greatly discounted, at least it looked the part.]
> [Reward Acquired: Dexterity +1]
> [Skill Upgrade: Physical Carving Lv2 -> Lv3]
He picked up the needle, now transformed into silver by McGonagall, and carefully tucked it into his pocket.
"Hey, Rove." Justin leaned over, looking worshipful. "How did you do that just now? Your hands were moving so fast they were a blur!"
"Ancient technique," Rove smiled mysteriously. "In my hometown, we call it the 'Spirit of the Craftsman.'"
In the front row, Hermione turned her head, heard this, and couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"That was carpentry!" she whispered. "That was cheating!"
Rove pretended not to hear.