By the time Lewis arrived at the Transfiguration classroom, there were still a few minutes before class began.
Many students were already seated, enthusiastically discussing Transfiguration. No one paid any attention to the tabby cat sitting quietly on the teacher's desk.
"Lewis, let's sit further back. That way we're less likely to get called on—mmph?! Why are you covering my mouth?!"
Stephen had barely started speaking before Lewis clamped a hand over his mouth.
The cat on the desk had just glanced at them.
Only after Lewis pulled him into a seat did Stephen realize something was off.
"You've been staring at that cat… is something wrong with it?"
"That's Professor McGonagall," Lewis said calmly. "There are only seven registered Animagi in the Ministry records for the twentieth century. She's one of them."
"Whoa… how did you figure that out?" Kevin asked, impressed.
"Look closely. The markings around its eyes resemble glasses, just like McGonagall's. Also, it's been sitting perfectly still—no grooming, no scratching, no tail flicking. None of a cat's natural habits."
Lewis spoke methodically, earning increasingly admiring looks.
"And most importantly," he added, "she was the one who brought me to Hogwarts this summer. I saw her transform in front of me."
…Alright then.
So you just saw it firsthand.
Stephen and Kevin fell silent, suddenly aware that the professor was right in front of them.
They immediately straightened up, afraid of making any mistake.
At the same time, watching other students fool around, unaware of the "cat," filled them with quiet amusement.
A few moments later, another familiar face entered the classroom.
Hermione.
The girl was clearly a cat lover—she even reached out to pet the tabby.
But just as her hand extended—
The cat dodged smoothly.
Lewis almost laughed.
If she realizes later she tried to pet a professor…
He was already looking forward to her reaction.
Five more minutes passed.
Class had officially begun.
Yet McGonagall still hadn't "arrived."
Then—
Two students rushed in.
"Harry, we made it! McGonagall isn't here yet!" Ron said loudly.
Harry nodded in relief.
At that moment—
The tabby cat leapt gracefully from the desk.
Midair—
It transformed into Professor McGonagall.
Harry and Ron froze, mouths hanging open.
"Incredible!"
"Thank you for your comment, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said sharply. "Perhaps I should turn you—or Mr. Potter—into a pocket watch. At least then one of you might be on time."
"We got lost," Harry said weakly.
"Then perhaps I should turn you into a map," she replied coolly. "I trust you can find your seats without one?"
The two hurried to sit down, thoroughly chastened.
Meanwhile, Hermione remained frozen in shock—
still processing what she had almost done.
McGonagall tapped the desk with her wand.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."
"I will not tolerate foolishness. Anyone misbehaving will be asked to leave—and not return."
She waved her wand.
A glass case floated into view.
Inside—
A box with four toad legs.
"This," she said, "was the result of a student's mistake. They attempted to transform their pet toad—and failed to reverse it."
A chill ran through the class.
"You wouldn't want something like this happening to you."
Everyone shook their heads quickly.
Lewis overheard Ron whispering to his rat—
"Don't worry. I'd never do that to you."
Lewis resisted the urge to comment.
A cup and a box are very different things.
"Open your textbooks," McGonagall instructed. "Today, we begin with the fundamentals of Transfiguration."
Lewis took out his pen and notebook.
Then quietly cast Scribing Spell on the pen.
It lifted into the air—
and began writing automatically.
Stephen stared in amazement.
Arcane Scribing was far more convenient than enchanted quills.
After all—
One was a simple cantrip.
The other, an expensive magical item.
Lewis made a mental note.
Maybe I can mass-produce these later…
The students listened intently.
But they quickly realized—
turning furniture into animals was far beyond them for now.
Meanwhile, Lewis gained something far more valuable.
[You have listened to an introductory Transfiguration lecture. Your understanding deepens. Your Transmutation specialization increases.]
[You comprehend the essence of transformation. You have learned: Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Eagle's Majesty, Fox's Cunning, Owl's Wisdom.]
Six classic enhancement spells.
Each boosting a different attribute.
After half an hour of theory—
McGonagall assigned their first task.
Turning a matchstick into a needle.
Each student received a matchstick.
Then began the struggle.
For beginners—
Controlling magic was difficult.
Even simple spells were unreliable.
And Transfiguration?
It relied entirely on willpower and imagination.
Most matchsticks didn't react at all.
Others…
"Fzzzt!"
A faint popping sound.
The smell of sulfur.
Lewis turned—
Seamus Finnigan's matchstick had turned into ash.
Of course it did.
Lewis, however, had just enhanced his Transmutation aptitude.
On his first attempt—
The match became a wooden needle.
On his second—
A perfect metal needle.
"Excellent," McGonagall said, clearly impressed. "Five points to Ravenclaw."
Few students could achieve that on their first lesson.
Especially not one from a Muggle background.
"Mr. Green, perhaps you would demonstrate?"
All eyes turned to him.
Lewis remained calm.
With a flick of his wand—
Another match transformed into a pin.
The flammable tip became a smooth white head.
Applause broke out.
By the end of class—
Only three students had achieved any real success.
Lewis.
Hermione Granger.
And two other Ravenclaws.
A clear gap had already formed.