"Huh? Hermione? What a coincidence?" Sean's voice cut through the train's rhythmic whoosh. Outside, the vast plains had given way to a dappled yew forest, sunlight filtering through the dense canopy. Hermione's ear tips flushed a faint red. She opened her mouth, but her mind went blank, only deepening Sean's confusion.
"Oh! She just said you know Transfiguration—that's incredible!" Justin's voice broke the silence. He quickly took over, pointing at the silver needle on the table, drawing both Sean's and Hermione's attention. "How did you do it? Hermione said it's a very difficult spell." A flicker of unease crossed his face. He hoped the young wizard opposite hadn't heard his clumsy words.
"The incantation is *Transfiguration*," Sean explained, "with a break between 'Trans' and 'figura,' and the emphasis on 'fi'— More importantly, when you wave your wand from left to right, your movement needs to be quick, without pauses." He was reviewing his own practice, identifying the key points—his usual study method. "And of course, you need to clearly visualize in your mind what you want the object to become. You can find this on page five of *Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration*."
The train emerged from the yew forest, bathing the compartment in bright light. It illuminated Sean's emerald-green eyes, making them gleam like polished jade. "So my failure was because of the pause… I mean, it's nice to meet you. You might not have heard my introduction earlier, so I'd be happy to repeat it. I'm Justin, Justin Finch-Fletchley." Justin let out a relieved breath.
"Hermione Granger." A blush still lingered, but her voice was strong and clear.
"Sean Green." Sean found Hermione a bit strange. Confused, he decided not to dwell on it. More important matters awaited him.
Sean appeared to continue flipping through *Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration*, but his gaze had already fallen on the proficiency panel. 'Let me see, what level of Transfiguration genius am I?' His eyes slowly scanned down. Sean admitted he was nervous—a hundred times more nervous than pulling cards in his previous life! Game power was fake, but this was real talent, concerning his future.
[Title: Transfiguration Apprentice] [Slightly increases perception of Transfiguration, slightly enhances Transfiguration talent]
Sean held his breath, reading on.
[Wizard Sean, Transfiguration Talent: Light Purple (Transfiguration Apprentice title applied). Note: Average wizards are Green]
[Evaluation: You are a true genius in the branch of Transfiguration. With proper guidance, you will become a pivotal master in the path of Transfiguration.]
'Purple Epic?! I'm really a Transfiguration genius?!' Sean felt gongs and drums beating in his ears, singing of good fortune. Those who'd experienced 'white trash' always cherished purple epics more. 'With proper guidance, I can even become a Transfiguration Master…'
Suppressing his excitement, Sean resolved to stay at Hogwarts for all seven years. To achieve this, he began to think carefully. The difference between his Transfiguration and Charms talent confirmed one thing: in the Harry Potter world, magical talent wasn't universal. Different wizards excelled in different areas. Neville, for instance, was average in most subjects but strongest in Herbology. Hermione was strong in most magical branches, yet her Defense Against the Dark Arts wasn't as good as Harry's, and her Divination class was a disaster.
If Sean wanted excellent grades in all seven subjects, he'd need to put more effort into his weaker areas. At Hogwarts, subject difficulty varied. It wasn't just the subjects themselves; professors played a crucial role. Just like in university, the knowledge was there, but enjoying the learning and passing exams often hinged on the professor.
Following this logic, Potions would be the most difficult core subject. Not only did Professor Snape teach it, but the knowledge was detailed, numerous, and involved highly dangerous experimental components. At the end of each class, students submitted their brewed potion, and essays were long. Just thinking of Snape's gloomy face made Sean's heart sink. Earning an 'Outstanding' in Potions under Snape would be no easy task. He could only hope for a little talent in Potions. Just a little would be fine.
Next, Sean considered Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was highly dangerous, and the teachers were… complicated. Two-headed people weren't common, after all. 'Another difficult course…'
Sean rubbed his brow, his gaze sharpening. Nothing could stop him from learning, not even Voldemort! A slight plan began to form as he continued to ponder.
Considering various factors, the third tier of difficulty included Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms. None of these could be mastered without talent. The final tier was History of Magic and Astronomy, requiring memorization of specific knowledge. These subjects weren't tricky for Sean.
"Transfiguration and Charms… my current level should be sufficient," he murmured. "Astronomy and History of Magic… easy to ace by memorization, no special attention needed. So, looking at it this way, the difficult areas are Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology."
With his goals set, Sean pondered how to execute his plan. Outside the compartment, a commotion had been building for a while. He heard snippets: 'Harry,' 'Harry Potter,' 'Merlin's beard!' Then, a loud bang echoed.
Disturbed, Sean slowly raised his head. His gaze met Justin's and Hermione's. Justin quickly lowered his head, feigning nonchalance. "Sean, look, it's the Levitation Charm! How amazing!"
Sean followed his gaze. Above Hermione's wand, a feather floated in the air. The young girl lifted her face, a hint of pride in her voice. "Actually, it's just a simple spell. I learned it from *The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1*. It's not very difficult; I mastered it after a few tries."
Sean, who had practiced it five hundred times: 'Actually, no.'
"Justin, you should try it too. It's just a small spell. *The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1* says it's often one of the first spells young wizards learn." Hermione looked at the eager Justin, speaking seriously.
"You'll have to guide me," Justin said, not declining. He waved his wand with a hint of longing.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" The feather didn't move.
"You need to flick your wrist," Hermione corrected.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" The feather wiggled slightly.
"You're wrong again! You need to speak firmly; hesitation will lead to failure!" Hermione instructed, somewhat sternly. Justin's face grew even more serious. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
"It worked! That's great, Hermione, you're a wonderful teacher!" A triumphant Justin was ecstatic. He sincerely thanked her. "You're right, it doesn't seem very difficult at all!"