A cat.
In the blink of an eye, it turned into a person.
This scene caused a stir and exclamations among the group of little wizards in the classroom.
"The cat! The cat turned into the professor!"
"Oh my! I was just thinking of bringing it back to our dormitory!"
"So cool! I want to turn into a tortoise! One that can live for ten thousand years!"
Seeing the little wizards all shocked by the opening effect of the first class, Professor McGonagall's mouth couldn't help but curve slightly upward, as every professor at Hogwarts knows how to pique the little wizards' interest in learning.
"If not for forgetting the time, in my classroom, I generally don't like it when people secretly do other things."
After reminding Ian, Professor McGonagall raised her hand and made a gesture, allowing Ian and the other two to choose their seats.
In the spacious classroom.
There were plenty of desks and chairs.
Perhaps.
During some period over the millennia, this place was once bustling with voices. But now, the thirty-some little wizards clearly couldn't fill even half of the classroom's desks and chairs.
"Good morning, everyone, I'm Minerva McGonagall, and for the next few years, I will be your Transfiguration class teacher." Professor McGonagall first gave a simple self-introduction.
After signaling everyone to be quiet.
"Transfiguration is a complex and magical art, very practical in both life and combat." With that, Professor McGonagall waved her magic wand.
In almost an instant.
The podium beside her turned into a fierce leopard.
"Roar!"
The leopard roared fiercely, scaring the little wizards into a series of screams; Michael and William's eyes were on the verge of popping out, while Ian's eyes shone brightly like green gemstones.
Transfiguration!
His lifelong adversary!
When will he be able to reach that level!
"Roar! Roar!"
The leopard was truly like a living creature, leaping around the classroom for quite a while before turning back into an ordinary podium with a wave of Professor McGonagall's wand.
"Do you guys think she just turned a desk into a leopard and then back into a desk?" Michael suddenly whispered to Ian and William.
"What else?"
Both Ian and William looked at him, baffled.
"What if the professor had turned a leopard into a desk beforehand, put it there, and then turned it back into a leopard in front of us?"
Black Buck's way of looking at things seemed a little unique.
"…"
Ian was speechless.
At this time.
Unaware of the 'conspiracy theory' floating around, Professor McGonagall began to speak softly to those eager to learn Transfiguration.
"Turning furniture into animals is content for upper-year students." Her means of boosting everyone's desire to learn were simple but very effective.
A little wizard full of anticipation raised their hand.
"Professor, if I learn Transfiguration, can I turn my brother into Rainbow Dash?" It was a cute Hufflepuff little witch wearing round glasses.
Her inquiry made Ian quickly turn his head to look.
Whose subordinate is this?
Why didn't she go to Slytherin?
"Transfiguration is forbidden to be cast on similar beings, Miss Laura, I hope you can dispel this dangerous thought." Professor McGonagall warned sternly.
"Perhaps you found the previous scene very interesting, but indeed, Transfiguration can almost be seen as the most dangerous magic you will learn during your student years."
The cat lady's voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear, "Turning any object into another is a dangerous process."
"There are known to be sixteen fantastic beasts created by wizards' failed Transfigurations, including the famous harpy from Greece."
"Pitiful people, due to their lack of caution, let themselves and their descendants become beings suffering from pain, and this is still considered a relatively good outcome among Transfiguration accidents."
Professor McGonagall scanned each little wizard present.
Her words were meaningful.
Leaving enough room to contemplate.
"So, caution is always the first rule you must remember when learning Transfiguration, I hope never to hear that any of you have become cautionary tales in textbooks."
A rather serious reminder.
Made the little wizards in the classroom a bit nervous.
"If I could become a Hungarian Tree Bee, I think it wouldn't matter if I couldn't change back." William quietly muttered beside him, making Ian glance at him several times.
No wonder he's suspected to have oviparous bloodline!
"I believe you have already understood the dangers of Transfiguration, so let me guide you to start appreciating its charm—let's start with turning a matchstick into a needle."
Indeed.
The first challenge that new students face in the Transformation Class is always the classic matchstick.
With Professor McGonagall's distribution, everyone received a matchstick. Ian was no exception, and he looked at his personal panel, letting out a slight sigh.
[Transformation Technique (Level 0) 38/50]
Lately, he had been doing related practice, but in this aspect, his progress remained minimal as always. A single class was probably not enough for him to cross the threshold.
"Remember, everyone, that each pronunciation of the spell needs to be accurate, and at the same time, you need to construct in your mind the item you want to transform into."
With Professor McGonagall's teaching concluded, she let everyone begin practicing.
"Vera Verto!"
Ian recalled the content from the textbook and continued his attempt, trying hard to construct the structure of the steel needle in his mind, but the outcome was the same as many of his previous practices.
The matchstick trembled and twisted but ultimately failed to transform into a steel needle.
Time was passing.
All the students around were earnestly studying and attempting, and soon, William was the first to successfully transform a needle, earning praise from Professor McGonagall and five points for Ravenclaw.
Perhaps due to competitiveness or the allure of gaining points, the students from Ravenclaw began constantly completing the task. Hufflepuff also saw some completers.
"Hiss!"
Watching Michael nearly succeed, Ian finally felt restless.
"Professor."
He raised his hand.
"Mr. Prince, is there a problem?"
Professor McGonagall immediately turned her gaze towards him. In fact, she had been observing Ian's transformation, but the matchstick on his desk hadn't shown much change.
This seemed quite different from what Dumbledore had said?
"I'm encountering some difficulties."
Ian had indeed long wanted to seek help from Professor McGonagall.
"Please, go ahead."
Professor McGonagall nodded slightly.
"It is well known that the primary components of wood are cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin, while the main component of iron is iron atoms."
Ian didn't look at the perplexed students beside him, muttering "well known", but spoke to Professor McGonagall in an extremely serious tone.
"I've been trying hard to convert every single component of wood into iron atoms, but... it's really difficult." He was very puzzled by the other little wizards' easy success.
"?????"
Not only did the little wizards show bewildered expressions, but even Professor McGonagall couldn't help but widen her eyes a bit.
"It seems you already have some research in Alchemy…" Professor McGonagall looked at Ian with an exceedingly peculiar expression, as if she examined him thoroughly multiple times.
"However, this does not aid in learning Transformation Technique." After a slight pause and hesitation, Professor McGonagall looked at Ian with her wise eyes and spoke.
"Mr. Prince, how do you perceive wizarding magic?"
Her voice was quite solemn.
"Magic comes from the wizard themselves, originated in the power of belief; it possesses a response to the desires of the heart." Ian pondered and shared his current understanding.
Professor McGonagall took a surprised glance at him.
"What Dumbledore said seems true. Yes, indeed, you are quite right… magic is the manifestation of the heart, the echo of imagination..."
"Your failure stems from the fact that you are merely twisting substances."
Professor McGonagall used a completely new term to describe magic while also revealing why Ian's progress in Transformation Technique was slow.
"Doesn't the echo of imagination require a real-world vessel? Isn't that no different from twisting substances?" Ian felt that he was approaching the truth.
Yet found it elusive.
"Of course, there is a difference, child. Twisting substances is merely trying to convert one substance into another using magic power, and this is not the reason why wizards are strong."
Professor McGonagall's eyes flashed with a bit of complexity and struggle as she hesitated for quite a while before making a decision, her gaze turned gentle.
"I generally do not impart dangerous knowledge to little wizards, but Mr. Prince, I feel you indeed need the right education in this aspect."
"I can't bear to watch you walk down a wrong path."
Professor McGonagall looked around at the increasingly puzzled students, then at Ian, whose eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge, and began to speak softly in a gentle voice.
"Remember, we wizards do not twist substances; wizards grant new rules to substances. The ancient wizards believed in a phrase that remains applicable in today's era."
With that.
Professor McGonagall raised her magic wand.
Luminous letters emerged from the tip of her magic wand.
All the little wizards present were puzzled, staring at the letters that illuminated in mid-air like fireworks, murmuring to each other, unable to recognize them.
"The wizard is akin to the Gods."
The splendid characters reflected in Ian's eyes. Written in Rune Language by Professor McGonagall, these words at this moment seemed to open a broad world for him.
The wheels of history... began turning.