Seven subjects all Outstanding?
Sean pondered this difficult problem while carrying his suitcase.
He had arrived quite early, the first few carriages weren't full yet,
so he found an empty compartment in the second carriage, then tried to lift the suitcase onto the rack with dragging and pulling, but couldn't lift it up, after trying twice, the suitcase smashed entirely to the ground.
Sean stopped in place, then his wand waved:
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
[You have practiced the Levitation Charm once to Beginner standard, proficiency +3]
As the incantation sounded and the system prompt rang, the brick-like suitcase quickly floated up.
Still this thing is useful.
Sean satisfactorily put away his wand while pulling the suitcase into the compartment.
What he didn't notice was a little witch looking at him curiously.
Outside the window, the steam locomotive's thick smoke swirled above the chattering crowd, cats of various colors weaving under people's feet.
Amid the buzzing talk of the crowd and the clatter of dragging heavy luggage, owls hooted grumpily.
Sean opened the Hogwarts: A History that was half the size of a desk, one page wrote that Hogwarts' seven core courses are:
Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Defence Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Astronomy.
They are also Hogwarts' compulsory courses...
So how to achieve Outstanding?
Sean found a reference standard, that was the academic star Hermione among the trio.
If he remembered correctly, she achieved nine O (Outstanding) one E (Exceeds Expectations) good grades in the O.W.L., that is, Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.
And Hermione's grades had always been stable, so as long as comparing to her performance, he could judge the level he needed to reach.
Difficult?
Of course difficult, his magical talent was dismal, apart from History of Magic this kind of history subject, other courses all required magical talent without exception.
But could he not do it?
If he had the system and still couldn't do it, he might as well find a block of tofu to crash into and die.
"Grind it out!"
While putting away the luggage, Sean thought for a few seconds.
"Then start with Transfiguration..."
Sean sat down on the cushioned seat, put away A History, and took out The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration instead, this was a brownish-red book edged with gold texture, inside it detailed the laws and techniques of Transfiguration, it was the textbook for first and second year students at Hogwarts.
Among them the most classic case was turning a match into a needle, if he could reach this level within a month, Sean felt getting an Outstanding would be very simple.
[When performing Transfiguration, it is very important to wave the wand firmly and decisively,
do not swing or twirl the wand unnecessarily, otherwise the Transfiguration will definitely fail.
Before using the Transfiguration spell, first clearly visualize in your mind the appearance you want the object to become,
beginners should clearly pronounce the incantation, while advanced wizards do not need to say the incantation aloud...]
Sean read every sentence in The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration carefully like this, he planned to first memorize this book of over 200 pages, then attempt Transfiguration.
Why he did this was also simple, when Hermione first started learning magic, she memorized all the books and achieved excellent grades,
so it seemed that memorizing books was useful.
The road to success was right ahead, why not imitate it?
Moreover, his talent wasn't enough to begin with, he should work even harder.
There was also an important reason, these books had cost him a full eleven Galleons, Sean absorbed knowledge madly with a vengeful mentality out of heartache, quite like the mindset of wanting to get his money's worth at a buffet.
Just like this, unknowingly, he had roughly memorized all the books he bought.
The one in his hand had also completed over 180 pages, today he could finish memorizing it, then start practical practice of Transfiguration.
This made Sean, who had average grades in his previous life, couldn't help but sigh,
poverty, sure enough makes people omnipotent.
Steam wafted in the train station, Sean immersed in the book, to the point that a little witch entering the compartment he didn't even notice.
"Excuse me, is anyone else coming here?"
A bushy brown-haired little witch pushed open the compartment door, raised her chin and asked Sean.
"No."
Sean continued memorizing the book, if there was any benefit from half a year in the orphanage, it was sufficient focus, they these grassroots whose life and death weren't under their own control, if they couldn't learn to grow themselves, being blown away by the wind was also a matter of an instant.
After this simple response, Sean didn't speak anymore, until the train rumbled to start, the people in the compartment went from two to three, Sean also didn't make a sound.
The scenery outside the window was like an oil painting,
winding rivers spreading, waves of wheat surging one after another, occasionally seeing farmhouses and cattle and sheep, then covered by the following ink-green hills.
Hermione looked at her book, occasionally glanced at the scenery outside the window, and the focused little wizard opposite. His hair on both sides was fluffy and slightly raised, long eyelashes fluttering, the whole person exuding tranquility, and more importantly...
"He really looks like my family's cat, of course I know wizards can't be cats, but he really looks like..."
The black-haired little boy said softly, then somewhat embarrassedly scratched his head, unexpectedly this remark quickly got recognition from the person beside him.
Hermione nodded vigorously, she made eye contact with the black-haired little boy, revealing excitement of being understood.
"Justin, you described it too... aptly!"
Justin's eyes lit up, the two immediately whispered and discussed.
Sean immersed in the book, completely unaware that he had become the topic of others' discussion.
The train swayed rhythmically, the window like a canvas, bearing one beautiful, fantastical painting after another.
In the compartment, apart from Hermione and the black-haired little boy Justin's whispers, only the rustle of turning pages remained.
Sean finally memorized the last paragraph, he let out a long breath, lifted his head and rubbed his sore eyes.
"I lack nothing now!"
Soon, Sean's big eyes sparkled, he put down the book, took out a match from his robe, in his mind continuously appeared the shape, structure, characteristics of the match,
the memories of Transfiguration from his previous life and his current knowledge mutually verified—
"Trans—figura—tion!"
Riding this wave of confidence, Sean mustered his energy and softly pronounced the incantation.
Unfortunately, the match didn't change much,
but Sean raised the corners of his mouth.
[You have practiced the Basic Transfiguration once to Beginner standard, proficiency +3]
"Did he just say something? And what is he doing?"
Justin asked Hermione in a low voice, his head practically having a big question mark written on it.
"Seems like... Transfiguration, oh no! The book says that's a dangerous spell, if pronounced wrong it will produce terrible consequences!"
Hermione pinched her skirt corner, her brows furrowed, just preparing to open her mouth to interrupt Sean's attempt.
[You have practiced the Basic Transfiguration once to Proficient standard, proficiency +10]
[You have practiced the Basic Transfiguration once to Proficient standard, proficiency +10]
...
Sean continuously attempted, becoming more and more proficient, this was a feeling he had never had before, magic... seemed to become simple.
Could it be, I'm a Transfiguration genius?!
[You have practiced the Basic Transfiguration once to Proficient standard, proficiency +10]
[Basic Transfiguration has been unlocked]
[A new Transfiguration Domain title has been unlocked, please view]
[A Wizard talent has been unlocked, please view]
When the system's prompt sounded, Sean's eyes narrowed slightly.
Scholarship fragment, plus one!
At this moment, a discordant voice sounded:
"You can't use dangerous Transfiguration here! You can't control it!"
Hermione said, her voice loud, her tone seeming somewhat angry and stern.
As soon as she finished saying it, the match trembled, under the little witch's widened gaze, slowly turned into a needle, the silver-white needle tip even reflecting light,
the air fell into a momentary stagnation, Hermione's ending tone stuck in her throat.
"Merlin... I've seen this case in the book, he, did he succeed?"
Justin also widened his eyes, murmuring incredulously.
Sean lifted his head, meeting the Hermione with faint pink on her ear tips, and the Justin observing up close.
"Sorry, please say it again, I didn't hear clearly."
Sean didn't know what happened, he was too focused, didn't hear a single word.