Chapter 2: Transfiguration Today
Albus smiled, settling himself into his squashy armchair by the fire and sipping a snifter of brandy. It was going to be an excellent night! Sighing as he leaned back, Albus set down his brandy and picked up the latest copy of Transfiguration Today. Reading the magazine was one of Albus's favorite professional obligations. He often found that he argued with almost every single article in the newspaper and he enjoyed writing rebuttals and editorials. Unfortunately most of the people who wrote for that magazine were too plebian to be able to understand his genius, but, nonetheless, he was one of the most respected specialists in Transfiguration in the world, he was the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts and he had achieved the highest scores in Hogwarts history on his Transfiguration OWLS and NEWTS.
The hours ticked by as Albus read article after article, taking careful notes on the inaccuracies of each. It was nearing midnight, when Albus came across an article on the long-term psychological and physiological effects of the animagus tranformation. The article was exceptionally well-researched and written. It was incredible actually! Albus grinned as he put down the magazine, leaning back in his chair. He had to hand it to that wizard, he had an incredible talent.! Picking up the magazine, Albus's eyes scanned the page for the author's name.
Suddenly Albus's blue eyes bugged out, his breathing became ragged as he turned the magazine over and over again. This had to be wrong! Surely this article was not written by a…by a….a woman. They didn't even publish women in Transfiguration Today. It was a wizard's journal. Transfiguration was a gentleman's art. It was too difficult, too dangerous for a witch. Minerva McGonagall had written the article, Minerva McGonagall the transfiguration prodigy, Nicholas' apprentice.