A/N: The title of this chapter is taken from Evanescence's song, "October". Enjoy!
October
The colors of autumn were in full bloom, giving Hogwarts a beautiful glow. The crisp autumn air swept over the grounds towards where Minerva McGonagall sat reading her transfiguration book beneath a willow that overlooked the lake. Realizing that she had only fifteen minutes until class, Minerva began to make her way up to the castle. She wove her way through the maze of hallways with an effortless ease, gliding into her favorite classroom in the school. Minerva took her place at the center desk in the front of the classroom. She prepared her quill and ink and readied her parchment for today's class. As the rest of the students trickled in, Professor Albus Dumbledore entered through the front of the classroom.
"Good morning, Class! Today, we are going to work on a rather difficult piece of transfiguration. We will be taking the next two weeks or so to work on this particular spell, as it is so complex. But I have no doubt," Dumbledore added as the students groaned, "That all of you will have mastered it completely by the time we are finished. Now grab a partner and turn to page one hundred and thirty three of your textbooks."
Minerva and Poppy paired together and opened their textbooks to the page their professor had instructed.
"Oh, I love this spell!" exclaimed Minerva.
"Ricordi d'infanzia?" questioned Poppy "What does it do?" Their teacher answered the question for the class.
"This is a spell that transfigures whatever object you cast the spell on into a beloved object of your childhood. The difficulty in this spell is that you must truly concentrate because you do not choose the object; the spell decides it for you. Now, my friends, the first step in performing this spell is to imagine your favorite childhood memories. Not a single object, not a single memory. But a collection. Play these images in your head over and over again. As they continue to reel through your mind, imagine the object you are trying to transfigure seeping its way into your memories. When you are satisfied that you are ready, repeat the incantation 'Ricordi d'infanzia'. At first you may see no results, and as we continue with this spell over the next two weeks you may transfigure your object into another object of little importance. But when you successfully have mastered the spell, you will know by the radiant golden glow it gives off. Any questions?" Albus paused to survey the class for any raised hands. "Good. Give it a whirl!"
Minerva and Poppy looked at their objects. Poppy had a small china teacup, and Minerva had a small crystal vase.
"Ok, I'll try it first." Poppy said. "I'm sure I'll take longer to master it then you will. Freak." She added lovingly.
Poppy closed her eyes, and for several minutes kept them shut, with a look of severe concentration on her face. She opened them slowly, focusing on her teacup.
"Ricordi d'infanzia!" shouted Poppy with a swish of her wand. Professor Dumbledore walked over to see Poppy's results. Her teacup began to vibrate, and levitating a few inches in the air before falling gently back upon the desk.
"Very good, Miss Pomfrey, very good indeed!" exclaimed Professor Dumbledore with excitement.
"But it hardly did anything at all!"
"Like I said, this is a rather difficult spell. Any sign that it has registered after your first attempt is a step in the right direction. I believe it is your turn, Miss McGonagall." Albus said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, Professor." Minerva responded before closing her eyes.
Minerva pictured various memories from her childhood. Opening presents by the fireplace on Christmas morning. Running through the Scottish hillside with her father. Making homemade scones and clotted cream with her mother. Picnics by the lake with her family. Horseback riding with her brother and sister. Quidditch matches with her siblings and cousins. All these images swirled through her head, over and over, replaying constantly.
Slowly Minerva began to place the vase in her memories. A vase of flowers on the mantle Christmas morning. Picking flowers with her father and placing them in the vase for her mother. The vase of flowers sitting on the kitchen table as she and her mother baked their goodies. The vase on the picnic table as her family ate lunch. The vase on the sill of the stables as she prepared her horse. The vase sitting again on the kitchen table as she came in to the house for cookies with her siblings and her cousins after a long Quidditch match. Minerva allowed these images to swirl in her mind as she slowly opened her eyes, raised her wand, and whispered "Ricordi d'infanzia!"
The vase began to vibrate and rise into the air, where it was consumed by an exploding, golden light. The vase had transformed into a beautiful wooden doll. Surrounded by a golden glow, the doll slowly descended back to the desk. Minerva picked the doll up with astonishment. It looked exactly like the doll her grandfather had made her for her fifth birthday.
"Brilliant, Miss McGonagall, that was absolutely brilliant! I have never seen anyone master that spell so quickly. Have you tried it before today?"
"Once before, but my results were similar to Poppy's earlier attempt."
"Excellent, Miss McGonagall, excellent! Ten points to Gryffindor. Now class, that is the result we are hoping for, we'll work more on this spell tomorrow. Miss McGonagall," Albus said softly "May I have a word with you? In my office?"
Minerva nodded and followed her professor to his office located in in the front of the classroom.
"Please, have a seat." Albus said, gesturing to one of the two seats sitting in front of his desk. She took a seat as Albus sat behind his desk.
"I do not want to keep you long, as I know you must be anxious for the Halloween festivities tonight. However, Miss McGonagall, the spell you performed today is a particular favorite of mine. It took me a full week of constant practice to master that spell. I applaud you for your skill."
"Thank you, sir."
"I've been keeping an eye on you, Miss McGonagall, and never have I seen a more natural talent at transfiguration. You are more advanced than even I was at your age. I see you reading your textbook quite often. Tell me, have you completed it?"
"Yes sir, twice already. I'm reading it for the third time."
"That is wonderful indeed. However, I believe it might begin to get rather dull."
"Oh, no sir! I find the spells to be fascinating."
"I'm sure you do. Do you see these shelves, Miss McGonagall? All of these books are books on transfiguration. Come, have a look."Albus rose from behind his desk, guiding Minerva to the bookcases, where hundreds of books lined the shelves.
"Oh, Professor, these are wonderful! There are so many!"
"Oh, yes." Albus chuckled. "I also have a private collection in my rooms and another at my home. These are some of the more common transfiguration books available on the market."
"Wow." was all Minerva could say in awe.
"Here," Albus said, taking a book off the shelf. "I want you to have this. It's yours to keep." He added. "I have several copies of this particular volume. I think you will find it to be quite enjoyable."
"Oh thank you, Professor Dumbledore, thank you ever so much!"
"You're more than welcome, Miss McGonagall. And I would be happy to loan you any of the books I have here, all you need to do is ask. It is truly wonderful to see a student with such a passion for transfiguration. Now if you need help with any of those spells in that book, just come to me. I will be glad to assist you. Run along, Miss McGonagall. I will see you at the festivities tonight."
Albus and Minerva locked eyes with each other for a moment, and exchanged a look that neither of the two was ready to understand. Minerva smiled at her professor as she rushed out of the classroom, anxious to begin reading her new gift.