Transfiguration
"Well off to transfiguration we go." Elijah said. "Pure torture." Luka added.
Everyone laughed as they all left the common room. They walked over to Professor McGonagall's classroom with five minutes to spare. They sat down two to a table. Kiran and Rhea at one table, Adwen and Lilly beside them at another table. Behind Kiran and Rhea, Luka and Elijah sat down, with Mackenzie and Devlin. Sebastian and Simba sat at the other table. They noticed that a tabby cat with square markings around its eyes was sitting on McGonagall's desk. Sebastian asked where McGonagall was then suddenly the cat jumped into the air. Before the cat's paws touched the group it had changed into Professor McGonagall. The whole class gasped and clapped. "Thank you. Now can any of you tell what I am?" McGonagall asked as the whole class shot up their hands. "Sebastian?" McGonagall asked. "You're an animagus." Sebastian answered. "Very right you are. Now how many of you have older brothers or sisters or relatives that go or that did go to Hogwarts?" McGonagall asked as everyone raised his or her hands except Mackenzie, and Sebastian. She continued. "Very interesting. Well let's waste no more time and get right into work. But first I must take the register. Avalon, Devlin? Ah yes, Hayden's brother. Jordan, Simba? You wouldn't happen to be Lee Jordan's son would you?" Simba nodded. "I taught your father when he was at school. Lesley, Adwen? Whom are you related to?" "Oliver Wood is my stepfather and my two older stepsisters are Kylie and Kristin Wood." Adwen explained. "Oh I remember Oliver. Fine keeper he was and quidditch captain. Kylie was very good at transfiguration but Kristin was much better at charms. Well on with the register. Miller, Sebastian. Oh I see you there. O'Neil, Rhea." McGonagall said as she gave her a smile. "Potter, Lilly. Harry and Hermione's daughter? Your brother James is in 7th year right?" Lilly gave McGonagall a nod. "Star, Mackenzie? Oh and three Weasleys to add to the list. Elijah, Kiran, and Luka. Now whose kids are you?" McGonagall asked with a smile. "Well I am Ron and Pavarti's daughter and Elijah and Luka are George and Alicia's sons." Kiran explained. "Oh that explains it then. Well it's so good to see my old students' children and some new faces. Well on to work. Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous magic that you will learn at Hogwarts. Do not fool around in my class or you will never come back. I do not tolerate ignorance. Now open up your copy of A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration to page 15. Please read from page 15 to 19 and take thorough notes." Everyone opened their bags and pulled out A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration, parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. They flipped to page 15 and they all began to silently read. All that was heard was pages being flipped, the dipping sound of quills being dipped into inkwells and the scratching of quills on parchment. After about a half an hour everyone was finished.
"Now one person from each group please come up to the front and grab two matches. Then I will explain our next task." McGonagall said as Kiran, Adwen, Simba, Elijah, and Devlin went up to the front, collected the matches, and sat back down. "One match per partner. With the matches in front of you, you will be transfiguring them into needles. I do not expect you to accomplish this task but some may be able to transfigure their match. Well now. Let's get started." McGonagall explained. The kids spent the next half an hour trying to transfigure their matches. Rhea's match had turned into a wooden needle while Kiran had a metal needle but a white head of a match on the end. The other kids had the same problems. Devlin's match kept rolling over whenever he tried to change it. Simba nearly lit the whole classroom on fire. When he tried to transfigure it the match caught on fire and so did the desk. Luckily McGonagall was passing by at the time and put out the flames. By the end of the class everyone groaned as McGonagall gave them homework to practice transfiguring the match. She also told them to read pages 20 to 25 and write thorough notes. She then dismissed the class. They all walked back up to the common room and into their dormitories. They switched their transfiguration books for their telescope. They then grabbed their bags and ran up to the south tower to their astronomy classroom. They had to walk all the way up to the south tower. They went up the stairs to a landing. There was an open trap door with a ladder leaned against one of the sides. They climbed up the ladder and entered a classroom with telescopes and desks. Professor Sinstra, a tall witch with long brow hair pulled back in a braid and robes of deep blue, was sitting at a desk in front of the class. As they sat down they noticed the Ravenclaws in the classroom. "Welcome to Astronomy. I am Professor Sinstra. This will be the only daytime Astronomy class that you will have. The next astronomy class that you will have will be at midnight. Since your astronomy classes are so late at night you will only have one a week." Professor Sinstra explained while walking up and down the rows of desks. "This class is just to get a feel for what you know about astronomy. Now who can tell me what is the name of the galaxy that our solar system is in?" Everyone raised his or her hands. "Griffin Brooker?" "The Milky Way galaxy?" the Ravenclaw boy answered. "Right you are. Now who can tell me what is the closet star to our solar system other than the sun?" Professor Sinstra replied as a couple students raised their hands. "Rhea O'Neil?" "Alpha Centauri?" Rhea answered. "Correct. It seems you guys know a fair bit about astronomy. Who knows some constellations that we are able to observe this month?" Professor Sinstra asked as everyone raised his or her hands again. "Christine Kilarney?" "The Big Dipper and Little Dipper." The Ravenclaw girl answered. "Very good. Now who can tell me another one? How about Adwen Lesley." Professor Sinstra replied. "Cassiopeia and Cygnus." Adwen answered.
"Excellent. There are many constellations in the night sky. There are a few that can only be seen in certain seasons. The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and Cassiopeia are some of the few that can be seen all year round in the northern hemisphere. Cygnus is the Northern Cross or the swan. It is one of the constellations visible from July to September. Another summer constellation is the summer triangle. Can anyone tell me which three stars make up that constellation? How about Noah Stewart." Professor Sinstra said. "Deneb, Vega, and Altair." The Ravenclaw boy answered with delight. "Right you are. Now who can tell me which constellation Altair is part of? Mackenzie Star?" Professor Sinstra asked. "Aquila." Mackenzie answered. "Very good. Now for homework." Professor Sinstra started as the class moaned. "Yes I know you all hate homework but this should be a piece of cake. For homework you will all right one piece of parchment on the constellations that are seen from October to December. It will be due next week. Some of you may be able to finish it in class today. I don't give much homework. This way you don't have to scramble to get things done with the homework from your other classes. Well get to work." The class got out their parchment, quills, and ink and started writing their essays. By the end of class, most of the students already finished their essays. There were only a couple kids from each house that had a couple more lines to write. "Okay so hand in your essays next Monday. Please remember your telescopes for next class. Oh I almost forgot. Five points for everyone who answered one of my questions." Professor Sinstra said as the class left the classroom. The girls went up to their dormitory, flung their bags down, took out their telescopes and packed their History of Magic books. They picked up their bags once again and went down to the great hall. The tables were packed with students. They walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down to begin eating. "So that was the only astronomy class that we will be having during the day?" Lilly asked. "Yup. Next Monday you will see that you will be starting your midnight astronomy classes. You only have astronomy once a week because the classes are so late." Rami answered. "When do you get to start taking subjects like Divination and stuff?" Kiran asked. "Not until third year. I know it's long to wait but it's worth it. Divination is so interesting." Rami said. "I would like to try arithmancy I think." Rhea explained. "Yeah it's really interesting. I took arithmancy and care for magical creatures." Jonah replied.
"Well off to transfiguration we go." Elijah said. "Pure torture." Luka added.
Everyone laughed as they all left the common room. They walked over to Professor McGonagall's classroom with five minutes to spare. They sat down two to a table. Kiran and Rhea at one table, Adwen and Lilly beside them at another table. Behind Kiran and Rhea, Luka and Elijah sat down, with Mackenzie and Devlin. Sebastian and Simba sat at the other table. They noticed that a tabby cat with square markings around its eyes was sitting on McGonagall's desk. Sebastian asked where McGonagall was then suddenly the cat jumped into the air. Before the cat's paws touched the group it had changed into Professor McGonagall. The whole class gasped and clapped. "Thank you. Now can any of you tell what I am?" McGonagall asked as the whole class shot up their hands. "Sebastian?" McGonagall asked. "You're an animagus." Sebastian answered. "Very right you are. Now how many of you have older brothers or sisters or relatives that go or that did go to Hogwarts?" McGonagall asked as everyone raised his or her hands except Mackenzie, and Sebastian. She continued. "Very interesting. Well let's waste no more time and get right into work. But first I must take the register. Avalon, Devlin? Ah yes, Hayden's brother. Jordan, Simba? You wouldn't happen to be Lee Jordan's son would you?" Simba nodded. "I taught your father when he was at school. Lesley, Adwen? Whom are you related to?" "Oliver Wood is my stepfather and my two older stepsisters are Kylie and Kristin Wood." Adwen explained. "Oh I remember Oliver. Fine keeper he was and quidditch captain. Kylie was very good at transfiguration but Kristin was much better at charms. Well on with the register. Miller, Sebastian. Oh I see you there. O'Neil, Rhea." McGonagall said as she gave her a smile. "Potter, Lilly. Harry and Hermione's daughter? Your brother James is in 7th year right?" Lilly gave McGonagall a nod. "Star, Mackenzie? Oh and three Weasleys to add to the list. Elijah, Kiran, and Luka. Now whose kids are you?" McGonagall asked with a smile. "Well I am Ron and Pavarti's daughter and Elijah and Luka are George and Alicia's sons." Kiran explained. "Oh that explains it then. Well it's so good to see my old students' children and some new faces. Well on to work. Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous magic that you will learn at Hogwarts. Do not fool around in my class or you will never come back. I do not tolerate ignorance. Now open up your copy of A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration to page 15. Please read from page 15 to 19 and take thorough notes." Everyone opened their bags and pulled out A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration, parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. They flipped to page 15 and they all began to silently read. All that was heard was pages being flipped, the dipping sound of quills being dipped into inkwells and the scratching of quills on parchment. After about a half an hour everyone was finished.
"Now one person from each group please come up to the front and grab two matches. Then I will explain our next task." McGonagall said as Kiran, Adwen, Simba, Elijah, and Devlin went up to the front, collected the matches, and sat back down. "One match per partner. With the matches in front of you, you will be transfiguring them into needles. I do not expect you to accomplish this task but some may be able to transfigure their match. Well now. Let's get started." McGonagall explained. The kids spent the next half an hour trying to transfigure their matches. Rhea's match had turned into a wooden needle while Kiran had a metal needle but a white head of a match on the end. The other kids had the same problems. Devlin's match kept rolling over whenever he tried to change it. Simba nearly lit the whole classroom on fire. When he tried to transfigure it the match caught on fire and so did the desk. Luckily McGonagall was passing by at the time and put out the flames. By the end of the class everyone groaned as McGonagall gave them homework to practice transfiguring the match. She also told them to read pages 20 to 25 and write thorough notes. She then dismissed the class. They all walked back up to the common room and into their dormitories. They switched their transfiguration books for their telescope. They then grabbed their bags and ran up to the south tower to their astronomy classroom. They had to walk all the way up to the south tower. They went up the stairs to a landing. There was an open trap door with a ladder leaned against one of the sides. They climbed up the ladder and entered a classroom with telescopes and desks. Professor Sinstra, a tall witch with long brow hair pulled back in a braid and robes of deep blue, was sitting at a desk in front of the class. As they sat down they noticed the Ravenclaws in the classroom. "Welcome to Astronomy. I am Professor Sinstra. This will be the only daytime Astronomy class that you will have. The next astronomy class that you will have will be at midnight. Since your astronomy classes are so late at night you will only have one a week." Professor Sinstra explained while walking up and down the rows of desks. "This class is just to get a feel for what you know about astronomy. Now who can tell me what is the name of the galaxy that our solar system is in?" Everyone raised his or her hands. "Griffin Brooker?" "The Milky Way galaxy?" the Ravenclaw boy answered. "Right you are. Now who can tell me what is the closet star to our solar system other than the sun?" Professor Sinstra replied as a couple students raised their hands. "Rhea O'Neil?" "Alpha Centauri?" Rhea answered. "Correct. It seems you guys know a fair bit about astronomy. Who knows some constellations that we are able to observe this month?" Professor Sinstra asked as everyone raised his or her hands again. "Christine Kilarney?" "The Big Dipper and Little Dipper." The Ravenclaw girl answered. "Very good. Now who can tell me another one? How about Adwen Lesley." Professor Sinstra replied. "Cassiopeia and Cygnus." Adwen answered.
"Excellent. There are many constellations in the night sky. There are a few that can only be seen in certain seasons. The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and Cassiopeia are some of the few that can be seen all year round in the northern hemisphere. Cygnus is the Northern Cross or the swan. It is one of the constellations visible from July to September. Another summer constellation is the summer triangle. Can anyone tell me which three stars make up that constellation? How about Noah Stewart." Professor Sinstra said. "Deneb, Vega, and Altair." The Ravenclaw boy answered with delight. "Right you are. Now who can tell me which constellation Altair is part of? Mackenzie Star?" Professor Sinstra asked. "Aquila." Mackenzie answered. "Very good. Now for homework." Professor Sinstra started as the class moaned. "Yes I know you all hate homework but this should be a piece of cake. For homework you will all right one piece of parchment on the constellations that are seen from October to December. It will be due next week. Some of you may be able to finish it in class today. I don't give much homework. This way you don't have to scramble to get things done with the homework from your other classes. Well get to work." The class got out their parchment, quills, and ink and started writing their essays. By the end of class, most of the students already finished their essays. There were only a couple kids from each house that had a couple more lines to write. "Okay so hand in your essays next Monday. Please remember your telescopes for next class. Oh I almost forgot. Five points for everyone who answered one of my questions." Professor Sinstra said as the class left the classroom. The girls went up to their dormitory, flung their bags down, took out their telescopes and packed their History of Magic books. They picked up their bags once again and went down to the great hall. The tables were packed with students. They walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down to begin eating. "So that was the only astronomy class that we will be having during the day?" Lilly asked. "Yup. Next Monday you will see that you will be starting your midnight astronomy classes. You only have astronomy once a week because the classes are so late." Rami answered. "When do you get to start taking subjects like Divination and stuff?" Kiran asked. "Not until third year. I know it's long to wait but it's worth it. Divination is so interesting." Rami said. "I would like to try arithmancy I think." Rhea explained. "Yeah it's really interesting. I took arithmancy and care for magical creatures." Jonah replied.