Harry,
Hermione, and Ron have finally reached the Transfiguration classroom.
Several students were already there when they entered, and Professor
McGonagall was waiting on her desk for the rest of the students to
arrive. Harry, Hermione, and Ron found a table, and took out their
books, quills, and rolls of parchments in case the lesson was not
practical. At last, the room was filled with all the
students.
"Welcome back to Transfiguration everyone," spoke
Professor McGonagall, "I hope you had a nice summer." A few
people looked back at her in disbelief. Who would be comfortable with
the news that Voldemort has returned?
"Now, before we begin
today's lesson, I want to explain why your OWL results haven't been
sent to you in July. Well, shortly after your departure last year,
Professor Snape got ill. He couldn't have corrected the papers and
all the examinations of students from fifth year. So, we had to wait
at least a month for him to recover and come back to health again.
When he finally was normal again, another thing happened. Peeves had
taken all the parchment and scattered it all over the school. It took
us rather a very long time to find the rolls of parchment, even with
using the summoning charm, Accio. Anyway, your results are ready for
you now. I will pass them around, take a quick look at your results,
and then put the results in your bags straight away, because this
lesson might be exciting to you all."
She was now moving
across the room, distributing the OWL results. Now, she came closer
to Harry, Hermione, and Ron. She handed them the results with a quick
smile on her face, and then stepped towards the Slytherins to hand
them their results. Harry was the first to look at his results. He
expected that he didn't do well at all, because of the difficult
circumstances with Umbridge being the headmaster last year. It
read:
Harry Potter, Gryffindor
OWL results:
Defence
Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding
Transfiguration: Exceeds
Expectations
Charms: Exceeds Expectations
Potions:
Acceptable
Divination: Poor
Care of Magical Creatures:
Outstanding
Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations
History of Magic:
Poor
Herbology: Outstanding
"Fair enough, I thought I
was going to fail Potions and Astronomy," spoke Harry, relieved
with his results.
"Would you like to see my results? Don't
worry, you're better," said Ron.
"Ok," replied
Harry, stretching his hand to take Ron's results.
Ronald
Weasley, Gryffindor
OWL results:
Defence Against the Dark Arts:
Outstanding
Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations
Charms:
Acceptable
Potions: Poor
Divination: Acceptable
Care of
Magical Creatures: Exceeds Expectations
Astronomy:
Acceptable
History of Magic: Dreadful
Herbology: Exceeds
Expectations
"Failure in two subjects, Potions and History of Magic. Oh, this is not going to please Mum. She was good at these subjects when she was at school," said Ron, putting his results in his bag. Hermione was very impressed with her results. Ron and Harry took her paper and read her results. Clearly, she was indeed the cleverest witch in her year.
Hermione Granger,
Gryffindor
OWL results:
Defence Against the Dark Arts:
Outstanding
Transfiguration: Outstanding
Charms: Exceeds
Expectations
Potions: Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures:
Outstanding
Astronomy: Outstanding
History of Magic:
Outstanding
Ancient Runes: Outstanding
Arithmancy:
Outstanding
Herbology: Outstanding
Harry and
Ron's jaw fell.
"It's really a wonder why the sorting hat
didn't place you in Ravenclaw Hermione. But congratulations, ten
OWLs!" said Harry.
"Thanks guys," declared
Hermione. "I never dreamed that I'll get Outstanding on all of
the subjects."
"Now, everyone, kindly put away your
results and do not discuss them with anyone, it's your own business
and no one else's. Today, I'm telling you that you have to be
serious. I'll be teaching you a new session this year, probably the
most exciting part of Transfiguration. We will be starting Human
Transfiguration," spoke Professor McGonagall. Sighs came out
from every corner in the class. Harry, Hermione, and Ron beamed. They
clearly remembered how Harry suggested transfiguring himself into a
fish or frog to be able to breathe under the lake when he was about
to start the second task of the Triwizard Tournament in fourth year.
"Again, I'm telling you that you have to be very serious and
careful in this kind of transfiguration, otherwise, everything will
turn out badly," spoke Professor McGonagall sharply. "I need a
volunteer from you to demonstrate Human Transfiguration."
Everybody
was swallowing a lump in their throats. They didn't want to risk the
chance of being transfigured, they didn't know what it could lead to.
"Anyone at all?" asked Professor McGonagall, looking
disappointed. Then, Hermione got out of her seat to help Professor
McGonagall.
"Well thank you Ms. Granger, I was beginning to
think that no one will come," said Professor McGonagall,
smiling.
"Everyone, pay attention closely. You point your
wand at the person's head, wave it horizontally two times, and
clearly pronounce the incantation, Vellacroz," said
Professor McGonagall. At once, smoke appeared, and Hermione was gone.
Instead, there stood a cute little puppy in her place. Draco Malfoy
was on the floor, laughing.
"You wouldn't like that if I did
it to you Mr. Malfoy, would you?" asked Professor McGonagall,
looking angry.
"Now, this is the part that is most important.
The counter curse for this spell, is simply waving your wand
vertically at the animal's head," then, Hermione appeared again.
She was extremely dizzy, and she lost her balance. Nobody seemed to
care and help her back to her seat. So, Harry and Ron both got up,
put Hermione's arms on their shoulders, and helped her walk to her
seat.
"Thank you," she said, kindly.
"How did
that feel Ms. Granger?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"Well--it
was---completely weird, and---and I felt so dizzy," replied
Hermione, with her hands on her head trying to stop it spinning.
"Now, you've all seen how human transfiguration works. It
really is useful sometimes. But I'm warning you, never transfigure a
human to punish him, and never transfigure him for your own benefit,"
she said sternly.
"I want you all now to pair up, and
practice transfiguring each other, and remember the counter curse.
Each one of you has his or her own unique shape when transfigured,"
cried Professor McGonagall trying to hush up the chattering of the
class. Hermione of course didn't participate, instead, Professor
McGonagall summoned her to her desk, drew out an armchair, and let
her rest till the class ends. She was really tired. Harry was
partnered with Ron, and they went to the back left corner of the
class to practice transfiguring each other.
"Shall I begin
first?" asked Harry.
"Ok," replied Ron. Immeadietly,
Harry took out his wand, waved it horizontally two times at Ron's
head, and said Vellacroz. Smoke was circling Ron, and then, it
happened. Ron vanished. There was a small tiger standing in his
place. Harry was now moving away from it, he knew that a tiger could
be terribly harmful. After that, he quickly took out his wand, and
performed the counter curse. Ron was back, leaning on Harry's
shoulders. He felt just the way Hermione had felt.
"Is it
really that awful?" asked Harry.
"You couldn't possibly
imagine," replied Ron, still trying to stop the spinning of his
head. "Honestly, I don't blame Hermione for what she felt."
"So,
shall I get on with transfiguring you?"
"Allright,"
answered Harry. Ron took out his wand, waved it horizontally two
times, and lazily muttered, "Vellacroz". Harry was now
gone. A beautiful young grey deer stood in his place. He was
beginning to lick Ron's cheek. Ron moved the deer's mouth away,
disgusted. He did the counter curse, and Harry appeared out of thin
air. He was on all fours, looking really dizzy.
"I told you
it wasn't easy," said Ron, helping Harry up.
"Yeah, I
believe you," said Harry, still trying to get up.
"By the
way, you turned into a deer, and you licked my cheek,"
"Really?"
asked Harry, amazed.
"Yeah. Hey, you turn into a deer, just
like your Patronus right? And your father was an Animagus that turned
into a stag?" asked Ron.
"Ssh, lower your voice Ron,"
said Harry.
"Sorry,"
"Maybe you're correct," said
Harry. Then, the two turned their heads to look at the Gryffindors
laughing their heads off at the transfigured Malfoy. The creature was
half a cow, and the top part was Malfoy's body. Professor McGonagall
hurried towards him, and did something with her wand to transfigure
him back to his normal state. He was extremely embarrassed, Crabbe
was his partner. He nearly hit him, but before he could even raise
his fist, Professor McGonagall stopped him, and took away 10 points
from Slytherin.
"I told you, Mr. Crabbe, that you need to
wave your wand vertically two times, not horizontally four times to
do the counter curse," said Professor McGonagall, furiously.
"Perhaps next time you would care to pay attention, and stop
talking with Mr. Goyle?" Crabbe nodded, and apologized to
Malfoy.
The bell has finally rung, and everyone dashed away. Harry
and Ron both did the locomotion spell to drag Hermione, her bag, and
books to the hospital wing. Professor McGonagall reminded them that
they weren't allowed to use magic in the corridors, so they had to
carry her. At last, they reached the hospital wing, and placed her on
a bed to complete her serene sleep, for the remaining fifteen minutes
before Care of Magical Creatures. Madam Pomfrey of course took good
care of her, and told Harry and Ron to come pick her up again ten
minutes later.
As they stepped away from the hospital wing, they
saw the Slytherins coming out of the Transfiguration room, all
looking tired.
"Was that the best Transfiguration lesson
you've ever had or what?" asked Ron.
" I guess so,"
replied Harry. "Remember Hermione telling us in fourth year that
Human Transfiguration is in sixth year? Well, here we are
now."
"Yeah, I remember that allright," answered
Ron. They continued on chatting and discussing the transfiguration
lesson. Then, they switched to the topic of Harry's second Defence
Against the Dark Arts lesson later that day. Time has gone, and they
didn't notice. Then, Harry saw his hand watch, and grabbed Ron
quickly to get Hermione from the Hospital Wing. Seven minutes only
were left till Care of Magical Creatures.
