The three-man team finally stepped into the classroom before class started.
"I'll bet! Those stairs are deliberately targeting us, trying to make us late." Ron rubbed his nose, which was still red, and was the first to step into the classroom. He was relieved to see that the podium was empty.
"Looks like we're not too late. The professor isn't even here yet." Harry glanced at Ivan with relief. It was a good thing he was up early, or he would have been late.
"No, I think the professor has arrived…" Ivan ignored their exchange, glancing at the tabby cat on the dais before quickly returning to his seat.
Harry and Ron, on the other hand, were confused. But when they sat down, they saw the tabby cat on the podium suddenly leap off the stage and twist its body. When it landed, it was a middle-aged witch. It was Professor McGonagall!
Harry and Ron were instantly stunned. Only now did they understand what Ivan had just said. They just didn't understand how Ivan knew that the cat had been transformed by Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall was equally surprised. She had assumed the form of an Animagus to observe the situation of the young wizards. She had also used the Animagus's transformation as the beginning of the Transfiguration class. She had not expected a cadet to recognize her.
With a slightly approving nod at Ivan, Professor McGonagall began the first lesson in shape-shifting.
"Before we start the lesson, I'd like to remind you… Transfiguration is arguably one of the most complex and dangerous spells you'll ever learn at Hogwarts. Anyone who tries to mess around in my class, get out of here and never come back!"
Professor McGonagall waved her staff and turned the lectern in front of her into a pig. She turned it back into the lectern as many minor wizards exclaimed.
Ivan sat near the front and took in the entire transformation.
Accurate, fast, flawless…
To be able to transform a podium made of wood into a sentient creature was no different from directly changing the structure of matter. It even temporarily gave intelligence to inanimate objects. The mystery and power of magic were revealed at this moment.
The magic of the Magus World might be slightly inferior in destructive power, but it had its own uniqueness in other aspects. Moreover, it was comprehensive and complete!
Professor McGonagall's demonstration immediately excited the young wizards. After explaining the method and technique of releasing the shape-shifting spell, she gave all the students a match. The goal was to turn the match into a silver needle.
As Professor McGonagall began to explain the transformation spell, a prompt rang in Ivan's head.
[Ding, you listened carefully to the professor's explanation and felt that the content was a little obscure. The proficiency of the Transformation Spell has increased slightly…]
Ivan pulled up the information bar and looked. Sure enough, there was an extra line of information in the magic bar.
[Transformation Spell Level 0 (6/100)]
Ivan was delighted to see that the content was as he had expected. This meant that no matter what kind of magic it was, he would be able to learn it quickly by practicing it repeatedly to increase his proficiency.
However, after repeating half the lesson, Ivan realized that it did not seem as simple as he had imagined.
…
"Ivan Harls!"
"Mr. Hales!"
His stern and high-pitched voice echoed in the closed classroom, attracting the attention of the young wizards in the front and back rows.
It was only when Professor McGonagall suddenly turned her head away that the young wizards turned back resentfully. They waved their staffs at the matches in front of them in distress or conflict, trying to make even the slightest change…
Professor McGonagall looked around and saw that there had been a noticeable change in the matches on a certain little witch's table, with a little more or less the appearance of a needle. Only then did she relax her pursed lips and reveal a look of satisfaction.
After warning the young wizards who were still slacking off with his eyes, Professor McGonagall was able to turn her gaze to the dazed boy in front of her and speak sternly.
"Mr. Hales, I believe I warned you before that the release of a spell is extremely dangerous. You should stay focused before you cast it!"
"Besides, repeating mechanical exercises won't help much. I think you should be more attentive, focused, and try to picture the silver needles…"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, I'll keep an eye out…" Ivan Harls nodded politely, concentrating under the witch's gaze, the wand on its nearly twelve-inch length waving in the air with wonderful frequency.
On the black-and-gray wooden table, as if driven by some force out of nowhere, a match began to twist and deform, slowly changing form under the influence of magic…
However, just as the match slowly changed shape, it seemed to have been disturbed by something and instantly returned to its original state.
This situation did not seem to exceed Professor McGonagall's expectations. After seeing this situation, she only nodded and left after saying that she would practice more. After all, most of the young wizards who had just entered school were at this level.
Ivan Harls was left muttering and sighing softly.
"Looks like it's not that easy to accumulate proficiency…"