Two minutes before class, Harry, Ron, and Neville hurried into the classroom.
Neville sat down beside Artel, gasping for breath from the vigorous run. Artel glanced at him and said:
"I thought you were going to be late."
"No... I, we went to the school infirmary, you know, Harry's sick..."
Neville bowed his head embarrassedly, and Artel noticed that Neville was unusually shy, just as he had observed with Hermione.
"Is the school nurse pretty?"
"Well... Nagini is beautiful and gentle..."
Neville paused, glanced at Artel in a panic, and quickly added:
"I didn't mean that…"
Artel patted him on the shoulder, expressing his understanding. It seemed that Neville did have a favorable impression of Nagini.
Artel wondered wildly as Professor McGonagall walked in, and the noisy classroom immediately quieted down.
"Good morning, classmates."
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall!"
The young wizards greeted Professor McGonagall in unison. The serious woman had a smile on her face. She turned over the textbook and said:
"Today, we continue our practice in Transfiguration. Last week, we tried to transform a beetle into a candy. This week, after we successfully turn the beetle into a candy, we will proceed to turn the candy into a stone..."
"The young wizard who struggled to transfigure the beetle into candy knew he had to apply himself diligently today. Failure to succeed before the end of class meant facing deductions in points.
"Now, let's begin practicing. Feel free to discuss with your peers if you have any questions, and of course, you can ask me as well," Professor McGonagall announced, distributing beetles to each desk with a warm smile.
The young wizards set to work, with Professor McGonagall circulating the classroom, offering patient guidance to those in need.
"Turning it into stone... what kind of stone would be perfect?" Artel pondered, a spark of inspiration igniting in his mind. With a gentle flick of his wand, he aimed at the beetle.
In moments, the beetle transformed into a delicate candy, boasting a luscious fruity flavor and vibrant hues. With another flick of his wand, the candy morphed into a dazzling blue diamond.
"Professor McGonagall, I've completed it," Artel announced.
Professor McGonagall, unsurprised by Artel's proficiency, knew he had already mastered the basics of transfiguration. Approaching Artel's desk, she couldn't help but notice the brilliant diamonds.
A flash of astonishment crossed her features as she carefully inspected the gem. "Absolutely flawless... Artel, you are the most talented transfiguration wizard I've ever encountered."
"If anyone is to succeed me in this position after my tenure, it should be you. No one is more deserving," Professor McGonagall declared with a nod of satisfaction. With a wave of her wand, the diamond reverted to the candy Artel had initially conjured, filling the air with its delightful fruity aroma.
"Seems like you've made up for the last time..."
Professor McGonagall's satisfaction grew evident as she looked at Artel, her admiration for him hardly concealed.
"Artel, you've earned 10 points for Slytherin!"
Meeting Artel's hopeful gaze, Professor McGonagall affirmed and rewarded his efforts.
"Thank you, Professor."
Artel's eyes widened, gaining a hundred plot points in his metaphorical book.
"You deserve it. I don't believe a low-level Transfiguration can pose a challenge for you. If you're willing, you could consider helping your fellow students."
With those words, Professor McGonagall moved on to teach other students.
Artel took on the role of aiding Neville, Harry, and Ron, explaining the key points of Transfiguration for them.
Pansy, seated on the opposite side of the classroom, overheard Professor McGonagall's commendation. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she stood up and hurried over to Artel.
"Artel, there's something I don't quite grasp. I think you could help me out; after all, we're all Slytherins..."
Pansy blinked, looking at Artel with anticipation.
"When I finish teaching Neville..."
.....
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