"I think it's a little bit early to be discussing about the animagus transfiguration. So what reason could the five of you have to ask me such things?" After they made up their minds, they decided to ask Professor McGonagall about it and see if it's true.
"Well, Professor, you know how Allen and Armand are steps away from the rest of us in transfiguration, and in most classes." Sophia explained gesturing towards the two boys who just waved with a tint of red in their cheeks.
"Yes, Ms Bailey, I know, all of the Professors know about Mr Lionheart and Mr Malfoy achievements regarding their education.
But what does that has to do with the animagus transfiguration?"
A bit shy after listening to the Professor she continued. "W- Well… They've read somewhere that if a wizard masters the animagus transfiguration they can get better at transfiguration, so we were wondering if it was true."
The Professor let out a small breath, closed her eyes and looked back to the two boys who found the books. "In which books did you kids found this information?"
Armand spoke without missing a beat. "Advanced transfiguration for the common wizard and the dangers of it. 5th edition."
Professor McGonagall nodded. Apparently she had read that book before. Then she turned her head towards Allen.
Welp, me and my big mouth, fuck. Maybe if I say I don't remember… But this is an opportunity to find out if this book is banned or if the information in it is even accurate.
"I… found it in 'Mind, Energy, and Body, how it relates to your magic and how you can use it for your benefit! 44th edition.'"
As Allen continued to speak, Professor McGonagall's face grew wearier and wearier, he didn't know if it was because of the tittle of the book or because she had read it and found the contents to be ridiculous.
His friends looked at him as if he were joking. "Are you… serious? Is that not a joke book?" Elsie said.
"I think I've heard of that book before." Sophia interrupted. "Isn't that the book that didn't have any ascertainable information and-"
"Yes, Ms Bailey. That book was removed from all libraries in the country because of all the unverifiable information in it.
Pray tell, Mr Lionheart, how did you get your hands in this book?"
Well, fuck. I gambled and I lost, shouldn't have done that.
Cold sweat dropped from his back, his respiration getting haggard. "I found it in the school." He said after a few moment of silence. "In one unused classroom in the higher floors."
"Give me that book Mr Allen, I'd rather my students didn't fall for such scams in the form of information."
"B- But Professor, why is it so bad? I've read it and nothing inside seemed that crazy."
"The problem is not the content, Mr Lionheart, the problem is that we can't verify if it's true or not. It makes sense in theory, I'll give it that, but if you can't test it to confirm it to be true, then it's nothing more than that." She said, trying to end the topic.
"But what about the eastern part of the world? Do they not have a way to confirm it?"
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Some countries don't believe in the theory of dantians, even if they are from the east. And the ones that do, don't have a way to prove it. They just say that they can feel it.
So, the book, while not strictly banned, it is recommended to not take it as a school book, but rather, a fiction book."
The last statement left Allen shocked since everything in the book made sense to him, he could see the other two dantians if he looked himself in the mirror, even right now, if he concentrated, he would be able to feel his Energy sharing his magic with his Mind and Body, yet, Allen didn't want to say anything. He decided to stay silent and check for himself if it really is a fiction book or it was written by someone who knew his stuff.
She clapped, gathering the kids' attention. "Now, regarding the use of the animagus transfiguration to get better at transfiguration itself. There have been indeed a few books claiming at such." Professor McGonagall looked towards Armand. "And the same interviews have mixed responses.
Since we don't have a lot of animagus in the country for the difficulty of it, there's not enough data to confirm nor deny that claim." After a pregnant pause she spoke again. "But in my specific case, yes, I did felt like the use of my transfiguration spells got better and I had a better understanding after managing to do the animagus transfiguration."
The five students reacted positively at their Professor's comment.
Sophia said excitedly. "So does that mean if we can master it, we'll get better at transfiguration?!"
"Calm down Ms Bailey. The reason I got better could've been because the Headmaster was guiding me through the whole process. He used to be, after all, the previous transfiguration teacher.
Besides, the lot of you are too young to try it. We haven't even gone through the first half of the school year!" Professor McGonagall listed the reasons as to why she might have gotten better at it.
"But I see that all of you are giving it your all. So, if you continue like this, we might be able to talk with the Headmaster about letting the five of you to try the transfiguration in your sixth or seventh year." She finished speaking.
"W- Wait Professor, by that point we will be already out of school!" William shouted. "Can't it be a bit earlier?"
Armand interrupted. "I've heard that in Uagadou they learn the animagus transfiguration at age fourteen. Why can't we do the same?"
Professor McGonagall let out an exhausted breath. "I'm only one person Mr Malfoy. I can't watch over the five of you at the same time while going through the process.
In the case of Uagadou it's different, since they are used to it since the conception of the school, all of their professors can assist the students, and even older students can help, which is no the case here.
If I see proof of your determination I'll do my best to help you out, but for now, if you want to get better at my class, just continue to practice how you've been doing." Professor McGongall led them towards the door. "Now, I'll have a class in a few minutes, so please take your leave, we can continue this conversation later if you want.
And Mr Lionheart."
"Yes?" Allen jumped in fright at being singled out.
"Next time you read a book that doesn't seem to have educational content, please bring it to any of the faculty members. We can discuss if it's helpful for your education or more recreational."
"R- Right, I'll keep it in mind, thank you professor."
She nodded her head in appreciation. Glad that her students were showing so much promise towards their studies. "Well then, I'll see you in our next class."
After they walked a bit from the classroom towards the library, William spoke. "So, are we checking at least what do we need for the animagus transfiguration?"
Sophia and Elsie answered in unison. "Yes!"
Armand let out a small breath. "I guess checking what we need to do isn't too difficult, as long as we don't try anything and just check the process we should be okay."
Allen nodded excitedly, after all, one of his favourite parts of the wizarding world was the animagus transfiguration, ever since he saw the third movie.
---------------------------------------------
Allen was skimming through the pages of the Half-Blood Prince book, or in other words, his Professor's book from when he was a student. While some of the stuff didn't were useful for him at the moment since he is a first year student, it wasn't so bad to learn ahead to get better at the class.
Besides, his Professor made a bunch of notes on the margins of the book regarding ingredients and how to handle them. He saw a few ingredients that they used in previous potions, so it helped him greatly to find a better way to handle them.
After an hour of writing down useful ways to handle the ingredients, his ghost companion crossed the door of the Room of Requirements. He looked up, at her and she floated down to his eye level.
"All good now? Had time to think?" He asked.
Helena nodded her head. "Yes, it surprised me a little bit, but in hindsight, it shouldn't have. You aren't the first one and certainly not the last one either. The world is a vast expanse, so there might be people from other countries that can do the same thing."
"Well, yeah." Allen responded as if it were obvious. "Just the other day I was discussing Uagadou, a school of magic in Africa. Apparently they don't use wands but their fingers and hand signs."
She staggered for a moment before she continued to float towards him. "R- Right. So, what did you want me to help you with?"
Allen snapped his fingers. "Ah! That! Yeah. Well…" He doubted for a moment before saying anything.
"I don't know if it's possible but I wanted to try and see if I could use my magic to try and touch a ghost."
"…"
"Excuse me?" The words left her mouth with a cold tone, not only that, but dangerous as well. "You want to… touch me?" A scowl appeared on her face, which them went to anger.
Flustered by the situation, Allen tried to explain properly. "N- No, what I mean is, like, well, you know, a ghost can't touch anything but can pass through everything, and only poltergeist like Peeves can touch stuff, so I was wondering what was the reason for that and just wanted to try and see if I could manage to give a ghost a way to touch their environment or a way for a wizard to touch a ghost."
Allen spoke as fast as he could, explaining his reasoning behind what he wanted to do, and as he continued to speak, the scowl in Helena's face softened. "Ah, so that's what you meant."
"Yes! That's what I meant! I didn't have any hidden motives or anything!"
Helena chuckled at his flustered face now that the misunderstanding was cleared. "But do you think it possible?"
"I don't know, that's why I wanted to try it." Allen sat down cross legged in front of her.
"Can you give me your hand?" Helena raised an eyebrow but did as told, moving her right hand forward.
Allen nodded and 'grabbed it' with both of his hands, fingers passing through. That was expected, now is the real deal.
He activated his magic, pushing forward the intention of 'grabbing' Helena's hand, almost as if instinctual, she quickly removed her hand from Allen's.
It was because she felt Allen's gaze looking at her.
"Umm, sorry, I just need to use my eyes to try it. Do you think you can endure it?"
Helena let out a sigh. "It would've been nice if you had warned me in the first place Mr Lionheart."
Allen flinched at the use of his last name, but decided to take it, since he didn't expect her to feel his gaze. "Sorry."
She nodded her head and pushed forward his hand again. Allen grabbed it again, he felt a cold sensation in his fingers that was out of this world.
He pushed his magic forward again, his willpower pushing through, the only idea in his mind was to be able to touch a ghost, in this case, Helena. Then, his magic answered in kind, a soft orange light wrapped around his hands and if he wished it to, the light could cover his whole body.
Breaking his concentration, he heard a gasp from the ghost in front of him. He looked up at Helena, shock could be see in her face.
"H- How…? This shouldn't be possible…"
"Um… do you hate touching my hand so much…?" Allen wondered out loud, he managed to hold her hand and also bring back the feeling of touch to her hand. "I can let go if you want, I just wanted to use this to scare a few ghost in the party…" He trailed off.
"N- No!" Helena quickly grabbed his hands with both of hers the moment he was going to let go.
"It shouldn't have been possible, It's not something that could've been done… How did you do it?" She asked, distraught by the situation at the same time she caressed Allen's hands.
"Umm… I just think about it, you know? I've told you already, I just guide my magic with my intention of where I want it to go, or what do I want it to do."
She listened intently before speaking. "Can… Can we stay like this for a while? It's been a few years since I've felt the touch of something…" A melancholic tone could be heard from her voice.
"Yes, of course." I need to practice it enough to be able to use it for Samhain after all.
The moment he thought of the practice, a very familiar but faint pain surged from all around his body. The same pain he usually got whenever he tried a difficult spell. It was the same gradual pain that elevated the more he kept up with the use of his magic.
Yet, he couldn't say anything since Helena had a bittersweet look on her face as she caressed his hand.
Ah, fuck.