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The biggest challenge for new students at Hogwarts is probably the mischievous moving staircases. There are 142 staircases at Hogwarts, each with a mind of its own. This is especially tough for the students of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw—whether they live on the eighth floor or the top of the North Tower, it's quite the struggle.
However, Hufflepuffs don't have to worry as much. At least two-thirds of the hassle is spared for them.
Turn right when leaving the Hufflepuff common room, and you'll find the Hogwarts kitchens. Turn left, and you're just a flight of stairs away from the Great Hall. Other than attending classes, the Hufflepuffs don't have to worry about the tricky staircases. Even their Herbology lessons take place in the outdoor greenhouses. Thank the great witch Helga Hufflepuff! While she may not be the most famous of the four founders, she's certainly the most practical and wise.
Abstract ideas are for Ravenclaws. The Hufflepuffs like things that are simple and straightforward.
After breakfast, the Hufflepuffs, humming cheerfully, headed to their first class. Just up three flights of stairs from the Great Hall, the Transfiguration classroom is located halfway down the central corridor, right next to Professor McGonagall's office. The stern professor is ranked second on the "Do-Not-Cross" list among Hogwarts students.
During breakfast, the older students had already warned the first years: do not misbehave in front of Professor McGonagall. But as long as you behave, she's actually a wonderful teacher, very patient when helping with any questions.
The closer they got to the classroom, the more chaotic Harry's thoughts became. It's a well-known fact that Gryffindor values courage above all, and their head of house can transform into a cat!
Who could resist the sight of a cute tabby cat staring up at them?
Harry had a bold idea. He patted his pocket, where he had stashed some freshly-made crispy fish snacks he had grabbed from the kitchen.
But a second later, Harry shook his head.
"I'm a Hufflepuff—steady as a rock. I'm definitely not going to act like a Gryffindor and do something reckless." He touched the shiny Hufflepuff crest on his chest, though for a moment, the image of a fearless honey badger flashed in his mind. Was this a bit contradictory?
Lost in thought, Harry followed the crowd into the Transfiguration classroom. Towering over most of the other students, he had a clear view of the room. As he glanced casually toward the front—
Professor McGonagall sat calmly behind her desk, quietly watching as the students filed in.
Where's the cat?
Why isn't Professor McGonagall perched on the desk as a cat?!
Is this a special treat for Gryffindors only?
Harry's moment of daze passed quickly. He turned his attention to the desks and took a seat with the rest of the students. He popped a fish snack into his mouth, lamenting that Professor McGonagall wouldn't get to try these.
Sigh.
He chewed on the fish absentmindedly. But the sigh was brief, and Harry soon straightened up, ready for his first Transfiguration class.
Minutes flew by. The previously still Professor McGonagall stood up, and the once silent classroom was now filled with the faint sound of nervous students swallowing. Unlike any other professor, even McGonagall's calm gaze had the intensity of a cat eyeing a mouse. She was the cat, and they were the trembling little mice.
"Transfiguration is among the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts."
She spoke quietly, but no one thought it was a joke. The students shifted uneasily, nervous about whether they could succeed in such a class.
"So, if anyone misbehaves in my classroom, they will be sent out—and never allowed back."
Professor McGonagall's warning hung in the air as her gaze swept across the room. "Consider yourselves warned."
The stern introduction worked wonders. The young wizards sat up straight, nodding earnestly, making sure to stay on their best behavior.
"Now, let me explain what Transfiguration is."
McGonagall nodded with satisfaction and pulled out her wand. It was a beautifully crafted wand, decorated with intricate carvings and inlaid with gold threads. Compared to any other wand Harry had seen, this one stood out—much like comparing a mass-produced item to a custom-made treasure.
The moment she raised her wand, several students' eyes lit up. A wizard's wand is a symbol of their identity, and a wand this exquisite hinted at extraordinary magical skills.
Professor McGonagall pulled the trigger, and though there was no silencer, not even the faintest sound of the hammer could be heard. Where her wand pointed, her desk instantly transformed into a plump, white pig. The pig flapped its big ears and studied the students with beady black eyes.
In wizarding knowledge, pigs are one of the animals least connected to magic. Transfiguring a desk into a pig is far more difficult than turning it into other animals. However, few in the class seemed to grasp this.
"Transfiguration can turn the inanimate into the animate, wood into metal."
With each statement, McGonagall transfigured her desk into something different. The magical display left the students so awestruck that they temporarily forgot her earlier warning. Excited whispers began to spread.
"If Professor Flitwick's Charms class teaches you to use spells to improve life, defeat enemies, and protect yourself, then in Transfiguration—"
Professor McGonagall paused as the desk returned to its original form. The whispers ceased immediately, and the students stared eagerly at her, desperate to hear how she would guide them into this fascinating world of magic.
"—I will teach you how to change everything around you, and perhaps even the world itself."
"This is Transfiguration: the most complex, most dangerous, but also the most captivating branch of magic."
"Now, can anyone tell me the three core principles of Transfiguration?"
Her eyes scanned the room. "I hope someone has reviewed their textbook."
The young wizards hesitated, unsure if they should raise their hands. What if they got it wrong?
"Target, imagination, concentration."
Harry's curiosity about Transfiguration was intense. Compared to the flashy, explosive nature of spells, Transfiguration—the ability to alter the form and structure of objects—seemed like the most incredible magic to him. While turning objects into gold might be a myth, as long as magic persisted, even the impossible could become real.
"Transfiguration differs from standard spellwork. Its magic doesn't rely on how well you can recite a spell. Successfully casting a Transfiguration spell depends on how well the wizard understands the object and the precision with which they control their magic."
"First step, choose the target we want to transform, and view it as a single entity for transformation; second step, imagine the object we want to change it into; third step, focus your will, allowing your thoughts to guide the magic and transform the target."
Harry, who had practiced Transfiguration over the break, was confident in his answer, and Professor McGonagall gave him a slight nod of approval.
"Very good, Mr. Potter. Hufflepuff earns two points."
A faint smile seemed to touch McGonagall's usually stern face.
"That was an excellent answer. I take it you've attempted some transformations yourself, Mr. Potter?"
The textbook explains the core principles of Transfiguration, but it doesn't elaborate on their meanings. Clearly, Harry had his own understanding of the material.
"Yes, Professor." Harry nodded. "I experimented a bit over the break. Transforming simple objects isn't too hard, as long as you observe carefully."
"But, Professor, I have a question—would you be able to clarify something for me?"
Instead of sitting down, Harry pulled two props out of his pocket that he had prepared beforehand: a small wooden stick and a tiny iron rod, both about four or five inches long and as thick as a finger.
"Of course," McGonagall replied, eager to answer any question related to the lesson.
With a flash of silver, a Glock 18 appeared in her hand, its barrel aimed at the objects on the desk. With a few pulls of the trigger, the wooden stick transformed into a sharp, gleaming metal blade, while the iron rod turned into a hollow plastic straw.
"In my eyes, Transfiguration is the most incredible magic," Harry muttered as he picked up the two transformed objects. "It doesn't just change appearance; it temporarily alters the fundamental nature of an object. Its size, weight, and even density are affected. The wood that turned into iron can now be attracted by a magnet, while the iron transformed into wood has lost its magnetic properties, even..."
Harry swiftly slashed the metal blade through the transformed iron rod, slicing the plastic straw in half. But as soon as the straw was cut, the iron rod reverted to its original form.
Thud.
The sound of metal hitting wood echoed as the cut piece of the iron rod dropped onto the desk. Harry raised his hand, showing the smooth cut on the iron rod.
"Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration objects revert to their original state when damaged. That's what the book says, but..."
Harry shook the rod in his left hand. "The concept of reverting to the original state doesn't happen instantly upon damage, right? Otherwise, I would've just seen a nick in the iron rod, not a complete cut."
"The book doesn't explain this clearly. Could you help me understand?"
His adept Transfiguration skills drew admiring glances from his classmates, and even Professor McGonagall nodded slightly. After a brief moment of thought, she responded to Harry:
"That's an excellent question. It shows you've thought deeply about your practice. The answer, however, is quite simple: it's all due to magic."
"Magic?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Yes, Transfiguration depends on the magic applied to the object. As long as the magic remains active, the object will stay in its transformed state. I'm sure you all remember the core principles Harry mentioned earlier."
"The first step of casting Transfiguration is to view the target as a single, unified entity. As long as this entity isn't fully destroyed, the magic will hold."
"To put it simply, a Transfigured object can withstand damage, but not destruction."
McGonagall pulled out her wand and aimed it at her desk, transforming the wooden surface into a floating sheet of paper.
"As long as we don't tear this whole entity into pieces..." She gestured, and the paper split down the middle, "the magic weakens but remains intact for a while. But if..."
She tore a small corner off the paper, and in an instant, it returned to being a desk. The piece in her hand also reverted to a small chunk of wood from the desk's edge, leaving a noticeable crack where the piece had been.
"Unless you're performing a permanent transformation, Transfiguration's biggest limitation is that the transformed object must remain whole. Of course, there is one exception."
With a flick of her wand, the desk returned to its original state, the damage gone. McGonagall's expression turned serious once more.
"Animagus Transformation—a highly complex, dangerous, semi-permanent human Transfiguration."
"But," McGonagall's face softened with a slight smile, "that's far too advanced for first-year students. Even some of the most powerful wizards haven't mastered it. Attempting to learn Animagus Transformation recklessly carries a higher risk of death than any other magic."
"Professor McGonagall," Harry's voice rang out, making his classmates' eyes light up with anticipation.
"As a powerful witch, surely you've mastered it, haven't you?"
Faced with her students' eager and curious gazes, McGonagall nodded modestly.
"If you all perform exceptionally well in this class..." She paused, "I might give you a demonstration."
In an instant, every student straightened up, their excitement barely contained as they focused intently on the lesson.
(End of chapter)