The first challenge of studying at Hogwarts Castle is that much of the castle itself seems to be alive. The moving staircases, shifting steps, animated suits of armor, living portraits, and even doors that require special methods to open or disguise themselves make navigating the castle quite an ordeal.
At first, when Ryan saw the magical sights he had only read about in books and seen in movies, he was thrilled. But once the excitement faded, the reality of navigating the ever-changing castle set in. The complex interior made even the simplest journey feel like an adventure. It wasn't surprising that life at Hogwarts had a slower pace—many students spent a good portion of their time just trying to find their way.
The most frustrating experience came on Tuesday afternoon. On his way to class, Ryan had the misfortune of running into Peeves, the resident poltergeist, which nearly made him and his classmates late for their first Transfiguration lesson with Professor McGonagall.
They sprinted into the classroom, breathless, only to find that class hadn't started yet. Some students had already taken their seats and were engaged in their own activities.
The classroom itself wasn't much different from an ordinary middle school classroom—except for the peculiar sight of a cat perched on the teacher's desk.
Hermione, who had entered the room alongside Ryan, was clearly a cat lover. Without hesitation, she reached out to scratch the cat's chin. However, the cat nimbly dodged her touch.
Ryan, who had been preoccupied with finding a seat, turned just in time to see Hermione's failed attempt. He was taken aback—Hermione, who always seemed mature and composed, had such a childish side?
Realizing the situation, Ryan quickly pulled Hermione back and gave the cat a respectful nod. Hermione looked at him in confusion. Once they were seated, she leaned across the aisle and whispered, "Why did you salute that cat?"
Ryan chuckled. "That's not just a cat. That's Professor McGonagall. She's one of the seven registered Animagi of this century. Look closely at the cat's eyes—you'll notice they match the lines of Professor McGonagall's glasses."
Hermione turned back to look at the cat. Within seconds, her face flushed red. She buried her head in her arms and muttered, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Ryan held back a laugh. How was I supposed to know you'd just start petting a cat on the podium? This wasn't the composed Hermione he knew. Had her usual maturity completely disappeared?
A few minutes later, the classroom door burst open again. Harry and Ron rushed in, panting.
"Great! Professor McGonagall isn't here yet," Ron said, relieved.
The words had barely left his mouth when the cat leaped from the desk. Mid-air, it transformed into Professor McGonagall, standing sternly before them.
"Professor McGonagall!" Ron turned pale.
"I should turn you into an alarm clock so you'll never be late again," McGonagall said sharply.
"We just got lost, Professor," Harry quickly explained.
"In that case, perhaps I should turn you into a map instead," she said, her tone unwavering. "Don't be late again. Take your seats."
The two hurried to their seats without another word.
McGonagall turned her gaze to Ryan. "Ryan Liang, you're the first first-year student to recognize me this term. That shows excellent observation skills and a well-prepared mind. Ten points to Gryffindor."
Ryan nodded respectfully as the professor walked to the podium.
"Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous forms of magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she began. "Anyone who tries to be mischievous in my class will be asked to leave and never allowed back. Consider this your warning."
To emphasize her point, she transformed her lectern into a pig before turning it back. The class was mesmerized. Everyone was eager to start learning, but they soon realized how difficult Transfiguration truly was.
After taking extensive notes, each student was given a matchstick and instructed to transform it into a needle.
As Ryan had expected, magic wasn't as simple as waving a wand and reciting an incantation. It required precise control, deep understanding, and rigorous practice. Learning Transfiguration was not just about magical power—it required knowledge of material properties and the principles of magic itself.
The subject could be easy or difficult, depending on one's level of mastery. A first-year could turn a matchstick into a simple needle, while a true expert could create needles of various materials, styles, and even make the transformation last for centuries. Beyond magical strength, what set a master apart was their understanding of the fundamental principles of magic.
Ryan carefully combined his pre-class studies with the notes he had just taken. But when it came time to actually perform the spell, he found it much harder than anticipated. He kept refining his technique, and just before the end of class, he finally managed to turn his matchstick into a needle. However, he was still three minutes behind Hermione, and his needle lacked a pinhole.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Ryan glanced around. To his relief, most of his classmates had barely made any progress. Some hadn't even managed to change their matchsticks at all.
Professor McGonagall gave Ryan a brief nod of approval. For a beginner, successfully completing the transformation was impressive—Hermione's exceptional performance was an outlier.
Aside from Transfiguration, Ryan attended several other classes, all of which proved insightful.
In Charms, Professor Flitwick—an excitable little wizard—fell off his stack of books when he called out Harry Potter's name. It seemed exaggerated, but Flitwick's deep knowledge of spells was undeniable. He eagerly answered students' questions, and Ryan, after asking many, felt his spellcasting improving rapidly.
Herbology turned out to be another strong subject for Ryan. He had a natural affinity for dealing with magical plants, which even earned him extra points from Professor Sprout. He suspected this talent was due to his Celestial bloodline's farming heritage.
However, Astronomy and History of Magic were far less engaging.
First-year Astronomy mostly consisted of observing celestial bodies and calculating star cycles—an incredibly dull task.
History of Magic was even worse. The class was taught by a ghost, Professor Binns, who droned on in a monotonous voice, reciting historical events without pause. While his lectures contained valuable knowledge—often recounting firsthand experiences of significant historical events—his delivery was so mind-numbing that most students struggled to stay awake.
Ryan found himself relying on Hermione's notes after every class, as she was the only student who managed to stay alert through the entire lesson.
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