[Loan: Mechanical Transformation Pocket Watch (Monthly Loan)]
[Repayment Deadline: 30 Days]
[Loan Details: A mechanical transformation pocket watch, a creation blending Transfiguration and Alchemy. It can record the user's mastered Transfiguration spells, converting them into semi-permanent fixed transformations.]
[Note: This is not a weapon but an educational tool. By analyzing its structure, one can deepen their understanding of Transfiguration and Alchemy.]
[Loan Task: Create a controllable mechanical animal or master semi-permanent fixed transformation. Complete one of the two.]
Lucien stared at the system's loan description. Didn't expect tinkering with magical creations would trigger a loan.
A mechanical transformation pocket watch? The description alone was intriguing. Semi-permanent fixed transformation was a pinnacle of Transfiguration, something he'd read about in advanced texts.
Normally, Transfiguration wasn't permanent. Take Professor McGonagall's classroom demo—turning a desk into a pig. Without sustained magic, the pig would revert to a desk over time. Semi-permanent fixed transformation, though, involved meticulous, repeated adjustments to lock the change in place. It still required occasional magical upkeep, but even a newly awakened witch or wizard could manage that.
Lucien's mind drifted to another item he needed to acquire this year: the Philosopher's Stone. Its ability to create the Elixir of Life was fascinating, but its other power—turning base materials into gold, permanently—was what caught his interest now.
That wasn't just Alchemy or Transfiguration; it was a fusion of both, creating something enduring without constant magical input. Gold made this way stayed gold, even after centuries.
This loan sparked a new idea. Beyond using the Philosopher's Stone to brew potions for his unicorn loan repayment, could he use it to make breakthroughs in Transfiguration? No wonder the watch is described as a fusion of Transfiguration and Alchemy. It's not a weapon but a learning tool. Studying it could unlock serious knowledge. Challenging, but exciting.
As for the task… a choice between two options? That was new—probably because it spanned both Transfiguration and Alchemy. With his SSS-grade Transfiguration talent, mastering semi-permanent fixed transformation in a month would be a breeze. But crafting a mechanical animal sounded fun too. Might as well try both. My Alchemy talent's A+, after all. It'd be a waste not to learn more.
"System, I'll take this loan."
[Ding! Loan application successful. Item stored in system space. Retrieve anytime.]
Back in the moment, Lucien picked up the pocket watch, now transformed into a miniature telescope. It had a precise, mechanical elegance. Aiming it at the window, he adjusted the focus, spotting Hagrid's hut in the distance. Shifting slightly, he zeroed in on the garden. Nice. The Chomping Cabbage seeds are sprouting already. Pretty fast.
He was so focused on his little cabbages that he didn't notice Professor McGonagall watching him with a complex expression.
"Lucien, your performance continues to exceed my expectations," she said.
Startled, Lucien lowered the telescope. "Professor?"
"I knew basic Transfiguration wouldn't stump you. Even adding patterns to a silver needle wouldn't be a challenge," McGonagall continued, her eyes fixed on the telescope. "But… may I see that?"
Lucien handed it over. McGonagall examined it, testing its functionality. It wasn't just decorative—it worked. She murmured, "Perhaps the class pace isn't suited for you."
"Pardon, Professor?" Lucien hadn't caught her words.
She shook her head. "Nothing, Lucien. Excellent work. Come to my office after class."
"Yes, Professor."
"Grafton is the first to complete the Transfiguration. Twenty points to Ravenclaw!"
Twenty points?!
The other students, struggling with their matches, looked up, stunned. Did we hear that right? Or did she misspeak? Teachers usually awarded two or three points for classwork—five at most.
"Professor, why does just turning a match into a needle earn twenty points?" a Slytherin student, Flint, asked, visibly frustrated. His match was nearly a perfect needle, and he'd been this close to finishing first and earning points for his house. But a Ravenclaw beat him—and got twenty points? Even Snape, who played favorites, didn't hand out that much in a single class!
"Oh, Mr. Flint, let me clarify," McGonagall said. "Grafton didn't just turn a match into a needle. He made this."
She held up the telescope, ensuring the class could see Lucien's work. The students glanced at their half-transformed match-needle hybrids, then at the intricate telescope, and suddenly questioned whether they were even in the same first Transfiguration lesson.
"Er, Professor, can I take a look at it?" a curious student asked, raising her hand. She had to see what a needle-turned-telescope looked like. Others nodded, clearly wanting the same.
McGonagall's lips curved slightly. "That's up to our Mr. Grafton."
Lucien nodded, giving his permission. Soon, several students crowded around, marveling at the telescope with gasps and exclamations.
Suddenly, someone tugged at Lucien's sleeve. "Lucien, could you teach me Transfiguration?"