Chapter 81: The Headmaster's Line
Ever since falling ill, Shawn had been running on sheer will. Potions could burn out his cold and fever, but they could not mend the exhaustion grinding at his mind.
He grew drowsy more and more easily; a few quick steps were enough to leave his head spinning.
On the other hand, his Transfiguration had reached:
[Transfiguration: Proficient (5900/9000)]
That level of proficiency allowed him to fluidly transform non-living things into living ones; the panel described it as in-depth Intermediate Transfiguration.
Shawn guessed that Advanced Transfiguration would involve turning one living thing into another.
Of course, Professor McGonagall had already introduced him to something higher still: the Vanishing Spell.
The incantation was Evanesco.
It was also one of the hardest spells on the Ordinary Wizarding Level exam. In the fifth year, Professor McGonagall had them practise it on snails. Being invertebrates, they were not too challenging. Using mammals would significantly raise the bar.
Now the fire roared in the grate of the Transfiguration office. Professor McGonagall cupped a mug of hot tea, while Shawn, across from her, was scribbling away at an extra essay she had set him: "The Double."
Even though Shawn had expected Transfiguration to be vast, he was still blindsided by just how deep it ran.
Normally, turning a living thing into a non-living object belonged to Intermediate Transfiguration, while turning a non-living object into a living being counted as in‑depth Intermediate Transfiguration.
But if the "self" became the "dead object," the difficulty spiked.
Take Slughorn, for example. When Death Eater Yaxley came calling in the dead of night to drag him before Voldemort, Slughorn had transformed into a sofa and successfully fooled him. That too was advanced Transfiguration, because it touched a basic law laid out in Adalbert Waffling's Magical Theory, Rule One:
"If you tamper with the deepest secrets of existence – the source of life, the essence of self – you must be prepared to accept the most extreme and dangerous consequences."
One of those essences of self was self‑form. Shawn had only ever linked that warning to Horcruxes. He had not expected it to apply just as sharply in Transfiguration.
Beyond that, advanced Transfiguration also covered turning "self" into another living thing, like Krum transfiguring his own head into a shark's, and the change from "magic" into "object," like Dumbledore's rope of fire that Voldemort turned into a serpent. Then there was the reverse, "object" into "magic," as seen in the pool water that Dumbledore transfigured into a prison of water.
All this fell under Advanced Transfiguration.
It made Shawn realise Transfiguration might be the most powerful branch of magic, because, given enough mastery, it could do nearly anything.
Take Alohomora. If Shawn transfigured the lock itself into a little wooden peg, did that not also count as opening it?
It was no wonder the strongest witches and wizards almost always commanded high Transfiguration. When a wizard needed an effect but did not know the spell, Transfiguration could often achieve the same end anyway.
At Hogwarts, the Transfiguration professor was all but the Headmaster-in-waiting.
So Shawn pulled his tired mind together yet again and worked seriously on his essay about the Double.
The Double, even in magical history, originated from a Norse pagan concept. The idea ran that each person possesses a double. This double is not only a spiritual counterpart; it may be a physical one as well, which is where the Scandinavian terms make things particularly intriguing.
"The Double has our form (hamr), follows us, and is our mind or will (hugr)."
Thus, there is not just "one unique Double," but at least two: one physical double, sometimes taking an animal shape, and one spiritual double, which may also appear as an animal.
It all sounded very familiar. Shawn naturally thought of Animagi and the Patronus Charm.
Books had piled up beside his hand into a small mountain: Intermediate Transfiguration, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, The Magic of Metamorphosis…
"A deep understanding of a given strand of history is itself a key element of a ritual," Professor McGonagall said quietly, taking a sip of tea. As she watched Shawn, her gaze grew heavy again.
She sighed under her breath. Even for an essay, this child gave a hundred percent of his focus. He had gone far too long without a proper rest, running on nothing but stubbornness.
"Mr Green, come here a moment."
Shawn looked up, dazed, and realised it was already six in the evening.
After dinner, Professor Flitwick had promised to take time to teach him the Knockback Jinx.
He packed his books into his small bag, tidied the cluttered desk, and slipped his quill back into the cat‑shaped holder.
"Goodbye, Professor."
He gave a small bow, then found himself wrapped in gentle warmth. A clean scent filled his lungs. In the last blurred beat of awareness, he heard her voice.
"Do not let go of your determination, Mr Green. But do make sure you sleep properly, ready to meet your Friday..."
In the Transfiguration office,
Shawn slept deeply, but time itself slipped strangely back to the start of the afternoon.
"You are helping him to cheat, Minerva."
Albus, rewound to midday as well, spoke with a mild smile.
"I was not aware Hogwarts had any such rule," Professor McGonagall replied, her voice utterly level. "Albus, if there is nothing else, please leave my office."
"Oh?"
Dumbledore's expression stayed as gentle as ever.
"I merely did not expect you to request a Time‑Turner for this. Very well, very well, Minerva. At least allow me a moment to look upon my old office."
He said he was studying the room, but his keen eyes rested on Shawn the whole time, and on the little steam‑puffing turtle Shawn had once transfigured.
"It seems Mr Green is doing rather well at Transfiguration."
...
When Shawn woke, he felt as though half his exhaustion had been carried away. There was something in Professor McGonagall's office that eased his overstrung mind, like a quiet enchantment.
Most importantly, though he had slept so long, it had somehow only cost him a short rest.
He understood what that meant and stepped into the classroom with firmer resolve.
Professor Flitwick studied him with open surprise.
"It seems you are ready for the Knockback Jinx. You have kept your mind in good order. Excellent, Mr Green. It appears that Friday…"
The professor realised he was about to say too much and shifted briskly.
"Let us talk about the Dark Arts, then. Mr Green, tell me, what do you think the Dark Arts are?"
"The Dark Arts, or Dark magic, refer to spells that harm, control, or kill people or creatures," Shawn answered. "For example, the three Unforgivable Curses, the brewing of Dark potions, and the breeding of Dark creatures."
"A thorough definition," Professor Flitwick said, giving Shawn an approving look.