The classroom used by the Transfiguration Club had been magically expanded.
Professor McGonagall stood at the center, wand in hand, dazzling everyone with her demonstration. She conjured fire, controlled water, shot lightning, turned the floor into a swamp to bind enemies, and transformed it into a barrier to block incoming spells.
As Albert had written in his thesis, Transfiguration had countless applications, and when used at the right time, it could produce miraculous effects.
Not only Albert, but every student was mesmerized.
Then reality struck: to reach McGonagall's level, they would need advanced casting techniques none of them knew.
Now she demonstrated transforming objects into living creatures and controlling them.
Water surged from a basin, rising like a python. In an instant, the water vanished, leaving a hissing serpent that coiled around a table. The python disappeared, replaced by a cage binding the table.
If a wizard were caught, surrender would be inevitable.
McGonagall flicked her wand, and the cage melted back into water, soaking the floor.
"Fire, water, mist, earth—all can be used this way," she explained. "I know Defense Against the Dark Arts teaches the Smokescreen Spell."
"Professor, enemies won't give us time to prepare," a Slytherin student objected.
"I know," McGonagall replied calmly. "It's not always useful in duels, but sometimes it is."
She raised her wand, conjuring ropes that bound the Slytherin to his seat. A moment later, the ropes exploded into smoke and vanished.
"Wizards rarely duel formally. In real danger, defeating your opponent and protecting yourself is what matters."
She flicked her wand again. From the puddle of water, two small cats crawled out, playing. They collided, merging into a cheetah that prowled behind the students, its sharp gaze making them shiver.
Under her control, the cheetah split into two human figures. They picked up a bucket, leapt inside, and transformed back into a basin of water.
The classroom erupted in applause.
McGonagall raised her hand for silence. "How many types of magic did I just use? How did I do it? If it were you, how far could you go?"
Whispers filled the room. Few had considered these questions while watching. Now they struggled for answers.
"How much did you understand?" Field asked Albert, exchanging notes. She was surprised—his grasp of the demonstration was nearly equal to hers.
"These spells are too difficult for me now," Albert thought. He estimated he would need to raise his Transfiguration to level three to perform like McGonagall.
"He must have thought about these problems when writing his thesis," Field realized, though she kept her expression neutral.
"What about you, Baker?" she asked.
"My situation's the same," Baker admitted. "I tried hard to observe, but gained little."
They had all believed themselves skilled—some had even published in Transfiguration Today. But after McGonagall's display, their own magic seemed childish.
"You need to figure out how I did it, and whether you could achieve the same level," McGonagall said, checking their notes. The results were disappointing. "I don't expect you to understand everything, but you must grasp a part. Study it carefully. The next session will continue this topic. That's all for today."
"This was much harder than anything before," Baker sighed as they left. "I feel like all my recent learning was for nothing."
"It's not that bad," Albert reassured him. "The gap is experience."
"This is more than experience," Field said. "I wonder when I'll reach that level."
"For me, it's just experience," Albert muttered.
"You wrote that thesis. How far can you actually do it?" Isabelle asked, lingering. The Ravenclaw genius looked at him with a complicated expression. She hadn't expected his article to be published so quickly.
"Have you heard the phrase 'eyes bigger than one's stomach'? That's me," Albert said earnestly. "I'm still curious why Professor McGonagall chose to publish it."
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your thesis is high standard, Mr. Anderson," McGonagall said. "What did you gain today?"
"I discovered Transfiguration can be used this way," Albert said honestly. "It's a pity many aren't good at it."
"You're right," McGonagall agreed. "I suggest you speak with other experts. That will improve your level."
"I will," Albert nodded, watching her leave.
"It seems the rumors are true," Baker said.
"What rumors?" Albert asked.
"Everyone says you're Professor McGonagall's favorite student," Field explained.
"Why don't I know?" Albert asked, puzzled.
The group exchanged glances.