Today's Transfiguration class? Straight-up Lynn's playground.
He wasn't trying to flex, but Professor McGonagall kept tossing him the mic like it was open-mic night. Flitwick had already ratted out Lynn's freak-level talent, so Minnie came in with a pop quiz vibe.
Started basic—matchstick to needle. Then escalated to live critters morphing into teacups and buttons. Kid was nailing it.
Transfiguration difficulty? Think levels 0 to yeet:
1. Shaping dead stuff (play-doh for wizards).
2. Dead to dead.
3. Dead to alive.
4. Alive to dead ← Lynn's already here, turning beetles and mice into buttons like it's TikTok magic.
5. Alive to alive.
6. Dead to animated alive.
7. Human transfiguration (don't try this at home, kids).
For a dude who self-taught over summer break? Chef's kiss.
Lynn racked up 30 points like he was farming XP. McGonagall—stone-cold fair—didn't fudge a single one. Even the Ravenclaws in the joint class were like, "Yeah, dude earned it."
"Your Transfiguration's already third-year level, Lynn," McGonagall said, eyes twinkling behind those square specs. "Fix a few micro-habits, and you'll be top-tier fourth-year in no time."
She turned to the class. "Transfiguration's the ultimate talent gatekeeper. Not every Charms prodigy can hack it. You've blown past what Flitwick hyped."
Some brave (or dumb) kid piped up: "Professor, were you this cracked back in the day?"
McGonagall just smirked. "Second-year finals? Registered Animagus with the Ministry. Pre-Hogwarts? Already swapping bunnies for kittens."
Snap. No wand. Lab mouse → parrot → swoop around the room → back to mouse in the cage. Zero effort.
"But heads up," she added. "Hogwarts ain't the global champ in Transfiguration. Uagadou in Africa? Kids hit Animagus by fourth year. Their traditions and spellcasting? Next-level. Don't even think about advanced human transfiguration till you're ready—botch it and you're a teapot forever."
"Maybe one day you'll duel kids from other schools," she said, eyes distant. "Magic's a damn kaleidoscope. Every corner of the planet's got tricks that'll melt your brain."
Hermione's hand shot up. "So what's Hogwarts the best at?"
McGonagall dodged like a pro. "We're well-rounded. Killer profs across the board—Flitwick, Snape, Sprout. All international badasses. Study hard, you'll eat good."
(Truth? Hogwarts is solid but not dominant. Uagadou owns Transfiguration. Castelobruxo in Brazil? Herbology gods. Charms and Potions? Top-tier, but not untouchable. Flitwick and Snape are elite, but not "rewrite the textbooks" elite. Still—stacked faculty roster. Old-school prestige.)
Harley, nose-deep in Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, yelled: "What about Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
McGonagall's face did the pain grimace. "Let's just pray Quirrell doesn't… suck too hard. Sigh."
"Homework: Copy Gamp's Laws—transfiguration taboos. Memorize or cry. Practice match-to-needle. Thursday's my class; next Tuesday I'm inspecting."
Class dismissed.
Kids swarmed Lynn like he was a Twitch streamer dropping tips.
Finally shook 'em. Whew.
"Damn, Mr. Popular," a voice teased.
Lynn spun—Cho, arm-in-arm with some girl, nose red as Rudolph, scarf like a grandma.
"You look like death warmed over."
"All your fault," Cho sniffled, flipping him a gorgeous eye-roll.
Her friend oohed. "Didn't you sneak out last night for a date?"
"Shut up, Marietta." Cho swatted her BFF, then gestured. "Marietta Eckmo. Roomie. Ride-or-die."
Lynn shook her hand. "Hey."
Marietta sized him up. "First-year, huh? Ravenclaw boys are gonna weep in their dorms. Cho's got a fan club."
"If only I were the boyfriend," Lynn sighed dramatically. "Getting tackled by a cute girl? Peak achievement. Cho's dying for a hug right now."
"Piss off." Cho shoved him. "You don't get to cop this cheap."
"I'll hit the hospital wing for a pick-me-up potion," she said. "Pomfrey's about to be slammed—half the castle's sniffling."
Marietta squinted. Boyfriend? Girlfriend? …Nah.
"Where's Harley?" Cho asked.
"Ditched me for her new girlfriend," Lynn grumbled.
Cho grinned. "Lonely Lynn—wanna grab lunch with big sis?"
"Hard pass. Don't need your plague."
"I will end you."