As the time approached nine o'clock,the classroom was filled with first-year wizards. Being their very first class, excitement and nervousness were clear on everyone's faces.
Lucas even spotted his two roommates slipping in at the very last moment. Both had dark circles under their eyes, looking like they hadn't slept at all.
What time did they stop playing games?Lucas couldn't help but wonder.
Looking around the room, he wasn't surprised not to see two very familiar faces —Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.
If things had gone the same as in the stories, those two were probably already caught up in trouble.
The class was about to begin, yet Professor McGonagall still hadn't made her appearance — or at least, not in human form. The tabby cat on the podium continued to calmly observe the students, unbothered by the noise.
As the highest-level form of Transfiguration, Animagus transformation wasn't something young wizards were usually exposed to on their first day.
Assuming the professor was late, the classroom began to buzz with chatter.
Just then, the classroom door creaked open, drawing everyone's attention.
There weren't that many students in the room yet, but every head turned to look at the two figures who had just entered.
"Come on, Harry, we're going to be late!"
Ron Weasley's voice came through, breathless. He dashed in clutching a stack of books. Upon seeing the empty podium, he sighed in relief.
"Looks like the professor's late too!"
Harry followed right behind him, looking equally relieved. After all, being late to the very first class wasn't exactly the best way to make a good impression.
But the moment they walked in, the tabby cat vanished from the podium—And in its place stood an elderly woman in a dark green robe.
Professor McGonagall.
"Harry Potter. Ronald Weasley. You are both late," she said, her voice firm and dry.
Both boys froze in place.
"Perhaps I should turn the two of you into pocket watches so you'll learn to tell the time," she added sharply.
"No, Professor, we just got lost on the stairs," Ron offered weakly.
"Well said. Don't let it happen again."
"Two points from Gryffindor."
Despite being the head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall never showed favoritism when it came to points. In her class, fairness came above all else.
The color drained from both boys' faces. Losing house points on the very first day — they had just become Gryffindor's first "sinners."
Without another word, they slipped into two empty seats at the back and quietly took out their books.
Next to Lucas, Hermione's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"They actually deducted points on the first day?!"
She looked horrified.
"Well, Gryffindor's been at the bottom of the House Cup rankings for a while now," Lucas said casually.In recent years, Slytherin had dominated the House Cup, followed closely by Ravenclaw.
Clearly, Slytherin's weight still carried far in the school, having won six consecutive House Cups.
As for Gryffindor, they often lost points for things like sneaking out at night or causing mischief.
"They are Gryffindors, after all," Lucas added with a small smile.
"You'll get used to it eventually."
Hermione, still sulking over the lost points, barely registered what he said.
"Alright, little wizards," Professor McGonagall began, standing tall before them, "today's lesson will be an introduction to Transfiguration."
She glanced around the room at the surprised looks on their faces and added,"For example, just now, I returned from my tabby cat form to my normal state — a form of Transfiguration."
"Animagus transformation is an advanced form of Transfiguration — very complex, and highly regulated. As of now, there are only seven registered Animagi in the British wizarding world. And then there are the unregistered ones… they're far more dangerous."
"Today, however, we'll start much simpler: turning an object into a living creature."
With a flick of her wand, Professor McGonagall pointed to a small button on the desk.
In front of everyone's eyes, the button began to twist and transform — until it became a beetle, flapping its tiny wings.
Even Lucas's eyes lit up with interest.Among all the magical systems he knew of, this world might be the only one where non-living things could be turned into living ones.
"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous form of magic you will learn at Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said seriously."Anyone caught fooling around in my class will be asked to leave — permanently. Consider this your only warning."
Several eager first-years who had been raising their wands slowly lowered them again.
Once the room had calmed down, Professor McGonagall began explaining the theory behind Transfiguration.
The concepts were intricate, and Lucas found himself getting a little lost.Hermione, on the other hand, became more focused the more complex things got — her quill dancing across the page as she filled sheet after sheet with notes.
The clear difference between a top student and someone just getting by…
The first lesson remained theoretical, without any actual casting. Professor McGonagall taught slowly and thoroughly, and by the end of the class, Hermione had nearly filled three full pages — all perfectly organized.
"Maybe I should borrow your notes sometime," Lucas teased as he tapped the practice button on his desk with his wand.
Recalling the professor's earlier demonstration, Lucas channeled a bit of his magic and muttered,
"Transfiguration."
"Really?" Hermione raised a skeptical brow and turned toward him — only to see a puff of smoke rise from his wand.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ribbit!"
A small, bright green frog hopped off the desk and landed on the floor, croaking loudly.
Professor McGonagall, who had been gathering her books at the front, paused mid-step and turned back toward the commotion.
Her eyes went from the frog to Lucas, who was sitting there, equally stunned.
A remarkable talent for transformation.
It was rare — very rare — for a student to replicate that kind of transformation spell successfully on the very first try.
"Lucas Geralt," Professor McGonagall said slowly, her voice firm.
"I believe I said no casting in class, didn't I?"