"Professor, I remember you said it's not allowed during class," Lucas said, picking up the frog that had been hopping around on the floor.
"But clearly, class is over now," he added with a shrug.
"If this had been during class, I would've given you extra points for your impressive skill," Professor McGonagall replied.
"But since it's after class, Slytherin gets 10 points."
She gave Lucas a small smile as she closed her textbook.
"Excellent transfiguration talent. Perhaps you'll have the opportunity to study Animagus transformations in the future."
With those words of high praise, Professor McGonagall left the classroom.
Hermione, sitting nearby, stared in disbelief. Had the professor just praised Lucas?
"How did you do that? That wand movement!" she asked eagerly.
Hermione raised her wand and mimicked the motion Lucas had made toward the button. Nothing happened—not even a flicker of magic.
She had written over three pages of detailed notes about the theory behind Transfiguration, and yet she couldn't get the spell to work. The theory made sense to her, but the magic just didn't respond.
Lucas replied honestly, "I just copied the way Professor McGonagall waved her wand and said the incantation."
"And then the button turned into a frog."
It sounded like a simple explanation, even to him. Hermione raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied.
"Maybe the two of us could study together sometime?" Lucas offered.
Hermione, always eager to learn more, nodded enthusiastically. Her brown eyes lit up with excitement.
"Two minds are better than one!"
Though Lucas thought to himself, But you definitely know more than me.
He glanced at her detailed notes—page after page of tidy handwriting, filled with terms and diagrams he barely understood.
Since the classroom had mostly emptied out, Lucas and Hermione decided to head to the Great Hall for lunch. After a short lunch break, they'd have Potions in the afternoon.
In the evening, there would be flying class—shared with Gryffindor.
It was classes like these that made Lucas feel like Slytherin ended up lumped together with Gryffindor way too often. Compared to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, their class schedule with Gryffindor felt disproportionately packed.
After lunch, Lucas mentioned he wanted to visit the library during their break, and Hermione's face lit up.
"I was going to go too!"
Nothing could stand in the way of Hermione Granger's thirst for knowledge.
Hogwarts' library was enormous. When Lucas got there, he realized most of it wasn't even open to first-years. Many sections were restricted, with shelves lined with books lower-level students weren't allowed to touch or borrow.
The collection was famous across the wizarding world, filled with rare spellbooks, magical theory, novels, and even papers written by Hogwarts professors—materials you couldn't find anywhere else.
Since Potions class was coming up, Lucas found a book on basic potion theory to review.
After all, potion-making was no joke in the wizarding world. Brewing potions cost money—but if you did it well, it could also make a lot of money.
He picked out a thick tome titled Material Analysis in Potion-Making.
It was huge—Lucas figured it would take him at least three days to get through it.
Then Hermione walked over and set down three books, all just as thick:
The Origin and Analysis of the Transfiguration Spell
Basic Knowledge of Potions
On the Analysis and Use of Magical Spells
That basically covered all three major disciplines they'd be studying. She really was a top student.
By the time they left the library, it was already 1:30 PM.
Thanks to Harry and Ron's mistake that morning, everyone had learned their lesson and arrived early to the afternoon class. When Lucas and Hermione entered, the front rows were already full.
Harry and Ron were seated with their cauldrons and textbooks out, looking much more prepared.
Harry's face brightened when he saw Lucas, and he waved.
Lucas smiled and returned the wave politely.
Since the front rows were all taken, he and Hermione grabbed seats near the wall—typically a low-visibility spot where teachers paid less attention.
That kind of thinking came from Lucas's 20+ years of real-world experience in his previous life.
As the class began, the door slammed open, and in came Professor Snape, sweeping across the room in his black robes like a bat.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class," he said coldly.
"Personally, I don't expect most of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few..."
His eyes flicked toward Lucas in the corner, and he continued in a quieter, more intense voice:
"...I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper in death."
Lucas couldn't help but twitch a smile but nodded politely.
Put a stopper in death? Sure, good luck with that.
There's no real immortality in the wizarding world. If Lucas had to bet on anyone, it would be his frog familiar—definitely more dependable.
While Snape's attention had lingered on Lucas for a moment, his gaze had already moved to the other side of the room—to Harry Potter.
Harry, unfortunately, wasn't even paying attention.
Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Some of you may feel entitled to not listen carefully because of your reputation," he sneered. "Harry Potter, look at me when I'm speaking to you!"
Here it came—the classic Snape move.
Gryffindor was about to lose some house points, Lucas could feel it.
"What do you get if you add powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Hermione's hand shot into the air. Meanwhile, Lucas leaned on his elbow, twirling his wand absentmindedly.
Gryffindor's about to lose more points today