HR Chapter 61 Did the Dark Arts Professor Discover His Promising Student?

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A successful magical experiment!

A perfect confirmation of a hypothesis!

At this moment, Ian had already confirmed his thoughts.

The essence of Transfiguration was indeed distinct from other branches of magic.

Professor McGonagall had been right.

Transfiguration stood apart from many forms of magic.

If the incantations for spells like Avada Kedavra (Killing Curse), the Fire-Making Charm (Incendio), or Fiendfyre could be considered paths uncovered by one brilliant wizard after another, then the incantations of Transfiguration pointed to a domain explored by both ancient and modern wizards— a domain that had granted Ian a much broader perspective.

"The fog before my eyes has lifted completely, and there are no longer any barriers in my way. Now, all that's left is to keep working hard, and eventually, I'll reach the place I've seen in my mind."

Ian's personal magical proficiency in Transfiguration had gained six points. His talent in certain areas of magic was not lacking.

Such talent could indeed be considered extraordinary. It turned out that it wasn't that Ian's skills in Transfiguration were too weak, but that he hadn't yet found the right direction.

To uncover the mysteries of Transfiguration, one truly needed the vision of a wizard— a realization that wizards don't just distort matter, but bestow rules upon it.

Other students might never fully grasp this in their lives, but then, they hadn't considered as many factors as Ian did. By following the professor's teachings, they could complete transformations without fully understanding the why behind them.

Of course, such Transfiguration was like rote learning— knowing how but not why. That's why most wizards' Transfiguration felt shallow.

"Transforming objects into living beings best demonstrates the depth of one's Transfiguration skills..." Ian recalled Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club, where the entry requirement was to transform a living creature into something vivid and real.

He felt inspired.

Raising his wand, he was ready to give it a try.

The owls in the Owlery were notably clever. When they saw Ian pulling out his wand again, they quickly scattered, flapping away as if they'd seen a predator.

Well, they are owls, after all.

"Vera Verto!"

The strands of straw twisted under the power of the spell, their colors shifting as they quickly took shape. Within moments, a lifelike mouse appeared before Ian.

It was very realistic.

However, Ian felt something was missing— it wasn't quite the same as the leopard Professor McGonagall had transformed from her desk; it didn't have the same liveliness as a real creature.

In other words, life hadn't truly been granted to the creation. The little mouse Ian had conjured moved, but it lacked the energy and natural motion of a real living thing. Even the owls in the shed seemed to find it strange.

"What kind of silly mouse is that?"

A group of owls perched in the distance tilted their heads, puzzled.

"Indeed, transforming living creatures is far more difficult."

Ian wasn't discouraged. After all, this was only Level 3 Transfiguration. Once it reached Level 5, the skill would surely undergo a transformation, gaining Extraordinary traits.

"It's getting late; if I don't eat now, I'll be starving by afternoon," Ian muttered, glancing at the large clock outside the tower window, before retracting the magic he had released.

And so, the silly mouse reverted back to its straw form, and the spiky, awkward creature— resembling something out of a Diablo game— had its spikes return to mere straw.

"You lot should eat it while it's still warm," Ian said to the owls before jogging out of the shed.

Just as he reached the spiral staircase, Ian spotted a wizard with a cold demeanor approaching.

Ronni Ehrlich.

This year's fleeting Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.

"Professor Ehrlich." Ian greeted the aloof instructor politely.

Regardless of whether Hogwarts would remember this teacher next year, at least this year Ian had seen firsthand the effects of Voldemort's curse.

Entering the fray personally— how could that not be considered another form of thorough teaching in Defense Against the Dark Arts?

"Hm." Professor Ronni Ehrlich gave a slight nod, barely acknowledging Ian, as he passed by. He was clearly not one for much conversation. Ian briefly wondered if this professor might be on the spectrum.

With thoughts of lunch occupying him, Ian continued jogging toward the staircase. He didn't notice that just after passing by, Ronni Ehrlich stopped and turned, watching him for a long while.

Only after Ian's figure disappeared around the corner did Professor Ronni Ehrlich turn back and head towards the Owlery. He reached into his robes and pulled out a letter.

"Singers' Stationery Shop, Austria."

Ronni Ehrlich handed the letter to one of the owls. The envelope bore an unusual seal, adorned with intricate runes that seemed to form some kind of magical restraint.

After instructing the owl on its destination, Ronni Ehrlich took out a handful of high-quality owl treats. The owl, after snacking, took the letter in its beak and flew out the window.

Watching the owl soar beyond the boundaries of Hogwarts, becoming a mere speck in the sky, Ronni Ehrlich finally withdrew his gaze and prepared to leave.

"Hmm?"

As he turned away from the window, he suddenly noticed the dead mouse in the corner— the owls hadn't eaten it. The mouse, filled with straw, lay still and undisturbed.

"Hmm..."

Ronni Ehrlich crouched down, not minding the filth, and picked up the dead mouse to examine it closely. The straw had punctured through the mouse's body from within.

Could straw be so sharp?

"Transfiguration, eh..."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor muttered quietly. His extensive knowledge allowed him to instantly deduce the events that had transpired not long ago, recognizing the cause of the mouse's unusual death.

"Interesting."

Ronni Ehrlich squatted by the window of the shed, peering out into the long corridor where Ian had passed just moments earlier.

His eyes were filled with surprise, curiosity, and a certain... enlightened excitement.

...

Ian was among the last of the students to make his way to lunch.

After eating his fill, he didn't return to his dormitory for a nap like most students from other Houses, nor did he head to the common room to revise for the afternoon classes like his Ravenclaw peers.

The Hogwarts library had always been a place of fascination for Ian. It housed the richest collection of books in the wizarding world, containing the gathered knowledge and experiences of countless talented witches and wizards throughout history.

Even though Dumbledore had moved many of the Restricted Section's books into his office, the remaining collection was more than enough to keep most wizards occupied for a lifetime.

Thousands of shelves lined the vast library.

Books on subjects like magical history, magical theory, magical creatures, potion-making, spellcasting, and special areas such as the Restricted Section and the Invisible Book Area.

Narrow aisles crammed with towering shelves of books could be overwhelming to the unprepared. Ian often had to use ladders just to reach the books he needed.

"From Cat to Eagle: A Practical Guide to Transfiguration."

"Taboos and Risks in Transfiguration."

"Transfiguration and Telepathy."

...

A large stack of Transfiguration-related books was piled high on the table before Ian, blocking his view of the chair as he tried to sit. This wasn't actually what Ian had intended to study when he entered the library, but Professor McGonagall's fascinating lessons had piqued his interest in Transfiguration.

Once you begin to explore the various spells and effects within the field of Transfiguration, you begin to notice an intriguing pattern: all knowledge related to Transfiguration is essentially about transformation techniques. 

They are slightly different from the "laws" established by other branches of magic; the incantations of Transfiguration are more focused on making the spellcasting process easier.

Using the least amount of magical influence to achieve a greater effect— just as seen in the incantation Vera Verto— spells in Transfiguration lean toward technique, allowing the transformation of a variety of objects.

Transfiguration points toward a path that isn't limited by the results determined by previous wizards.

In fact, the core principle behind Transfiguration is to follow one's desires, to transform the world in a way that aligns with one's own wishes— leading to the grand vistas Ian saw while standing on the path that had been explored by those before him— the Great Wish-Granting Technique!

The authority of the Creator!

(End of chapter)