Chapter 8: Transfiguration Class

Jane Yu never dreamed she would catch a tabby cat in the Transfiguration classroom.

As she entered and set down her textbook, she spotted a cat's head with bronze-colored fur and pure black stripes peering out from behind the lectern.

It was unique, with markings around its eyes that looked like square spectacles.

"Meow~meow~" she greeted it in cat language.

Any ordinary kitten would have "meowed" back by now.

But this tabby cat was different. It jumped onto the lectern, gave her a contemptuous glare, then haughtily turned its head away to stare straight ahead at the empty seats.

Cat, you've successfully caught my attention!

Jane thought to herself as she eagerly approached the lectern, letting it familiarize itself with her scent.

But it jumped away disdainfully.

If you won't take the carrot, you'll get the stick - she'd have to take matters into her own hands!

Jane gently pinched the scruff of its neck, reached under its armpits to lift it up, while supporting its hindquarters with her other hand. The whole sequence was executed smoothly and instantly, and suddenly the tabby cat was cradled in her arms.

It seemed to stare at her in disbelief, struggling with all four limbs, but eventually gave up under Jane's firm hold, submitting to being squished and petted.

Jane's fingers worked gently but firmly, massaging its head slowly before softly pressing its baihui acupoint; then stroking from head to back repeatedly.

Under this treatment, the cat melted into a puddle in her arms, practically liquefying.

Mm, even forced sweetness is still sweet.

But suddenly, everything changed!

"Incarcerounsfiguration!"

The tabby cat was instantly bound with rope and stuffed into a cat carrier transformed from a chair.

It let out a cry of distress, extending sharp claws to scratch at the carrier.

But it was no use.

Jane was filled with joy - she would finally have her very own kitty!

Who cared about Transfiguration class compared to having a pet cat!

Once she had both a cat and dog, she'd be living her best life!

She rushed toward the dormitory with the carrier, leaving the Slytherin students who were about to enter the Transfiguration classroom in her wake.

"You be good and stay here until I get back from class."

Placing the carrier on the bed, Jane instructed the cat, regardless of whether it could understand.

Then she hurried back to class.

...

Since she began teaching in 1956, Minerva McGonagall had appeared in her Animagus form for every first-year's first Transfiguration lesson.

According to her plan, she would first appear as a tabby cat on the lectern, then leap down and transform when the bell rang, drawing gasps of amazement from the students.

For 35 years, she had executed this flawlessly, achieving excellent results as the new students were awed by the mysteries of Transfiguration and threw themselves enthusiastically into studying the subject.

But this year seemed different.

As usual, she had transformed into a cat and stood on the lectern, surveying the empty classroom below, already planning her next move - turning the lectern into a pig and back. She was thinking she should change her opening speech, as the old one was getting cliché...

Oh? A student arriving so early for class?

Professor McGonagall was surprised, pleased to see such enthusiasm for Transfiguration, though it would have been better if it were a Gryffindor rather than a Slytherin - she thought to herself.

No, something wasn't right.

This new student seemed a bit too eager, with an enthusiasm that was hard to resist.

Hmm?

Why am I floating?

Who's petting me? My fur!

This... actually feels quite nice?!

"Meow—"

As she was bound with rope and stuffed into the carrier, four words flashed through her mind:

My life is over!

She had intended to transform back immediately and dock Slytherin ten points.

But through the carrier's transparent plastic, she immediately saw the swarm of Slytherin students outside, then she and the carrier were rapidly moving through the corridor - carried by this new student.

The corridors were full of students from all years heading to class.

She blushed furiously.

Her claws awkwardly nearly carved a castle inside the carrier.

If students saw their respected Professor McGonagall in such an undignified state, where could she hide her face!

As she bounced along, she examined the carrier transformed from a chair, mentally praising this new student's impressive Transfiguration skills - easily at second or third-year level.

If this were during class, she would have immediately declared: "Ten points to Slytherin!"

But unfortunately this wasn't class time. As soon as Jane left the dormitory, she restored the carrier to its original form, darted out of the Slytherin common room, transformed back to human in a secluded corner, and sprinted toward the Transfiguration classroom.

But she was still twenty-three minutes late!

This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to her 35-year teaching career.

...

"Where's Professor McGonagall?"

"It's been 20 minutes since class started, why isn't she here yet?"

"Should we go check her office?"

The little snakes began whispering among themselves.

Jane was also amazed.

Who would have thought Professor McGonagall would be even later than her!

She had unilaterally decided this professor was a fellow slacker like herself.

"My sincere apologies, students, there was a small incident..."

Professor McGonagall appeared in the doorway, hurrying into the classroom.

She seemed very flustered, her witch's hat askew, her dark green robes somewhat disheveled, her face flushed from vigorous exercise as she caught her breath: "I've wasted your time, let's get straight to the topic."

"First, Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration... Transfiguration cannot create something from nothing..."

After the students took copious notes, she gave each person a match to practice turning it into a needle.

Soon the classroom was filled with the sound of incantations.

Most Slytherin first-years came from magical families, their background making basic magic easier for them. Many quickly achieved changes in their matches, gradually turning them from wood to silver.

"Focus, carefully imagine the needle..." Professor McGonagall moved through the crowd, guiding the students.

After ten minutes of putting all his effort into it, Draco's wand tip pointing at the match, it finally transformed into a sharp-pointed, gleaming silver needle.

He raised his hand proudly, calling out to show off.

"Look!"

The surrounding little snakes cheered.

"A perfect silver needle! Five points to Slytherin!" Professor McGonagall announced, picking up the needle.

Then a boy named Theodore Nott also succeeded, winning another three points for Slytherin.

Jane sat in the last row of the classroom, hiding herself.

She was planning how to "accidentally" give a pig's tail to the unfortunate Miss Millicent in front of her.

She had looked up the meaning of "mudblood" after that day, finally understanding she had been insulted.

But why did the professor keep hovering around her?

It gave her no chance to act - she couldn't very well transfigure the professor!

Professor McGonagall had glanced subtly in her direction several times, casually passing by her desk repeatedly.

The cat professor couldn't help but sigh with regret.

This student clearly had such talent and excellent transfiguration skills, yet was unwilling to show it.

She thought she understood Jane: a poor orphan, bullied in Slytherin, forced to hide her abilities to avoid attention.

Thus her gaze was full of sympathy when she looked at Jane.

Time ticked by minute by minute as Professor McGonagall walked to the lectern, preparing to end the lesson.

It was now or never!

Jane's heart raced as "transfiguration" burst from her lips, a red light shooting from her wand tip.

...

"Ah—"

The students' screams rang out.

"Crack!" came the sound of breaking wood from the ceiling!

The aged candle chandelier in the Transfiguration classroom suddenly broke free from the ceiling!

Students screamed and scattered.

Theodore tried to dodge but was too late.

The chandelier was about to crash onto his head.

Everyone closed their eyes, unable to watch the impending bloodshed.

Then a clear, melodious "transfiguration" rang out.

The chandelier instantly transformed into a pig's tail, landing in Theodore's arms, still quivering!

The students turned in shock toward the source of the voice, seeing Jane standing there expressionlessly, her wand not yet lowered.

Professor McGonagall hurried forward, picking up the pig's tail to examine it carefully.

"Perfect transfiguration! Miss Yu shows helpfulness and care for her classmates - twenty points to Slytherin!"

Looking in Jane's direction, her maternal affection was practically overflowing.

Poor child, still helping classmates despite being bullied, such a kind-hearted girl!

And she likes cats too, with excellent petting technique...

Though it had disrupted her lesson plan, more importantly, she had discovered Jane's heart of gold!

Jane lowered her wand dejectedly.

Who could have predicted Millicent would suddenly duck down to pick up her quill?

Her inner self was crying into a handkerchief.

Her transfiguration spell had gone astray and hit the chandelier instead!

No progress on getting expelled!

Well, at least saving a classmate counted as good karma.

She consoled herself thus.

Little did she know that her heroic rescue had changed how some students viewed her.

Theodore clutched the pig's tail, staring blankly in her direction, lost in thought.