Transfiguration ((Beginners / 1st-3rd years))

[Professor Isaac Thorne]

((Only one post will be needed per student in this class, you will need to include entering the class, working in class, and then leaving when Professor Thorne dismisses the class. If you choose to answer Professor Thorne’s questions I will edit your post and respond giving you the house points you have earned for your effort. Each student will receive house points for the effort they put forth in their class work.))

Isaac sat quietly at his desk in his office, looking through the Transfiguration textbook. His face was impassive as he read, until his lips suddenly curled to a frown and he lifted his hand, reaching for his quill sitting in it’s stand not too far away. He pulled the thing out and then moved it to dip in the black ink sitting next to it. With a shake of his hand he brought the quill to the page of the book he was on and began scribbling notes in the margins. When he was finished making notes he proceeded to scratching out sections of the book he found irrelevant or wrong. Soon enough however he became incredibly frustrated with the page and simply drew a large ‘X’ right across it; careful, however, not to mark up his own notes. Isaac had never been a fan of textbooks. The issue with a text book were the inaccuracies. A text book had never in all of it’s life practiced transfiguration, so therefore how could it possibly know anything about the subject. Had Isaac been the type of student to actually read a textbook as a young boy he would have never mastered his subjects as he had. The textbooks had a habit of lying, and displaying only the truths that were seen fit by the printers and publishers and editors. No text book was honest; no matter how unbiased a manufacturer said he might be. There was no trusting the textbook. One of the things he had always admired in McGonagall had been her practiced skill in transfiguration. If anyone thought she had learned that out of a book they were sorely mistaken. Expertise like that could only be learned through personal experience. Isaac should have known best. As he finished marking up the book thoroughly, enough that he felt satisfied he had made his point and shown his general disapproval, he replaced his quill and closed the book.

Isaac then looked up at the grandfather clock near his door. Five minutes till class. He nodded with satisfaction, having completed his task just in the time he had allotted for it, and then pushed his chair back before standing. He rolled his head from one side to the other before closing his eyes as his body seemed to melt away from itself and fall closer to the floor. When he retook a more solid form Isaac stood on all fours almost three feet off the ground as a snow leopard. He stood up on his hind legs, placing his front paws on his desk as he leaned his head forward to snatch the textbook off his desk with his teeth. Carrying the book in his mouth, he moved towards the door (which opened on it’s own) and then padded quietly down the rounded staircase that led straight down into his classroom. As he reached the floor level he moved to his desk, and then pounced up on top of it. He dropped the textbook with a thud upon his desk and then sat, his leopard back erect, as he looked around his classroom. Students were slowly filing in, and as they did so – gossiping amongst themselves – the y would all seemed to eventually notice the large feline perched on the desk that used to be Professor McGonagall’s. Only a few days prior Dumbledore had announced his retirement, so it was no surprise that the students were shocked to see that changes in staff had been made so quickly. It was relatively early in the morning and this was Isaac’s first class of the day, not to mention of his teaching career, and so these would be the first students to see the new transfiguration professor.

After all of the students had filed into the classroom, reached a sudden state of shock seeing the great cat perched on the desk, and then promptly taken their seats silently, the corners of the snow leopards mouth seemed to curl upward in a smile. A low growl started then, and slowly grew until the leopards jaws opened to let out its roar, which sounded far more like the cry of a jaguar. In the midst of the student’s sudden noises of fear the leopard melted away from itself until the only thing left on the desk was Professor Thorne, setting on the edge of the desk with one leg up crossed on his knee. He smirked and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a pipe and his wand. With the end of his wand he lit the pipe and then as he pocketed his wand he looked around the room once more at the class. A sweet, apple like smell began to fill the room as the Professor exhaled a mouth full of smoke. “Welcome to Transfiguration. I’ll be your new instructor; Professor Thorne.” Again, Isaac looked around the room at his students. Each of them was sitting at a desk which could hold two students. There were four rows, all facing towards the front of the classroom, and each row had four desks. All in all the classroom could hold sixteen students at it’s current dimensions (though Isaac could change that if he found the need). For this class there were plenty of seats. At the very front, and centre of the classroom was a large wooden desk where Isaac would sit to monitor the class, and where he sat presently. And there was also a large chalkboard which Isaac could use for vocabulary.

Isaac stood finally and began to pace around the room. “Can any of you tell me what the word transfigure means?” Isaac waited until a few of the students had given him an answer, and then awarded points before continuing. “In this class we will be covering the basic areas of transfiguration, focusing mainly on the transfiguration of inanimate objects.” Isaac made his way to the front of the room, sitting back on his desk again. “Inanimate objects can be transfigured based on six different properties: size, shape, color, texture and material, function, and lastly substance. Today we will be focusing on transfiguration based on substance. In front of you, on each of your desks you will find a match.” Isaac smirked and moved to sit behind his desk, lifting his textbook up in front him and opening it before reaching in his pocket and pulling out his wand. He waved it in front of the chalkboard, causing words to appear. “Your instructions are on the board, I expect you to spend the rest of the hour performing your given assignment. Negligence will result in punishment.”

---

Lesson:

At the lowest level of transfiguration, objects are transfigured based on six different properties. The properties, and the incantations used to transfigure an object based on these properties, are listed in the chart below.

Spell Name

Purpose

[/center][/td][td]

Latin Root Word

[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]

Amplitudium

[/td][td]

changes size

[/td][td]

amplitude

[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]

Formadium

[/td][td]

changes shape

[/center][/td][td]

forma

[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]

Materium

[/td][td]

changes material

[/center][/td][td]

materia

[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]

Materio

[/td][td]

changes an object completely

[/td][td]

materia

[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]

Colorium

[/td][td]

changes colour

[/td][td]

color

[/td][/tr][/table]

---

Assignment:

[phantomlynx]

The day almost felt like a fresh new start to the year. It seemed like only yesterday that Skyler had started his career at Hogwarts. Many of the older students that he had run in to had told him of the great wonders that lie within the walls of the castle. One of those wonders was Professor Dumbledore. All of the older students seemed to like him. They always spoke so highly of him. It was quite shocking and sad to learn that he was retiring. While many of the students were disheartened that they were losing one of their favourite professors, Skyler was saddened that he was losing the opportunity to know a great person. Skyler was sure though that Professor McGonagall would make a great Headmistress but it still was hard that Skyler would not get to know Professor Dumbledore and all the great things that he did like some of the older students. With Professor McGonagall taking over as Headmistress, that meant that some one else had to teach Transfiguration. And that was Professor Thorne.

The scariest part of a new professor was that you never knew how to act. Sometimes professors would be nice and allow a little chatter and conversation. Others would make sure you were doing your assignment and nothing else. A good example was Professor Snape. There was never any funny business in his class. Who knows what Professor Thorne would be like? Skyler walked into the classroom with his friend Will. Skyler had still not told Will the news. He was unsure of how his first and only friend would react to the news. In fact, no one knew of the news. The only ones who knew were Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall. It was sort of important that they knew. Skyler was afraid of how Will would respond but the thought was eating him up inside. They took their regular seats at the front and center desk. Although the class did not have assigned seats, most of the class seemed to pick a spot and stick with it. Theirs was front and center.

Sitting down Skyler noticed a leopard sitting in the professor's desk. Skyler nudged Will and pointed at the animal. It was sitting quite calmly in the desk. This would have been surprising except that Professor McGonagall would do that. Skyler assumed that this leopard must be the new professor. The leopard then opened its mouth and roared. Professor McGonagall as a cat had never done that. Of course, a house cat can't really roar. Skyler was shocked a let out a cry along with the other students. The leopard seemed to melt away and there stood the new professor. He introduced himself and promptly lit a pipe. Skyler thought this was slightly odd behavior but he did not say so. The professor told them his instructions and let them work.

Looking at the board, Skyler noticed something strange. It stated that there were six different properties but there were only five listed. Skyler raised his hand and after being called on said, "You say that there are six properties, but there are only five listed." Skyler was not trying to be a smart aleck but he wondered why the professor would only list five but say there was six. Looking at the match in front of him, Skyler determined that he would need to change the material of the object and change the object completely. He took out his wand and clearly thought of the needle that he wanted the match to become. "Materio Materium," he said while flicking and swishing his wand. Nothing happened. Skyler just rolled his eyes. Transfiguration was not a subject that he understood and whenever things went right it seemed to be more of a mistake than anything else.

[Williard Thoth R4]

Williard stood outside the door to the Transfiguration classroom, schoolbag hanging on his shoulder, anxiously awaiting the bell to ring. He wasn't sure how he felt about Dumbledore retiring, but as everyone knew, Dumbledore was an extraordinary wizard who lived an extraordinary life, so if he wanted to retire to live the rest of his life out in peace, then Williard understood, and had no problem whatsoever. After all, Dumbledore deserved it. Williard also didn't know how he felt about Professor McGonagall being appointed as Headmistress. He loved her as a teacher, but he really wasn't surprised that she was handed the job. After all, she was Deputy Head, and Williard really couldn't imagine the job going to any other of the teachers. He also didn't know how he felt about having a new transfiguration teacher. It was one of his favorite and best subjects, so he wondered how having a new teacher would affect him. But one thing was for sure; he was going to try his best to make a good impression.

As in all his classes, Williard was going to make sure that he was the first to enter the class; punctuality was always a priority. He would also make sure he participated as much as possible, and did his absolute best with his classwork. Other students would probably think Williard a little too much, but Williard was serious about school. After all, that was the first and foremost reason as to why he, and every other student was here right; to get an education. He was slightly nervous, but interacting with adults had always been easy for him, so his nerves weren't that bad.

The bell had finally rung, and just as Williard had grabbed the door handle, Skyler appeared right beside him. Williard gave a nod and a small smile, and proceeded to open the door and walk in. They took their usual seats, and sat down. Skyler had been acting a little funny, but Williard brushed it off. If something was bothering Skyler, he would talk when he was ready; Williard was not about to pester him. After situating his materials, Skyler nudged Williards arm. Expecting that maybe he was ready to talk, Williard turned to find him pointing to Professor McGonagall's old desk, on which a leopard was perched. Williard stared at it blankly. Reality set in, and he realized it must be their new Professor in animagus form. Then, the leopard let out a roar, and while Williard jumped, he didn't scream or yelped like the rest of the class.

The leopard was instantly replaced by a man, who reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand, and a pipe. Here we go, Williard thought. He listened as Professor Thorne welcomed them. After a bit, he stood up and began pacing the room. He asked if anyone knew what the word transfigure meant, and seeing an opportunity, Williard casually raised his hand. When he was called on, Williard cleared his throat and answered, '' The word Transfigure means to change something in outward form, or appearance.'' In the beginning of his academic career, Wiliard was hesitant about participating in class. He didn't want people to think that he was some jerk who thought he knew everything, or that he was some teacher's pet. But as time went on and he became more comfortable with himself, he began participating regularly, and not worrying about other people's opinions of him; whatever they were.

Williard listened as Professor Thorne gave instruction, and was a little surprised to see Skyler's arm raise out of the corner of his eye. He looked at Skyler, a little questioningly, and listened as he asked the Professor about an apparent mistake he made with the directions on the board. Williard gave a small smile. It wasn't like Skyler to speak out about very much, so to see him do it was definitely a moment all in itself.

Williard payed close attention to the classwork directions, and then set to work. He moved his match directly in front of him, and took a deep breath. He visualized a pin, and using the swish and flick maneuver that was often used in Charms, he annunciated, and maybe said a little to loudly, ''Materio.'' The matched seemed like it was melting at first, but then became a small, shiny silver pin. Williard smiled to himself.

[Jacob Baine H3]

<sub>Truthfully, Transfiguration was not one of Jacob's favorite classes. He had always been more of a maths person, really, and Transfiguration had nothing to do with that. It required imagination and drive, both of which young Mr. Baine was in lack of.

So it was with much groaning and moaning that Jacob got out of bed. A glance at the sky told him that if he wanted to get to class on time, he would probably have to forgo breakfast. He shook himself, pulled on his trousers, shirt, and robe, and wiped his face on his pillow. Stumbling out of his dormitory, he apparently did not notice that his shirt was not buttoned the right way, and that his trousers were not buttoned at all.

It seemed as if that Jacob was going to Transfiguration class still half-asleep, had not his pants decided to wake him up in the most endearing of ways.

Right as he was about to exit the Hufflepuff dormitories, his pants decided that they could no longer hold themselves up, and promptly dropped to the floor. Jacob stopped in his tracks, and stared at the wall for a good three minutes. When he was certain that he was, in fact, not dreaming and that his pants had indeed fallen down, he changed the direction of his stare to his pants. Any passerby would have seen a boy staring at his pants, but Jacob was actually engaging himself in deep philosophical questions, such as: "If magic is really all that great, why can't it keep my pants up?" and "Why do I even have to go to Transfiguration?" and "I hate Mondays", which isn't even a question at all.

After another three minutes, Jacob decided that he would have to pull his pants up himself, if he wanted to get to class on time. In any other situation, he would not have cared about promptness, but he had a theory that Professor Thorne would not care about the disobedience of his pants, and he did not care to test that theory. Science was never his thing--- again, he was more of a maths person.

Halfway to class he realized that he had forgotten his supplies, but at this point he was getting a bit nervous about whether he was going to get there on time. Breaking out in a run, he decided that if anyone asked, he was going on a healthy morning jog.

Out of breath, Jacob managed to file into class with the other students. With great annoyance, he noted that most of his classmates were first and second years, and not even Hufflepuffs, at that. A sour look on his face, he selected a seat in the far back of the room and planted his face on his desk as everyone got situated. He was so absorbed in his own misery that he failed to notice that at the head of the class, a full-grown leopard sat.

When the Professor began his lecture, Jacob managed to raise his head, propping it up with his arm and palm. He avoided eye contact with the Professor, but tried to look as if he was paying attention. In reality, he was trying to catch up on his sleep with his eyes open. Professor Thorne asked a question, which Jacob just managed to catch.

He knew the answer to that question, having taken two years of Transfiguration before. All the same, Jacob was feeling too mean to risk talking out loud, so he satisfied himself by making a quiet noise, muffled in cupped hands. He really did not want to be here right now.

When the lecture was over, Jacob mustered all his will and started on his assignment. However, while attempting to rouse himself to action, his arm fell, leaving his face without any support. It fell, and his chin hit the desk with a rather loud smack!

He stayed in that position for a minute, not meeting anyone's eyes but daring someone to say something. Finally he brought his other arm to his face, and rubbing his eyes, decided that he had to start working.

Chin still on the desktop, he pulled out his wand and stared at the pin on his desk.

"Mateeo", he slurred, his ability to speak clearly hindered by the fact that his chin was firmly rooted into the desk. He waved his wand, envisioning a metal pin in his mind.

The match rattled on the desk, but was otherwise determined to thwart him in his Transfiguring endeavors.

Eyes narrowing, he glared at the pin. "Mahto!" he said with considerably more gusto than before. He swung his wand wildly over his head.

The match shook and jumped about, but did not change.

The thought that perhaps he needed to get his chin off the desk did not occur to Jacob. Summoning all the energy he had (which was not a lot, considering the time), he shook his wand up and down violently, urging the match on with "Mateeo! Mahto!"

The match rattled and jumped, hitting him squarely in the left eye in the process.

"Alright. Fair enough," he said, finally bringing his head up. "This wand is rubbish for anything other than love charms anyway." He rolled his sleeves up, then peered down at the match, not so much a student anymore than a torturer ready to do his duty.

"Materio!" he said loudly, flicking and swishing his wand. The match changed into a metal pin, although the tip of the pin betrayed its former self---it was vaguely red.

"Oh, you," he said angrily. "What gall." Shaking his head, he envisioned the pin black and yellow, and flicked and swished his wand again. "Colorium."

The pin changed color. The tip was not red anymore, but instead of a healthy yellow color, it had taken on a mustardy-brown hue. And instead of black, the pin was striped with a dark metallic gray.

"Almost," he muttered to himself consolingly. He grabbed the ruler on his desk, and held it next to the pin. "Amplitudium."

As if to spite him, the pin shot forward, pricking his finger. Yelling loudly, he winced and brought his finger to his mouth and nursed the wound. When he finally looked down again, the pin had grown to a perfect six inches.

"I really hate you," he said to it. "It's either one thing or another, isn't it?"</sub>