The Bard at Hogwarts

Ino followed closely in Professor McGonagall's footsteps.

He entered the Transfiguration Office on the sixth floor of the castle for the first time.

When you open the door, you will see a row of towering bookshelves clinging to the wall, with all kinds of books neatly placed on them, from ancient parchments to brand-new hardcovers. Its size is even comparable to a small library.

In the center of the room is a large dark red wooden desk. The table is piled with bundled test papers, presumably also final test papers from other grades.

"Please sit down, don't be formal!" Professor McGonagall walked behind the desk, pulled out a high-backed chair, and sat down first.

"Mr. Swinburne! Your grades are excellent. I have watched you progress little by little, from being unfamiliar at the beginning to becoming more familiar with it now. I am very happy that you can seriously study and explore the art of transfiguration."

Professor McGonagall's praise made Ino feel a little ashamed. He knew very well that he didn't care much about Transfiguration at all, and the energy he put into it was not even one-fifth of the Charms class.

If he hadn't practiced the transformation technique for several months in order to complete the Animagus, he would probably have gotten an 'A' pass this time, which would be pretty good.

But now is obviously not the time to worry about grades. After thinking for a moment, Ino expressed his inner thoughts.

"Thank you for your compliment, Professor! I'm here this time because there is always a problem that bothers me about transfiguration, and I don't want to bring this problem to the summer vacation. I hope you can understand."

"Of course, this is my duty. Now please tell me your question." Professor McGonagall said calmly.

"It's like this. Although I can flexibly use transformation techniques and even conjure some more complex things, the existence time of those things is very short. Some even change back to their original appearance in less than half a quarter of an hour. "

Speaking of this, Ino's expression was slightly troubled. His transformation technique was not only short, it was even inferior to Goyle. After all, the deformed apple transformed by Goyle could last for more than three hours.

"You don't believe in transfiguration!"

Professor McGonagall just thought about it for a moment and found the problem.

"You still don't want to believe it. You are just using magic to forcibly change the shape of the object. When you focus, the shape of the object will change; but when you start to do other things, the object will quickly return to its original shape. ”

After hearing Professor McGonagall's incisive answer, Ino felt as if the fog had been cleared.

It seems that he has never believed in or recognized the art of transformation. Subconsciously, he always thinks that fancy transformations are just fake things.

"Yes, Professor! Although I really want to deny it, in fact I have never believed in transfiguration. Because I still don't know why it can transform. I have read many books, but I haven't found any relevant answers."

Ino said matter-of-factly. Since he was seeking knowledge and solving doubts, he didn't intend to hide anything.

"Principle? Essence? No little wizard has asked this question for many years."

There was a hint of reminiscence in Professor McGonagall's tone.

"Now I will tell you the principle and essence of transfiguration. Why can it transform? There is only one answer, and that is firm belief!"

While speaking, Professor McGonagall took out her wand and lit a teapot on the table, and the teapot instantly transformed into a cheerful owl.

The silver-gray owl stood quietly on the table combing its feathers. Its eyes were bright and alert, as if it was always ready to deliver news from afar.

"See? I believe it is an owl, not an owl transformed from a teapot! So until I die or the magic is lifted, it will always be an owl. Whether it is delivering letters or packages, it is no different from a real owl."

At this moment, Professor McGonagall had a strong and confident aura in both her tone and demeanor.

Although there was a powerful proof in front of him, Ino couldn't accept it, or couldn't understand it.

This proof may be very useful to an immature little wizard, but for a mature and wise person, it is really difficult to completely accept it.

Just like some great principles, many people know and understand them, but few actually practice them in life.

Perhaps seeing Ino's doubts, Professor McGonagall changed her tone to a soothing tone and said calmly:

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you are thinking, but magic is like this! No one can fully tell the secret of magic. This owl is given to you, I will not remove the magic, and I also hope that it can be given to you Bring some confidence.”

"Professor, can I understand that I need to find a reason myself, regardless of whether the reason is valid or not, as long as I believe it?"

Ino still asked reluctantly. After all, if he couldn't pass this level, let alone Animagus, he wouldn't be able to make any achievements even with ordinary transformation magic in the future.

"It seems that you already have an idea. If you don't mind, you can tell me."

Professor McGonagall's sitting posture was no longer so upright, but she leaned back slightly on the chair. It seemed that the exams in the past few days had made her feel a little tired.

"Of course, Professor! That's exactly what I wanted to say, because I'm not sure it's possible."

Just as he wanted, Ino planned to express his opinion even if Professor McGonagall didn't ask.

"There once was a philosopher in the East. He once said that when he saw his fingers, he saw the world and all the objects in the world. He said that after death, people will turn into soil, and the soil will produce plants, and the plants will be transformed by animals. Eaten, animals are eaten by people..."

"In this cycle, one finger of his has witnessed everything, so he believes that fish can turn into birds when they jump out of the water, and grass can turn into cicadas after they wither. All things are not single and unchanged. of."

He finished speaking his inner thoughts in one breath, and then he sat quietly aside.

On the other side, Professor McGonagall fell into brief contemplation.

The spacious Transfiguration Office also became quiet, and even the owl stood aside obediently, no longer preening its feathers.

Time passed quietly.

After a while, Professor McGonagall sat up straight and looked a little serious.

"Mr. Swinburne! You don't need to write your summer homework for Transfiguration class. Just write a paper based on your point of view and give it to me after school starts. It is expected to win the "Transfiguration Today" Best Newcomer Award."

"It's a great honor!" Ino smiled, "But Professor, you haven't told me yet whether it is feasible."

"Of course it's possible, as long as you believe it!" Professor McGonagall looked a little surprised, but still explained:

"Everything, whether it is a paper or a book, has only one purpose, which is to make you believe. And the point you just made will make many people who are very concerned about money choose to believe it, and it will also let them re-understand the art of transfiguration. This is The fundamental reason for winning the award.”

…

Half an hour later.

Ino walked out of the office holding a gray and white owl.

This trip not only relieved him of his narrow understanding of transfiguration, but he also got a limited edition owl for free, which can be regarded as a full harvest.

Looking at the vivid owl in front of him, he also knew that this was probably a disguised reward from Professor McGonagall to students with good grades.

Of course, if the grade this time is a 'T', the reward may no longer be an owl, but an evaluation letter that needs to be signed by the parents.

A new book is released and a new journey begins. Thanks to all the big guys for their support.

Please collect~! Please recommend~! Please vote for me~!

Please collect~! Please recommend~! Please vote for me~!