The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 68 A Reward from Professor McGonagall

Ino followed closely in Professor McGonagall's footsteps.

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

Pushing open the door, you are greeted by a row of towering bookshelves against the wall, neatly arranged with all kinds of books, from ancient parchment scrolls to brand-new hardcover editions, its scale even comparable to a small library.

In the center of the room was a large, dark red wooden desk, piled high with neatly bound exam papers, presumably final exams from other grades.

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

"Mr. Svenburn! Your progress is excellent. I've watched you improve little by little, from being unfamiliar at the beginning to being proficient now. I'm very pleased that you are studying and exploring Transfiguration diligently."

Professor McGonagall's praise made Ino feel a little ashamed. He knew very well that he hadn't really cared about Transfiguration at all, and had put in less than a fifth of the effort he had in Charms class.

If it weren't for the need to cram several months of Transfiguration training to complete his Animagus training, he probably would have been lucky to get an 'A' as a passing grade.

But now is clearly not the time to dwell on grades. After thinking for a moment, Ino expressed her true feelings.

"Thank you for your praise, Professor! I'm here today because I have a question that's been bothering me regarding Transfiguration, and I don't want to carry that question into the summer. I hope you can understand."

"Of course, it's my duty. Now, please tell me your question," Professor McGonagall said calmly.

"That's right. Although I can use shapeshifting magic flexibly and even create some more complex things, those things only last for a very short time. Some of them don't even last for half a quarter of an hour before they revert to their original form."

At this point, Ino's expression turned slightly troubled. His transformation technique was not only short-lived, but it was even worse than Goyle's, since the deformed apples Goyle conjured could last for more than three hours.

"You don't believe in Transfiguration!"

Professor McGonagall thought for a moment and found the problem.

"You refuse to believe it; you're just using magic to forcibly change the shape of objects. When you're focused, the objects change shape; but when you start doing something else, they quickly return to their original form."

Hearing Professor McGonagall's insightful explanation, Ino felt as if a fog had been cleared away.

It seems that he never truly believed in or approved of Transfiguration, subconsciously always thinking that fancy transformations were just a charade.

"Yes, Professor! Although I'd like to deny it, I've never truly believed in Transfiguration. I've never understood why it can transform; I've consulted many books, but haven't found any answers."

Ino spoke truthfully, and since he was seeking knowledge and answers, he had no intention of hiding anything.

"Principles? Essence? It's been many years since a young wizard asked this question."

Professor McGonagall's tone carried a hint of reminiscence.

"I will now explain the principles and essence of Transfiguration: why can it transform? There is only one answer, and that is unwavering belief!"

As she spoke, Professor McGonagall drew her wand and tapped a teapot on the table. Instantly, the teapot transformed into a spirited owl.

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

"See? I believe it's an owl, not an owl that turned into a teapot! So until I die or the spell is broken, it will always be an owl. Whether it's delivering letters or packages, it's no different from a real owl."

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

Although there was strong evidence right in front of him, Ino could not accept it, or rather, could not understand it.

This evidence might be very useful for a young wizard whose mind is not yet mature, but it is really hard for a mature person with innate wisdom to fully accept it.

It's like some grand principles that many people know and understand, but very few actually put them into practice in their lives.

Perhaps noticing Ino's confusion, Professor McGonagall softened her tone and calmly said:

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're still thinking, but that's how magic is! No one can fully explain the mysteries of magic. This owl is for you. I won't undo the spell, and I hope it will give you some confidence."

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

Ino still asked, somewhat unwilling to give up. After all, if he couldn't pass this test, let alone Animagus, he wouldn't be able to achieve anything even with ordinary shapeshifting magic in the future.

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

Professor McGonagall no longer sat upright, but leaned back slightly in her chair, as if the days of exams had left her feeling a little tired.

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

This was exactly what Ino wanted to hear. Even if Professor McGonagall hadn't asked, Ino was already planning to share her opinion.

"There was once a philosopher in the East who said that when you see your own fingers, you see the world, and all the things in the world. He said that after a person dies, they turn into soil, the soil grows plants, the plants are eaten by animals, and the animals are eaten by humans..."

"And in this cycle, his finger has witnessed everything, so he believes that a fish leaping out of the water can turn into a bird, and a withered grass can turn into an autumn cicada. Nothing is singular and unchanging."

He finished speaking his thoughts in one breath, and then sat quietly to the side.

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

The spacious Transformation Department office fell silent, even the owl stood obediently to one side, no longer preening its feathers.

Time slips away quietly.

A moment later, Professor McGonagall sat up straight, her expression becoming somewhat serious.

"Mr. Svenburn! You don't need to do your summer homework for Transformation class. Just write a paper based on the points you just made and hand it in to me after the start of the semester. It has the potential to win the Best Newcomer Award in Transformation Today."

"It's an honor!" Ino smiled. "But Professor, you haven't told me if it's feasible yet."

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

"Everything, whether it's a paper or a book, has only one purpose: to make you believe. And your point of view will make many meticulous people choose to believe it, and it will also make them re-understand Transfiguration. This is the fundamental reason why you have a chance to win the award."

……

Half an hour later.

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

This trip not only broadened his narrow understanding of Transfiguration, but also earned him a limited-edition owl for free, making it a truly rewarding experience.

Looking at the lifelike owl in front of him, he knew that this was probably Professor McGonagall's way of rewarding students with good grades.

Of course, if this grade is 'T', the reward might not be an owl anymore, but an evaluation letter that requires a parent's signature.

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(End of this chapter)