It's evident that freshmen can't learn biological transfiguration in their first class.
With just a matchstick, Professor McGonagall showed them that it would take a long time to turn furniture into animals.
Despite the young wizards making great efforts to wave their wands, the matchsticks in front of them showed no changes.
Some tasks are like that—easy for others, but a mess when you try yourself, especially when the "others" is Professor McGonagall.
"Focus, it's to turn into a needle, not a silver stick."
Professor McGonagall corrected their mistakes repeatedly while pacing the classroom aisle.
Soon, half the class had passed, and the matchstick remained as it was, showing no sign of turning into a needle.
A few Hufflepuff young wizards turned the matchstick into carbon ash, which obviously did not meet Professor McGonagall's standards, and they lost a point for damaging the equipment.
Ravenclaw was different; they're known for their brains. Seeing no progress, some big thinkers opted to change the matchstick's color and discreetly sharpen one end, attempting to pass off.
Some even smarter ones directly replaced them with their own needles and stubbornly claimed they had transformed them.
Unfortunately, they were all exposed by Professor McGonagall on the spot.
Ravenclaw lost twenty points due to widespread cheating.
...
Professor McGonagall stood in the classroom aisle, glancing around, somewhat disappointed to find that this batch seemed to have few eye-catching talents.
The only one performing decently was just one…
Professor McGonagall turned her gaze to the first row.
There, Kael was propping his chin with one hand, waving his wand idly with the other.
With a tap of his wand, the matchstick in front of him kept changing.
Although it didn't completely turn into a needle, he was halfway there... truly half.
Kael had only transformed half a needle, and the position was non-fixed, sometimes on top, sometimes on bottom, or simply stuck in the middle.
How to describe this...
What needle?
Which needle?
Metal something ten?
This sight astonished Professor McGonagall; she had seen a whole class of failure and had also seen instant success.
But she had never seen a failure so successful.
Regardless, Kael had at least managed to transform a needle, which was already beyond others.
Thus, the class swiftly went by, and it wasn't until near the end of class that a young wizard succeeded in turning the matchstick into a needle.
"Look, Professor McGonagall, someone from Hufflepuff succeeded."
An excited voice from a young wizard in the front row instantly drew the attention of all students.
Professor McGonagall looked where the sound came from, surprised to see a smile, yet unexpectedly, the first completed task wasn't by her favored Kael but by Conna Prince.
An unassuming little witch from Hufflepuff.
Though Professor McGonagall was slightly astonished, she quickly returned to normal, picking up the shiny needle and showing it to the class.
"Everyone, see, Miss Prince succeeded. As a reward for first place, Hufflepuff earns three points!"
A burst of loud applause erupted, particularly vigorous from the little badgers, not only for the points but also in happiness for Conna.
At this moment, all eyes were on Conna.
This socially anxious little witch had never faced such a scene; her entire face turned crimson, with faint white smoke rising from her crown, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
As soon as the class ended, she clutched her textbook and darted out of the classroom.
Conna was filled with regret.
Indeed, being too close to Kael comes with no good; had she realized it earlier, she'd switch seats even at the risk of a scolding by Professor McGonagall!
...
Elsewhere, the oblivious Kael didn't know he had unwittingly been blamed; as he just walked out of the classroom, Cho invited him to join her in the auditorium to find Cedric.
"Sorry, I just remembered something. Could you go alone?" Kael pointed at Ryan walking towards them. "We agreed to visit Mikel together. If too late, Madam Pomfrey would kick us out."
"...Alright then."
Cho was a bit disappointed but said nothing more. After all, Kael was visiting a patient, which was more important than locating a map.
Going alone was fine; she had seen Cedric before and quite remembered him, being the second most handsome boy she'd seen at Hogwarts, unlikely to mistake him.
The first being Kael.
To save time, after stowing their farewells, Cho promptly headed to the auditorium.
Kael watched Cho vanish around the corridor corner, feeling he forgot to tell her something.
What was it...?
Kael couldn't quite recall.
Just then, Ryan approached, slightly peeved, saying, "Kael, I reserved a spot for you, why did you go to the first row."
Hearing Ryan's words, Kael instinctively recalled the frightening scene before class, simultaneously remembering what he'd forgotten.
He forgot to inform Cho about sending the map to Leona.
This whole mess... oh well, next time then,
Kael sighed, saying, "Sorry Ryan, I was caught in my thoughts, didn't notice, next time for sure!"
"That's not it," Ryan waved dismissively. "I'm just amazed you dared sit in the front row.
I heard from upper-year students the first row in Transfiguration Class remains almost empty, no one dared sit so close during Professor McGonagall's lessons; you're incredible."
"Hehe… really."
Kael dryly chuckled twice. If possible, he preferred not sitting in the front row.
Fortunately, Ryan didn't spot his peculiarity, continuing, "Are we heading to the dormitory now? Or waiting for others?"
Waiting for others?
Kael only now noticed all leaving the classroom were Ravenclaw students, surprisingly just the two Hufflepuff left.
"Where are the others?" Kael pondered.
"Setting notes in the classroom," Ryan reasonably mentioned. "Oh, also reminded Professor McGonagall not to forget Mikel's homework."
Uh… you all meant business!
Kael twitched at the corner of his eye, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's head back to dormitory."
He'd initially planned to truly take Ryan to the Hospital Wing but now reconsidered.
...
Several minutes later.
Within the classroom, Professor McGonagall cheerfully saw off that group of Hufflepuff freshmen.
She hadn't seen such diligent young wizards for a while; even post-class, they'd still compared notes, find discrepancies, even voluntarily request assignments…
This is precisely how a student should be.
Professor McGonagall rubbed her somewhat sore eyes and started collecting the matchsticks used as teaching aids one by one.
Only then did she notice that Kael had succeeded too; the matchstick on his desk had become a shiny silver needle.
Perhaps stimulated by Conna Prince.
Professor McGonagall didn't think much but felt glad nonetheless. With two good promising students for studying transfiguration in one house, it's delightful.