For several minutes, the class silently reviewed their notes while McGonagall observed.
Students bent over their desks, parchment rustling softly as notes were opened and ink bottles uncorked.
Some carefully copied the incantation Revelio again and again, writing it in slow, deliberate strokes to fix both spelling and pronunciation in their minds.
Others traced the wand movement in the margins of their notes, sketching curved arrows and precise angles.
Soren reread McGonagall's explanation, mouthing the incantation silently to himself, careful to shape each syllable without sound.
Beside him, Penny whispered the word under her breath, testing its rhythm, while keeping her wand resting flat on the desk, untouched.
Cassie closed her eyes for a moment, visualizing the charm's intent, imagining layers of magic peeling back rather than forcing anything to change.
Jacqueline compared her notes with the blackboard, adjusting her diagrams until every detail matched exactly.
Across the room, some students struggled. A few frowned at their parchment, scratching out wand diagrams and redrawing them.
Others sat unnaturally stiff, clearly trying to memorize everything at once.
Merula leaned back slightly, rereading with confidence, though her eyes flicked to the front now and then, gauging McGonagall's attention.
Professor McGonagall moved silently between the rows, her footsteps barely audible. She paused behind certain students, tapping a diagram or pointing to a line of text without speaking.
In one place, she corrected a wand angle with a sharp flick of her finger; in another, she nodded once in approval.
The room was filled only with the quiet discipline of study, parchment scratching, controlled breathing, and the steady ticking of the classroom clock, as the students prepared to cast Revelio, and to understand it.
She then ordered the students to stand.
"Practice the stance only. Do not cast."
She demonstrated once more, deliberately slow. Her feet were set shoulder-width apart, weight balanced evenly. Her wand arm lifted smoothly, elbow relaxed, wrist firm but not rigid.
The movement was clean and controlled, a short upward curve followed by a steady forward alignment, ending with the wand held level.
"Again," she said.
The students began.
One by one, they mirrored the motion, wands cutting silently through the air. Some moved too stiffly, locking their elbows. Others rushed the curve, turning it into a sharp flick rather than a measured sweep. A few hesitated mid-motion, uncertain where to end.
McGonagall moved among them without a sound.
She stopped beside one student and pressed their wrist downward slightly. "Relax. Tension dulls intent."
At another desk, she tapped a wand sharply. "Too fast. This is not a charm to be forced."
She adjusted shoulders, straightened spines, and repositioned feet with brief, precise corrections. When someone attempted to rush ahead, she halted them instantly with a raised hand.
"Control," she said quietly. "Magic follows discipline."
Soren slowed his movement, focusing on balance rather than speed. Penny repeated the curve carefully, breathing in time with the motion. Cassie corrected her grip, while Jacqueline steadied her stance, eyes fixed ahead.
Merula performed the motion confidently but too sharply. McGonagall paused beside her.
"Power without precision is noise," she said coolly.
Merula stiffened and repeated the movement, this time slower.
The room filled with silent repetition, dozens of wands moving in unison, rising and settling with deliberate care.
Professor McGonagall returned to the front of the classroom and surveyed the students.
"You may now demonstrate the charm," she said. "One at a time."
A hush fell over the room.
The first few students stepped forward hesitantly. Some managed faint results, objects shimmering briefly before returning to normal.
Others failed entirely, their spells producing nothing more than a dull flicker or an uncertain glow. McGonagall offered brief, precise corrections, never raising her voice.
Then Soren's group was called.
Soren stepped forward first. He took his stance exactly as instructed, steady and composed. His wand movement was smooth, his intent clear.
"Revelio."
The object before him shimmered cleanly as its concealed form revealed itself without distortion.
"Excellent focus," Professor McGonagall said. "You understand restraint. That is essential in Transfiguration."
Cassie followed. She moved with confidence, her posture balanced and controlled. Her spell unfolded the hidden enchantment.
"Very good," McGonagall noted. "Your control is consistent."
Jacqueline went next, precise and thoughtful. Her spell revealed the concealed details with careful clarity.
"Good work," McGonagall said. "You prioritize understanding over speed, a wise approach."
Finally, Penny stepped forward. She hesitated only a moment, then cast with calm intent. The charm responded smoothly, revealing the hidden form.
"Excellent composure," McGonagall said approvingly.
Whispers rippled through the classroom. Students exchanged looks, clearly impressed. A few leaned forward in their seats, watching Soren and his friends with open amazement.
Merula was called next.
She stepped forward confidently, chin lifted. Her casting was sharp but controlled, and the spell worked cleanly, revealing the concealed enchantment.
"Well done, Miss Snyde," McGonagall said evenly. "You have talent. Remember—discipline must guide it."
Merula's smirk returned, though it faltered briefly when she noticed the attention still lingering on Soren's group.
The remaining students continued.
Several succeeded after careful attempts, earning brief nods or short corrections. Others failed, their spells dissolving or producing no effect at all. McGonagall addressed each outcome calmly, emphasizing patience and practice.
When the last student returned to their seat, the lesson came to a close.
The room buzzed softly.
Everyone now understands, this year's Transfiguration class would not be ordinary.
---
When the class ended and students began packing their books, Soren and his friends lingered behind. As the last few students filed out, Soren stepped forward respectfully, with Penny, Cassie, Jacqueline and Merula beside him.
"Professor McGonagall," Soren said, "congratulations on appearing in Witch Weekly. "We heard about it, it's truly impressive."
McGonagall adjusted the stack of parchment on her desk and gave a brief, dismissive wave of her hand.
"It is nothing worth fussing over," she replied calmly. "I am hardly the most powerful witch. There are many far greater than I."
Soren hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Still, wouldn't we learn best from our brilliant professor by seeing her perform something… truly impressive?"
Merula also voiced it, "Yeah, come on, Professor. Show us what you've got."
McGonagall studied them over her spectacles for a long moment. Then, she sighed faintly."
"Very well," she said. "But step back."
They quickly moved away from the desks, pressing themselves against the walls.
McGonagall raised her wand.
Her movement was effortless—no hesitation, no excess motion. With a single controlled gesture, she cast the spell.
The wooden bench at the center of the room creaked. Its legs bent and reshaped, grain rippling like water.
The surface split and folded inward as fur spread across it. In seconds, the bench was gone, standing in its place was a full-grown bear, solid and breathing, blinking slowly as it adjusted to its surroundings.
McGonagall lowered her wand calmly, the bear remaining perfectly still and harmless.
"Was that impressive enough for you?" she asked evenly.
"Yes, Professor," Soren said honestly, awe clear in his voice. "That was brilliant. I can't do anything like that."
Merula scoffed, though there was tension beneath it. "Speak for yourself, Soren."
She stepped forward, eyes burning with ambition, and looked straight at McGonagall.
"I can keep up with you, Professor."
McGonagall met her gaze without a trace of amusement.
"Ambition is admirable, Miss Snyde," she said coolly. "But mastery takes time."
The bear vanished in a smooth reversal of the spell, returning once more to an ordinary wooden bench, as if it had never been anything else.
After the class ended and they gathered outside the classroom, Merula crossed her arms and huffed.
"All right," she admitted grudgingly. "I don't have a problem admitting McGonagall's skills are impressive."
She tilted her head, regaining her usual edge.
"But of course she's good at Transfiguration. She teaches the class."
Soren smiled slightly. "All right, then. We could test another aspect of her skills, outside the Transfiguration classroom."
Merula's interest was immediately piqued. She nodded once. "The article said she worked for the Ministry of Magic, in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"And she was a Hatstall," Merula added. "It took ages for her to be Sorted. She was nearly put into Ravenclaw."
"That would suggest she's even more clever than she's shown us so far," Soren replied. "We could put her overall knowledge of the wizarding world to the test."
Merula's lips curled into a sharp grin. "I'd love to see just how much she really knows."
Jacqueline clapped her hands softly, excited. "Brilliant! Let's meet in the library and quiz Professor McGonagall!"
Merula nodded in agreement.
---
The Hogwarts library was quiet as ever when they arrived. Before they could say a word, Madam Pince appeared between the shelves like a summoned specter.
"Just because you're meeting a professor," she said sharply, "doesn't mean you may speak at any volume you like."
The group immediately fell silent.
Even Merula knew better than to argue with Madam Pince.
Penny glanced between the towering shelves, lowering her voice instinctively. "I'll be interested to see if we can stump Professor McGonagall."
Soren nodded, equally curious. "Now we'll find out how much she knows about the wizarding world at large."
Merula folded her arms, a sharp smile tugging at her lips. "Right. Then we'll see if her brain is as powerful as her Transfiguration abilities."
Before anyone could respond, the soft sound of footsteps echoed between the shelves.
Professor McGonagall appeared. She stopped before them.
"Professor," Penny said quickly, "thank you for meeting us here."
"Yes," Jacqueline added, "we really appreciate it."
McGonagall inclined her head slightly. "I welcome the opportunity to provide additional teaching outside the classroom."
Soren straightened.
"We know you have extensive knowledge of Transfiguration, Professor. But what about general knowledge of the wizarding world, outside the walls of Hogwarts?"
Professor McGonagall considered him for a moment, then nodded.
"I would be happy to oblige. Pay close attention to what I tell you. I may question you about it afterwards."