Because Professor Flitwick was delayed for two minutes, Damon and his roommates who waited for him were the last to arrive at the Transfiguration classroom.
When they saw no professor at the desk, only a tabby cat, they sighed with relief. As soon as Ron sat down, he noticed the professor was missing and eagerly continued discussing the fluorescent flash spell with Damon.
But the next moment, Damon smiled and stopped him.
Everyone was confused. Then they noticed Damon didn't sit down like them but bowed slightly to the tabby cat on the podium.
The next second, the cat leaped off the desk and turned into Professor McGonagall as everyone gasped.
"Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous spell you'll learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone who misbehaves in my class will be asked to leave and never return. You've been warned."
Then she turned her desk into a pig and back again, and the whole class erupted in excitement.
"First, you must understand Gamp's Law of Transfiguration, the foundation of all transfiguration spells.
One: We cannot create food from nothing.
Two: We cannot create living beings. Transfiguration only changes how something looks, not what it truly is.
Three: We cannot create objects with magical properties, like flying brooms, potions, or gold galleons.
Four: We cannot create objects we've never seen or that don't exist in reality.
Five: We cannot create multiple objects with one spell, but we can transform an entire object at once. This is too advanced for you now, so we won't discuss it yet."
Even though many young wizards had studied this law before, hearing Professor McGonagall explain it sparked their excitement.
Some began imagining what strange things they could turn into objects they'd seen before.
Then McGonagall handed out matches and asked them to try turning them into needles.
Everyone secretly competed, thinking they'd finish quickly, but most ended up looking like they were performing a silly dance with their matches.
Damon looked at Neville, whose face was red as he kept waving his match, and shook his head. "No, Neville, that's not right."
"Magic is the wizard's will in action, especially in transfiguration. Waving your match randomly won't help. You need to focus."
Harry and Ron, who were struggling with their own matches, had been watching Damon's table. Seeing him teach Neville, they stopped and listened closely.
Since they sat at tables in front and behind, it was easy to eavesdrop.
"Honestly, friends, you should read more books. The transfiguration we're learning today comes straight from *Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration*. If you don't understand the basics, waving your wand won't do anything."
"Damon, we promise to study later! But please help us now! We don't want to fall behind," Ron and Harry begged. For some reason, Damon's advice didn't annoy them. Maybe because his tone was calm and kind, with no blame or pressure.
Damon shook his head and explained, "Before you start, remember three key points.
One: When transforming, wave your wand firmly and with purpose. One strong wave is better than a hundred random ones.
Two: Don't swing or twist your wand when it's not needed, or you'll fail.
Three: Before you cast, picture the silver needle clearly in your mind.
Neville, your wand waving just now was making all three mistakes."
Then Damon casually waved his wand, and the match in front of him turned into a simple long needle as Ron's mouth dropped open. He could've made it fancier, but that would only confuse Neville, so he kept it basic.
Then he gently broke the needle in two, showing the sawdust inside.
"See? It's still a match inside, just shaped like a needle and coated with silver."
"I-I understand!" Neville said nervously, looking ashamed. "Damon, you broke your match. What if Professor McGonagall sees? You didn't have to do that for me."
Damon looked at Neville, who seemed guilty, and smiled warmly. "Relax, Neville, we're wizards."
"Reparo!"
With a wave of his wand, the broken needle fixed itself instantly.
Neville's eyes lit up. Damon's spell also caught Professor McGonagall's attention. After all, transfiguration doesn't need spoken spells, so something unusual had happened.
"Which young man can explain what's going on here?" she asked.
"Nothing, Professor. I broke my match, so I fixed it," Damon said.
Ron opened his mouth but stayed quiet.
Professor McGonagall's face was blank, but she was curious inside. As Damon's guide, she knew he could transform a quill pen even before touching a wand. Even if his silent spellcasting was weaker now, he shouldn't struggle this much.
"Show me your match, Damon," she said.
"Yes, Professor."
Damon handed over the silver needle he'd transformed.
The corner of McGonagall's mouth twitched upward so slightly that Ron, who was watching her, wasn't sure if he imagined it.
"Damon, since you've finished, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want to be called to the front and stared at like a zoo animal."
"Oh, I see," McGonagall said, looking displeased but with eyes full of pride for her student. "If you don't want that, I won't make you."
"But you'll still get what you've earned." She turned to the class and announced, "Gryffindor earns five points for Damon's quick and successful transfiguration!"
The young wizards cheered. No one else had managed to change their match, not even Hermione.
Ron looked confused. "I could tell the professor wanted you to demonstrate for us. Why say no? That's such an honor! Are you worried we'll outdo you if you share your tricks?"
Damon glanced at Ron and smiled. "I think teaching you face-to-face works better than showing off in front of everyone."
"Damon!" Neville's eyes watered again.
Harry was touched too. Damon's kindness really stood out, he thought.
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