Lesson One: Basic Transfiguration

Lesson One: Basic Transfiguration
Topic Started: Jun 23 2008, 01:00 PM (190 Views)
Violet Morgan	Jun 23 2008, 01:00 PM Post #1
Professor of Transfiguration Posts: 820 Group: Professor Member #649 Joined: September 15, 2005	As Violet wandered down the corridor to her new classroom, her mind wandered back to when she had been a student at Hogwarts, racing down this very corridor in a futile attempt to not be late. It seemed so weird to be coming back as a professor... When Violet opened the door to the room, she was surprised at how dark and dreary it seemed. After opening the windows wide to let fresh air and sunlight in, she went right to the large blackboard at the front of the room. "Professor Morgan..." she mumbled as she wrote it out in large, swirling letters. She made a mental note to stop calling herself Violet, at least around her students. As Professor Morgan was writing, students began filing into the classroom, and sat themselves around the room. After what seemed like the last of them had come in, she decided to start the lesson. "Transfiguration", she said, turning from the board to the students, "is the act of turning one object to another. Though one of the more common forms of magic, it is also one of the hardest and most dangerous forms. That being said, anyone found being careless or irresponsible in my class will be asked to leave." Professor Morgan smiled, not wanting to scare anyone away from the class, and picked up her wand. With a flick of her wrist, a piece of chalk began to write out notes on the board. "The most simple things to transform are inanimate objects. The smaller and closer in size and shape the two objects are, the easier they will be to transform.", Professor Morgan read aloud as the students began copying down her words. "Now, for transforming inanimate objects you will use the spell 'Res Rei Verto'. This will turn an object into another object, or even into a living thing. But for today, we will use this spell to change a needle to a match, a nice, simple first attempt at Transfiguration." Professor Morgan turned to her desk, where sat a large pile of needles. She picked out one, and separated it from the rest. "Emotion", she said, turning back to the class, "will greatly affect your ability to concentrate on your spell, and concentration is key. You must first clear your mind, thinking only of the spell, and imagine what you want to do. In this case, your needle turning into a match." Professor Morgan turned back to her needle, watching it as if it was actually doing something interesting. "Res Rei Verto!", she said, flicking her wand every so slightly. She turned back to the class as they watched the needle first go brown, then fatten up and take the shape of a match. "Pronunciation is extremely important", she said, "it can be the difference between changing your needle to a match, and causing your needle to explode." With another flick of her wand, the pile of needles slowly picked itself up and distributed needles to each of the students. "Now I want all of you to try the spell. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work on the first try, because Transfiguration takes practice. Once you get the spell right, you can use it again to change it back into the needle. And don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions."



Jeffrey Flyhawk	Jun 24 2008, 10:21 AM Post #2
Posts: 11 Group: Ravenclaw 1st Year Member #1,622 Joined: June 17, 2007	Jeffrey Flyhawk sauntered into class. He was tired from last night he couldn’t sleep. Jeffrey thought that most likely he hadn’t adjusted to his dormitory. Although he was tired he wanted to make a good impression with the new Transfiguration teacher. Jeffrey messed with his brown hair, it was short and wavy. He slid his tall slender frame into the seat in the first row. He looked up at his new Professor and noticed that when she stated her name she mumbled. Jeffrey found this relaxing that maybe this professor was also laid back. Jeffrey decided to take notes as his professor made a piece of chalk write on the board. He took these notes: The most simple things to transform are inanimate objects. The smaller and closer in size and shape the two objects are, the easier they will be to transform. Now, for transforming inanimate objects you will use the spell 'Res Rei Verto'. This will turn an object into another object, or even into a living thing. But for today, we will use this spell to change a needle to a match, a nice, simple first attempt at Transfiguration. Jeffrey looked up at Professor Morgan as she turned to her desk and said, "Emotion, will greatly affect your ability to concentrate on your spell, and concentration is key. You must first clear your mind, thinking only of the spell, and imagine what you want to do. In this case, your needle turning into a match. It can be the difference between changing your needle to a match, and causing your needle to explode." Jeffrey felt an easiness to her teaching style and listened and thought about her words even after she spoke them. As Professor Morgan flicked her wand again the pile of needles slowly picked up and were distributed to each student. Jeffrey looked as his needle dropped to the cold wood of the desk. Professor Morgan said, "Now I want all of you to try the spell. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work on the first try, because Transfiguration takes practice. Once you get the spell right, you can use it again to change it back into the needle. And don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions." Jeffrey slipped his wand from his bag and began to clear his mind of only the spell and the final outcome. He thought about how Professor Morgan had pronounced the spell and then he took a deep breath. He then held a tight grip on his wand and said, “Res Rei Verto.” He looked down at his needle but nothing had happened he thought alright I know I can do this he then once again cleared his mind and thought of the pronunciation and grasped his wand in a relaxed but firm grip. He then took a deep breath and said, “Res Rei Verto,” as he slightly flicked his wand. As he looked down he saw his wand emit a spark and then the needle turned brown and then flatten into the shape of a match. He recalled Professor Morgan saying that to turn a match back into a needle to just say Res Rei Verto again. So he cleared his mind and thought of how to pronounce it. He then repositioned his hand on his wand with a relaxed yet firm grip. He the pronounce the spell, “Res Rei Verto.” He looked down at his match and saw it turn silver and then flatten into the shape of a needle. Jeffrey felt accomplished as he sat straighter in his chair. He felt that the needle symbolized something that had changed inside of him during the lesson. As he left the dreary classroom he felt amazed and that he could be great at Transfiguration and that his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be one to remember for the rest of his life.
	Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind


Mia Lamond	Jun 24 2008, 01:22 PM Post #3
Posts: 1,812 Group: Slytherin 4th Year Member #953 Joined: September 7, 2006	Mia had remembered when Professor Lawlis has been the Transfiguration teacher, before he had transferred to Defence against the Dark Arts. And she had to admit, walking into the class, seconds before the bell went as the finally warning. It was a shock to see Violet stood there waiting for them all to come in and sit. She smiled toward the new professor, getting over the fact that she was no longer another student to torment. But come to think of it… She was sure on their brief encounters, they had gotten on well enough… Hadn’t she been there when Maddie had become a Vampire? She was sure she was the student they had planned to scare… Whatever it was, that she remembered, it no longer mattered. As she sat, pulled out her text book, parchment, a quill and a small pot of Black ink, Mia couldn’t help but keep glancing up at Violet… Professor Morgan. It wasn’t that strange really. Most Hogwarts professors had been a student here, it was more that Mia just never remembered them being students that made the difference. Again she organised her pale, pointed face into a smile. She felt obliged to be nice, to be a good student, an odd sort of feeling, to feel obliged to anyone. But all the same, Professor Morgan was a nice enough person from what she remembered, and being that Mia had never been truly good at Transfiguration, she sure needed the help. Basic Transfiguration seemed an excellent idea. She wasn’t that bad after three or so years of taking this damned subject, but basic was easy and the easier a subject was the more confident you felt if you could do it. So as she took notes, grinning to herself, bottom lip pulled in under her top row of teeth, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat excited for the future of this lesson. Small steps toward a final goal and everything would be fine there on out. She couldn’t afford to fail this year. The quicker she was out of Hogwarts the sooner she would be able to find a job and then get a place of her own. No mother going on about this relationship, this argument and who got the bloody fruit bowl every time they broke up! She sighed to herself, looked toward Professor Morgan as she spoke about the subject. Emotion affected the spell? Well in that case she ought to get her wits about her and stop dwelling on matters that did not matter at the present, such as her mother and her drama or passing or failing Hogwarts. As the class started on the practical, Mia took her own sweet time replacing her quills and ink back in her bag, folding her notes and storing them in her thick text book and using it as a bookmark for the page of needles and matches then closed the large volume. She didn’t need it, she knew the spell. Violet had said it enough and everyone else was saying it allowed anyway. Once she had retrieved her wand from her pocket she stood up, pushed her chair out of the way, she hated to sit while doing spells, it made things awkward. Mia had never managed to pull a spell off on the first time, but this was stuff they had done before, well if not this exact spell, stuff similar. Besides, if she could turn a desk into a pig then a match into a needle should not be too hard in theory, should it? But her whacked out emotions were playing up, it wasn’t even as if Mia was particularly emotional anyway, so it was quite the shock to the young Slytherin. Even so, after the fifth attempt and the needle not so much as twitching or changing colour she growled angrily. She sat down and as a breather watched the rest of the class. Beside her sat some Ravenclaw first year, she snarled under her breath as she watched him casting the spell, willing for him to do it wrong or for the blasted thing to explode. But nothing happened other than it working, her mouth fell open and a glare slowly formed. She was being outsmarted by a child! That was motivation enough; she turned back to her needle. Eyes focused, Mind on nothing other than the image of a match stick. “Res Rei Verto!” She murmured for the now sixth time, she closed her eyes when nothing worked and let out a frustrated scream. “Res Rei Verto!” She said louder, eyes closed shut against the classroom and its occupants. She wasn’t sure why she was so amazed when she finally braved to look down at the scratched wood surface of the desk to be staring at a match stick. Perfect in shape and colour. Grinning she picked it up and observed it through squinted eyes. “Brilliant…” She laughed quietly, setting it down ready to turn it back to its previous form. “Res Rei Verto.” She said, and then once it was back to a needle, Mia picked up, again made sure it was how it was supposed to be and twirled her wand in her left hand, smirking to herself. So, how had that been so hard?
	Without Evil, There can be no Good.... ((Credit to ColeyCyanide to the great textures tut.))


Payton Abby Levin	Jul 2 2008, 02:23 PM Post #4
Posts: 55 Group: Slytherin 2nd Year Member #2,744 Joined: September 21, 2007	Transfiguration, she thought, as she she made her way through the chilly corridor's from the Slytherin common room. Payton had forgotten that not matter what temperature it was outside, down here would be much cooler. Wrapping her robes tighter around herself, Payton picked up her pace to the Entrance Hall. Grabbing a quick bite, Payton was on her way. She was very excited to be taking a new class this semester. Changing things into other things was something she couldn't wait to master, so she could hide some personal things from unwanted eyes. Plus Payton always wanted to be an animagus, she would be the only one in her family and she liked that idea. Her family was only good on the Dark Arts and Payton swore she'd be the best in everything. To be stronger then any witch or wizard in her line would be the only way to shut them up and she was on track for just that. Feeling a little off, Payton stops in the middle of the corridor. Taking a quick look around Payton sees she went to many floors up and she was standing in the middle of the 5th floor hall. Glancing at her watch, "Ah nuts, two minutes before class starts," turning on her heel, Payton takes off mumbling apologizes to all she knocks, pushes and bumps into. Finally and on time, Payton takes a seat towards the back of the room, well the only one left actually, Professor Morgan had a packed class. Pulling out some parchment and a quill from her orange saddle bag, Payton began taking notes. As Payton's quill raced across the parchment she sat back trying to clear her mind. She wanted to nail the spell the first time around, she was somewhat a perfectionist. Payton waited for the needle to appear on her desk, she was eager to get started. When the needle touched her desk, Payton rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Taking a deep breath to help clear her mind, Payton practiced saying the spell without her wand first. She wanted to make a hundred percent sure she was saying it right, even though she already knew she was. When she was comfortable enough to start, Payton pulled her wand from the inside of her robes. Pointing her 6 1/2 inch Holly wand at the needle, Payton pictures the needle in her mind, sitting alone on the dark brown desk, sun light bouncing of the tip. The spell circles the needle and Payton has it half way out of her mouth when she hiccups. "Nuts!" She whispers, looking around to see if anyone was watching her. Looking back down at her needle, she just that, a silver shard laid there. After conjuring some water, Payton was ready to try again. Picturing what she did before, Payton felt good about this time around. The spell danced around the needle in her mind changing it to a match. First the tip turns brown and the color slowly travels up to the top. Payton knew when she had to finally say the spell out loud, the time was coming. As the top where the hole was started to turn to a white match tip, the spell left her lips. "Res Rei Verto." Opening her eyes slowly the young girl was scared it didn't work, but a huge smile appeared when she saw a match sitting in front of her. With a sigh a relief Payton sat back flick her wand, said the spell and changed it back to a needle. Now that she was able to do and undo the spell, Payton spent the last few minutes changing it back and forth



Simon Deafen	Jul 8 2008, 01:32 PM Post #5
Posts: 5 Group: Ravenclaw 1st Year Member #7,096 Joined: July 3, 2008	Ah, Transfiguration, my favourite subject thought Simon as he sat down. While waiting for the needle to fly over to his desk, Simon started daydreaming of changing his annoying little sister into a frog. Hehehe, he thought as the needle landed on the middle of his desk. He recalled Professor Morgan telling them to use the spell Res Rei Verto, so Simon pulled out his wand and was ready to change the needle into the match. "Res Rei Verto" said Simon, pointing his wand at the silver needle. Nothing happened. "Res Rei Verto" he said again, poking the needle with his wand. Nothing happened again. Come on, needle! Change into a matchstick! thought Simon. "Res Rei Verto!" he said yet again, pointing his wand at the needle. Nothing happened. Simon was getting annoyed now. Fourth time lucky? Simon asked himself. Once again, he pointed his wand at the needle and said the incantation. "Res Rei Verto!!!" he said, and closed his eyes, blocking out the classroom and his classmates. He opened his eyes. Stupid stubborn needle! Simon thought. Okay, last time. I better change this needle into a match. I need to clear my mind and really concentrate! he thought to himself. He pointed his wand at the needle and closed his eyes, envisioning the shiny needle transforming into a matchstick. He opened his eyes, and sitting right in front of him was a matchstick. "Excellent!" said Simon, happy he had performed his first piece of magic. Now, Simon thought to himself, how do I change it back again?. Oh yeah Simon thought. He recalled Professor Morgan changing it back by saying "Res Rei Verto" again. Now confident he could change his needle into a match, he slightly flicked his wand and said "Res Rei Verto". The matchstick changed colour, flattened and took the shape of a needle. "Excellent" Simon said yet again. Now, Simon knew he could change the needle into the matchstick and vice versa. For the rest of the lesson he kept changing the needle into a matchstick and back again. Edited by Simon Deafen, Jul 16 2008, 01:06 PM.



Jane Violet Deneuve	Jul 14 2008, 08:15 AM Post #6
Posts: 9 Group: Ravenclaw 1st Year Member #7,104 Joined: July 13, 2008	Jane paced herself quickly through the large corridors of Hogwarts. She was about to go to her first class. Of course, she was extremely excited, but she was also extremely lost. She was going to be late if she didn't find her way soon. Jane looked around to see if she could ask anyone which direction to go. Sadly, that idea didn't work. Everyone she tried to talk to either couldn't hear her, or just didn't want to talk to the small Ravenclaw student. She was about to burst into tears. "Ah, it must be around here somewhere." She muttered to herself. "They said it would be in this corridor--" Her voice cut off. A professor just walked into a door that had been standing in front of Jane during her panic-attack. Jane groaned, peeking into the room. It was Transfiguration. Jane ran into the room, hoping Professor Morgan wouldn't see her. There was a large chance she wouldn't because she was writing on the board. She sat down in an empty seat at the very back of the room. It was secluded, and right now, she was alright with seclusion. She looked up to find Professor Morgan explaining the spell. As soon as the small needle flew towards her desk, Jane tried out the spell. "Res Rei Verto..." She muttered. Oh. I'm forgetting the emotion. "Res Rei Verto." Nothing. "Ah... Maybe I'm doing it all wrong." Jane whispered. "Alright, another time... Res. Rei. Verto." The needle, sadly, was still a needle. She looked around her. The other students were closing their eyes. Some were doing strange movements. Almost all of them were screaming the spell. "Worth a try." She said. With one breathe in and one out, Jane closed her eyes, and swished her wand screaming: "Res Rei Verto!" Her eyes opened slowly, the right one slightly twitching, as if it didn't want to open. It worked. Jane grinned. She stared at the match. She had to turn it back now. Sighing, she swished her wand and recited the spell. "Res Rei Verto!" It didn't work at first, but she was determined. She tried again, thinking of that annoying shiny needle that she now longed for. "Res Rei Verto!!" It worked. The small match first took a round shape, but then it plopped down on the desk as a needle. "Let's try this again..."
	You laugh because we're different... We laugh because you're all the same.


Raiden Alexander	Jul 28 2008, 03:25 AM Post #7
Posts: 4 Group: Gryffindor 1st Year Member #7,113 Joined: July 27, 2008	Raiden walked quickly through the corridors of Hogwarts to his Transfiguration classroom, and was one of the first few students there. He had suspected he would be, of course, as he had skipped breakfast this morning and done some exploring, hoping to minimize his risk of being tardy. Taking a seat in the front row, he got out parchment and a quill as he watched Professor... Morgan write her name on the board (and mutter it under her breath). Then, when everyone had entered the classroom, she turned to face them and Raiden grabbed his quill, dipped it in his inkwell, and prepared to take notes. As Professor Morgan began telling them about Transfiguration and the spell they would be attempting today, Raiden scribbled short, paraphrased notes that only he would likely be able to comprehend. He sometimes wondered why he even bothered taking notes in classes, as they were usually stuffed in a book, his bag, or some other random place and never read again. As the Professor finished giving them their instructions, Raiden rolled up his parchment, capped his inkwell, and stuffed his notes in his bag, where they would likely remain for the rest of their existence. When he looked up from his bag he pulled out his wand, seeing that he had already been given his needle, and set to work. He wasn't going to have any problems with the incantation. Indeed, he rather doubted he would have a problem with the incantation for any spell, as he had a talent for remembering the way things were pronounced. Pointing his wand at his needle, he thought hard about it turning into a match, and said, "Res Rei Verto!" As he finished the incantation, Raiden's mind drifted to what Professor Morgan had said about the correct incantation being the difference between turning your needle into a match and making it explode, and he couldn't help but grin at the thought of his needle exploding. Unfortunately, Raiden's shift of concentration had a slightly disastrous affect. The moment the incantation was finished, there was a flash of light and a bang as though someone had set off a firecracker, and the only thing left on his desk was a large scorch mark where the needle had detonated. After Raiden had cleaned up his mess, gotten his robes to stop smoking, and acquired a new needle, he sat back down, pulled his wand out once more, and prepared to try again. Raiden took a few deep breaths to help clear his mind, and focused the entirety of his will on the needle becoming a match as he said: "Res Rei Verto!" To Raiden's great surprise, the spell worked-mostly. His needle was still quite clearly a needle, but it was now made of a dark, highly polished wood rather than metal. Clearing his throat and sitting up a little straighter in his chair, Raiden pointed his wand firmly and confidently at his wooden needle and once again said: "Res Rei Verto!" This time, the spell worked perfectly, and he was now staring at a match. Pleased with himself, Raiden picked it up and examined it closely, making sure that it was completely a match. Satisfied, he put it back down on his desk, pointed his wand at it, envisioned it turning into a needle, and said the incantation once more, grinning slightly as the spell worked. Raiden spent the last few minutes transforming his needle into a match and then back. He thought about maybe experimenting with trying to turn it into something else, but ultimately decided against the idea. When the bell rang and class ended, Raiden got up and left the classroom slowly and calmly, already thinking ahead to his next lesson...



Alexandra Helcy	Jul 30 2008, 09:27 PM Post #8
Posts: 25 Group: Hufflepuff 2nd Year Member #1,231 Joined: February 12, 2007	Alexandra hurried along the corridor, cursing under her breath for being late. 'Please, don't be in. Please don't be in. Please don't be...' she caught sight of the professor. '..in,' she let go of her breath, gripping the wand in her hind the tiniest bit tighter. Lowering her eyes, she took the seat at the back of the classroom. She hoped nobody noticed her late entrance. Settling down at her desk, she pulled her small notebook out. Her eyes roamed freely, taking in what the others were doing before finally setting on the board. A basic transfiguration lesson, thank goodness. After all that she'd been through earlier in the morning, a smooth, easy lesson would be good. She sighed, and cheered up slightly at that thought. Alex rolled up her sleeves slowly, her mind going back to the contents of Felicity's letter. She hadn't heard from her friend for over a month now, and suddenly all that? "Urgh," Alex picked up the needle distractedly. Holding the two points between her forefinger and thumb, her memory wandered back to what had happened over the summer. She had first met Felicity when their grandmothers had bumped into each other at the post office. Felicity had always been funny, even during the first encounter she'd started making faces behind her grandmother's back while Alex's and hers chatted about 'children these days'. Alex still remembered how Felicity would do a perfect copy of her grandmother's sigh and shake of the head. "...and you had to spoil it all didn't you? You annoying, no-good, Irish -" Alex hissed, dropping the needle to the floor. She'd held the needle between her two fingers with more pressure than what was needed, and the sharp end had pricked her. "Now look what you've done, Ray," she said, pressing the wound before sucking on it. Waving her wand, she muttered a simple hovering charm and the needle dropped to table with a small 'clink'. She wished the same would be easier to apply on a person. Hover them for a while, and drop them 20 feet from the ground. Hah. That would be something worth watching, and definitely something worth doing. Especially to boys like Ray. Alex narrowed her eyes unconsciously, smiling a little, a hint of revenge in it. Gripping her wand tighter, the grain rough beneath her hand, her mind focused back on the task at hand. So how did the spell go again? "Res Rei Verto.." she rolled the words around in her mouth. She grunted a little. Why did his name have to be in it? Making a slight sound of disgust, she took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Inhale...exhale. Alex raised her wand slightly. "Res Rei Verto!" her mouth formed the words angrily, wrist flicking the wand a little too strong. "Ah!" she said, looking at her transformed needle. It was a match, sure. But it was on fire. Wringing her hands slightly, she quickly blew out the flame. Alex sighed, looking at the match. Small swirls of smoke were still coming from it. She dissipated the swirls with her hand, propping her chin in the palm of another. If only certain things didn't happen that summer..If only Ray hadn't come from Ireland for his holiday...Maybe things would have been different between her and Felicity now. Maybe her friend wouldn't blame her for making Ray 'unavailable'. That word, the exact one from Felicity's letter that morning. Urgh. And if only Felicity knew...how herself thought nothing of Ray at all. Alex resurfaced from her reverie, taking a deep breath with it. Well, she'd have to settle it sooner or later. A letter to her friend, explaining everything. "Right after this.." she said, smiling a little at the charred matchstick. Thank goodness they were only dealing with inanimate objects today. If they had been transfiguring needle into say...canaries, for instance, she'd have roasted one indefinitely. "Res Rei Verto," she gave a flick of her wand. The needle was back. Though...Alex examined the needle closer. She laughed a little. The needle looked a bit blackened. "Close enough," she said, smiling as she sat down and took out a piece of parchment from her bag. Alex started on her letter to Felicity, as she waited for the professor to examine her work.



Naomi Harper	Aug 4 2008, 01:59 PM Post #9
Posts: 49 Group: Ravenclaw 2nd Year Member #2,063 Joined: August 4, 2007	Naomi walked into class with her usual swagger, dressed to the nines. Though they all wore uniforms, Naomi Harper could always be counted on to look even better than everyone else. Her personality had earned her little friends, but that didn't matter much to her. She just wanted to be done with school and get out into the real world. Her bag hanging from her shoulder, Naomi headed for her usual seat in the back away from the other students. She knew they didn't like her and she wouldn't impose herself upon them. She sat down and took out a pink feathered quill and some parchment, ready to take notes. As the professor lectured about basic transfiguration, Naomi busily wrote. Though her personality screamed Slytherin, Naomi was exceptionally bright and excellent grades were easy to maintain. Guess the sorting hat saw more of her brains, then her blood. After awhile, it was time for them to put into practice what they had just learned. Naomi pulled out her wand, her pride and joy, and pointed it at the needle. This shouldn't be so difficult, she thought. "Res Rei Verto," she said with a small flick of her wrist. A matchstick appeared, though it was silver in appearance. "I can never get the color right!" Naomi said frustrated. She decided to change it back, but her frustration was making it difficult. She continued to repeat the incantation with no results. Finally she decided to take a breather and clear her head. I can do this, she thought confidently. Finally when it seemed she was calm, she tried again. She succesfully changed the matchstick into a needle and smiled. "I knew I could do it," she said smugly.



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