Jan 4th, 1892 - Transfiguration Classroom, "Animagi, Vanishment, & Conjuring pt. II"

It was Basil’s last class of the day and the sun was starting to set as the short days of winter stole light from them earlier and earlier it seemed. There was never enough time in a day to accomplish, well, much of anything and Basil felt this as he erased the intro level assignment from his board and began writing out the O.W.L. assignment for the evening. He was excited to share some news with this particular class as they’d just spent the entire fall term studying animagi and he’d made some exciting decisions on the topic over the holiday break.

As students began to trickle in, Basil sorted through the texts on his desk which had - remarkably - become a hazard in just under 8 hours. He sighed. (There was definitely an organizational system wanting with his papers.) As the top of the hour chimed, he cleared his throat and came around to begin the lesson.

“Good evening, I hope you’ve all had a lovely break and took some time to rest over the holiday.” he greeted. “Now, before we start, I wanted to make a small announcement.

There was a lot of interest garnered last term on the topic of animagi and, as we’ve now studied in depth the history and process to become an animagus, starting this term, I will be hosting monthly check-ins to assist and inform those further interested in the process. These sessions will be open to all O.W.L and N.E.W.T level students interested in learning more about or becoming an animagi, and we will share valuable insights throughout our journey together for the group’s benefit. This is a completely optional program and will not count towards extra credit for the class. I, too, will be embarking along the journey with those interested to begin my own animagus transformation.” Basil grinned at the sea of faces. He was quite thrilled about it too.

“If anyone has any questions, please see me after class,” he continued. Then, turning back to point at the board, Basil flipped open his text. “Now, for today’s lesson and for the foreseeable future we will be learning about switching spells! Can anyone start us off by defining for the class the purpose of a switching spell?"

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Open to all Third, Fourth and Fifth year students. More info on Basil's animagus group here.

  

With the professor's announcement, Maddy was decidedly distracted from the actual lesson, glancing around the room at the other OWL-level students. She couldn't imagine the likes of little Hesper Gamp even attempting something so complicated as an animagus transformation—heck, she could not even imagine her own friends pulling it if, except maybe Sisse if she really set her mind to it.

"Are you going to try for it?" she whispered quietly to her seatmate.

  

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— Bree is a graphics genius ♡ —

"I don't know." Sisse whispered back to Maddy. And honestly, she didn't. She'd never put much thought in to becoming an animagus but like most of the students here, she reasoned, she felt she ought to at least show up to make up her mind. What would she even do with the skill if she were one. But then there was also the fact that transfiguration was not her best subject, so did it matter in any case? "You?"

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

Professor Foxwood really shod have made that announcement at the end of class if he actually wanted the students to focus.but instead he'd made at the beginning and lost them all in two minutes flat. Calla twisted back just enough to see the two girls behind her, trying not to make her actions obvious. It had never been something she'd considered doing it - not because of skill level but simply the thought jad never occurred to her - but now that the thoight was here... "It sounds fun to try!"

  

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look at the pretties mj made me!!!

Emma liked transfiguration, she liked anything that allowed her to indulge in her moments of whimsy. Turning a little brown mouse into a pretty pink tea cup, or a chipped teacup into a hedgehog was a delightful experience. However the prospect of turning into an animal sent Emma's mind running in all sorts of directions, to all the animals she might be able to turn into. What an exciting prospect, she would need to attend the library after class to nab a book on the subject, before the others got them before her.

Although even the prospect of exciting transformations wasn't enough to distract her from the question from the teacher. Her hand shot into the air 'it changes the position of two items' she answered when called on.

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

"Uh-uh," Maddy answered with a shake of her head that might have been a bit too noticeable by those not in the conversation. The Gryffindor did not even need to think on the matter—advanced magic like that was not exactly her strong suit, and she would hate to be trapped as half-pigeon for the rest of her life if it went wrong.

  

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— Bree is a graphics genius ♡ —

These sessions will be open to all O.W.L and N.E.W.T level students interested in learning more about or becoming an animagi, and we will share valuable insights throughout our journey together for the group’s benefit.

Genia Adebayo sat up straighter in her seat. Though always attentive in her transfiguration lessons, her gaze and attention were particularly focused upon Professor Foxwood as he spoke. It was bold of him to make such an announcement at the beginning of the lesson to serve as a distraction for the rest of the hour, but the Slytherin overlooked this. It was as though he had been lurking in the corner as she had written the words animagus transformation, her wish for 1892, upon the scrap of paper and burned it in her candle, a quiet resolution just for her.

As graduates of Uagadou, most of her household—bar Callista, who, like Genia, had attended Hogwarts—had attained their own animagus transformations before graduating. It was a target Genia herself was determined to strike dead-center, in spite of the vast differences between their education and her own.

But did she have the nerve to do so publicly, where others might bear witness to her potential failures?

Distracted as she was by this inner musing, Genia did not correct the Ravenclaw's response.

  

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— mj makes pretty things ✨ —

Basil realized his mistake only too belatedly. He ought to have saved the animagus group news for the end of the lesson because now the classroom was abuzz with it. Despite his usual flair for professionalism, he couldn’t help but smile. This did seem to be quite the hot topic, didn’t it? Clearing his throat rather loudly and pointedly, Basil waited for the chattering to die down.

As one of the students volunteered an answer to the question, he hummed and came around his desk to sit on the edge. “Thank you Ms. Binns, though it’s not quite as simple as that.” He gave her an approving nod anyway. “It is true that the switching spell appears to swap the position of two objects, but the fundamental nature of the spell is to simultaneously transfigure two items into one another giving the appearance of a swap.” Basil pulled his wand out of his coat pocket.

“For example,” he started. “Take this Gryffindor here,” he gestured vaguely at Miss Bell. “And this Slytherin here.” He gestured again, but this time at Miss Adebayo. “If I perform a switching spell to switch… their robes,” he gave his wand a delicate wave “Voila! You can see that it appears Miss Bell’s Gryffindor robe has traded places with Miss Adebayo’s Slytherin robe, when in fact, the two items remain in essence their own but in appearance resemble that of the other.” He gave the two girls a nod and gestured for them to come stand at the front of the class. Impromptu volunteers, but hopefully willing nonetheless.

“The incantation for the switching spell…” he continued, straightening and moving back around the desk. “…is Restituo.” As he spoke, the chalk began to scribble pertinent notes across the board. “It is derived from the Latin, meaning ‘to restore.’ It’s quite a tricky one and requires absolute clarity or it may go awry. Additionally, one neat little fact about the switching spell is that - in order to cast it - the witch or wizard intending must physically weigh more than the two objects combined weight.” He grinned out at the class hoping they found this as fascinating as he did.

“Now your assignment for today is to switch a biscuit into a knut. Please come up and take one of each from the basket.” Basil gestured to a large picnic basket on the corner of his desk. Inside there was a small container of chocolate biscuits covered by a rag and a small handful of bronze knuts. “To any student who successfully manages the task and brings it to me for proof, you may keep the knut and buy yourself a sweet on the next Hogsmeade visit on behalf of your transfiguration professor.” Basil took a seat at his desk as the students began to shift. Then, turning to his two volunteers, he smiled. “Thank you both for your participation.” Then, with a wave of his wand, he returned their robes to their rightful origins  and settled in to attend some paperwork.

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Madeline Bell , Iphigenia Adebayo, @"Emma Binns", Calla Potts,  Sisse Thompsett

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   Aldous Crouch

With a self-conscious smile, Maddy made her way up to the front of the room. At least she didn't have to do the magic that was being demonstrated, though without a broomstick in hand, the Gryffindor didn't exactly relish being the centre of attention.

As Professor Foxwood continued to speak, Maddy wondered if he hadn't rather forgotten his fifth year 'volunteers', and felt her cheeks growing pinker than she might have liked. It did not help that Miss Adebayo remained stoic as always. Eventually, though, the pair were released, allowing Maddy to settle in to the task at hand, grabbing the requisite supplies before returning to her seat.

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   Basil Foxwood

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— Bree is a graphics genius ♡ —

She gave Professor Foxwood a nod of acknowledgement before retrieving the knut and biscuit from the appropriate basket and returning to her seat. The spell itself, well, Genia was not overly concerned about its difficulty—though it was two actions in one, it was a single incantation requiring a single-minded focus.

Which meant she should probably think less about the animagus news and more about this.

"Restituo!" the Slytherin cast.

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   Basil Foxwood

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— mj makes pretty things ✨ —

She nodded and took notes enthusiastically as her professor nuanced her explanation with his professional detail.

Highly enthused to impress her professor she retrieved the items as directed and headed to her seat placing the items before her she tried to cast the spell. 'Restituo' she cast, copying the movement she had seen demonstrated.

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   Basil Foxwood

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

The animagus news fell on deaf ears while Archer very hastily banished it from his memory. That was the sort of magic he endeavored to avoid due to his impeccable track record at causing disaster. He was fairly certain that he would either fail miserably, become trapped as a flea, or he would permanently transfigure only part of his body and become a freakish human/animal hybrid. No need to become an even worse laughing stock.

Snippets of conversations washed over him, and he only tuned back in when it seemed they would finally return to the day's lesson. The professor's demonstration had the boy blinking in surprise, while also breathing out in relief that he hadn't been chosen to set some sort of example. With this unknown danger averted, the Ravenclaw instead focused on his notes that he scrawled out in complete detail.

When it came time to retrieve the knut and biscuit, the Belby boy was one of the last. He then spent a great deal of time alternating between staring at the two objects and his notes, his anxiety growing by the minute. The professor had said they needed absolute clarity, yet intrusive thoughts kept hammering in his brain. This was going to go terribly. Why was it that he could flawlessly practice spells in private, but, once he knew others were watching, he completely mucked it up?

With a deep breath, a cringe, and a questioning tone, Archer attempted to cast the spell, "Restituo?"

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   Basil Foxwood

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MJ is the best!