Transfigure Your Life

Minerva giggled to herself, pleased. It was April Fool’s Day and for once she had partaken in the festivities. She read over her assignment and laughed out loud. 57 rolls of parchment. She couldn’t wait to hear the cries of anguish of her students before she remedies the post. Later in the day she would change it to the real requirement of the essay 2 pages would be sufficient. 

@ANYONE

It was a pristine Sunday afternoon. Minerva McGonagall sat in her cottage in Hogsmeade. The cottage that she now lived in alone. She basked in the sunlight on her porch hunched over a book. The snap of a twig alerts her to another’s presence.

“Aberforth is that you?” 

When no response comes she slowly removes her reading glasses and walks over to the hedge. She draws her wand.

“Alright out with ya. I will not tolerate eavesdropping. Who are you?”

        @anyone 

           Professor McGonagall strode into the castle somberly. She looked weathered and beaten. Her husband has died. It hit her harder than she had expected. He had been ill for quite some time, but still she depended on his support. As she makes her way through the crowded halls she is greeted by numerous students. “Good to see you Professor“‘s and “Welcome back“‘s fill her ears. Of course they know something is amiss. Minerva had not missed a school day in nearly a decade. For the second time in her life she was heart-broken. She went to her lessons and taught with the same vigor she’d always had, but something was missing. The strongest woman alive would need a confidant during this time, so of course Minerva sought out her greatest friend, Albus. Before she could make it to his office she was stopped by an unexpected face though….

@LuLU

It is a fine Saturaday afternoon. Professor McGonagall is dressed rather informally (for her). Garbed in a jumper, blouse, kerchief, and khakis she makes her way to the Ravenclaw common room. She looks quite out of character. In fact numerous students don’t even recognize her. What is the cause of such an event? It is her anniversary. After finishing a few tasks that demand her attention she will be headed down to Hogsmeade to meet with her husband. One such task is speaking with Miss Elliott. There are pressing matters the stoic professor much address. 

“Good Heavens it is already 4:00 p.m….” she mutters to herself as she effortless solves the Ravenclaw portal’s riddle. Then in a cheery voice rarely heard from minerva she calls out, “Miss Elliott, Oh Miss Elliott please come down to the common room I need a word, dear.” 

midnight-marauders-memories:

Minerva McGonagall and her first love, Dougal McGregor

Taken by her brother, 1934

Minerva attempts to stifle gasp when she sees the time-weathered photograph. Her shock and immense sorrow that is etched across her face is quickly replace with a stolid yet somber expression….”Oh Dougal….” 

Before approaching Headmaster Dumbledore ministry officials met with Minerva. They wanted to try and get her on there side so they could blind side Albus. The ministry wished to cover up the murder that occured on school grounds so not to incite panic. Before the emissary spilled too much of her nonsense Professor McGonagall stopped her. 

“Please!      You want us to hide the death of a child?! The absolute nerve…no it is about time you people were forced to deal with the chaos brewing right under your noses. I shall not listen to another word. We will go to Albus this very instance but I assure you that he will agree with me.”

She huffs past the absurd witch and leads to her Dumbledore’s office before they even reach the gargoyle Minerva spots him strolling in the hallway. She approaches. 

Minerva McGonagall||Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore|| In the Headmaster’s office 

Professor McGonagall raised her robes above her ankles and rushed behind the Headmaster through the corridors. Numerous hairs have fallen from her bun and she looks immensely distraught. She passes a window and a flash of lightening illuminates her face. 

“Albus…We must hurry.” 

She returns her attention to their ascent to his office. She waits while he utters the password and ushers him in. Once he sits behind his desk she commences. 

” I know you’ve been in Albania and I am interested in what you have unearthed in regards to the disappearances, but something has happened on Hogwarts’ soil that we can not ignore any longer. A student has been brutally murdered! Her -struggles- body was, what was left of it, sprawled across the floor of one of the greenhouses. Word has not gotten out just yet, except to the parents and the sister of the poor child. What should we do, Albus? I’m scared. Nothing this horrendous has ever happened here before. Even when Gellert Gindelwald was in power he never strayed into London.”

She takes a large breath and waits for the cogs in his brilliant mind to begin working. She sits in one of the chairs in front of his desk like a student. That is how she often felt around her old friend, as if he was schooling her. 

Albus nodded slowly, listening to her speak and sitting behind his desk. It was disconcerting, definitely, to hear of something so tragic as soon as he’d returned from a most unrevealing trip. He hadn’t discovered much as to the cause of the disappearances, which frustrated the man to no end, and now this.

“So very tragic, and… unpleasant,” Albus said finally, toying with the end of his beard for a moment as he thought. His eyes flickered around the walls of his office, pausing over each of the things that adorned his shelves, various trophies and keepsakes from trips and past headmasters.

After some time, he pulled himself from his thoughts and met the eyes of the distressed professor. “Minerva, this is certainly something to take into deep thought. I believe it would be wise to let the students know, as they have every right to know where their friend has gone. We’ll announce it tomorrow night. In the meantime, I will look into the mysterious death.”

“Are you going to convene a school meeting in the Great Hall? I’ve alerted the Ministry for you, they told me a man has stepped forward. It is the only reason they haven’t interrogated each and every student. Albus…they say it was a hate crime simply because the lass was a muggle-born.”

Minerva is extremely stressed. Her heart rate is through the roof. She loathes feeling her students are in danger. 

“I’m at my wits end my old friend. Things have gotten out of hand in your absence…and Elphinstone was bitten by venomous tentacula and his health is deteriorating rapidly…I’ve need you terribly.  

Minerva McGonagall||Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore|| In the Headmaster’s office 

Professor McGonagall raised her robes above her ankles and rushed behind the Headmaster through the corridors. Numerous hairs have fallen from her bun and she looks immensely distraught. She passes a window and a flash of lightening illuminates her face. 

“Albus…We must hurry.” 

She returns her attention to their ascent to his office. She waits while he utters the password and ushers him in. Once he sits behind his desk she commences. 

” I know you’ve been in Albania and I am interested in what you have unearthed in regards to the disappearances, but something has happened on Hogwarts’ soil that we can not ignore any longer. A student has been brutally murdered! Her -struggles- body was, what was left of it, sprawled across the floor of one of the greenhouses. Word has not gotten out just yet, except to the parents and the sister of the poor child. What should we do, Ablus? I’m scared. Nothing this horrendous has ever happened here before. Even when Gellert Gindelwald was in power he never strayed into London.”

She takes a large breath and waits for the cogs in his brilliant mind to begin working. She sits in one of the chairs in front of his desk like a student. That is how she often felt around her old friend, as if he was schooling her. 

1…2…3…ferra verto

Transfiguration is the study of the branch of magic that focuses on altering the form/appearance of an object by altering the object’s molecular structure into the form that suits the witch or wizard. Transfiguration can be done to most objects, but is governed by a number of laws, one of which is Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration. 

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was previously the transfiguration professor, even after being offered a job at the Ministry of Magic. He decided to stay at Hogwarts and is currently Headmaster. The subject is now taught by the stunningly cunning and elegantly reserved, Professor Minerva McGonagall.

The branches of Transfiguration are: Animagus, Cross-Species Transfiguration, Conjuration, Human Transfiguration, and Untransfiguration. 

An Animagus is a person who can transform themselves into an animal at will. This skill is difficult to learn and extremely dangerous. The animal form taken is dependent on the personality traits of the witch or wizard. An animagus can be identified by a distinguishing mark. If the person undergoes a physical, such as losing a limb or digit, the animal form will also show that. It has been rumored that the legendary Babbitty Rabbit was an animagus and could speak the human language in her animal form. 

Trans-Species Transformation is a sub-category of Transformation magic. It can be gathered from the name that one organism is partially or perhaps fully transformed (transfigured) into another, different species. It currently faces controversy over the ethical treatment of the animal(s) involved. It is known to be easier if the animals have similar names, such as guinea pigs to guinea fowl. 

Conjuration is distinguished from the other branches because it is transfiguring the desired object out of ‘thin air.’ It is governed by Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration, which dictates what can be conjured and what cannot. For example, food cannot be conjured, but water can be, through the spell ‘Aguamenti.’ 

Human Transfiguration is the branch of Transfiguration in which one transfigures either human body part(s) or an entire being into another form. Human transfiguration is possible, but extremely dangerous. It helps if the person being transfigured somewhat resembles the animal and/or object they are being transfigured into. It is not quite known how someone who self-transfigures into an inanimate object untransfigures without the help of another witch or wizard. 

Untransfiguration is the process of reversing a transfiguration. It is a counter-spell that undoes the magic, which is to say that it returns the object to its original form. It has been argued by W.O.M.B.A.T that is might not be possible to Untransfigure an object or a person without knowing what they were originally. 

I transfigured this into this rather exceptional, but I won’t tell you what it was originally in fears that it might untransfigured. 

Thank you Mister Black, for being the sole third year to turn in their work I award Slytherin house 10 points on your behalf. This is a well thought out essay that covers all the required points, but if I am to tear it apart. It is quite shallow. You could have expounded on numerous points. You chose quantity over quality but that being said it is still an excellent essay. I believe you have earned a high Exceeds Expectations! 

((ooc: I can’t help it. I found this in the tags and good god this needs to become reality!))

the-sirius-black:

My heart sings out whenever I am in your presence! My mouth fumbles with the words to be able to express the love I feel for you and you alone. Instead of making a fool of myself, I shall let Shakespeare speak for me.

O Mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O, stay and hear; your true love’s…

____________-

A slight smile spread across Professor McGonagall’s face as she reads Sirius’ ridiculous note. She quickly wipes it from her visage. McGonagall quickly pens a response to Sirius. 

“Is this a dagger which I see before me…” A weapon I shall utilize to slaughter your love Mister Black. “I see Queen Mab hath been with you” but I shall not morph with thee into some “beast with two backs.” Erase such notions from your head, lad. Have you gone silly? Channel this passion into your schoolwork if you truly seek my favor. All other gifts you grant me with shall be met with poison penned letters filled to the brim with disdain, boy. I do not ask for love. I ask for respect. 

p.s Should you feel incline to ooze other love-sick induced utterances speak to this foolish lass. She is the only ear of mine that shan’t fall deaf to your silly musings. 

“Place all four legs of that chair on the ground this instance before you break it, it’s an antique!” She says a bit harshly. She is unabashed by his flirting and does not bat an eye at his outrageous behavior. “Thank you, I am fortunate to have him as well and yearn for no one else,that I can have at least. Now what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Is Mister Potter fawning over Miss Evans tonight and forsaking you, lad? Come, come out with it I’m a very busy woman and I do not have all night to waste on you.” She sits behind her desk folding her hands in her lap over her wand. Wrinkles appear around her eyes as she gives him a slight smile. “You are absurd Mister Black. Completely and utterly absurd.”

Sirius leaned back forward in his chair as he pulled his legs off of her desk. Sitting forward with his elbows resting on his knees, he flashed a charming smile in McGonagall’s direction; the little games he played with her never got old. He could tell she enjoyed them, as well, when she allowed her harsh exterior to slip and a smile to grace her lips. Of course that did nothing to deter Sirius from unashamedly flirting with the older woman. “Well, my dear, Jamesie is always fawning over Evans. I think it’s rather…sweet, don’t you?” he asked, batting his eyelashes in her direction. “No matter how many times he’s turned down or hexed, his love prevails. He won’t stop until he wins his fair lady’s heart. Romantic, don’t you think?” Sirius winked at McGonagall as he sat straight up again. “I’m here to visit my fair lady, of course. Need I another reason to grant you with my presence?”

======

She huffs “Grant me with….my my someone thinks highly of themselves.”  She spins her wand and the spoon in her cup of tea spins in unison.  ”Romantic is not quite the word I would evoke to describe said situation.” She sees the similarities to what Sirius is saying about james and how Sirius plays with her. She looks at him over her glasses knowingly. “Do you enjoy irritating me, Mister Black? Do you get some demented form of pleasure from increasing my heart rate? Honestly in all my years of teaching I have never been confronted by students who so blatantly disregard the rules as you and the other …oh what do you call yourselves…the marauders? … And what do you do once I have caught you? Plead for forgiveness, repent, take your punishment like men? Heavens no! You flirt with your professor in a ludicrous attempt to get out of trouble.”

She places a stray hair back into her tight bun. Professor McGonagall ends her brief rant and eyes Sirius for his reaction. She knows she speaks in vain, but she needed to vent. 

“Mister Black, now is there anything else I can help you with? hmm? Speak now.” 

Minerva McGonagall is a ravishing beauty. Her very presence brightens the halls of this dreary castle.

Sirius really hasn’t your attractions been announced enough? -raises an eyebrow-

Not nearly enough! My lady still doth protest too much! And I didn’t turn in my homework, so…

-purses her lips- that will be enough from you Mister Black. I am this close -raises her index finger and thumb and places them a mere inch away from each other- from sending your mother an owl should you behavior not improve! 

those who did shall receive a free period during my class for one day. 

Being an Animagus is different from anything else in the wizarding world. They have taught powers that many only dream of having but, with having those powers can lead to much confusion. First of all there are big differences between human and Animagus transformations. Being an Animagi is an ability that one is taught or teaches themselves. This ability requires no wand or spell to transform as human transfigurations always do. Also, Animagi can only transform into an animal based on their personality and inner self, transfigurations can help a person change into most any form without the inner self becoming involved in the deciding process. Every Animagus has a mark on their given animal form that is caused by something on their human body.  Some of the biggest differences between a person being a Metamorphagi and being an Animagi is that Metemorphagi have the transformation in a gene making it a hereditsry trait while becoming an Animagus is a learned ability. Also Animagus can only transform into the one given animal while Metemorphagi can change anything about their appearance, from hair color to physical form, at will. Some other important facts about Animagi are that if they go through a major physical change in one form the other form alters to reflect that. At the same time Animagus in animal form is for restrained by the lifespam of the creature that they transform into.  Animagi think more like a human than an animal while in their animal form but their feelings are not as complex when transformed. One of the bigger perks of the Animagus transformation is that they have the ability to communicate with normal animals but the full extent of this ability is unknown and is being studied.  Finally, and most importantly every Animagus is required to register with the Ministry of Magic at the Improper Use of Magic Office. This registration includes telling them one’s animal form and one’s distinguishing markings. The register is available to the public. The main reason for this is to ensure the Animagi do not abuse their abilities, as the Ministry is able to keep track of them. The penalty for failing to register as an Animagus is a sentence in Azkaban, though the length of time depends on the situation.

Wonderful Miss Elliot, and turned in so early as well. Considering all the factors I do believe you have earned yourself an Outstanding as well. 10 points to Ravenclaw. Once again thank you for taking time to do the homework. I’m glad some of my pupils pay attention when I speak.