"You want to use your wand to conjure an umbrella?" Professor McGonagall's facial muscles twitched almost imperceptibly. She stared at Albert for a moment before adding, "That's an O.W.L.-level spell."
"I know. Professor Flitwick told me," Albert replied with a polite nod. "But I don't think that should stop me from learning it early."
"Over-ambition is not a good habit, especially in Transfiguration, which demands far more rigor than other subjects." McGonagall looked decidedly unenthusiastic about teaching Albert the Summoning Charm—particularly after that unfortunate door-breaking incident. "There are still many fundamentals you must master before you can attempt content of that level."
"Oh. Alright." Albert thought for a moment before asking, "Then… which year is the Summoning Charm normally taught?"
"Fifth year," McGonagall answered without much thought.
"Okay, I understand, Professor." Albert nodded, turned, and started walking away. If she wouldn't teach him, he'd simply borrow a book—or buy one at Flourish and Blotts—and study it himself.
What do you mean, you understand?
What exactly did you understand?
A headache threatened behind McGonagall's temples. Her instincts told her that Albert fully intended to learn the Summoning Charm on his own—and that was very likely to end in disaster.
"Mr. Anderson," she called quickly.
Albert stopped and looked back, puzzled. "Yes, Professor McGonagall?"
He certainly did not think she had changed her mind.
"Tell me truthfully—how far have you actually progressed in Transfiguration?" She beckoned him closer, eyeing him with suspicion.
"What level?" Albert rubbed his chin and discreetly glanced at his Level 1 Transfiguration skill.
Honestly, even he wasn't sure what "level" meant by her standards.
"Roughly… I've learned almost everything in this book," he said.
"Everything?" McGonagall's eyes widened, as though she could not believe her ears.
"I've been practicing Transfiguration and spellwork since before term started," Albert said softly. "If you practice a lot… magic isn't as difficult as it seems."
"Not as difficult as it seems?" McGonagall felt a tremor pass through her. She inhaled slowly, composed herself, and then said, "Mr. Anderson, if you can turn a matchstick into a mouse, I will allow you to join my Transfiguration Club."
"Transfiguration Club?" Albert blinked. His memory of the Harry Potter books was hazy, but… no, he was fairly certain no such club had ever existed. Only Slughorn's.
"It's a club I founded," McGonagall explained, "meeting twice a week to discuss and research advanced Transfiguration topics."
Albert glanced at the matchstick, then at her, and nodded. Lifting his wand, he concentrated on the spell. The matchstick swelled, warped, and grew into a mouse—although the transformation wasn't quite complete: one of its legs was slightly lame.
A lame mouse, but undeniably a mouse.
Albert examined the creature and shook his head. "I've never tried transforming an object into a living creature before. This is much harder than object-to-object transformation. With a few more attempts, I should be able to get it right."
Even so, with Deformation Theory as his foundation, he was rather satisfied. First attempts rarely succeeded, after all.
In Transfiguration, only a flawless transformation counted as success.
"No need—you've passed," McGonagall said quickly. She tapped the lame mouse with her wand, returning it to a matchstick.
"Passed?" Albert wasn't surprised. That meant he had officially joined Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club.
How did he know?
Because his panel had already marked the new quest—Join Transfiguration Club—as completed.
"I suggest you read more reference books." McGonagall listed several titles in succession, clearly hoping he would avoid experimenting recklessly. Transfiguration could be quite dangerous, after all.
"Alright, I understand," Albert said. He had a hundred-book reading goal anyway. Hopefully the recommended volumes weren't all thin pamphlets.
"What were you talking about with Professor McGonagall?" Fred asked as Albert rejoined his roommates.
"I asked her about the Summoning Charm," Albert said. "She thinks it's too early for me. Oh—she also invited me to her Transfiguration Club."
"Transfiguration Club?" the three chorused. "What's that?"
"A club she founded herself," Albert said after thinking for a moment. "A place for discussing Transfiguration-related topics."
"You're joking," the twins said, stunned into silence.
"You're incredible. I'm so jealous," Lee Jordan added. It was clearly a special privilege.
George cleared his throat. "Anyway… do you two want to come to the Quidditch Pitch later?"
"It's good to try flying before our first lesson," Fred added. "Charlie won't mind letting you both test the brooms."
"You coming, Albert?" Lee Jordan asked.
"If we can test-fly, absolutely," Albert said with a grin.
Free flying?
Yes, please.
He'd once ridden a toy broom, but those barely counted.
The agreed time was 4:30 p.m., and it wasn't even four yet.
Albert decided to visit the Library. After arranging to meet in the Great Hall, he headed there alone.
The Library was still fairly empty. Albert found a seat, opened a book as camouflage, and pulled up his quest panel. The Transfiguration Club quest had rewarded him with two thousand experience points.
"A Level 2 skill, then…" he murmured. It cost exactly two thousand experience to upgrade from Level 1. He casually bumped Deformation Theory up to Level 2.
Level 2 should be enough to last him until graduation. Level 3, though—that belonged to the realm of Professors.