Class One - N.E.W.T.

Another day, another class. Professor McCoy had replaced professor Emof, who had work in the Ministry, not a long time ago. He liked teaching, especially Transfiguration. He had done some teaching jobs before, but Transfiguration was always his favorite. He wrote his name on the blackboard and sat on his desk, waiting for the students to arrive. He also waved his hand and wrote the title of today's lesson - CROSS-SPECIES TRANSFIGURATION.

Nicky came to transfiguration class with his sleepy face. Too early to came to this class. But, well... since he couldn't sleep at all last night. And doesn't want to be late again, he decided to just walked into the class. He saw the subs professor waiting there. "Good morning, professor." he greeted him. "I'm Nicholaus D. Chase. Just Nicky please..."

Arthur entered the classroom. He was the second to arrive. He nodded to the other boy and took a seat in the front row. ''Morning, professor McCoy'', he said with a smile. McCoy looked at him and smiled back. He also greeted Nicholaus.

Nicky grinned at Arthur who was greeted him. "Hey, Arthur! Early as usual..." he said to him. Nicky rarely came to class. But he knew exactly his classmate's names. He met Arthur on several classes.

Amelia came into class, early as usual, but slightly more groggy than she would have liked to be. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night as Peeves had been causing a disturbance on the steps which led to Ravenclaw tower. Sometimes the perks of being a prefect just did not outweigh the demands put on the student leaders. Especially when it meant two and a half hours of sleep would have to suffice for the night.

Still, she had gotten out of bed and dressed in her school uniform for class. Her arrival at the Transfiguration classroom went relatively unnoticed, there only being a few students in the room yet. She took note of the fact that they had a new teacher - it seemed most courses had a replacement teacher before the year was out, so this was relatively unsurprising - and she perked a bit at the prospect of discovering a new teaching style that this professor might bring to the table.

Moving her way through the spattering of desks, Amelia took one next to a Slytherin boy she did not recognize, careful to avoid sitting to close to her peer from Gryffindor, Arthur Severus Poe. He and Amelia did not always see eye to eye when it came to how often one ought to speak up in class or to what extent one could show off without seeming completely full of himself.

Once settled into her seat and avoiding eye contact with the other inhabitants of the room, Amelia pulled out a piece of parchment and copied down the words the professor had written on the board.

McCoy stood up and smiled to the class. ''Good morning to the three of you. A small number, but still a number that means quantity which can be used for something. I am professor William Winston McCoy and I will be happy to teach you transfiguration this year. I shall, as a motivation, give 5 points for each of your three houses. Now, for today's lesson. You have, I presume, learned some intermediate Transfiguration during your O.W.L. classes. This year, we learn advanced Transfiguration. What we will define today is written on the blackboard. Now, I am sure you know Mr. Poe, would the two of you answer these two questions. Mr. Chase, you will tell me what cross-species transfiguration means and if you had had some experience with it. The second question is the same for Miss Lyons, but she will also answer me to which species is this type of transfiguration applicable.'', said McCoy.

By the time the professor decided that three students would have to suffice for today, Amelia had managed to copy down his words as well as reread a few pages from the text that she had also covered over the weekend. The professor's introduction was succinct, but informative, leading Amelia to believe that if his teaching style were similar the two of them would get along very well.

His dismissal of Arthur did not displease her either considering the number of times she had wished she had the authority to do it herself. It wasn't that Amelia had some personal vendetta against Arthur; on the contrary, she barely knew him. But what really tried her patience was the boy's inability to share the academic spotlight with any of his peers and his frequent displays of academic prowess. Everyone knew he was one of the best in the year, there was really no reason to proclaim it incessantly.

The professor’s question had been posed specifically to her, which gave Amelia permission to speak up. Usually, she kept her answers to herself in class, not wishing to be noticed, but she was silently thankful when Professor McCoy gave her the permission to show what she knew.

“Cross-species transfiguration is applicable to most animals, though it becomes significantly easier if the animals are closely related in name, such as horseshoe crabs and horses,” Amelia pushed a curl that had fallen toward her face away before continuing, pausing to gather her thoughts.

“Humans, being animals themselves, can also be transfigured. This is, however, a tricky endeavor, especially self-transfiguration, which is the process by which a witch or wizard may turn him or herself into an animal using a specific spell and their wand, which makes this distinct from animagi,” she continued, keeping eye contact only with the professor and attempting to ignore the fact that the two other students were probably staring at her and judging her answer as harshly, if not more so, than the professor himself.

“My experience with cross-species transfiguration is limited to what my father has taught me,” she added, answering the second of the professor’s questions, “While I understand there to be many species-specific incantations, the three I am most familiar with are avifors, piscifors, and pullus.”

Nicky sat on his seat while Prof. McCoy said the introduction of their class and also some question. "Cross-Species Transfiguration is in which one animal is Transfigured into another. It is a basic O.W.L. spell and is taught to fourth-years and above. The spell seems to be easier if the animals in question have similar names, e.g. guinea fowl to guinea pigs." he started his explanation towards the question given to him.

"But it is harder to Transfigure a human into an animal, especially Self-Transfiguration. Self-Transfiguration is simply Transfiguring oneself into another form, and so a wand is necessary to perform the precedure, and can be performed by any wizard skilled enough." ha added the information. "My experience also limited on what my father taught me. and the other incantation are vermiculus, ducklifors, and lapifors."

Christabelle ran into the class trying to be as quiet as possible taking her seat in the back of the class. She hadn't figured that she was late but from the look of it she was. She looked around and saw Amelia taking notes. She'd have to try to get them from her since she had missed them at a different time.

Pulling out her parchment and quill and her transfiguration book she began to catch up on the notes that she was seemingly missing about cross-species transfiguration. She figured if he was making all of them answer this question she would also have to answer it once he was aware of her presence. She waited for the boy to finish speaking, "I'm sorry I'm late professor. I didn't realize the time." she said apologizing for her disruptance of class as well as her tardiness.

Mariana was late again.She ran up the stairs from her common room in a great speed towards the fifth floor detaining in front of classroom to return her normal breathing and catch a little breath.She walked as graceful as she could towards Arthur. "Good morning Professor sorry i'm late." she said sitting next to Arthur after she spoke to Professor.