Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Fifty-six: Transfiguration of the Self

Chapter 56: Transfiguration of the Self

In Transfiguration, the more Harry tried not to look at Ginny, the more he found himself looking at her. He was just about to get up and leave to go get more Firewhiskey (he'd already emptied his flask) when Professor McGonagall started the class.

"Welcome back," she said, striding around her desk and facing the class. "The first half of the year you practiced Occlumency and Legilimency outside of class while we studied other topics within the class setting. The second half of the year will not be structured in this same way. Rather, the rest of the class time, as well as study time, will be dedicated to the study of Transfiguration of the Self. It is so difficult that I will not be surprised when there are some among you that are unable to fully achieve this magic."

"Transfigure the self?" said Ron, "You mean like what Polyjuice does?"

"Thank you for your input, Mr. Weasley," said McGonagall dryly, "Yes, Polyjuice will Transfigure you to another person. However, Polyjuice takes a great deal of forethought. You must brew it for months before use and then you must procure a bit of the person you wish Transfigure into.

"Essentially, you will perform the same exact magic in this class that the Polyjuice Potion performs for you. However, Transfiguration of the Self does not require months of Potioneering. It simply requires extreme attention to detail. The more you know about the person you Transfigure into, the more you will resemble that person. This may take some witches or wizards months of work as well; for others though, it will take mere seconds. A glance, even. The stronger the Transfiguration spell used, the longer the Transfiguration will last.

"There is subtly to each body part when performing Transfiguration. For example, when Transfiguring your own eyes, it is possible to change the color, as well as the shape of the eyelid, but you cannot change the actual size of the eyeball, nor the brightness or light that some perceive within eyes. That will always remain the same and can often be the greatest tell when trying to identify the person that has performed Self-Transfiguration.

"The only advice I can offer is this: the spell will hold only if you allow yourself to believe you truly are becoming that you're Transfiguring into. The second you allow yourself to think you are yourself, the magic within you will believe you as well."

She started walking slowly back around to stand behind her desk. "Instead of the Sorting Hat, I will place you in pairs for the rest of the year. I have based these pairings on how well you did with Occlumency and Legiliemency as well as who I believe would work well together.

"Right, Mr. Thomas, I have paired you with Miss Patil." She gestured to Parvati. "Mr. Finnegan-"

"Um, sorry Professor," Dean said, raising his hand as he spoke, "But I'm going to be paired with a girl? Is that... er, appropriate?"

"Why wouldn't it be appropriate?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"Well..." Dean said, glancing around for help.

"I think he's getting at the fact he will inadvertently be able to see Parvati naked by doing this, Professor," Ron said, raising his eyebrows and smirking.

"And when some of you become researchers or Aurors or the like for the Ministry next year, you will have an easier time going undercover if you already are familiar with Transfiguring into the opposite sex. I hardly feel the necessity to justify myself, but I assure you the pairings were entirely intentional."

Dean grimaced. Parvati was gaping at Professor McGonagall.

"Mr. Finnegan, you will be with Miss Patil--Padma, that is... Mr. Smith, with Miss Lovegood, Mr. Weasley, with Miss Abbott, Mr. Malfoy with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter, you'll be with Miss Weasley."

"No!" Ginny said loudly. Everyone turned to look at her. Ginny stood, holding onto Draco's shoulder, seemingly for support. "I'm sorry Professor, but please, no. I refuse to be paired with Harry. I'm sorry. Please, don't make me be paired with him. I can't..."

It was silent for a minute while McGonagall studied Ginny's face. "Why ever not?" she asked.

"I..." Ginny said, glancing to Draco.

"I don't think it'd be a good idea either," Harry said, standing up. "She's tried to hex me before... we're, er..." Harry watched Seamus and Dean exchange looks. Ron was hiding his face in his hands.

"Right, I can see this particular pairing might not be a very... appropriate one... right, well, you can stay with Mr. Malfoy as your partner, and Miss Granger, you'll keep with Potter for this semester as well... anyone else with such fervent objections? No? Good. Well, I insist you read chapters fifteen through twenty on this topic. Also, you will each need to complete thirty-six inches on the topic to be turned in by next month. The remainder of the class time and all the others until the final and your N.E.W.T. exam will be devoted to the practice.

"I recommend that you start with copying each other's noses, mouths, and hair as you will undoubtedly be the most familiar your partner's face. Now, up and off you go. I'll leave you all to it."

And with that, McGonagall sat down at her desk and started reading what appeared to be her post.

"Well," said Hermione once she came back to Harry's table where he'd been sitting next to Ron, "here we are again."

"Disappointed not to be paired with Ron?" Harry said. He pulled out his wand.

"No, this is purely study, Harry. There's nothing sexual about this." She pulled her wand from her pocket as well.

"Of course... I should tell you, I haven't read the chapters."

"Well, I have, so I can coach you if you like."

"Erm, okay."

"Sorry, by the way," Hermione said quietly, "About Ginny. I'm going to have a talk with her. I don't understand it..."

"It's fine," Harry said, though honestly he was glad that Hermione was going to talk to her. He thought someone ought to besides him.

"No, after you mentioned her looking sick at breakfast, I took a look at her... she really does. I agree, that something might be wrong with her." And then Hermione's face when white. "Oh Merlin, Harry, do you think she might be pregnant? That would explain it maybe."

"Pregnant? No, why would she... no. Of course not."

"Well, I mean... she could be. It would explain why she looks so pale. Maybe she's weak from the baby."

"No," Harry said, "She doesn't have a belly, any anyway it couldn't be, because she and I always used the charm."

"Well, there are concealment charms for a pregnant belly, and anyway, she's with Malfoy now," Hermione said evenly, glancing over at them. Ginny and Draco were sitting hip-to-hip on one of the desks, Draco's arm slung around her. They were whispering quietly to one another.

"So?" Harry said. His stomach churned. He just assumed that they'd never had sex but now that Hermione said that, he felt sure that they must have. Ginny wasn't one to wait, Harry knew. "I think I'm going to be sick," Harry said hoarsely.

Hermione shot silver sparks at Harry, which immediately calmed his stomach.

"Thanks," Harry said, swallowing hard.

"Speaking of concealing medical problems," Hermione said. She took a deep huff of breath, "I really think you should see Madam Pomfrey about it, Harry. I'll go with you if you want me to. I won't say anything. There are potions you can take to help with the urges to drink..."

"Oh, there are potions? Well that sounds splendid. Sign me up."

"Please just consider it, alright?"

Harry only shrugged.

The rest of the class had already started attempting to Transfigure themselves into their partners with varying levels of success. Zacharias Smith now had long blonde hair exactly like Luna's. Likewise, Hannah Abbott had a long hook nose almost identical to Ron's.

"I'll have to be careful how good I get at this," Harry said, "I don't want to earn myself another kiss from Ron, even accidental."

"You don't need to look any differently for that though." Hermione laughed.