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Chapter 849: Transfiguration System
🕑 Added 2023-08-31 09:44:34 +0000 UTC"How did you do that?" said Harry, gaping at Tonks as she opened her eyes again.
"I’m a Metamorphmagus," she said, looking back at her reflection in the mirror, turning her head so that she could see her hair from all directions, and gently stroking it with her hand from time to time, "It means, I can change my appearance at will."
"Metamorphmagus?" Harry froze for a moment, with a puzzled expression on his face.
"It’s one of the branches of Transfiguration. The caster can change his appearance at will, just like Animagus." Evan explained, looking at Tonks, "Metamorphmagi are born with this ability. It’s an innate ability."
Transfiguration was a very large magical system. The most common one in Hogwarts was to simply teach young wizards and witches how to change the form and appearance of an object.
Harder than anything else, it could also make parts of living animals and even human beings change.
For example, Caresius had turned Malfoy into a ferret, which was a more advanced Transfiguration magic.
After passing the Ordinary Wizarding Level and entering the upper-grade Transfiguration class, wizards could try to change the essence of objects between different forms, such as turning flames into knives, pythons, ropes, etc. This was esoteric Transfiguration.
This Transfiguration was not permanent. When the magical power disappeared, the changed object would return to its original state.
It was not Transfiguration, but Alchemy that really changed the nature of objects.
The difference was the same as real gold made with Alchemy and gold coins of the goblins.
Besides, there were many rare branches of Transfiguration that very few people had mastered.
Animagus was one of them. When learned, the caster can transfigure into a certain animal.
Metamorphmagus was also one of them. It was magic in blood, a kind of natural ability.
There was also the owl pendant on Evan’s wrist. Using shaman witchcraft, Evan could turn himself into a soul-shaped owl.
In the more secretive European magic, there were Druidic spells that allowed the caster to transform into mystical creature forms, granting great power.
If the magical power was enough, they could even transform into a fire-breathing dragon, which was beyond imagination.
It was said that in the mysterious Oriental wizarding world and the ancient American wizarding civilization, there were also spells that could turn spellcasters into plants...
"Yeah, I was born Metamorphmagus," said Tonks softly, looking at her reflection with satisfaction, "I got top marks in Concealment and Disguise during Auror training without any study at all, it was great."
"You’re an Auror?" said Harry, impressed. Being a Dark wizard catcher was the only career he’d ever considered after Hogwarts.
"Yeah," said Tonks, looking proud. "Kingsley is as well; he’s a bit higher up than I am, though. I only qualified a year ago. Nearly failed on Stealth and Tracking, I’m dead clumsy, did you hear me break that plate when we arrived downstairs?"
"I saw Tonks in Lupin's office when I learned Apparition before," said Evan, sorting out Harry's books. "You must have just become an Auror around that time, right?"
"Yeah, that’s right, but I had been training for a long time before that," Tonks continued. "With the help of Sirius and Remus, I finally got through Stealth and Tracking. They’re both good at it."
Indeed, Sirius had been able to escape the Dementors and the Ministry of Magic with his own power, which was not something ordinary people could do.
Needless to say, Lupin, as a werewolf, was a master of Stealth and Tracking, which was an essential skill for survival in the Dark world.
"By the way, can you learn how to be a Metamorphmagus?" Harry thought for a moment before he asked.
"Bet you wouldn’t mind hiding that scar sometimes, eh?" Tonks chuckled.
Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar on Harry's forehead.
"No, I wouldn’t mind," Harry mumbled, turning away. He did not like people staring at his scar.
"Well, you’ll have to learn the hard way, I’m afraid," said Tonks. "Metamorphmagi are really rare, they’re born, not made. Most wizards need to use a wand or potions to change their appearance."
"It's almost hard to do." Evan whispered, leaning close to Harry, "but you can try to learn about Animagus, which should be fine. Hermione has already mastered Animagus."
"Really?!" Harry looked at him in surprise. "What’s her Animagus?"
"It's a cat, too, but it's white," said Evan. "Cats are not very powerful animals, but they’re very practical."
"It's really practical..." Harry nodded, not sure if he understood what Evan meant. He looked a little expectant, and then continued to ask, "Can I also learn Animagus?"
"No problem, but before that, I have to test your basic knowledge first," said Evan. "I can use the Philosopher’s Stone to provide you with sufficient magic during the metamorphosis process, but it’s mainly up to you. This magic is actually very dangerous..."
"You two, don't whisper there anymore, we’ve got to get going; Mad-Eye is waiting below. Evan, Harry, we’re supposed to be packing," said Tonks, looking around at all the mess on the floor.
"Oh, yeah," said Harry guiltily, grabbing up a few more books. It was too messy here!
"Don't be stupid, it’ll be much quicker if I … pack!" cried Tonks, waving her wand in a long, sweeping movement over the floor.
Books, clothes, telescope, and scales all soared into the air and flew pell-mell into the trunk.
"It's not very neat, is it?" said Tonks, walking over to the trunk and looking down at the jumble inside. "My mum has got this knack of getting stuff to fit itself in neatly. She even gets the socks to fold themselves … but I’ve never mastered how she does it … it’s a kind of flick..."
She flicked her wand hopefully; one of Harry’s socks gave a feeble sort of wiggle and flopped back on top of the mess within.
"I think you'd better make it wider," said Evan, pointing out Tonks's mistake just now. "Wave the wand faster."
"Really?!" Tonks did what Evan said again, waving her wand quickly.
The next second, all of Harry's socks were neatly folded and dropped into the trunk.
