Lily Evans and the Marauder's Secrets

Chapter 4: Transfiguration Nightmare

I mean, I knew my first lesson back to Transfiguration would be rough but I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... bad.

After what ended up being a pretty decent morning in Potions – and definitely a better one than I had feared it would be - I was lulled into a false sense of security going into Transfiguration.

See, Transfiguration has never been my strong suit. I can Charm the pants off anything and I've got a right good hand for Potions. It might sound like bragging, but Alice really wasn't exaggerating when she said I'm top of classes in seventh year. It's the truth, plain and simple.

Except.

Except when it comes to Transfiguration.

It's not like I don't try, either! Merlin knows I try! But something about the hand movements and the brain power or something behind the spells really doesn't agree with me and my wand.

Here's the secret. I only got an A on my Transfiguration OWL. Professor McGonagall, lovely woman, usually only takes E or O students. But I'm dead set on being an Auror and Aurors need Transfiguration for whatever the reason. (Really, what can Transfiguration do that a good strong Charm or perfectly brewed potion can't?). So I begged and pleaded with McGonagall at the beginning of last year and she let me in with strict instructions to study extra and the firm conviction that if I wasn't showing more aptitude for the subject this year, she would let me go. I guess I did alright enough on sixth year exams since Professor McGonagall didn't drop me right away, but now I'm worried that summer holidays stole everything I did pick up in class last year. And I wouldn't put it past McGonagall to drop me after the first lesson this year if it goes poorly.

McGonagall welcomes us back with that same no-nonsense demeanor she's sported since day one of first year. "Seventh year Transfiguration may be one of the hardest classes you'll take," she informs us, peering down through her glasses. "As such, I expect you to be diligent in your classwork and homework. Practicing spells solely in class will not result in your success. NEWT Transfiguration students must put the time and effort into this class if they expect good marks on their exams at the end of the year."

I gulp.

Like Slughorn in Potions, McGonagall uses today to refresh our skills from last year. We're each given a rooster and the simple instructions to change it into a cat and back again before she lets us loose.

I remember the spell, but can't quite recall the hand movement. Was there a twist in the wrist? Clockwise? Counter-clockwise? Or maybe it was more of a flicking motion...

I glance around surreptitiously to see if anyone else is struggling, but everyone has set to work with their roosters, and soon the room is more full of the hissing of angry cats than clucking roosters. Emmeline and Marlene, of course, have pulled the spell off without a hitch, but even Alice doesn't pause to change feathers to fur. Potter and Black seem to be in some kind of competition in who can perform the spell quickest, and their poor animals flicker and flash far too rapidly in front of them.

See, this is my issue with Transfiguration! When on Earth am I going to desperately need a cat and think, man, I'm sure glad I've got this random rooster on hand I can transfigure! Seriously. Give me one plausible situation. I dare you. Plus, I'm sure my rooster is more than happy being a rooster. No one ever asked him if he would rather be a cat.

I lean down so I'm eye level with the bird. "Hey," I whisper, real soft. "Sorry. But you've got to be a cat, just for a moment. Just work with me, okay? 'Cause I'm not actually one hundred percent sure what I'm doing, so all the help you can offer is great."

The rooster just stares back at me with a shiny, black, stupid eye. His head bobs a couple of times, though, so I guess I'll take that as encouragement. I take a deep breath and decide to go with a counter-clockwise wrist flick. "Mutatio felis."