Transfiguration (class)

**Transfiguration** was a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Uagadou. It taught the art of changing the form and appearance of an object or a person. This type of magic was commonly referred to as "Transfiguration" and was considered both complex and dangerous.

There were limits to Transfiguration, which were governed by Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. There were also many branches of Transfiguration, including Trans-Species Transformation and Human Transfiguration. This type of magic was regarded as "very hard work" and was "more scientific" than charms-work, as one had to get it exactly right for the transfiguration to be successful.

The professor of this subject at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for many years was Albus Dumbledore and later Minerva McGonagall. It is unknown who the teacher was before Professor Dumbledore and who took over when Professor McGonagall became headmistress of Hogwarts. Students at Uagadou School of Magic were exceptionally skilled in transfiguration, specifically, Human Transfiguration, meaning the teaching of this subject was likely excellent at the school.

## Class information

Transfiguration was a required subject for all first year to fifth year students, with the option of a N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test) course in sixth and seventh year. Minerva McGonagall was the Transfiguration Professor from 1956 until 1998, the year in which she became Headmistress of the school. Before her, Albus Dumbledore taught Transfiguration. It is unknown who became the Transfiguration professor after she became Headmistress of Hogwarts. McGonagall believed Transfiguration to be more elegant and superior to other types of magic.

Students practised actual transfigurations during classes. Accidents sometimes resulted in partial transfigurations, and theoretical homework was sometimes assigned. The further into a student's education, the more difficult the classwork and homework became.

In fifth year, students took, the Ordinary Wizarding Level examination, much of the year was spent learning Ordinary Wizarding Level material, as well as revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Transfiguration O.W.L., students had to sit a written exam, and then complete a practical exam; one of the questions on the written exam asked the definition of Switching spells and one practical aspect of the exam was Vanishment. In order to advance to N.E.W.T.-level for the final two years of education, a student had to achieve a high O.W.L. score of either 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations' on their exam. The casting of nonverbal spells was required for N.E.W.T.-level Transfiguration.

Like charms work, Transfiguration was achieved through concentration, precise wand movements, and the proper pronunciation of an incantation. However, it was generally more difficult than Charms and required great effort.

While Professor McGonagall was teaching the class, she was fair but strict, having no tolerance of silliness and threatening to dismiss any students who dared to fool around. She refused leniency for her students based on emotional circumstances. She refused to let her students play games in her classroom for the upcoming Yule Ball (as Filius Flitwick did because his students were too distracted by the exciting events), and even Katie Bell knew full well that Minerva would give her homework on the day right after being discharged from St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for a near-death experience.

She refused to accept any students into her N.E.W.T. classes unless they achieved at least 'Exceeds Expectations', believing that those who have anything below would be unable to cope with the increased coursework. Failure to hand in assigned homework would result in detention, as Draco Malfoy experienced after he failed twice during 1996.

Both an O.W.L. and a N.E.W.T. in Transfiguration was compulsory for both Auror and Healer training, at either "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding" level.

## Location and time

### Classrooms

Transfiguration classes were held in Class 1 on the first-floor, Class 34 on the third-floor, Class 99 in the South Tower and Classroom 1B on the ground-floor, around the Middle Courtyard. Classroom 1B was large in size, surrounded by high windows, had four rows of three desks, and still had enough room for several cages and bookshelves, two chalkboards, and a desk for the teacher. Several candlesticks stood lit behind the desk.

## Curriculum

### First year

* The transformation formula, which is that the intended transformation is directly influenced by bodyweight (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c), and a fifth unknown variable (Z).
* Desk Into Pig (not practically)
* Switching Spell
* Mice to Snuffboxes
* Avifors Spell
* *Flintifors*

### Second year

* Rabbit Slippers
* *Vera Verto*
* Avifors Spell (Revision)
* Softening Charm
* Porcupine to Pin Cushion
* Transfiguration Spell

### Third year

* Teapot to tortoise
* Lapifors Spell
* Draconifors Spell
* Felifors Spell
* Hardening Charm
* Owl to Opera Glasses

### Fourth year

* Guinea fowl to guinea pig
* Cross-Species Switches
* Transforming Spells
* Vanishing Spell
* Bouquet Spell
* Snake Summons Spell
* Colour Change Charm
* Beetle Buttons
* Lovebird to Love Note

### Fifth year

* Switching Spell (Revision)
* Owl to Opera Glasses
* Vanishing Spell
* Partial Vanishment
* Ferret to Feather Duster
* Gobstone to Skunk
* Armadillo to Pillow
* Thimble to Thestral
* Cauldron to badger spell

### Sixth year

* Human Transfiguration (such as *Crinus Muto*)
* Bird-Conjuring Charm
* Other Conjuring Spells
* Cauldron Cakes to Cabbages
* Teacup to gerbil
* Feather Duster to Ferret
* Flobberworm to Fritter
* Gnomes to Lawn Gnomes
* Puffskein to Paperweight
* Fairy Cakes to Fairies
* Bowling Ball to Balloon

### Seventh year

* Tortoise to Trumpet
* King to Rook
* Rubbish to Raccoon Dog

## Grades

* Exceeds Expectations [E]
* Acceptable [A]
* Dreadful [D]
* Troll [T]