Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Innate Elegance, Transfiguration Club
Evening, third floor of the castle.
A cold corridor, only a hundred meters long, stretched out on the third floor. There were no classrooms, no professors' offices, not even a decent room in sight.
Thus, apart from the first half month of the school year, when a few energetic freshmen might wander around, this corridor became a true no-man's land. Sometimes, not even Filch would come by.
Of course, there were several similar deserted corridors in the castle, but that wasn't the point. The point was that Ino had already paced this corridor several times.
Today was the day for the Transfiguration Club.
Though it had only been a week since the school year started, during which he had experienced many things, including a fantastical world, he always paid close attention to the Transfiguration Club.
This was because Transfiguration was the closest thing to the essence of magic. Moreover, elemental transformation was also an important part of his plans.
To maximize the power of ice and fire, Transfiguration was essential. The flames of redemption and hope needed to be controlled at will and wielded like a fire shield. Otherwise, they would only be good for lighting a fireplace.
After all, no one would stand still to be burned.
In the original story, he had admired that heterochromatic-eyed prophet, standing alone on a stage of blue flames, like an elegant symphony conductor, using a wand to orchestrate a magnificent composition with fire.
Influenced by Animagus, Ino found himself not only liking to play with water but also appreciating that innate elegance.
Elegance is not pretentiousness, it is not being affected or poorly imitated.
It is a confidence and demeanor that is in one's bones; elegance never goes out of style.
However, at this moment, he felt that he could not remain elegant.
Glancing at the pocket watch in his hand, it was 6:45 PM, only a quarter of an hour before the club meeting at 7 PM.
"Since I have no talent, I have to use the clumsy method…"
Ino took a deep breath. No matter what, he couldn't give up on the Transfiguration Club, even if it meant losing points or standing out once more.
He didn't care anymore because he was running out of time.
"Winter is coming!"
There was no extreme cold or strong wind, just countless snowflakes floating around him, as if they had been enchanted to hover in mid-air.
Ino, holding his wand, flicked his wrist again, and the countless snowflakes seemed to receive an order, instantly transforming into countless white butterflies, all rushing toward the third-floor corridor.
To be honest, he had considered using a detection spell, but thinking about Professor McGonagall's test, if a simple detection spell could solve it, it would seem too trivial.
Third floor of the castle.
In this hundred-meter-long corridor, it felt like another world.
Countless white butterflies danced gracefully, their delicate wings shimmering in the candlelight like sparkling snowflakes, or like elves descending from the sky.
They elegantly fluttered between the columns, lightly gliding over every inch of space.
They were in the air, on the walls, on every brick, every suit of armor, every painting...
The dancing butterflies and the candlelight intertwined into a dreamy, mesmerizing scene.
At the end of the corridor, Ino was also a bit stunned. Truth be told, the scene before him was quite beautiful.
However, all of this was an accident.
He had intended to transform them into Billywig insects, but at the last moment, he hesitated, disliking the appearance of those odd wasp-like creatures...
As a result, his moment of hesitation led the butterflies to replace the Billywig insects.
Just as Ino was about to use ice to sense changes in the corridor, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"This is the Transfiguration Club!" Professor McGonagall stood in the corridor, looking at the beautiful scene of butterflies fluttering around, pursing her lips.
"Sorry, Professor!" Hearing the voice, Ino quickly turned around and explained, "I had no choice; I was about to be late and still couldn't find the entrance."
Listening to his complaint, Professor McGonagall's eyelid twitched slightly.
Then she extended her wand and lightly tapped one of the butterflies nearby. Instantly, all the butterflies turned back into snowflakes and slowly dissipated in the air.
"Well… this is still Transfiguration, but why didn't you consider Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration? Look at the painting; the pineapple leaves on the apple in the fruit bowl are a hint. Transfiguration can't create real food!"
Professor McGonagall's tone was complex, showing both some appreciation and some frustration.
"Follow me! I'll take you in personally this time. Really... in twenty years, you're the first!"
Ino followed behind Professor McGonagall, staying silent.
He knew well, like the matron at the orphanage used to say, when she was angry, just listen quietly, don't talk back or make excuses, and it would be over soon.
But if anyone dared to talk back, well, that would be a lot of trouble.
Professor McGonagall walked up to the painting of a banquet, drew her wand, and tapped several pieces of unusual food or transformed items in the fruit bowl at the corner of the table.
It was like unlocking a combination lock; she tapped several times on these unusual items.
Then the entire painting disappeared, replaced by a short corridor of only five or six meters, ending in a wooden door.
As Professor McGonagall pushed open the wooden door, Ino could see inside.
Wow! Handsome boys and beautiful girls!
There were only two people in the room, and judging by their looks and the colors of their robes, he recognized them by chance.
Blue and yellow.
"Welcome! Hufflepuff, fourth year, Cedric Diggory."
Cedric stood up and greeted him first.
"Great! Finally, a new member. Welcome! Ravenclaw, third year, Cho Chang."
Unlike Cedric's formal greeting, Cho was more enthusiastic, even extending her hand.
Looking at the fair hand before him, Ino was stunned for a moment. He then gently grasped her four fingers and smiled at the two of them.
"Slytherin, second year, Ino Swinburne."
Professor McGonagall stood aside, quietly watching the three interact. After a moment, she spoke softly.
"I need to get some materials, I'll be back soon! You can chat here for now."
Upon hearing this, Ino chuckled inwardly. Professor McGonagall's intention was obvious. But it was good. If all went well, he would be spending the next few years with Cedric and Cho, so building a good relationship was important.
After the professor left, the atmosphere in the small classroom relaxed.
"I've heard about you, freezing the classroom with a freezing spell!" Cho broke the silence first.
"And then, hahaha, Lockhart regained his confidence. That was tough for the third years..." She covered her mouth, giggling.
"That wasn't my fault!" Ino spread his hands, explaining innocently, "He released a whole cage of bugs in the classroom."
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