The next day was Thursday. After breakfast, Kyle and Kanna walked out of the Great Hall together, ready to head to Transfiguration class. When they arrived at the classroom, they found Professor McGonagall already waiting outside the door, effectively blocking their entrance.
“Miss Prince, would you please go in first?” she said, gesturing to Kanna.
“Yes, Professor McGonagall.” Kanna nodded and walked into the classroom without hesitation.
Then Professor McGonagall turned to Kyle, guiding him into the adjacent hallway. She smiled warmly as she began, “Do you rember the paper you submitted to a month ago?”
“You an the Transfiguration Today Most Promising Newcor Award?” Kyle asked, a bit surprised. “Is it ti already?”
“Not quite,” Professor McGonagall replied, her smile widening. “But I have so inside information… good news, actually. Hulse, the Editor-in-Chief overseeing the Newcor Award, is a friend of mine. I happened to ask her about it in a recent letter, and while she didn’t say anything outright, she dropped a hint... Madam Marchbanks really appreciates your paper.”
“Madam Marchbanks…” Kyle repeated thoughtfully. “Is she the Lady Marchbanks from the Wizarding Examinations Authority?”
“I didn’t expect you to know about her.” Professor McGonagall looked a bit surprised. Madam Marchbanks, after all, was over 120 years old and seldom seen. She only visited Hogwarts at the end of each school year to oversee the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams for fifth and seventh years. Most younger students hadn’t even heard of her.
“Charlie ntioned her once,” Kyle explained. “He said that after the O.W.L.s, he saw Professor Dumbledore personally escorting an elderly woman out of the school. Later, he told us it was Madam Marchbanks, who’s been with the Ministry of Magic for a century and was even Dumbledore’s examiner when he graduated.”
“That’s true,” Professor McGonagall nodded. “Madam Marchbanks has examined many people… including Professor Dumbledore. But that’s not her only distinction. She’s well known in academia; she has substantial influence, both with Transfiguration Today and the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers.”
Kyle nodded, understanding now. Anyone whom even Dumbledore respected must hold a significant place in the wizarding world. The Wizarding Examinations Authority was notoriously dull, with a tedious, monotonous workload and the lowest pay in the Ministry—barely half that of other departnts. A three- to five-year stint was considered long by most standards, but Madam Marchbanks had held her position for a hundred years.
“So you see,” Professor McGonagall continued, “earning her approval ans your paper is likely in very good standing. I expect representatives from Transfiguration Today will visit after Christmas to ask you so questions as a final test. If you pass, your paper will appear in the next issue of the magazine—right on the front page, in the most prominent position.”
By now, it was almost ti for class to start. Quickening her pace, Professor McGonagall glanced at Kyle as they headed towards the classroom door. “Prepare well,” she advised. “Their questions won’t be easy.”
Just before the bell rang, both of them slipped into the classroom together.
Kanna had saved him a seat, so Kyle walked over and sat down beside her.
“What’s going on?” Kanna whispered. “Did you get caught selling high-priced jewelry?”
“It’s not about that.” Kyle was about to explain about the essay, but Professor McGonagall started speaking, so he just shook his head and murmured, “I’ll tell you after class…”
As they settled in, Professor McGonagall’s smile quickly vanished, replaced by her usual serious expression.
“Fourth year is a critical ti,” she began. “Next year, you’ll be sitting your O.W.L. exams, and I expect you all to take this more seriously than you have in previous years.”
“Today, we’ll be covering transmutation. This is a topic that will most certainly appear on the O.W.L.s. Rember, it’s not a possibility—it’s a certainty. Everything you’ve learned so far has been foundational. Only once you understand transmutation can you truly say you’ve begun to master Transfiguration.”
Her sharp gaze swept across the classroom, and everyone instinctively straightened their posture, holding their breath.
“Very well. Open your textbooks. We’ll start with so of the simpler concepts. Unlike stationary objects, Transfiguration must be adjusted when switching between living species…”
After explaining the key points, Professor McGonagall produced a guinea fowl and, with a wave of her wand, transford it into a plump guinea pig.
“This is your assignnt for today. If there’s a single feather left on it, you fail!”
The classroom soon filled with the sound of flapping wings and occasional yelps as students got pecked by their guinea fowl. By the end of class, only three students had t the requirents. Most of the guinea pigs turned in still had feathers, indicating a clear failure, and Professor McGonagall’s expression darkened.
As Kyle and Kanna left the Transfiguration classroom, they headed toward the staircase, and Kyle filled her in on the essay news.
Kanna was initially surprised, but after a mont, she realized it wasn’t entirely unexpected. After all, considering Kyle’s Order of rlin, Second Class, and the trio of Special Awards for Services to the School displayed in the Trophy Room, the Transfiguration Today Most Promising Newcor Award seed almost minor.
“I had a feeling it would work out,” Kanna said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. “After the issue is released over the Christmas holiday, I’ll buy a few extra copies to support you.”
“Aw, that’s embarrassing…” Kyle said, lowering his voice. “How many copies? Five hundred? I could ask Professor McGonagall to have a special print run done early.”
“Keep dreaming. Five copies is my limit,” Kanna replied with a smirk. “Transfiguration Today is expensive—I don’t have that kind of money.”
Kyle thought about it and realized she was right. Academic journals like that were bound to cost much more than The Daily Prophet.
“Fair enough. But don’t forget to give Professor Snape a copy,” he said. “No reason, really—I’d just love to hear what he thinks of my paper.”
Kanna eyed him suspiciously.
Sothing told her Kyle was up to sothing, but then again, it didn’t seem like a bad idea. Besides, even if he hadn’t ntioned it, she was planning to show Professor Snape anyway.
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