Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 3, Part 3: On the Train
Is it possible to get all A's in seven subjects?
Sheen pondered this problem while carrying his suitcase.

He arrived early; the first few carriages weren't full yet.
So he found an empty compartment in the second carriage and tried to drag his suitcase up, but he couldn't lift it. After two attempts, the suitcase fell to the ground.

Sheen stopped in his tracks, then waved his wand:

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

[You practiced the Levitation Spell to a beginner level once, proficiency +3]

As the incantation and panel notification sounds rang out, the brick-like suitcase quickly floated up.

This thing is still the best.

Sheen put away his wand with satisfaction and pulled his suitcase into the private room.

What he didn't notice was that a little witch was looking at him curiously.

Outside the train window, thick smoke from the steam locomotive swirled above the chattering crowd, while cats of various colors darted about at people's feet.

Amidst the buzzing of conversations and the clatter of dragging heavy luggage, the owl hooted and hooted.

Sheen opened "Hogwarts: A History," a book nearly half the size of his desk. The first page stated that the seven main courses at Hogwarts were:

Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbalism, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Astronomy.

These are also compulsory courses at Hogwarts...

So how do we achieve excellence?
Sheen found a benchmark: Hermione, the academic star among the trio.

If I remember correctly, she achieved a score of 90 (excellent) and 1E (exceeding expectations) in the OWL, which is the common wizarding level exam.

Hermione's grades have always been consistent, so by comparing them with her performance, one can determine the level that one needs to reach.

Is it difficult?
Of course it's difficult. My magical talent is terrible. Apart from history subjects like the history of magic, all other courses require magical talent.

But can't I do it?
If you can't do it even after opening it, you might as well find a block of tofu and smash your head against it.

"The liver is finished!"

While putting down his luggage, Sheen thought for a few seconds.

"Let's start with Transfiguration then..."

Sheen sat down on the plush seat, put back "A History of the School," and took out "A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," a brownish-red book with gold trim that detailed the rules and techniques of Transfiguration and was a textbook for first and second-year students at Hogwarts.

The most classic example is turning a match into a needle. If he could achieve this within a month, Sheen felt it would be easy for him to get an excellent grade.

When performing a transformation, it is crucial to swing the wand firmly and decisively.

Do not swing or turn the wand unnecessarily, otherwise the transformation will definitely fail.

Before using a Transfiguration Charm, clearly visualize what you want the target to become.
Beginners should pronounce the incantation clearly, while advanced wizards do not need to shout it out...

Sheen carefully read every sentence in "The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," intending to memorize the 200-plus-page book before attempting Transfiguration.

His reason for doing so was quite simple: Hermione had memorized all the books and achieved excellent results when she first began learning magic.
From this perspective, memorization is useful.

The road to success is right ahead, so why not try to imitate it?
Besides, he doesn't have enough talent to begin with, so he should work even harder.

Another important reason is that these books cost him a total of eleven Galleons, and Shin was so heartbroken that he devoured knowledge with a vengeful mentality, much like someone who wants to get their money's worth at a buffet.

In this way, without realizing it, he had roughly memorized all the books he had bought.

He has completed more than 180 pages of the book in his hand, and he will be able to memorize it today and then begin his practical exercises in Transfiguration.

This made Sheen, whose grades were average in his previous life, sigh with emotion.
Poverty truly makes people capable of anything.

Steam filled the train station, and Sheen was so engrossed in his book that he didn't even notice a little witch entering his compartment.

"Excuse me, is anyone else coming in?"

A little witch with fluffy brown hair pushed open the cubicle door, raised her chin, and asked Sheen.

"No."

Sheen was still carrying his books. If his six months in the orphanage had given him any benefit, it was that he was more focused. These little weeds, who were impossible for him to control, would be blown away by the wind in an instant if they couldn't learn to grow on their own.

After that simple response, Sheen remained silent until the train rumbled off and the number of people in the compartment increased from two to three, without Sheen making a sound.

The scenery outside the car window was like an oil painting.
The winding river stretches out, waves of wheat surge and ripple, and occasionally farmhouses and cattle and sheep can be seen, only to be obscured by the dark green hills that follow.

Hermione was engrossed in her book, occasionally glancing out the car window at the scenery and at the focused young wizard across from her. His hair was tousled and slightly frizzy, his long eyelashes fluttering, and he exuded a serene aura. More importantly…

"He really looks like my cat. Of course I know wizards can't be cats, but he really does..."

The black-haired boy said in a low voice, then scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, but his words were quickly approved by the people around him.

Hermione nodded vigorously, exchanging a glance with the dark-haired boy, revealing her excitement at being understood.

"Justin, your description is so... apt!"

Justin's eyes lit up, and the two immediately began to discuss it in hushed tones.

Sheen was so engrossed in the book that he was completely unaware that he had become the subject of other people's conversation.

The train swayed rhythmically, and the windows, like canvases, displayed beautiful and fantastical paintings.

Apart from Hermione and the dark-haired boy Justin's whispers, the only other sound in the box was the rustling of pages turning.

Sheen finally finished memorizing the last paragraph. He let out a long sigh of relief and looked up to rub his sore eyes.

"I have everything I need!"

Soon, Sheen's big eyes sparkled. He put down his book, took a match from his robe, and his mind kept replaying the shape, structure, and characteristics of a match.
His memories of Transfiguration from his past life corroborated his current knowledge—

"Trans—figura—tion!"

Emboldened by this confidence, Sheen whispered the incantation in one breath.

Unfortunately, the matches haven't changed much.
Sheen, however, raised the corners of his mouth.

[You have practiced a basic Transfiguration spell to a beginner level. Proficiency +3]

Did he just say anything? And what was he doing?

Justin asked Hermione in a low voice, his head practically filled with a huge question mark.

"It seems... to be a transfiguration spell, oh no! The book says it's a dangerous spell, and if you pronounce it wrong, it will have terrible consequences!"

Hermione gripped the hem of her clothes, her brow furrowed, and she was about to interrupt Sheehan's attempt.

[You have practiced a basic Transfiguration spell to a proficient standard. Proficiency +10]

[You have practiced a basic Transfiguration spell to a proficient standard. Proficiency +10]

……

Sheen kept trying and became more and more skilled. It was a feeling he had never had before. Magic... seemed to have become simple.

Am I a genius at shapeshifting?!
[You have practiced a basic Transfiguration spell to a proficient standard. Proficiency +10]

[Basic Transfiguration Skill Unlocked]

A new Transfiguration title has been unlocked. Please check it out.

[A wizard talent has been unlocked, please check.]

When the notification sound rang out on the panel, Sheen's eyes narrowed slightly.

Scholarship fragment, one more!

Just then, a discordant voice rang out:
"You can't use dangerous transfiguration here! You can't handle it!"

Hermione spoke loudly, her tone somewhat angry and serious.

As soon as she finished speaking, the match began to tremble, and to the little witch's wide-eyed gaze, it slowly transformed into a needle, its silvery tip reflecting the light.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and Hermione's last syllable caught in her throat.

"Merlin... I've read about this case in a book. Did he succeed?"

Justin's eyes widened, and he murmured incredulously.

Sheen looked up and met Hermione's gaze, whose ear tips were flushed pink, and Justin, who was observing her closely.

"Excuse me, could you please repeat that? I didn't hear you clearly."

Sheen had no idea what was going on; he was too focused to hear a single word.

(End of this chapter)