Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 37: The Fundamental Laws of Gamp's Transfiguration

Aside from Chu Yang, only a few Slytherin girls were sitting obediently in the classroom. They waited for a long time, but still, no other first-year Slytherins arrived.

Professor McGonagall's face visibly darkened. As the Deputy Headmistress, she had been teaching at Hogwarts for many years, but this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

"Does anyone know what's going on with Slytherin? Where have all the boys gone?" Professor McGonagall's icy gaze swept across the classroom, and everyone immediately fell silent, quickly lowering their heads.

"Professor McGonagall, it seems those boys stayed up all night in the common room, and this morning, they all caught colds. The older students took them to the infirmary."

Pansy Parkinson, with her short hair, stood up, a trace of schadenfreude on her lips. She was happy to see those arrogant boys embarrass themselves, especially since Draco Malfoy, the one she liked, wasn't among them.

"Thank you for answering, Miss Parkinson, but Slytherin will still lose 5 points." Though she now knew the reason, Professor McGonagall remained displeased and motioned for Pansy to sit down.

More chuckles of schadenfreude came from all sides, leaving Pansy flushed with anger at her failed attempt to gloat.

"Quiet!" Professor McGonagall paced the room and sternly said, "Now, open your books to the first section on page one."

She began explaining the basics of Transfiguration, mostly general knowledge about what Transfiguration was and the risks involved. She also discussed some unique sensations, like what it feels like when your clothing and glasses transform into an animal's skin during an Animagus transformation.

These sensations were something only Animagi could experience and were valuable insights for other wizards.

Additionally, Professor McGonagall briefly touched upon the five principal exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration.

Chu Yang summarized them:

1. You cannot transfigure anything into food, except to modify existing food, like changing one type of food into another or enlarging the amount of food.

2. You cannot transfigure non-living things into living beings or vice versa; Transfiguration cannot alter the life status or level of the target.

3. You cannot cast Transfiguration on magical items, as the enchantments and magical essence of these items would clash with the spell, causing a violent reaction.

4. Special forms of Transfiguration, such as Animagus transformations, have similar limitations: you cannot transform into magical creatures.

Chu Yang understood this conflict as similar to inserting two unrelated or conflicting blocks of code into a program, which would disrupt the program's normal function.

5. You cannot multiply the target through Transfiguration. Replicating or creating life falls beyond the reach of human ability, akin to the second rule.

6. You cannot conjure something from nothing, even if you have seen and thoroughly understood the object.

These exceptions seemed to Chu Yang like attempts to use magic to defy the laws of reality. Interestingly, though, Chu Yang felt that these five exceptions were not entirely impossible to overcome. They felt more like "shackles," and breaking even one might lead to a new, qualitative change in magic.

For the new students' first class, Professor McGonagall gave a brief overview of the essentials. Due to the absence of most Slytherin students, she didn't teach any spells.

"Familiarize yourselves with what I've covered." After she finished speaking, she transformed back into a tabby cat and sat atop the desk, her feline eyes showing a human-like weariness.

A brief silence followed before four figures burst into the room—Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and a heavily swollen-faced Goyle and Crabbe.

"Oh, thank goodness Professor McGonagall isn't here, or we'd be in big trouble! She's so strict; she can scare you even without speaking!" Ron grumbled as he pulled Harry toward their seats, completely unaware of the change in Harry's expression.

Professor McGonagall transformed back from her cat form and passed by them, but her real target was Goyle and Crabbe, who had arrived even later.

"I heard you had so much fun last night that you couldn't even make it to your Transfiguration class this morning? Should I inform Headmaster Dumbledore that Slytherin should self-study Transfiguration from now on?" Professor McGonagall's icy tone pierced the two boys, and they now regretted not sleeping on the floor last night—at least then they could have gone to the infirmary like the others.

"It's not like that, Professor McGonagall, please let me explain—" Goyle hurried to defend himself, but then felt a tug on his robe. He turned to see Crabbe, and behind him, Chu Yang's playful smile.

In that instant, Goyle's entire body froze, as if an electric current had run through him. He vividly remembered Chu Yang's feat of single-handedly taking down the entire first-year boys' dorm last night.

How many punches could he take?

Not even one!

"We're very sorry, Professor McGonagall, and we promise it won't happen again!" Goyle quickly admitted his mistake, then shut his mouth tightly.

Professor McGonagall paused, surprised, as she had been waiting for an explanation.

"There had better not be a next time!" she said sharply. "Now, sit down!"

Goyle and Crabbe quickly sat down, but they couldn't sit still, constantly shifting as if the bench was covered in nails.

The reason for their discomfort was the fact that their seats were directly in front of Chu Yang. Even without turning around, they could feel his piercing gaze sweeping over them.

The Slytherin girls had initially wanted to ask Goyle and Crabbe for more details, but the two sat as still as statues, staring straight ahead, unmoving, until the next class.

The Potions classroom was in the dungeons, not far from the entrance to the Slytherin common room. The long corridor leading to the Potions room was damp and dark, and most of the new students looked frightened.

The eerie atmosphere of the place was quite intimidating, especially for a group of 11-year-olds.

Hermione, who had been planning to avoid speaking to Chu Yang all day, couldn't help but quicken her pace and move closer to him.

She cleared her throat and said sarcastically, "Your housemates are impressive—angering Professor McGonagall on the very first day of school."

Chu Yang nodded in agreement, "I think they're quite impressive too."