LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 8 Alchemy and Transfiguration
Until the end of Transfiguration class, no one except Hermione and Glenn had successfully transformed their matchsticks into needles as assigned by Professor McGonagall.
Despite not being particularly gifted in Transfiguration, Glenn could manage such simple transformations after nearly two years of dedicated study.
Professor McGonagall invited Hermione to demonstrate the transformation process at the front of the class, and she met the professor's expectations with ease.
"For their successful transformations and Ms. Granger's correct demonstration, Gryffindor will receive 10 points, and Slytherin will receive 5 points!"
While Hermione appeared eager to answer questions and showcase her abilities, Glenn remained characteristically uninterested in drawing attention to himself.
This meant Hermione could earn more points in all classes!
Professor McGonagall seemed to have renewed hope for Gryffindor's chances at winning the House Cup this year.
With Hermione, her favorite brilliant student, the points would come rolling in.
It was in the bag.
After class, Hermione took her notebook to ask Professor McGonagall questions, while Glenn chose to continue practicing alchemy in the Room of Requirement.
"I need a room suitable for studying alchemy," he thought while walking past the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy three times. A door appeared on the wall.
Inside was a natural landscape, with a desk and chair in the center, surrounded by various materials scattered about.
Glenn sat down, leaning his cane against the side. He had been contemplating something related to alchemy recently.
He was still at the most basic stage of alchemy: material synthesis and transformation.
There was no way around it - alchemy wasn't something that could be mastered quickly.
He planned to experiment with creating soulless golems in bulk using stones and harder materials as a base through alchemy.
Glenn had an idea: while creating entirely new life through alchemy required massive amounts of soul energy and extremely advanced skills, creating lifeless material constructs consumed less energy and was much simpler.
Meanwhile, Transfiguration could temporarily animate inanimate objects through magic infusion. More complex transfiguration could even allow control over the transformed living things.
So by combining the two, couldn't they turn simple materials into controllable, mobile golems that could be summoned at will?
If someone skilled in alchemy worked with someone skilled in transfiguration, their combined magical power could raise an army from nothing.
This was the collaboration idea Glenn had mentioned to Hermione earlier. With the Philosopher's Stone as a backup power source, they could at least buy time in dangerous situations, if not completely repel enemies.
Not to mention that once they mastered material creation through alchemy and developed materials with high magic resistance, they would truly be a force to be reckoned with in the magical world.
Of course, this all depended on both of them improving their knowledge and proficiency. For now, they needed to focus on learning and experimenting.
"Transmute," Glenn activated the transmutation circle he had drawn in the soil with his cane, channeling magical power through it.
The circle glowed, its patterns spreading outward. The pile of stones before it began to melt and spread, then rose and reformed into... a rather abstract stone statue.
After scattered attempts resulting in simple animal figures, Glenn had spent half a day researching and practicing before finally achieving stable forms. Now he was attempting more complex humanoid stone figures.
"Reconstruct," Glenn tapped the circle with his cane without frustration, returning the abstract statue to neat piles of stone.
Each attempt showed improvement over the last. He analyzed the changes and theorized improvements for the next transmutation, making steady progress and building a solid foundation.
"This node... redirect flow, broaden branch connections, stabilize this form..." Glenn channeled magic through his cane to modify the transmutation circle. The golem still had many issues - beyond the details, the overall shape and limb differentiation weren't complete enough. Often after transmutation, the materials wouldn't stay where they should due to imprecise guidance from the circle's patterns.
He erased lines, altered nodes, added new patterns, carefully considering where magic should be concentrated or refined...
After optimizing multiple patterns, he tapped the circle again, filling the Room of Requirement with light once more.
That afternoon, Glenn stumbled out of the Room of Requirement leaning heavily on his cane, his magical energy nearly depleted. He pulled out a magic potion and drank it, finally feeling somewhat better.
The results were promising - though still abstract, the statues were gradually becoming more humanoid.
"Scourgify," he cast, cleaning the dirt from his clothes before heading to the Great Hall. Next would be Herbology with Professor Sprout in the greenhouses.
The lesson was simple, with Hermione eagerly earning points. To Glenn's surprise, Neville showed remarkable talent in Herbology, and thanks to Professor Sprout's generous nature, Gryffindor earned many points that class.
After Herbology, classes were done for the day. Hogwarts gave its young witches and wizards ample free time for independent study or recreation.
Glenn and Hermione went to the library to complete the day's assignments, then headed to the Great Hall for a simple dinner.
Ignoring the Slytherins' mockery and disgust, and their shocked, angry looks at a "traitor," Glenn boldly sat at the Gryffindor table and began eating with Hermione.
What was this? On the very first day, this damn Mudblood, this Slytherin traitor, had already defected to Gryffindor?
Several older Slytherin students began whispering and cracking their knuckles, preparing to teach Glenn a lesson.
Sensing Hermione's concern, Glenn waved it off.
"They're just a mob - they can't do anything significant. Let's eat and ignore them."
He moved on to business.
"Hermione, when you next speak with Professor McGonagall, could you ask if there's a transfiguration spell that can temporarily animate and control sculptures or statues?"
Hermione tilted her head. "I think I read something similar in 'Hogwarts: A History' - the spell 'Piertotum Locomotor.' It's supposedly part of Hogwarts' defense system, but it only works on specially prepared statues."
"You want to create statues through alchemy for me to control through transfiguration, don't you!" True to her reputation as the brightest witch of her age (in Glenn's opinion, and in fact), Hermione quickly caught on to Glenn's idea, speaking rapidly.
"Brilliant as always - nothing gets past you," Glenn praised sincerely.
Though she'd grown too mature to openly seek praise, that didn't mean she didn't need it.
"Of-of course! I had a hunch when I saw you focusing on humanoid stone figures in your recent alchemy research, and now that you're asking about this, I'm certain," Hermione declared, hands on hips and chin raised proudly, though her ears were pink.
"Besides, didn't you mention having an idea at Uncle Nicolas's? Since it involved both transfiguration and alchemy, combined with what you're asking me to look into, it was easy to figure out."
Glenn continued praising her while explaining his detailed thoughts. Hermione's eyes sparkled, agreeing it would make an excellent secret weapon.
She immediately tried to finish her food to rush off to Professor McGonagall, but Glenn stopped her.
"Tomorrow or later would be better," he said resignedly. "Professor McGonagall is quite busy after term starts - there's no rush."
"Don't forget our after-dinner walk. We can research in the library ourselves first."
He needed to ensure this studious young witch maintained good habits.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, I know. Why do you always act like such an old person, Glenn?"
Despite her words, she still dutifully joined him for their walk afterward.
I, Hermione, am such a good listener!