AWinterman · March 1, 2015 04:16
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt b/gistfile1.txt
 data/chapter/102.html-no mere animal could possess... to slay something innocent to save
 data/chapter/102.html-oneself, that is a very grave sin.</em> Those two phrases, from
 data/chapter/102.html-Professor McGonagall, from the centaur, had both run through
 data/chapter/102.html-Harry's mind, over and over as the white unicorn had yawned, laid
 data/chapter/102.html-down on the ground, and closed its eyes for what would be the last
 data/chapter/102.html:time. The Transfiguration had lasted an hour, and Harry's eyes had
 data/chapter/102.html-watered repeatedly as he worked. The unicorn's death might not have
 data/chapter/102.html-come then, but it would come soon enough, and it was foreign to
 data/chapter/102.html-Harry's nature to try to refuse responsibility of any kind. Harry
 data/chapter/102.html-would just have to hope that, if you didn't kill the unicorn to
 data/chapter/102.html-save yourself, if you did it to help a friend, it would be
 --
 --
 data/chapter/102.html-the pillow. "You were lucky," the Defense Professor said in a soft
 data/chapter/102.html-voice, "that a unicorn in Transfigured form... did not set off the
 data/chapter/102.html-Hogwarts wards, as a strange creature... I shall have to... take
 data/chapter/102.html-this outside the grounds, to make use of it... but that can be
 data/chapter/102.html-managed. I shall tell them that I wish to look upon the lake... I
 data/chapter/102.html:will ask you to sustain the Transfiguration before you go, and it
 data/chapter/102.html-should last long enough, after that... and with my last strength,
 data/chapter/102.html-dispel whatever death-alarms were placed to watch over the herd...
 data/chapter/102.html-which, the unicorn being not yet dead, but only Transfigured, will
 data/chapter/102.html-not yet have triggered... you were very lucky, Mr. Potter."</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>Harry nodded. He started to speak, then stopped again. Words
 --
 --
 data/chapter/102.html-not assk. Musst not assk. Do not try to obtain Sstone yoursself. I
 data/chapter/102.html-forbid."</em></p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>A man lay on the bed once more. "I am at... my limit..." said
 data/chapter/102.html-Professor Quirrell. "I must regain... my strength... before I go...
 data/chapter/102.html-to the forest... with your gift. Leave now... but sustain the
 data/chapter/102.html:Transfiguration... before you go."</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>Harry reached out, touched the white pebble lying within the
 --
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>Harry reached out, touched the white pebble lying within the
 data/chapter/102.html:kerchief, renewing the Transfiguration on it. "It should last for
 data/chapter/102.html-one hour and fifty-three minutes after this," Harry said.</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>"Your studies... do well."</p>
 --
 data/chapter/102.html-one hour and fifty-three minutes after this," Harry said.</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>"Your studies... do well."</p>
 data/chapter/102.html:<p>It was far longer than Harry's Transfigurations had lasted at
 data/chapter/102.html-the start of the school year. Second-year spells came to him easily
 data/chapter/102.html-now, without strain; which wasn't surprising, since he would be
 data/chapter/102.html-twelve in less than two months. Harry could even have cast a Memory
 data/chapter/102.html-Charm, if it had been good for someone to forget every memory
 data/chapter/102.html-involving their left arm. He was climbing the power ladder, slowly,
 --
 --
 data/chapter/102.html-Invisibility Cloak as he moved. Soon, presumably, Professor
 data/chapter/102.html-Quirrell would call for assistance; and an older student trio would
 data/chapter/102.html-guide the Defense Professor into some quiet place, maybe the
 data/chapter/102.html-forest, with an excuse of viewing the lake or some such. Someplace
 data/chapter/102.html-the Defense Professor could eat a unicorn undetected, after Harry's
 data/chapter/102.html:Transfiguration wore off.</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>And then Professor Quirrell would be healthier, for a time. His
 data/chapter/102.html-power would return to him as strong as he'd ever been, for a much
 data/chapter/102.html-shorter time.</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>It wouldn't last.</p>
 data/chapter/102.html-<p>Harry's fists clenched as he strode, the tension radiating up
 --
 --
 data/chapter/104.html-on.</p>
 data/chapter/104.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/104.html-<p>One of the things Harry hadn't planned on, when he'd decided to
 data/chapter/104.html-do this, was that he would still be out here at - Harry glanced at
 data/chapter/104.html-his watch - eleven-oh-four at night. Harry was now reading a
 data/chapter/104.html:sixth-year Transfiguration textbook; or rather he'd weighted the
 data/chapter/104.html-book open, illuminated by a Muggle glowstick, while he did one of
 data/chapter/104.html-the exercises. Last week, when the graduating Ravenclaws were
 data/chapter/104.html-discussing their N.E.W.T. scores, Harry had overheard that
 --
 data/chapter/104.html-book open, illuminated by a Muggle glowstick, while he did one of
 data/chapter/104.html-the exercises. Last week, when the graduating Ravenclaws were
 data/chapter/104.html-discussing their N.E.W.T. scores, Harry had overheard that
 data/chapter/104.html:upper-year Transfiguration practice involved several 'shaping
 data/chapter/104.html-exercises' that relied more on control and precise thinking than
 data/chapter/104.html-raw power; and Harry had promptly set out to learn those, whacking
 data/chapter/104.html-himself hard on the forehead for not trying to read <em>all</em>
 data/chapter/104.html-the later-year textbooks earlier. Professor McGonagall had approved
 data/chapter/104.html-Harry doing a shaping exercise that involved controlling the way in
 --
 --
 data/chapter/104.html-then the barbs. Harry was doing an analogous exercise with pencils,
 data/chapter/104.html-growing out the lead first, then surrounding it with wood and
 data/chapter/104.html-finally having the eraser form on top. As Harry had suspected,
 data/chapter/104.html-focusing his attention and magic into a particular part of the
 data/chapter/104.html-pencil's ongoing transformation had proven similar to the mental
 data/chapter/104.html:discipline used in partial Transfiguration - which could indeed
 data/chapter/104.html-have been used to fake the same effect, by partially Transfiguring
 data/chapter/104.html-only the outer layers of the object. This way was proving
 data/chapter/104.html-relatively easier, though.</p>
 data/chapter/104.html-<p>Harry finished his current pencil and looked up at the Quidditch
 data/chapter/104.html-game, which was, check, still fantastically boring. Lee Jordan was
 --
 --
 data/chapter/104.html-wizarding things, and everything he'd found that could possibly be
 data/chapter/104.html-a quest item. (Harry had asked Professor McGonagall to recommend
 data/chapter/104.html-someone who could expand the pouch's capacity, and she'd just done
 data/chapter/104.html-it herself.) Harry had applied the Charm he'd learned for battles
 data/chapter/104.html-that made his eyeglasses stick to his face, regardless of how his
 data/chapter/104.html:head moved. Harry had refreshed the Transfigurations he was
 data/chapter/104.html-maintaining, both the tiny jewel in the ring on his hand and the
 data/chapter/104.html-other one, in case he was knocked unconscious. He wasn't literally
 data/chapter/104.html-ready for anything, but Harry was as ready as he thought he could
 data/chapter/104.html-be.</p>
 data/chapter/104.html-<p>The five-sided floor tiles creaked beneath Harry's shoes and
 --
 --
 data/chapter/105.html-gold and silver. Suppose these are true benefits of holding the
 data/chapter/105.html-Stone. Tell me, boy. What is the Stone's power?"</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>It might have been the adrenaline still in him, being actually
 data/chapter/105.html-useful for his brain for once. It might have been the power of
 data/chapter/105.html-being told that an answer existed, and that the evidence wasn't a
 data/chapter/105.html:lie. "It can make Transfigurations permanent."</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>Then Harry stopped, as he heard what his own mouth had just
 data/chapter/105.html-said.</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>"Correct," said Professor Quirrell. "Thus, whoever holds the
 --
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>Then Harry stopped, as he heard what his own mouth had just
 data/chapter/105.html-said.</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>"Correct," said Professor Quirrell. "Thus, whoever holds the
 data/chapter/105.html:Philosopher's Stone is able to perform human Transfiguration."</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>Harry's torn mind was knocked about yet again, as he realized
 data/chapter/105.html-what further incentive would be offered him.</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>"You stole Miss Granger's remains and Transfigured them into
 data/chapter/105.html-some innocuous-appearing target," said Professor Quirrell. "A
 data/chapter/105.html-Transfigured target that you must keep somewhere about your own
 --
 --
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>Harry's torn mind was knocked about yet again, as he realized
 data/chapter/105.html-what further incentive would be offered him.</p>
 data/chapter/105.html-<p>"You stole Miss Granger's remains and Transfigured them into
 data/chapter/105.html-some innocuous-appearing target," said Professor Quirrell. "A
 data/chapter/105.html-Transfigured target that you must keep somewhere about your own
 data/chapter/105.html:person, in order to sustain the Transfiguration. Ah, I see your
 data/chapter/105.html-eyes going to that ring upon your hand, but of course Miss Granger
 data/chapter/105.html-would not be the little jewel set into the ring, would it? That
 data/chapter/105.html-would be too obvious. No, I expect you Transfigured Granger's
 data/chapter/105.html-remains into the ring itself, letting the aura of the Transfigured
 data/chapter/105.html-jewel mask the magic in the Transfigured ring."</p>
 --
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 data/chapter/108.html-<em>potion of effulgence,</em> and that reminded Harry that time
 data/chapter/108.html-was continuing to move; the locks of bright hair were rarer than
 data/chapter/108.html-the bellflowers.</p>
 data/chapter/108.html-<p>"I ask my second question," Harry said. "Tell me about the
 data/chapter/108.html-Philosopher's Stone. Does it do anything besides making
 data/chapter/108.html:Transfigurations permanent? Is it possible to make more Stones, and
 data/chapter/108.html-why is that problem hard?"</p>
 data/chapter/108.html-<p>Professor Quirrell was bent over the potion, and Harry could not
 data/chapter/108.html-see his face. "Very well, I shall tell you the Stone's story as I
 data/chapter/108.html-have inferred it. The one and only power of the Stone is the
 data/chapter/108.html-imposition of permanency, to render a temporary form into a true
 --
 --
 data/chapter/111.html-flung away from the altar.</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>Voldemort walked away from the altar, then turned and looked at
 data/chapter/111.html-Harry; and the pain in Harry's scar flared at it.</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>"Frightened, child?" Voldemort hissed, like there was an
 data/chapter/111.html-undercurrent of Parseltongue even to the Dark Lord's human speech.
 data/chapter/111.html:"Good. Place the girl on the altar, and break your Transfiguration.
 data/chapter/111.html-<em>Iss time for me to revive her.</em>"</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p><em>Is this really going to happen? Are we really going to do
 data/chapter/111.html-this?</em></p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>Harry swallowed, mastering his fear through that note of
 data/chapter/111.html-impossible hope amid the confusion, and walked over to the altar.
 --
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 data/chapter/111.html-would routinely put up boundaries against portkeys, if Severus had
 data/chapter/111.html-been right. Behind Harry, Voldemort laughed again in what sounded
 data/chapter/111.html-like surprised appreciation.</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>"I need my wand to <em>Finite</em> her," Harry said aloud.</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>"You do <em>not</em>." High the voice and cruel. "You learned to
 data/chapter/111.html:sustain a Transfiguration by touch alone, without further use of
 data/chapter/111.html:the wand. You can likewise break your own Transfiguration
 data/chapter/111.html-wandlessly, by commanding your sustaining magic to drain away. Do
 data/chapter/111.html-so now."</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>Harry swallowed, and touched the toe-ring. He had to try three
 data/chapter/111.html-times, and clear his mind, before he could push his magic out of
 data/chapter/111.html-the toe-ring, as before he had learned to make a tiny stream of
 --
 --
 data/chapter/111.html-side with one arm falling off the altar's edge, the position in
 data/chapter/111.html-which the reversion had chanced to place her. No blood flowed now
 data/chapter/111.html-from the chewed stumps of her thighs. The dead girl wore Hermione
 data/chapter/111.html-Granger's face, but twisted and pale. It was as Harry had seen
 data/chapter/111.html-before in the hospital's back room, the image burned into his brain
 data/chapter/111.html:during thirty long minutes of Transfiguration, the image he had
 data/chapter/111.html-reproduced during four even longer hours to Transfigure the decoy.
 data/chapter/111.html-The dead girl was naked, for her clothes were not part of her, and
 data/chapter/111.html-had not been Transfigured.</p>
 data/chapter/111.html-<p>The sight brought back flashbacks, of the hours spent in the
 data/chapter/111.html-infirmary room, of the nightmares afterward, all of which Harry
 --
 --
 data/chapter/13.html-it?"</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Yes! I want it!" Harry was aware that he probably ought to keep
 data/chapter/13.html-his sarcasm under control but he just couldn't seem to help
 data/chapter/13.html-himself.</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"The darkness can be found between the green study rooms and
 data/chapter/13.html:McGonagall's Transfiguration class! That's the hint! And get a move
 data/chapter/13.html-on, you're slower than a sack of snails! Minus ten points for being
 data/chapter/13.html-slow! Now you have 61 points! That was the rest of the
 data/chapter/13.html-message!"</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Thank you," Harry said. He was really getting behind on the
 data/chapter/13.html-game here. "Um... I don't suppose you know where the message
 --
 --
 data/chapter/13.html-within the air itself, a gap that opened upon a fiery abyss! That's
 data/chapter/13.html-what they told me!"</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>Harry was no longer sure, at this point, whether this was the
 data/chapter/13.html-sort of thing he ought to be sceptical about, or the sort of thing
 data/chapter/13.html-he should just take in stride. "And how can I find the line between
 data/chapter/13.html:the green study rooms and Transfiguration class?"</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Just spin back around and go left, right, down, down, right,
 data/chapter/13.html-left, right, up, and left again, you'll be at the green study room
 data/chapter/13.html-and if you go in and walk straight out the opposite side you'll be
 data/chapter/13.html-on a big curvy corridor that goes to an intersection and on the
 data/chapter/13.html-right side of that intersection will be a long straight hallway
 --
 --
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Just spin back around and go left, right, down, down, right,
 data/chapter/13.html-left, right, up, and left again, you'll be at the green study room
 data/chapter/13.html-and if you go in and walk straight out the opposite side you'll be
 data/chapter/13.html-on a big curvy corridor that goes to an intersection and on the
 data/chapter/13.html-right side of that intersection will be a long straight hallway
 data/chapter/13.html:that goes to the Transfiguration classroom!" The figure of the
 data/chapter/13.html-middle-aged man paused. "At least that's how it was when <em>I</em>
 data/chapter/13.html-was in Hogwarts. This <em>is</em> a Monday on an odd-numbered year,
 data/chapter/13.html-isn't it?"</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Pencil and mechanical paper," Harry said to his pouch. "Er,
 data/chapter/13.html-cancel that, paper and mechanical pencil." He looked up. "Could you
 --
 --
 data/chapter/13.html-Game Controller...</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>Okay, honestly, Harry had absolutely no idea how he would feel
 data/chapter/13.html-if Professor McGonagall was the Game Controller. His mind was just
 data/chapter/13.html-drawing a complete blank. It was, literally, unimaginable.</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>A couple of portraits later - it wasn't a long trip, Professor
 data/chapter/13.html:McGonagall's office wasn't far from her Transfiguration classroom,
 data/chapter/13.html-at least not on Mondays on odd-numbered years - Harry stood outside
 data/chapter/13.html-the door to her office.</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>He knocked.</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>"Come in," said Professor McGonagall's muffled voice.</p>
 data/chapter/13.html-<p>He entered.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<p><em>I don't care if it's unfair competition. I know exactly what
 data/chapter/15.html-I am doing with two extra hours every day. I am going to sit in my
 data/chapter/15.html-trunk and study until I am keeping up with Hermione
 data/chapter/15.html-Granger.</em></p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic
 data/chapter/15.html-you will learn at Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. There was
 data/chapter/15.html-no trace of any levity upon the face of the stern old witch.
 data/chapter/15.html-"Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back.
 data/chapter/15.html-You have been warned."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Her wand came down and tapped her desk, which smoothly reshaped
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-You have been warned."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Her wand came down and tapped her desk, which smoothly reshaped
 data/chapter/15.html-itself into a pig. A couple of Muggleborn students gave out small
 data/chapter/15.html-yelps. The pig looked around and snorted, seeming confused, and
 data/chapter/15.html-then became a desk again.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>The Transfiguration Professor looked around the classroom, and
 data/chapter/15.html-then her eyes settled on one student.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Mr. Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "You only received your
 data/chapter/15.html-schoolbooks a few days ago. Have you started reading your
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-then her eyes settled on one student.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Mr. Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "You only received your
 data/chapter/15.html-schoolbooks a few days ago. Have you started reading your
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration textbook?"</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"No, sorry professor," Harry said.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"You needn't apologise, Mr. Potter, if you were required to read
 data/chapter/15.html-ahead you would have been told to do so." McGonagall's fingers
 data/chapter/15.html-rapped the desk in front of her. "Mr. Potter, would you care to
 data/chapter/15.html-guess whether this is a desk which I Transfigured into a pig, or if
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"No, sorry professor," Harry said.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"You needn't apologise, Mr. Potter, if you were required to read
 data/chapter/15.html-ahead you would have been told to do so." McGonagall's fingers
 data/chapter/15.html-rapped the desk in front of her. "Mr. Potter, would you care to
 data/chapter/15.html-guess whether this is a desk which I Transfigured into a pig, or if
 data/chapter/15.html:it began as a pig and I briefly removed the Transfiguration? If you
 data/chapter/15.html-had read the first chapter of your textbook, you would know."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Harry's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I'd guess it'd be easier to
 data/chapter/15.html-start with a pig, since if it started as a desk, it might not know
 data/chapter/15.html-how to stand up."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No fault to you, Mr.
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-had read the first chapter of your textbook, you would know."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Harry's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I'd guess it'd be easier to
 data/chapter/15.html-start with a pig, since if it started as a desk, it might not know
 data/chapter/15.html-how to stand up."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No fault to you, Mr.
 data/chapter/15.html:Potter, but the correct answer is that in Transfiguration you do
 data/chapter/15.html-<em>not</em> care to guess. Wrong answers will be marked with
 data/chapter/15.html-extreme severity, questions left blank will be marked with great
 data/chapter/15.html-leniency. You must learn to know what you do not know. If I ask you
 data/chapter/15.html-any question, no matter how obvious or elementary, and you answer
 data/chapter/15.html-'I'm not sure', I will not hold it against you and anyone who
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-leniency. You must learn to know what you do not know. If I ask you
 data/chapter/15.html-any question, no matter how obvious or elementary, and you answer
 data/chapter/15.html-'I'm not sure', I will not hold it against you and anyone who
 data/chapter/15.html-laughs will lose House points. Can you tell me why this rule
 data/chapter/15.html-exists, Mr. Potter?"</p>
 data/chapter/15.html:<p><em>Because a single error in Transfiguration can be incredibly
 data/chapter/15.html-dangerous.</em> "No."</p>
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-dangerous.</em> "No."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>"Correct. Transfiguration is more dangerous than Apparition,
 data/chapter/15.html-which is not taught until your sixth year. Unfortunately,
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-which is not taught until your sixth year. Unfortunately,
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration must be learned and practised at a young age to
 data/chapter/15.html-maximise your adult ability. So this is a dangerous subject, and
 data/chapter/15.html-you should be quite scared of making any mistakes, because none of
 data/chapter/15.html-my students have ever been permanently injured and I will be
 data/chapter/15.html-<em>extremely put out</em> if you are the first class to <em>spoil
 data/chapter/15.html-my record</em>."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<em>extremely put out</em> if you are the first class to <em>spoil
 data/chapter/15.html-my record</em>."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Several students gulped.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall stood up and moved over to the wall behind
 data/chapter/15.html-her desk, which held a polished wooden board. "There are many
 data/chapter/15.html:reasons why Transfiguration is dangerous, but one reason stands
 data/chapter/15.html-above all the rest." She produced a short quill with a thick end,
 data/chapter/15.html-and used it to sketch letters in red; which she then underlined,
 data/chapter/15.html-using the same marker, in blue:</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">TRANSFIGURATION IS NOT
 data/chapter/15.html-PERMANENT!</span></p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-above all the rest." She produced a short quill with a thick end,
 data/chapter/15.html-and used it to sketch letters in red; which she then underlined,
 data/chapter/15.html-using the same marker, in blue:</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">TRANSFIGURATION IS NOT
 data/chapter/15.html-PERMANENT!</span></p>
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>"Transfiguration is not permanent!" said Professor McGonagall.
 data/chapter/15.html:"Transfiguration is not permanent! Transfiguration is not
 data/chapter/15.html-permanent! Mr. Potter, suppose a student Transfigured a block of
 data/chapter/15.html-wood into a cup of water, and you drank it. What do you imagine
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-permanent! Mr. Potter, suppose a student Transfigured a block of
 data/chapter/15.html-wood into a cup of water, and you drank it. What do you imagine
 data/chapter/15.html:might happen to you when the Transfiguration wore off?" There was a
 data/chapter/15.html-pause. "Excuse me, I should not have asked that of you, Mr. Potter,
 data/chapter/15.html-I forgot that you are blessed with an unusually pessimistic
 data/chapter/15.html-imagination -"</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"I'm fine," Harry said, swallowing hard. "So the first answer is
 data/chapter/15.html-that I don't <em>know</em>," the Professor nodded approvingly, "but
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-to have. The picture on page 7 is of the criminal ten years later,
 data/chapter/15.html-on his release. You will note that he is dead - yes, Mr.
 data/chapter/15.html-Potter?"</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Professor," Harry said, "if the worst happens in a case like
 data/chapter/15.html-that, is there any way of <em>maintaining</em> the
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration?"</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"No," Professor McGonagall said flatly. "Sustaining a
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"No," Professor McGonagall said flatly. "Sustaining a
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration is a constant drain on your magic which scales with
 data/chapter/15.html-the size of the target form. And you would need to recontact the
 data/chapter/15.html-target every few hours, which is, in a case like this, impossible.
 data/chapter/15.html-Disasters like this are <em>unrecoverable!</em> "</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall leaned forwards, her face very hard. "You
 data/chapter/15.html-will absolutely never under any circumstances Transfigure anything
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Yes," said Harry, Hermione, and a few others. The rest seemed
 data/chapter/15.html-to be speechless.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"<em>Is that well understood by every single student?</em> "</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Yes," they said or muttered or whispered.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"If you break any of these rules you will not further study
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration during your stay at Hogwarts. Repeat along with me.
 data/chapter/15.html-I will never Transfigure anything into a liquid or gas."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"I will never Transfigure anything into a liquid or gas," said
 data/chapter/15.html-the students in ragged chorus.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Again! Louder! I will never Transfigure anything into a liquid
 data/chapter/15.html-or gas."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-Transfigure yourself and how long you maintain the change."
 data/chapter/15.html-Professor McGonagall paused. "Mr. Potter is currently holding up
 data/chapter/15.html-his hand because he has seen an Animagus transformation -
 data/chapter/15.html-specifically, a human transforming into a cat and back again. But
 data/chapter/15.html-an Animagus transformation is not <em>free</em>
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall took a small chunk of wood out of her
 data/chapter/15.html-pocket. With a tap of her wand it became a glass ball. Then she
 data/chapter/15.html-said "<em>Crystferrium!</em> " and the glass ball became a steel
 data/chapter/15.html-ball. She tapped it with her wand one last time and the steel ball
 data/chapter/15.html-became a piece of wood once more. "<em>Crystferrium</em> transforms
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-said "<em>Crystferrium!</em> " and the glass ball became a steel
 data/chapter/15.html-ball. She tapped it with her wand one last time and the steel ball
 data/chapter/15.html-became a piece of wood once more. "<em>Crystferrium</em> transforms
 data/chapter/15.html-a subject of solid glass into a similarly shaped target of solid
 data/chapter/15.html-steel. It cannot do the reverse, nor can it transform a desk into a
 data/chapter/15.html:pig. The most general form of Transfiguration - free
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration, which you will be learning here - is capable of
 data/chapter/15.html-transforming any subject into any target, at least so far as
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-transforming any subject into any target, at least so far as
 data/chapter/15.html:physical form is concerned. For this reason, free Transfiguration
 data/chapter/15.html-must be done wordlessly. Using Charms would require different words
 data/chapter/15.html-for every different transformation between subject and target."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall gave her students a sharp look.
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-must be done wordlessly. Using Charms would require different words
 data/chapter/15.html-for every different transformation between subject and target."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall gave her students a sharp look.
 data/chapter/15.html:"<em>Some</em> teachers begin with Transfiguration Charms and move
 data/chapter/15.html:on to free Transfiguration afterwards. Yes, that would be much
 data/chapter/15.html-easier in the beginning. But it can set you in a poor mold which
 data/chapter/15.html-impairs your abilities later. Here you will learn free
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-easier in the beginning. But it can set you in a poor mold which
 data/chapter/15.html-impairs your abilities later. Here you will learn free
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration from the <em>very start</em>, which requires that
 data/chapter/15.html-you cast the spell wordlessly, by holding the subject form, the
 data/chapter/15.html-target form, and the transformation within your own mind."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"And to answer Mr. Potter's question," Professor McGonagall went
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-you cast the spell wordlessly, by holding the subject form, the
 data/chapter/15.html-target form, and the transformation within your own mind."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"And to answer Mr. Potter's question," Professor McGonagall went
 data/chapter/15.html:on, "it is <em>free</em> Transfiguration which you must never do to
 data/chapter/15.html-any living subject. There are Charms and potions which can safely,
 data/chapter/15.html-reversibly transform living subjects in <em>limited</em> ways. An
 data/chapter/15.html-Animagus with a missing limb will still be missing that limb after
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-any living subject. There are Charms and potions which can safely,
 data/chapter/15.html-reversibly transform living subjects in <em>limited</em> ways. An
 data/chapter/15.html-Animagus with a missing limb will still be missing that limb after
 data/chapter/15.html:transforming, for example. Free Transfiguration is <em>not</em>
 data/chapter/15.html-safe. Your body will change while it is Transfigured - breathing,
 data/chapter/15.html-for example, results in a constant loss of the body's stuff to the
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-safe. Your body will change while it is Transfigured - breathing,
 data/chapter/15.html-for example, results in a constant loss of the body's stuff to the
 data/chapter/15.html:surrounding air. When the Transfiguration wears off and your body
 data/chapter/15.html-tries to revert to its <em>original</em> form, it will not quite be
 data/chapter/15.html-able to do so. If you press your wand to your body and imagine
 data/chapter/15.html-yourself with golden hair, afterwards your hair will fall out. If
 data/chapter/15.html-you visualise yourself as someone with clearer skin, you will be
 data/chapter/15.html-taking a long stay at St. Mungo's. And if you Transfigure yourself
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-tries to revert to its <em>original</em> form, it will not quite be
 data/chapter/15.html-able to do so. If you press your wand to your body and imagine
 data/chapter/15.html-yourself with golden hair, afterwards your hair will fall out. If
 data/chapter/15.html-you visualise yourself as someone with clearer skin, you will be
 data/chapter/15.html-taking a long stay at St. Mungo's. And if you Transfigure yourself
 data/chapter/15.html:into an adult bodily form, then, when the Transfiguration wears
 data/chapter/15.html-off, you will die."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>That explained why he had seen such things as fat boys, or girls
 data/chapter/15.html-less than perfectly pretty. Or old people, for that matter. That
 data/chapter/15.html-wouldn't happen if you could just Transfigure yourself every
 data/chapter/15.html-morning... Harry raised his hand and tried to signal Professor
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"No further questions, professor."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Now repeat after me," said Professor McGonagall. "I will never
 data/chapter/15.html-try to Transfigure any living subject, especially myself, unless
 data/chapter/15.html-specifically instructed to do so using a specialised Charm or
 data/chapter/15.html-potion."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>"If I am not sure whether a Transfiguration is safe, I will not
 data/chapter/15.html-try it until I have asked Professor McGonagall or Professor
 data/chapter/15.html-Flitwick or Professor Snape or the Headmaster, who are the only
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-try it until I have asked Professor McGonagall or Professor
 data/chapter/15.html-Flitwick or Professor Snape or the Headmaster, who are the only
 data/chapter/15.html:recognised authorities on Transfiguration at Hogwarts. Asking
 data/chapter/15.html-another student is <em>not</em> acceptable, even if they say that
 data/chapter/15.html-they remember asking the same question."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Even if the current Defence Professor at Hogwarts tells me that
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-another student is <em>not</em> acceptable, even if they say that
 data/chapter/15.html-they remember asking the same question."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Even if the current Defence Professor at Hogwarts tells me that
 data/chapter/15.html:a Transfiguration is safe, and even if I see the Defence Professor
 data/chapter/15.html-do it and nothing bad seems to happen, I will not try it
 data/chapter/15.html-myself."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"I have the absolute right to refuse to perform any
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-do it and nothing bad seems to happen, I will not try it
 data/chapter/15.html-myself."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"I have the absolute right to refuse to perform any
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration about which I feel the slightest bit nervous. Since
 data/chapter/15.html-not even the Headmaster of Hogwarts can order me to do otherwise, I
 data/chapter/15.html-certainly will not accept any such order from the Defence
 data/chapter/15.html-Professor, even if the Defence Professor threatens to deduct one
 data/chapter/15.html-hundred House points and have me expelled."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"If I break any of these rules I will not further study
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-not even the Headmaster of Hogwarts can order me to do otherwise, I
 data/chapter/15.html-certainly will not accept any such order from the Defence
 data/chapter/15.html-Professor, even if the Defence Professor threatens to deduct one
 data/chapter/15.html-hundred House points and have me expelled."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"If I break any of these rules I will not further study
 data/chapter/15.html:Transfiguration during my time at Hogwarts."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"We will repeat these rules at the start of every class for the
 data/chapter/15.html-first month," said Professor McGonagall. "And now, we will begin
 data/chapter/15.html-with matches as subjects and needles as targets... put away your
 data/chapter/15.html-wands, thank you, by 'begin' I meant that you will begin taking
 data/chapter/15.html-notes."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-the entire rest of the class, Muggleborn or otherwise, had exactly
 data/chapter/15.html-what they'd started with.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>Professor McGonagall awarded her another point for
 data/chapter/15.html-Ravenclaw.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/15.html:<p>After the Transfiguration class was dismissed, Hermione came
 data/chapter/15.html-over to Harry's desk as Harry was putting away his books into his
 data/chapter/15.html-pouch.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"You know," Hermione said with an innocent expression on her
 data/chapter/15.html-face, "I earned two points for Ravenclaw today."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"So you did," Harry said shortly.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/15.html-behind on your studying."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Why, thank you. And let me say that as brilliant as you are
 data/chapter/15.html-already, I can't help but wonder what you'll be like once you have
 data/chapter/15.html-some elementary training in rationality."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Is it really that useful? It didn't seem to help you with
 data/chapter/15.html:Charms or Transfiguration."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>There was a slight pause.</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Well, I only got my schoolbooks four days ago. That's why I had
 data/chapter/15.html-to earn those seventeen House points without using my wand."</p>
 data/chapter/15.html-<p>"Four days ago? Maybe you can't read eight books in four days
 data/chapter/15.html-but you might have at least read <em>one</em>. How many days will
 --
 --
 data/chapter/16.html-Horntail! It is strong enough to bite through steel! Its hide is
 data/chapter/16.html-resistant enough to withstand Stunning Hexes and Cutting Charms!
 data/chapter/16.html-Its sense of smell is so acute that it can tell from afar whether
 data/chapter/16.html-its prey is part of a pack, or alone and vulnerable! Most fearsome
 data/chapter/16.html-of all, the troll is unique among magical creatures in continuously
 data/chapter/16.html:maintaining a form of Transfiguration on itself - it is always
 data/chapter/16.html-transforming into its own body. If you somehow succeed in ripping
 data/chapter/16.html-off its arm it will grow another within seconds! Fire and acid will
 data/chapter/16.html-produce scar tissue which can temporarily confuse a troll's
 data/chapter/16.html-regenerative powers - for an hour or two! They are smart enough to
 data/chapter/16.html-use clubs as tools! The mountain troll is the third most perfect
 --
 --
 data/chapter/16.html-Professor Quirrell said:</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>"That's three. You need ten. The rest of the class thinks that
 data/chapter/16.html-you've already used up the whole contents of the classroom."</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>"<em>Ha!</em> The floor can be removed to create a spike pit to
 data/chapter/16.html-fall into, the ceiling can be collapsed on someone, the walls can
 data/chapter/16.html:serve as raw material for Transfiguration into any number of deadly
 data/chapter/16.html-things - knives, say."</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>"That's six. But surely you're scraping the bottom of the barrel
 data/chapter/16.html-now?"</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>"I haven't even started! Just look at all the people! Having a
 data/chapter/16.html-Gryffindor attack the enemy is an <em>ordinary</em> use, of course
 --
 --
 data/chapter/16.html-useless!"</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>Harry started in surprise.</p>
 data/chapter/16.html-<p>"Remove the floor to create a spike trap? Ridiculous! In combat
 data/chapter/16.html-you do not have that sort of preparation time and if you did there
 data/chapter/16.html-would be a hundred better uses! Transfigure material from the
 data/chapter/16.html:walls? Mr. Potter cannot perform Transfiguration! Mr. Potter had
 data/chapter/16.html-exactly one idea which he could use immediately, right now, without
 data/chapter/16.html-extensive preparation or a cooperative enemy or magic he does not
 data/chapter/16.html-know. That idea was to jam his wand through his enemy's eye socket.
 data/chapter/16.html-Which would be more likely to break his wand than kill his
 data/chapter/16.html-opponent! In short, Mr. Potter, I'm afraid that your proposals were
 --
 --
 data/chapter/17.html-the Headmaster completely is almost never wise. I <em>am</em> sorry
 data/chapter/17.html-to hear of your dilemma, Mr. Potter, and if there's any way I
 data/chapter/17.html-<em>can</em> help you with whatever you decide to do -"</p>
 data/chapter/17.html-<p>"Um," Harry said. "Actually I was thinking that once I know how,
 data/chapter/17.html-I could Transfigure the rock into a ring and wear it on my finger.
 data/chapter/17.html:If you could teach me how to sustain a Transfiguration -"</p>
 data/chapter/17.html-<p>"It is good that you asked me first," Professor McGonagall said,
 data/chapter/17.html-her face growing a bit stern. "If you lost control of the
 --
 data/chapter/17.html-<p>"It is good that you asked me first," Professor McGonagall said,
 data/chapter/17.html-her face growing a bit stern. "If you lost control of the
 data/chapter/17.html:Transfiguration the reversal would cut off your finger and probably
 data/chapter/17.html-rip your hand in half. And at your age, even a ring is too large a
 data/chapter/17.html-target for you to sustain indefinitely without it being a serious
 data/chapter/17.html-drain on your magic. But I can have a ring forged for you with a
 data/chapter/17.html-setting for a jewel, a <em>small</em> jewel, in contact with your
 data/chapter/17.html-skin, and you can practice sustaining a safe subject, like a
 --
 --
 data/chapter/2.html-"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," said the witch, sounding sincere, though
 data/chapter/2.html-the corners of her lips were twitching upwards. "I should have
 data/chapter/2.html-warned you."</p>
 data/chapter/2.html-<p>Harry was breathing in short gasps. His voice came out choked.
 data/chapter/2.html-<em>"You can't DO that!"</em></p>
 data/chapter/2.html:<p>"It's only a Transfiguration," said Professor McGonagall. "An
 data/chapter/2.html-Animagus transformation, to be exact."</p>
 data/chapter/2.html-<p>"You turned into a cat! A <em>SMALL</em> cat! You violated
 data/chapter/2.html-Conservation of Energy! That's not just an arbitrary rule, it's
 data/chapter/2.html-implied by the form of the quantum Hamiltonian! Rejecting it
 data/chapter/2.html-destroys unitarity and then you get FTL signalling! And cats are
 --
 --
 data/chapter/22.html-Hogwarts students.</p>
 data/chapter/22.html-<p>Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres, theorist.</p>
 data/chapter/22.html-<p>And Hermione Jean Granger, experimenter and test subject.</p>
 data/chapter/22.html-<p>Harry was doing better in classes now, at least the classes he
 data/chapter/22.html-considered interesting. He'd read more books, and not books for
 data/chapter/22.html:eleven-year-olds either. He'd practiced Transfiguration over and
 data/chapter/22.html-over during one of his extra hours every day, taking the other hour
 data/chapter/22.html-for beginning Occlumency. He was taking the worthwhile classes
 data/chapter/22.html-<em>seriously,</em> not just turning in his homework every day, but
 data/chapter/22.html-using his free time to learn more than was required, to read other
 data/chapter/22.html-books beyond the given textbooks, looking to master the subject and
 --
 --
 data/chapter/22.html-the Dark Lord had cast the Cooling Charm when he was eleven, could
 data/chapter/22.html-he have frozen the whole room?"</p>
 data/chapter/22.html-<p>Draco's face screwed up as he tried to recollect. "I can't
 data/chapter/22.html-remember hearing anything about the Dark Lord but I think
 data/chapter/22.html-Dumbledore's supposed to have done something amazing on his
 data/chapter/22.html:Transfiguration O.W.L.s in fifth year... I think other powerful
 data/chapter/22.html-wizards were good in Hogwarts too..."</p>
 data/chapter/22.html-<p>Harry scowled, still pacing. "They could just be studying hard.
 data/chapter/22.html-Still, if first-year students learned the same spells and seemed
 data/chapter/22.html-about as powerful then as now, we could call that <em>weak</em>
 data/chapter/22.html-evidence favoring 1 over 2... wait, hold on." Harry stopped where
 --
 --
 data/chapter/23.html-<p>But that was no obstacle to a <em>creative thinker.</em></p>
 data/chapter/23.html-<p>Harry laid his wand against one of the door's brass hinges, and
 data/chapter/23.html-concentrated on the form of cotton as a pure abstraction apart from
 data/chapter/23.html-any material cotton, and also on the pure material apart from the
 data/chapter/23.html-pattern that made it a brass hinge, and brought the two concepts
 data/chapter/23.html:together, imposing shape on substance. An hour of Transfiguration
 data/chapter/23.html-practice every day for a month had gotten Harry to the point where
 data/chapter/23.html-he could Transfigure a subject of five cubic centimeters in just
 data/chapter/23.html-under a minute.</p>
 data/chapter/23.html-<p>After two minutes the hinge hadn't changed at all.</p>
 data/chapter/23.html-<p>Whoever had designed Draco's locking spell, they'd thought of
 --
 --
 data/chapter/25.html-<p>This could take a while.</p>
 data/chapter/25.html-<p>Why did it take more effort to cast the Alohomora spell, if it
 data/chapter/25.html-was just like pressing a button?</p>
 data/chapter/25.html-<p>Who'd been silly enough to build in a spell for <em>Avada
 data/chapter/25.html-Kedavra</em> that could only be cast using hatred?</p>
 data/chapter/25.html:<p>Why did wordless Transfiguration require you to make a complete
 data/chapter/25.html-mental separation between the concept of form and concept of
 data/chapter/25.html-material?</p>
 data/chapter/25.html-<p>Harry might not be done with this problem by the time he
 data/chapter/25.html-graduated Hogwarts. He could still be working on this problem when
 data/chapter/25.html-he was <em>thirty years old.</em> Hermione had been right, Harry
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-cry.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Slowly, Harry took his mechanical pencil in his hand, and
 data/chapter/28.html-reached over to the sheet of paper with all the items crossed out,
 data/chapter/28.html-and drew a line through the item that said 'ALZHEIMER'S CURE'.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>They couldn't have fed anyone a Transfigured pill. But
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration, at least the kind they could do, didn't enchant
 data/chapter/28.html-the targets - it wouldn't Transfigure a regular broomstick into a
 data/chapter/28.html-flying one. So if Hermione had been able to make a pill at all, it
 data/chapter/28.html-would have been a <em>nonmagical</em> pill, one that worked for
 data/chapter/28.html-ordinary material reasons. They could have secretly made pills for
 data/chapter/28.html-a Muggle science lab, let them <em>study</em> the pills and try to
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-the targets - it wouldn't Transfigure a regular broomstick into a
 data/chapter/28.html-flying one. So if Hermione had been able to make a pill at all, it
 data/chapter/28.html-would have been a <em>nonmagical</em> pill, one that worked for
 data/chapter/28.html-ordinary material reasons. They could have secretly made pills for
 data/chapter/28.html-a Muggle science lab, let them <em>study</em> the pills and try to
 data/chapter/28.html:reverse-engineer them before the Transfiguration wore off... no one
 data/chapter/28.html-in either world would need to know that magic had been involved, it
 data/chapter/28.html-would just be another scientific breakthrough...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>It hadn't been the sort of thing a wizard would think of,
 data/chapter/28.html-either. They didn't respect mere <em>patterns of atoms</em> that
 data/chapter/28.html-much, they didn't think of unenchanted <em>material</em> things as
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-passion, but did his best not to show it; maybe the same process
 data/chapter/28.html-would work in reverse to cheer her up. "Now I test it to see if it
 data/chapter/28.html-holds weight."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>There was an A-frame Harry had rigged up to do an earlier
 data/chapter/28.html-experiment with diamond rods - you could make solid diamond objects
 data/chapter/28.html:easily, using Transfiguration, they just wouldn't last. The earlier
 data/chapter/28.html-experiment had measured whether Transfiguring a long diamond rod
 data/chapter/28.html-into a shorter diamond rod would allow it to lift a suspended heavy
 data/chapter/28.html-weight as it contracted, i.e., could you Transfigure against
 data/chapter/28.html-tension, which you in fact could.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry carefully looped one circle of glittering diamond over the
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-the hanger.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>(Harry had asked the Weasley twins to Transfigure the apparatus
 data/chapter/28.html-for him, and the Weasley twins had given him an incredulous look,
 data/chapter/28.html-like they couldn't figure out what sort of prank he could
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>possibly</em> want that for, but they hadn't asked any
 data/chapter/28.html:questions. And their Transfigurations, according to them, lasted
 data/chapter/28.html-for around three hours, so Harry and Hermione still had a while
 data/chapter/28.html-left.)</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"One hundred kilograms," Harry said about a minute later. "I
 data/chapter/28.html-don't think a steel thread this thin would hold that. It should go
 data/chapter/28.html-up much higher, but that's all the weight I've got."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-it happen and <em>she'd felt like its target.</em> Just for a
 data/chapter/28.html-moment, before the terrible cold darkness looked away and said it
 data/chapter/28.html-wasn't angry with her, because it hadn't wanted to scare her.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And she still had that feeling like she'd missed something
 data/chapter/28.html-earlier, something really important.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>But they hadn't violated any of the rules of Transfiguration...
 data/chapter/28.html-had they? They hadn't made any liquids, any gases, they hadn't
 data/chapter/28.html-taken orders from the Defense Professor...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The <em>pill!</em> That had been something to be eaten!</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>...well, no, nobody would just eat a pill lying around, it
 data/chapter/28.html-hadn't <em>worked</em> actually, they could have just <em>Finite
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>...well, no, nobody would just eat a pill lying around, it
 data/chapter/28.html-hadn't <em>worked</em> actually, they could have just <em>Finite
 data/chapter/28.html-Incantatemed</em> it if it had, but she would still have to tell
 data/chapter/28.html-Harry about that and make sure they didn't mention it in front of
 data/chapter/28.html-Professor McGonagall, in case they were never allowed to study
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration again...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Hermione was starting to get a really sick feeling in her
 data/chapter/28.html-stomach. She pushed back her plate from the table, she couldn't eat
 data/chapter/28.html-lunch like this.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And she closed her eyes and began to mentally recite the rules
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Hermione was starting to get a really sick feeling in her
 data/chapter/28.html-stomach. She pushed back her plate from the table, she couldn't eat
 data/chapter/28.html-lunch like this.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And she closed her eyes and began to mentally recite the rules
 data/chapter/28.html:of Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p><em>"I will never Transfigure anything into liquid or
 data/chapter/28.html-gas."</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p><em>"I will never Transfigure anything that looks like food or
 data/chapter/28.html-anything else that goes inside a human body."</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>No, they really <em>shouldn't</em> have tried to Transfigure the
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>thought...</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The sick feeling in Hermione's stomach was getting worse. There
 data/chapter/28.html-was a feeling in her mind of something hovering just on the edge of
 data/chapter/28.html-recognition, a perception about to invert itself, a young woman
 data/chapter/28.html-about to become a crone, a vase about to become two faces...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>And she went on remembering the rules of Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry's knuckles had gone white on his wand by the time he
 data/chapter/28.html-stopped trying to Transfigure the air in front of his wand into a
 data/chapter/28.html-paperclip. It wouldn't have been safe to Transfigure the paperclip
 data/chapter/28.html-into gas, of course, but Harry didn't see any reason why it would
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>If it came down to that, the protons and neutrons inside the
 data/chapter/28.html-nuclei were tiny separate things. The quarks inside the protons and
 data/chapter/28.html-neutrons were tiny separate things! There simply <em>wasn't</em>
 data/chapter/28.html-anything in reality, the world-out-there, that corresponded to
 data/chapter/28.html-people's conceit of solid objects. It was all just little dots.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>And free Transfiguration was all in the mind to begin with,
 data/chapter/28.html-wasn't it? No words, no gestures. Only the pure concept of form,
 data/chapter/28.html-kept strictly separate from substance, imposed on the substance,
 data/chapter/28.html-conceived of apart from its form. That and the wand and whatever
 data/chapter/28.html-made you a wizard.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The wizards couldn't transform parts of things, could only
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-everything was just collections of atoms, and the atoms of the
 data/chapter/28.html-little patch he was trying to Transfigure formed <em>just as
 data/chapter/28.html-valid</em> a collection as any other collection he cared to think
 data/chapter/28.html-about.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And Harry still hadn't been able to change that single part of
 data/chapter/28.html:the eraser, the Transfiguration wasn't going anywhere.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p><em>This. Was. Ridiculous.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry's knuckles were whitening on his wand again. He was
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>sick</em> of getting experimental results that <em>didn't make
 data/chapter/28.html-sense.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Maybe the fact that <em>some</em> part of his mind was still
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p><em>This. Was. Ridiculous.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry's knuckles were whitening on his wand again. He was
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>sick</em> of getting experimental results that <em>didn't make
 data/chapter/28.html-sense.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Maybe the fact that <em>some</em> part of his mind was still
 data/chapter/28.html:thinking in terms of objects was stopping the Transfiguration from
 data/chapter/28.html-going through. He had thought of a collection of atoms that was an
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>eraser.</em> He had thought of a collection that was a
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>little patch.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Time to kick it up a notch.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry pressed his wand harder against that tiny section of
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>truth</em> behind Harry's concept of "my wand" was touching the
 data/chapter/28.html-collection of atoms that Harry's mind thought of as "a patch on the
 data/chapter/28.html-eraser", and if that wand could change the collection of atoms that
 data/chapter/28.html-Harry considered "the whole eraser", there was absolutely no reason
 data/chapter/28.html-why it couldn't change the other collection too...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>The Transfiguration still wasn't going through.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry's teeth clenched together, and he kicked it up
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>another</em> notch.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The concept Harry's mind had of the eraser as a single object
 data/chapter/28.html-was <em>obvious nonsense.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>It was a map that didn't and <em>couldn't</em> match the
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-belief that Harry's brain had in the eraser as a single object
 data/chapter/28.html-wasn't just <em>wrong,</em> it was a map-territory confusion, the
 data/chapter/28.html-eraser only existed as a separate concept in Harry's multi-level
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>model</em> of the world, not as a separate element of
 data/chapter/28.html-single-level reality.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>...the Transfiguration <em>still wasn't happening.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>Harry was breathing heavily, failed Transfiguration was almost
 data/chapter/28.html:as tiring as successful Transfiguration, but <em>damned</em> if
 data/chapter/28.html-he'd give up now.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>All right, screw this nineteenth-century garbage.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Reality wasn't atoms, it wasn't a set of tiny billiard balls
 data/chapter/28.html-bopping around. That was just another lie. The notion of atoms as
 data/chapter/28.html-little dots was just another convenient hallucination that people
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And then it was still a while before she could talk again.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"We broke the rules, Harry," she said in a hoarse voice. "We
 data/chapter/28.html-broke the rules."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"I..." Harry swallowed. "I still don't see how, I've been
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>thinking</em> but -"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html:<p>"I asked if the Transfiguration was safe and <em>you answered
 data/chapter/28.html-me!</em> "</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>There was a pause.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"That's it?" Harry said.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>She could have screamed.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Harry, don't you get it?" she said. "It's made out of tiny
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>She could have screamed.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Harry, don't you get it?" she said. "It's made out of tiny
 data/chapter/28.html-fibers, what if it <em>unraveled,</em> who <em>knows</em> what
 data/chapter/28.html-could go wrong, <em>we didn't ask Professor McGonagall!</em> Don't
 data/chapter/28.html-you see what we were doing? We were experimenting with
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration. We were <em>experimenting</em> with
 data/chapter/28.html:<em>Transfiguration!</em> "</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>There was another pause.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Right..." Harry said slowly. "That's probably one of those
 data/chapter/28.html-things they don't even bother telling you <em>not</em> to do
 data/chapter/28.html-because it's too obvious. Don't test brilliant new ideas for
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>There was another pause.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Right..." Harry said slowly. "That's probably one of those
 data/chapter/28.html-things they don't even bother telling you <em>not</em> to do
 data/chapter/28.html-because it's too obvious. Don't test brilliant new ideas for
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration by yourselves in an unused classroom without
 data/chapter/28.html-consulting any professors."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"You could have gotten us killed, Harry!" Hermione knew it
 data/chapter/28.html-wasn't fair, she'd made the mistake too, but she still felt angry
 data/chapter/28.html-at him, he always sounded so confident and that had dragged her
 data/chapter/28.html-unthinkingly along in his wake. "We could have <em>spoiled
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"So," Dumbledore said. The silver beard swung away from her, the
 data/chapter/28.html-old wizard's twinkling gaze looked elsewhere once more. "You
 data/chapter/28.html-suspect you might be able to do something that other wizards can't
 data/chapter/28.html-do, something we think is impossible."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The three of them stood within the Headmaster's private
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration workroom, where the shining phoenix of Dumbledore's
 data/chapter/28.html-Patronus had told her to bring Harry, moments after her own
 data/chapter/28.html-Patronus had reached him. Light shone down through the skylights
 data/chapter/28.html-and illuminated the great seven-pointed alchemical diagram drawn in
 data/chapter/28.html-the center of the circular room, showing it to be a little dusty,
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-Patronus had told her to bring Harry, moments after her own
 data/chapter/28.html-Patronus had reached him. Light shone down through the skylights
 data/chapter/28.html-and illuminated the great seven-pointed alchemical diagram drawn in
 data/chapter/28.html-the center of the circular room, showing it to be a little dusty,
 data/chapter/28.html:which saddened Minerva. Transfiguration research was one of
 data/chapter/28.html-Dumbledore's great enjoyments, and she'd known how pressed for time
 data/chapter/28.html-he'd been lately, but not that he was <em>this</em> pressed.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And now Harry Potter was going to waste even more of the
 data/chapter/28.html-Headmaster's time. But she certainly couldn't blame <em>Harry</em>
 data/chapter/28.html-for that. He'd done the proper thing in coming to her to say that
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-Dumbledore's great enjoyments, and she'd known how pressed for time
 data/chapter/28.html-he'd been lately, but not that he was <em>this</em> pressed.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And now Harry Potter was going to waste even more of the
 data/chapter/28.html-Headmaster's time. But she certainly couldn't blame <em>Harry</em>
 data/chapter/28.html-for that. He'd done the proper thing in coming to her to say that
 data/chapter/28.html:he'd had an idea for doing something in Transfiguration that was
 data/chapter/28.html-currently believed to be impossible, and she herself had done
 data/chapter/28.html-exactly what she'd been told to do: she'd ordered Harry to be quiet
 data/chapter/28.html-and not discuss anything with her until she had consulted the
 data/chapter/28.html-Headmaster and they'd finished moving to a secure location.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>If Harry had started out by saying what <em>specifically</em> he
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-able to do things that are logically impossible."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Minerva would have rolled her eyes, if she hadn't gone numb a
 data/chapter/28.html-long time ago.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Supposing it <em>was</em> possible," said Dumbledore, "can you
 data/chapter/28.html-think of any reason why the results would differ in any way from
 data/chapter/28.html:ordinary Transfiguration?"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Minerva frowned. The fact that the concept was literally
 data/chapter/28.html-unimaginable was presenting her with some difficulty, but she tried
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Minerva frowned. The fact that the concept was literally
 data/chapter/28.html-unimaginable was presenting her with some difficulty, but she tried
 data/chapter/28.html:to take it at face value. A Transfiguration imposed on only half of
 data/chapter/28.html-a metal ball...</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Strange things happening at the interface?" said Minerva. "But
 data/chapter/28.html-that should be no different than Transfiguring the object as a
 data/chapter/28.html-whole, into a Form with two different parts..."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Dumbledore nodded. "That is my own thought as well. And Harry,
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Strange things happening at the interface?" said Minerva. "But
 data/chapter/28.html-that should be no different than Transfiguring the object as a
 data/chapter/28.html-whole, into a Form with two different parts..."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Dumbledore nodded. "That is my own thought as well. And Harry,
 data/chapter/28.html-if your theory is correct, it implies that what you want to do is
 data/chapter/28.html:<em>exactly</em> like any other Transfiguration, only applied to a
 data/chapter/28.html-part of the subject rather than the whole? No changes <em>at
 data/chapter/28.html-all?</em> "</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Yes," Harry said firmly. "That's the whole point."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Dumbledore looked at her again. "Minerva, can you think of any
 data/chapter/28.html-reason whatsoever why that would be dangerous?"</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Dumbledore looked at her again. "Minerva, can you think of any
 data/chapter/28.html-reason whatsoever why that would be dangerous?"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"No," said Minerva, after she had finished searching through her
 data/chapter/28.html-memory.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Likewise myself," said the Headmaster. "All right, then, since
 data/chapter/28.html:this ought to be exactly analogous to ordinary Transfiguration in
 data/chapter/28.html-all respects, and since we cannot think of any reason whatsoever
 data/chapter/28.html-why it would be dangerous, I think that the second degree of
 data/chapter/28.html-caution will suffice."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Minerva was surprised, but she didn't object. Dumbledore was by
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-all respects, and since we cannot think of any reason whatsoever
 data/chapter/28.html-why it would be dangerous, I think that the second degree of
 data/chapter/28.html-caution will suffice."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Minerva was surprised, but she didn't object. Dumbledore was by
 data/chapter/28.html:far her senior in Transfiguration, and he had tried literally
 data/chapter/28.html:thousands of new Transfigurations without ever choosing a degree of
 data/chapter/28.html:caution that was too low. He had used Transfiguration <em>in
 data/chapter/28.html-combat</em> and he was <em>still alive.</em> If the Headmaster
 data/chapter/28.html-thought the second degree was enough, it was enough.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>That Harry was certainly going to fail was, of course,
 data/chapter/28.html-completely irrelevant.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The two of them started setting up the wards and detection webs.
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-frightened.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Don't worry," said Professor McGonagall in the middle of her
 data/chapter/28.html-running description, "this almost certainly won't be necessary, Mr.
 data/chapter/28.html-Potter. If we <em>expected</em> anything to go wrong you would not
 data/chapter/28.html-be allowed to try. It's just ordinary precautions for any
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration no one has ever tried before."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Harry swallowed and nodded.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>And a few minutes later, Harry was strapped into the safety
 data/chapter/28.html-chair and resting his wand against a metal ball - one that, based
 data/chapter/28.html-on his current test scores, should have been too large for him to
 data/chapter/28.html-Transfigure in less than thirty minutes.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Half an hour later, Minerva was feeling equally bewildered, but
 data/chapter/28.html-considerably reassured about the safety issues.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>It <em>was</em> the same, aside from being logically
 data/chapter/28.html-impossible.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"I believe that's enough, Headmaster," Minerva said finally. "I
 data/chapter/28.html:suspect partial Transfiguration is more tiring than the ordinary
 data/chapter/28.html-sort."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Getting less so with practice," said the exhausted and pale
 data/chapter/28.html-boy, voice unsteady, "but yeah, you've got that right."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The process of extracting Harry from the wards took another
 data/chapter/28.html-minute, and then Minerva escorted him to a much more comfortable
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-chair, and Dumbledore produced an ice-cream soda.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"<em>Congratulations</em>, Mr. Potter!" said Professor
 data/chapter/28.html-McGonagall, and meant it. She would have bet almost anything
 data/chapter/28.html-against that working.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Congratulations indeed," said Dumbledore. "Even I did not make
 data/chapter/28.html:any original discoveries in Transfiguration before the age of
 data/chapter/28.html-fourteen. Not since the day of Dorotea Senjak has any genius
 data/chapter/28.html-flowered so early."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Thanks," Harry said, sounding a little surprised.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Nonetheless," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "I think it would
 data/chapter/28.html-be most wise to keep this happy event a secret, at least for now.
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>There was silence.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Um..." Harry said. "I don't want to turn anyone over to the
 data/chapter/28.html-Inquisition, but I did tell one other student -"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The word almost exploded from Professor McGonagall's lips.
 data/chapter/28.html-"<em>What?</em> You discussed a completely novel form of
 data/chapter/28.html:Transfiguration with a <em>student</em> before consulting a
 data/chapter/28.html-recognized authority? Do you have any idea how
 data/chapter/28.html-<em>irresponsible</em> that was?"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"I'm sorry," said Harry. "I didn't realize."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>The boy looked appropriately frightened, and Minerva felt
 data/chapter/28.html-something inside her relax. At least Harry understood how foolish
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-it. Please, trust me in this."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Professor McGonagall nodded, her firm face showing nothing of
 data/chapter/28.html-her inner confusion. "Please do, Mr. Potter," she said.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"All right..." Harry said slowly.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Once we have finished examining your materials," Dumbledore
 data/chapter/28.html:added, "you may practice partial Transfiguration, on glass to steel
 data/chapter/28.html-and steel to glass <em>only</em>, with Miss Granger to act as your
 data/chapter/28.html-spotter. Naturally, if either of you suspect any symptom of any
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-and steel to glass <em>only</em>, with Miss Granger to act as your
 data/chapter/28.html-spotter. Naturally, if either of you suspect any symptom of any
 data/chapter/28.html:form of Transfiguration sickness, inform a professor at once."</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Just before Harry left the workroom, with his hand on the
 data/chapter/28.html-doorhandle, the boy turned back and said, "As long as we're here,
 data/chapter/28.html-have either of you noticed anything different about Professor
 data/chapter/28.html-Snape?"</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Different?" said the Headmaster.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/28.html-BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT,<br>
 data/chapter/28.html-AND EITHER MUST DESTROY ALL BUT A REMNANT OF THE OTHER,<br>
 data/chapter/28.html-FOR THOSE TWO DIFFERENT SPIRITS CANNOT EXIST IN THE SAME
 data/chapter/28.html-WORLD.</em></p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>Those dreadful words, spoken in that terrible booming voice,
 data/chapter/28.html:didn't seem to fit something like partial Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/28.html-<p>"Perhaps not, then," Dumbledore said after Minerva tried to
 data/chapter/28.html-explain. "I confess I had been hoping for something that would help
 data/chapter/28.html-in finding Voldemort's horcrux, wherever he may have hidden it.
 data/chapter/28.html-But..." The old wizard shrugged. "Prophecies are tricky things,
 data/chapter/28.html-Minerva, and it is best to take no chances. The smallest thing may
 --
 --
 data/chapter/30.html-<p>Then Harry's mind clicked on another implication, and he looked
 data/chapter/30.html-down at the steel ring on his left hand's pinky finger, and almost
 data/chapter/30.html-swore out loud when he saw that the tiny diamond was missing and
 data/chapter/30.html-there was a marshmallow lying on the ground near where he'd
 data/chapter/30.html-fallen.</p>
 data/chapter/30.html:<p>He'd sustained that Transfiguration for seventeen days, and
 data/chapter/30.html-would now need to start over.</p>
 data/chapter/30.html-<p>Could've been worse. He could've done this fourteen days later,
 data/chapter/30.html-<em>after</em> Professor McGonagall had approved him to Transfigure
 data/chapter/30.html-his father's rock. That was one very good lesson to learn the easy
 data/chapter/30.html-way.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/32.html-<div id="chapter-title">Chapter 32: Interlude: Personal Financial
 data/chapter/32.html-Management<br></div><div class="storycontent nocopy" id="storycontent">
 data/chapter/32.html-<p>"But Headmaster," Harry argued, some of his desperation leaking
 data/chapter/32.html-into his voice, "leaving all of my assets in one undiversified
 data/chapter/32.html-vault full of gold coins - it's crazy, Headmaster! It's like, I
 data/chapter/32.html:don't know, doing Transfiguration experiments without consulting a
 data/chapter/32.html-recognized authority! You just don't do that with money!"</p>
 data/chapter/32.html-<p>From the lined face of the old wizard - underneath a festive
 data/chapter/32.html-holiday hat like a catastrophic automobile collision between cars
 data/chapter/32.html-of green and red cloth - a grave, sad look peered out at Harry.</p>
 data/chapter/32.html-<p>"I'm sorry, Harry," said Dumbledore, "and I do apologize, but
 --
 --
 data/chapter/34.html-trudged; it was, at its core, sturdy wood, but the outer surfaces
 data/chapter/34.html-shone with glitter of marble inlaid with platinum and studded with
 data/chapter/34.html-gems of every House color. Neither she nor the Headmaster was any
 data/chapter/34.html-Founder of Hogwarts, but the conjuration only needed to last a few
 data/chapter/34.html-hours. Minerva ordinarily enjoyed the few occasions when she had
 data/chapter/34.html:the occasion to tire herself out on large Transfigurations; she
 data/chapter/34.html-should have enjoyed the many small chances for artistry, and the
 data/chapter/34.html-illusion of opulence; but this time she had done the work with the
 data/chapter/34.html-dreadful feeling of digging her own grave.</p>
 data/chapter/34.html-<p>But Minerva was feeling a little better now. There'd been one
 data/chapter/34.html-brief moment when the explosion might've come; but Dumbledore had
 --
 --
 data/chapter/35.html-the cat leaped and vanished; only it didn't vanish, it traveled
 data/chapter/35.html-away somehow; or that was what her mind said, even though her eyes
 data/chapter/35.html-just saw it disappear.</p>
 data/chapter/35.html-<p>By the time Hermione had got to the office of her favorite
 data/chapter/35.html-professor, her mind was all a-whirl with speculations. Was there
 data/chapter/35.html:something wrong with her Transfiguration scores? But then why would
 data/chapter/35.html-Professor McGonagall say not to tell anyone? It was probably about
 --
 data/chapter/35.html-Professor McGonagall say not to tell anyone? It was probably about
 data/chapter/35.html:Harry practicing his partial Transfiguration...</p>
 data/chapter/35.html-<p>Professor McGonagall's face looked worried, not stern, as
 data/chapter/35.html-Hermione seated herself in front of the desk - trying to keep her
 data/chapter/35.html-eyes from going to the nest of cubbyholes containing Professor
 data/chapter/35.html-McGonagall's homework, she'd always wondered what sort of work
 data/chapter/35.html-grownups had to do to keep the school running and whether they
 --
 --
 data/chapter/36.html-<p>The boy swiveled again to regard Hermione. "I'm afraid, Miss
 data/chapter/36.html-Granger," the boy said gravely, "that you and I have been exiled to
 data/chapter/36.html-the labyrinthine recesses of the basement. Let us leave them to
 data/chapter/36.html-their adult conversations, which would no doubt soar far above our
 data/chapter/36.html-own childish intellects, and resume our ongoing discussion of the
 data/chapter/36.html:implications of Humean projectivism for Transfiguration."</p>
 data/chapter/36.html-<p>"Excuse us, please," said her daughter in a very firm tone, and
 data/chapter/36.html-grabbed the boy by his left sleeve, and dragged him into the
 data/chapter/36.html-hallway - Roberta swiveled helplessly to track them as they went
 data/chapter/36.html-past her, the boy gave her a cheery wave - and then Hermione pulled
 data/chapter/36.html-the boy into the basement access and slammed the door behind
 --
 --
 data/chapter/36.html-single one of his accomplishments, even if a child prodigy was
 data/chapter/36.html-still just a child. Was this the sort of household he could have
 data/chapter/36.html-ended up in, if Mum had married Vernon Dursley?</p>
 data/chapter/36.html-<p>Harry was doing what he could, though.</p>
 data/chapter/36.html-<p>"And she's really beating you in <em>all</em> your classes
 data/chapter/36.html:except broomstick riding and Transfiguration?" said Professor
 data/chapter/36.html-Michael Verres-Evans.</p>
 data/chapter/36.html-<p>"Yes," Harry said with forced calm, as he cut himself another
 data/chapter/36.html-bite of Christmas Eve turkey. "By solid margins, in most of them."
 data/chapter/36.html-There were other circumstances under which Harry would have been
 data/chapter/36.html-more reluctant to admit that, which was why he hadn't gotten around
 --
 --
 data/chapter/39.html-"squeamish ossifrage". This had been accompanied by a remarkably
 data/chapter/39.html-artistic ink drawing of Professor Flitwick staring at him sternly,
 data/chapter/39.html-the eyes of which occasionally blinked; and at the bottom of the
 data/chapter/39.html-note, underlined three times, was the phrase DON'T GET INTO
 data/chapter/39.html-TROUBLE.</p>
 data/chapter/39.html:<p>And so Harry had finished up Transfiguration class, and studied
 data/chapter/39.html-with Hermione, and eaten dinner, and spoken with his lieutenants,
 data/chapter/39.html-and finally, when the clock struck nine, turned himself invisible
 data/chapter/39.html-and dropped back to 6PM and wearily trudged off toward the
 data/chapter/39.html-gargoyle, the turning spiral stairs, the wooden door, the room full
 data/chapter/39.html-of little fiddly things, and the silver-bearded figure of the
 --
 --
 data/chapter/39.html-small voice of common sense inside him, and it was screaming very
 data/chapter/39.html-loudly right now.</p>
 data/chapter/39.html-<p>"Thank you," Harry muttered.</p>
 data/chapter/39.html-<p>"The other reason I asked you here," said the old wizard, "was
 data/chapter/39.html-that I wished to consult your unique genius."</p>
 data/chapter/39.html:<p>"Transfiguration?" said Harry, surprised and flattered.</p>
 data/chapter/39.html-<p>"No, not <em>that</em> unique genius," said Dumbledore. "Tell
 data/chapter/39.html-me, Harry, what evil could you accomplish if a Dementor were
 data/chapter/39.html-allowed onto the grounds of Hogwarts?"</p>
 data/chapter/39.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/39.html-<p>It developed that Professor Quirrell had asked, or rather
 --
 --
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>Hermione stared at the wax-sealed paper, on the surface of which
 data/chapter/46.html-was inscribed simply the number <em>42.</em></p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p><em>I figured out why we couldn't cast the Patronus Charm,
 data/chapter/46.html-Hermione, it doesn't have anything to do with us not being happy
 data/chapter/46.html-enough. But I can't tell you. I couldn't even tell the Headmaster.
 data/chapter/46.html:It needs to be even more secret than partial Transfiguration, for
 data/chapter/46.html-now, anyway. But if you ever need to fight Dementors, the secret is
 data/chapter/46.html-written here, cryptically, so that if someone doesn't know it's
 data/chapter/46.html-about Dementors and the Patronus Charm, they won't know what it
 data/chapter/46.html-means...</em></p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>She'd told Harry about seeing him dying, her parents dying, all
 --
 --
 data/chapter/46.html-and disposed to tell it to the Dark Lord, then why would he also
 data/chapter/46.html-have told Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall?</p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>Therefore Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall had heard it
 data/chapter/46.html-first.</p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>The Headmaster of Hogwarts had no obvious reason to tell the
 data/chapter/46.html:Transfiguration Professor about an extremely sensitive and crucial
 data/chapter/46.html:prophecy. But the Transfiguration Professor had every reason to
 data/chapter/46.html-tell the Headmaster.</p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>It seemed likely, then, that Professor McGonagall had been the
 data/chapter/46.html-first to hear it.</p>
 data/chapter/46.html-<p>The prior probabilities said that it had been Professor
 data/chapter/46.html-Trelawney, Hogwarts's resident seer. Seers were rare, so if you
 --
 --
 data/chapter/52.html-skin gone grey and mottled, flesh worn through in places to expose
 data/chapter/52.html-the bone beneath, no eyes -</p>
 data/chapter/52.html-<p>Harry shut his eyes. He could still do that, he was still
 data/chapter/52.html-invisible, he wasn't betraying anything by shutting his eyes.</p>
 data/chapter/52.html-<p>He'd known it already, he'd read it on page six of his
 data/chapter/52.html:Transfiguration book, that you stayed in Azkaban until your prison
 data/chapter/52.html-term was done. If you died before it was up they kept you there
 data/chapter/52.html-until they released your corpse. If your term was for life, they
 data/chapter/52.html-just left the body in the cell until the cell was needed, at which
 data/chapter/52.html-point they threw your body into the Dementors' pit. But it was
 data/chapter/52.html-still a shock to see, that corpse had been a <em>person</em> who'd
 --
 --
 data/chapter/54.html-above him. If he was anyone else he would have needed to take a
 data/chapter/54.html-Knut out of his pocket... or rip off a bit of cloth from his
 data/chapter/54.html-robe... or bite off one of his nails... or find a speck of rock
 data/chapter/54.html-large enough that he could see it and solid enough to stay in one
 data/chapter/54.html-place and orientation while it touched his wand. But with Harry's
 data/chapter/54.html:almighty power of partial Transfiguration, this was not necessary;
 data/chapter/54.html-he could skip that particular step of the operation and use any
 data/chapter/54.html-material near to hand.</p>
 data/chapter/54.html-<p>Thirty seconds later Harry was the proud new owner of a curved
 data/chapter/54.html-mirror, and...</p>
 data/chapter/54.html-<p>"<em>Wingardium Leviosa,</em>" Harry whispered as quietly as he
 --
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-the mighty metal door locked behind him, in absolute darkness, with
 data/chapter/57.html-a thin blanket pulled over him, hoping that whoever it was wouldn't
 data/chapter/57.html-look in, or wouldn't look too closely if they did -</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>That wasn't a point Harry could affect, really, that part of his
 data/chapter/57.html-fate lay entirely in the hands of the Hidden Variables. Most of his
 data/chapter/57.html:mind was concentrating on the ongoing Transfiguration he was
 data/chapter/57.html-performing.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>Listening in the silence, Harry heard the quick footsteps
 data/chapter/57.html-approach; they paused outside his door, and then -</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>- continued onward.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>Soon the fear returned.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-be burned, but between the original substance being water, and the
 data/chapter/57.html-Bubble-Head Charm to protect their air supply, Harry hoped that
 data/chapter/57.html-this wouldn't make him or anyone else sick.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>Now it was just a question of whether there would be enough time
 data/chapter/57.html-before the Aurors did a detailed check on this cell block, for
 data/chapter/57.html:Harry to finish this Transfiguration, and the partial
 data/chapter/57.html:Transfiguration he would do after that -</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>When the old wizard strode back empty-handed, even Amelia began
 data/chapter/57.html-to feel a twinge of worry. She and the other two Auror teams had
 data/chapter/57.html-worked a third of the way down the three spirals, in synchrony so
 data/chapter/57.html-as not to allow any gap in their coverage that could be jumped by
 --
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-the strongest had only as much magic left as a first-year child. I
 data/chapter/57.html-heard Fawkes scream in distress many times, but never challenge. It
 data/chapter/57.html-seems you shall have to continue your search; they can hide well
 data/chapter/57.html-enough to escape my mere glance."</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/57.html:<p>When Harry finished his first Transfiguration, he sat up, pulled
 data/chapter/57.html-back the blanket that had covered him, cast a quick <em>Lumos,</em>
 data/chapter/57.html-glanced at his watch, and was shocked to see that nearly an hour
 data/chapter/57.html-and thirty minutes had passed. How much of that time had gone by
 data/chapter/57.html-since someone had opened the door and then closed it again - Harry
 data/chapter/57.html-hadn't been looking in that direction, of course - that, Harry
 --
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-the same Charm on the snake, so that the glue fumes in the enclosed
 data/chapter/57.html-cell would not harm them.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>When the glue had begun to set, binding technology to magic,
 data/chapter/57.html-Harry laid it down upon the bed, and sat down on the floor, resting
 data/chapter/57.html-his magic and will for a moment before essaying the next
 data/chapter/57.html:Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>"My Lord..." Bellatrix said hesitantly.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>"Yes?" said the dry voice.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>"What is that device you made?"</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>Harry thought rapidly. It seemed like a good chance to check his
 data/chapter/57.html-plans with her, under the guise of leading questions.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-and said that it was time for him to resume his work.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>And then Harry got up from the floor of the cell, went to the
 data/chapter/57.html-far end of the cells, and touched his wand to the hard surface of
 data/chapter/57.html-the wall - the wall of Azkaban, the solid metal that separated them
 data/chapter/57.html-from direct exposure to the Dementors' pit.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html:<p>And Harry began a partial Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>This spell would go faster, Harry hoped. He'd spent hours and
 data/chapter/57.html-hours practicing the unique magic, which had made it routine, not
 --
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>This spell would go faster, Harry hoped. He'd spent hours and
 data/chapter/57.html-hours practicing the unique magic, which had made it routine, not
 data/chapter/57.html:much more difficult for him than ordinary Transfiguration. The
 data/chapter/57.html-shape he was changing had not all that much total volume, the
 data/chapter/57.html-Transfigured shape might be tall and wide and long, but it was very
 data/chapter/57.html-thin. Half a millimeter, Harry had thought, would be enough,
 data/chapter/57.html-considering the perfect smoothness...</p>
 data/chapter/57.html-<p>On the long bench that served as a prison bed, where Harry had
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-minutes' work, and afterward they would have been winded.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>But to accomplish the same end as a first-year Hogwarts student,
 data/chapter/58.html-you had to be <em>efficient.</em></p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>Luckily - well, not <em>luckily</em>, luck had nothing to do
 data/chapter/58.html-with it - <em>conscientiously</em>, Harry had practiced
 data/chapter/58.html:Transfiguration for an extra hour every day, to the point where he
 data/chapter/58.html-was ahead of even Hermione in that one class; he'd practiced
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-was ahead of even Hermione in that one class; he'd practiced
 data/chapter/58.html:partial Transfiguration to the point where his thoughts had begun
 data/chapter/58.html-taking the true universe for granted, so that it required only
 data/chapter/58.html-slightly more effort to keep its timeless quantum nature in mind,
 data/chapter/58.html-even as he kept a firm mental separation between the concept of
 data/chapter/58.html-Form and the concept of substance.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>And the <em>problem</em> with that art having become so
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-should, he really really should, it was the only <em>sane</em>
 data/chapter/58.html-thing to do at this point.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>And if it'd been only Harry on the mission, only his own life
 data/chapter/58.html-that'd been at stake, he would have; he surely would have.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>The part that was almost causing him to lose his concentration
 data/chapter/58.html:on the partial Transfiguration he was performing, the part that was
 data/chapter/58.html-threatening to open him to the Dementors...</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>...was Professor Quirrell, still unconscious, still a snake.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>If Professor Quirrell went to Azkaban for his part in the
 data/chapter/58.html-escape, he would die. He probably wouldn't last even a week. He was
 data/chapter/58.html-that sensitive.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-utilities over outcomes here.</em></p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>The logical side of him noted that Slytherin had just won the
 data/chapter/58.html-argument.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>Harry kept the Form in his mind, kept on casting the spell. He
 data/chapter/58.html-could always just abort the mission when he was <em>done</em> with
 data/chapter/58.html:the Transfiguration, he didn't want to lose the effort he'd already
 data/chapter/58.html-invested.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>And then Harry thought of something else that suddenly made it
 data/chapter/58.html-very hard to keep the magic going, very hard to keep up his
 data/chapter/58.html-resistance to the Dementors.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p><em>What if the portkey doesn't take us where Professor Quirrell
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-Professor Quirrell, and he'd forgotten to re-evaluate it after
 data/chapter/58.html-Professor Quirrell was no longer to be trusted.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p><em>You can't do this,</em> said Hufflepuff. <em>At this point
 data/chapter/58.html-we're talking mere stupidity.</em></p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>Cold seemed to spread through the room, but Harry kept the
 data/chapter/58.html:Transfiguration going, even as his resistance against the Dementors
 data/chapter/58.html-faltered.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p><em>I can't lose Professor Quirrell.</em></p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p><em>He tried to kill a police officer,</em> said Hufflepuff.
 data/chapter/58.html-<em>You already lost him, in that moment. Bellatrix is probably
 data/chapter/58.html-just what everyone thinks she is. Just take your Cloak back, go
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-<p><em>All right, let's just generate alternatives,</em> Harry
 data/chapter/58.html-thought. <em>Not choose, not weigh, certainly not commit... just
 data/chapter/58.html-think about what else I might be able to do besides the original
 data/chapter/58.html-plan.</em></p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>And Harry went on cutting the hole in the wall. He was using
 data/chapter/58.html:partial Transfiguration on a thin cylindrical shell of metal, two
 data/chapter/58.html-meters in diameter and half a millimeter thick, running all the way
 data/chapter/58.html-through the wall. He was Transfiguring that half-millimeter
 data/chapter/58.html-thickness of metal into motor oil. Motor oil was a liquid and you
 data/chapter/58.html-weren't to Transfigure liquids because they might evaporate, but he
 data/chapter/58.html-and Bellatrix and the snake all had Bubble-Head Charms. And Harry
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-through the wall. He was Transfiguring that half-millimeter
 data/chapter/58.html-thickness of metal into motor oil. Motor oil was a liquid and you
 data/chapter/58.html-weren't to Transfigure liquids because they might evaporate, but he
 data/chapter/58.html-and Bellatrix and the snake all had Bubble-Head Charms. And Harry
 data/chapter/58.html-would cast Finite on the oil immediately after, dispelling his own
 data/chapter/58.html:Transfiguration...</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>...as soon as the separated and lubricated hunk of metal slid
 data/chapter/58.html-out of the wall and onto the floor of their cell, he'd slanted it
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>...as soon as the separated and lubricated hunk of metal slid
 data/chapter/58.html-out of the wall and onto the floor of their cell, he'd slanted it
 data/chapter/58.html:so gravity would pull it in, once the Transfiguration was done.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>If Harry and Bellatrix <em>didn't</em> exit on his broomstick
 data/chapter/58.html-through the resulting hole in the wall...</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>Harry's brain suggested that he could try to Transfigure a
 data/chapter/58.html-surface cover over the hole in the wall, leaving a space for
 data/chapter/58.html-Bellatrix and Professor Quirrell to hide in, wearing the Cloak,
 --
 --
 data/chapter/58.html-it was his own magic Harry was canceling, which made the spell
 data/chapter/58.html-almost effortless. Harry was feeling a bit tired now, but that was
 data/chapter/58.html-the last use of magic he would need. He hadn't even <em>needed</em>
 data/chapter/58.html-to do it, really, but Harry didn't want to leave Transfigured
 data/chapter/58.html-liquid lying around, and he didn't want to betray the secret of
 data/chapter/58.html:partial Transfiguration either.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>It seemed very... <em>inviting,</em> that two-meter hole leading
 data/chapter/58.html-to freedom.</p>
 data/chapter/58.html-<p>The light from outside coming in... wasn't exactly the Sun
 data/chapter/58.html-shining on his face, but it was brighter than anything of Azkaban's
 data/chapter/58.html-interior.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/61.html-in that usually-silken voice as she had ever heard from him.
 data/chapter/61.html-"Headmaster, is this one of your jokes? He is in his first year at
 data/chapter/61.html-Hogwarts! A temper tantrum and a few childish pranks with an
 data/chapter/61.html-invisibility cloak does not make him -"</p>
 data/chapter/61.html-<p>"It is no joke," said Minerva, her voice barely above a whisper.
 data/chapter/61.html:"Harry is already making original discoveries in Transfiguration,
 data/chapter/61.html-Severus. Though I did not know he was researching Charms as
 data/chapter/61.html-well."</p>
 data/chapter/61.html-<p>"Harry is no ordinary first-year," the Headmaster said solemnly.
 data/chapter/61.html-"He is marked as the Dark Lord's equal, and he has power the Dark
 data/chapter/61.html-Lord knows not."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/63.html-knew that those two parties had been in contact...</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>When Harry reached the wall, he put the envelope inside his
 data/chapter/63.html-robes, opened it beneath the folds of cloth, and carefully snuck a
 data/chapter/63.html-peek at the parchment he drew forth.</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>It said,</p>
 data/chapter/63.html:<p><em>Classroom to the left of Transfiguration, 8 in the
 data/chapter/63.html-morning.</em></p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p><em>- LL.</em></p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>Harry stared at it, trying to remember if he knew anyone with
 data/chapter/63.html-the initials LL.</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>His mind searched...</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/63.html-then shut his mouth. She was only ten years old, she shouldn't be
 data/chapter/63.html-in Hogwarts at all!</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/63.html-<p><em>Aftermath: Lesath Lestrange.</em></p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>Harry was standing in the unused classroom next to
 data/chapter/63.html:Transfiguration at 8AM, waiting, he'd at least managed to get some
 data/chapter/63.html-food into himself before facing the next disaster, Luna
 data/chapter/63.html-Lovegood...</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>The door to the classroom opened, and Harry saw, and gave
 data/chapter/63.html-himself a really <em>hard</em> mental kick.</p>
 data/chapter/63.html-<p>One more thing he hadn't thought of, one more thing he
 --
 --
 data/chapter/65.html-of control; and Harry had tackled Terry out of the way of a
 data/chapter/65.html-fireball even as Professor Sprout had shouted a Flame-Freezing
 data/chapter/65.html-Charm; and when Harry had risen from the floor he'd just gone back
 data/chapter/65.html-to his place like nothing interesting had happened. And when for
 data/chapter/65.html-once she'd gotten a better test score than Harry in their
 data/chapter/65.html:Transfiguration exam, later that same Monday, Harry had smiled at
 data/chapter/65.html-her as though to congratulate her, instead of gritting his teeth;
 data/chapter/65.html-and... that had bothered her <em>a lot</em>.</p>
 data/chapter/65.html-<p>She was getting the sense that Harry...</p>
 data/chapter/65.html-<p>...was pulling away from her...</p>
 data/chapter/65.html-<p>"He seems a lot <em>older</em> all of a sudden," said Anthony.
 --
 --
 data/chapter/66.html-being the only sensible person in your whole school year. "Haven't
 data/chapter/66.html-you ever heard the saying, the only thing we have to fear is fear
 data/chapter/66.html-itself?"</p>
 data/chapter/66.html-<p>"<em>What?</em> " said Hannah. "That's crazy, what about
 data/chapter/66.html-Lethifolds lurking in the darkness, and being put under the
 data/chapter/66.html:Imperius Curse, and horrible Transfiguration accidents and -"</p>
 data/chapter/66.html-<p>"I <em>mean,</em>" said Hermione, exasperation leaking out into
 data/chapter/66.html-her now-raised voice, she'd been hearing this sort of thing <em>all
 data/chapter/66.html-week</em> now, "how about if we wait until <em>after</em> the Chaos
 data/chapter/66.html-Legion <em>actually</em> crushes us to get so scared of them and
 data/chapter/66.html-<em>did you just mutter 'Gryffindors' under your voice?</em> "</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/68.html-<p>She took a breath and held it and ran, her feet pattering across
 data/chapter/68.html-the stone as fast as they could, running as fast as she dared with
 data/chapter/68.html-her vision all blurry, ran so that no one would hear her, and this
 data/chapter/68.html-time Harry didn't follow.</p>
 data/chapter/68.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/68.html:<p>Minerva was going over the Transfiguration parchment due Monday,
 data/chapter/68.html-and had just marked down to negative two hundred points a
 data/chapter/68.html-fifth-year parchment with an error that could have potentially
 data/chapter/68.html-killed someone. During her first year as a professor she'd been
 data/chapter/68.html-indignant at the folly of older students, now she was just
 data/chapter/68.html-resigned. Some people not only never learned, they never noticed
 --
 --
 data/chapter/68.html-indignant at the folly of older students, now she was just
 data/chapter/68.html-resigned. Some people not only never learned, they never noticed
 data/chapter/68.html-that they were hopeless, they stayed bright and eager and kept on
 data/chapter/68.html-trying. Sometimes they believed you when you told them, before they
 data/chapter/68.html-left Hogwarts, that they must <em>never</em> try anything unusual,
 data/chapter/68.html:give up free Transfiguration and use the art only through
 data/chapter/68.html-established Charms; and sometimes... they didn't.</p>
 data/chapter/68.html-<p>She was in the middle of trying to unravel a particularly
 data/chapter/68.html-convoluted answer when a knock at the door disrupted her thoughts;
 data/chapter/68.html-and it wasn't her office hours, but it had only taken a very short
 data/chapter/68.html-time as Head of Gryffindor House for her to learn to suspend
 --
 --
 data/chapter/68.html-sighed. "I am sorry, Hermione Granger," said Dumbledore. Those blue
 data/chapter/68.html-eyes had grown sadder as she spoke. "That is... unfortunate, but I
 data/chapter/68.html-cannot say it is unexpected. That is a hero's burden, which you
 data/chapter/68.html-see."</p>
 data/chapter/68.html-<p>"A <em>hero?</em> " said Hermione. She looked up nervously at
 data/chapter/68.html:Professor McGonagall and saw that the Transfiguration Professor's
 data/chapter/68.html-face had grown tight, though her hand still squeezed Hermione's
 data/chapter/68.html-shoulder reassuringly.</p>
 data/chapter/68.html-<p>"Yes," said Dumbledore. "I was a hero myself once, before I was
 data/chapter/68.html-a mysterious old wizard, in the days when I opposed Grindelwald.
 data/chapter/68.html-You have read history books, Miss Granger?"</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/70.html-<div id="chapter-title">Chapter 70: Self Actualization, Pt
 data/chapter/70.html-5<br></div><div class="storycontent nocopy" id="storycontent">
 data/chapter/70.html-<p>Even if you had been the Deputy Headmistress for three decades,
 data/chapter/70.html:and a Transfiguration Professor before that, it was rare that you
 data/chapter/70.html-saw Albus Dumbledore caught completely flatfooted.</p>
 data/chapter/70.html-<p>"...Susan Bones, Lavender Brown, and Daphne Greengrass," Minerva
 data/chapter/70.html-finished. "I should also note, Albus, that Miss Granger's account
 data/chapter/70.html-of your seemingly unsupportive attitude - I believe her phrase was
 data/chapter/70.html-'he said I should be happy to be just a sidekick' - has generated a
 --
 --
 data/chapter/71.html-seen.</p>
 data/chapter/71.html-<p>"Mr. Malfoy?" Gregory said, starting to sound a little
 data/chapter/71.html-worried.</p>
 data/chapter/71.html-<p>"I can't believe I believed every word of that," said Draco.</p>
 data/chapter/71.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/71.html:<p>Daphne finished her final inch of Transfiguration and looked up
 data/chapter/71.html-across the Slytherin common room, at where Millicent Bulstrode was
 data/chapter/71.html-still working on her own homework. It was time to come to a
 data/chapter/71.html-Decision.</p>
 data/chapter/71.html-<p>If S.P.H.E.W. did go around trying to stun bullies, the bullies
 data/chapter/71.html-wouldn't like it, that was certain. And they'd try to do something
 --
 --
 data/chapter/77.html-weren't Slytherin. Once you saw and named the problems, you
 data/chapter/77.html-couldn't <em>stop</em> seeing them, it just got more
 data/chapter/77.html-<em>annoying</em> every day.</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<p>"Mr. Malfoy?" said the voice of Gregory Goyle, from where he was
 data/chapter/77.html-lying on the floor beside Draco's desk, in the small but private
 data/chapter/77.html:bedroom; Gregory was doing his Transfiguration homework, on which
 data/chapter/77.html-he often needed help.</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<p>Any distraction was welcome at this point. "Yes?" said
 data/chapter/77.html-Draco.</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<p>"You weren't really plotting against Granger at all," said
 data/chapter/77.html-Gregory. "Were you?"</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/77.html-hand, and House Malfoy will come out on top, like always. People
 data/chapter/77.html-might even turn to <em>me,</em> if Potter isn't there, so long as
 data/chapter/77.html-they think I'm trustworthy. That's what I'm setting up now. Father
 data/chapter/77.html-will understand."</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<p>Gregory reached up and wiped his eyes, looking down again at his
 data/chapter/77.html:Transfiguration homework. "Okay," Gregory said in a shaky voice.
 data/chapter/77.html-"If you say so, Mr. Malfoy."</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<p>Draco nodded again, ignoring the hollow feeling inside himself
 data/chapter/77.html-at the lies he'd just told his friend, and turned back to the
 data/chapter/77.html-stars.</p>
 data/chapter/77.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-knew well that it had now acquired a strong advantage in
 data/chapter/78.html-experienced soldiers, and it meant to protect those soldiers from a
 data/chapter/78.html-surprise attack. Aside from that, the Sunshine Soldiers were moving
 data/chapter/78.html-forward at a steady march, conserving their strength.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>The soldiers in General Malfoy's army, at least those with
 data/chapter/78.html:higher Transfiguration scores, were picking up leaves and
 data/chapter/78.html-Transfiguring them into... well, if you looked at Padma Patil, who
 data/chapter/78.html-was almost done with hers, it looked like her leaf was becoming a
 data/chapter/78.html-left-handed glove bearing a dangling strap. (The window had zoomed
 data/chapter/78.html-in to show this.)</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Lord Jugson was watching the screen with a flat expression; his
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-acorns into those accumulated, and then headed out for more.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Somewhere in the background, Ellie Knight was singing her very
 data/chapter/78.html-own version of the Chaos Legion's marching song, and around half
 data/chapter/78.html-the other soldiers were trying to step along with it despite not
 data/chapter/78.html-knowing the tune in advance. Nearby, Nita Berdine, who had a high
 data/chapter/78.html:Transfiguration score, finished creating yet another pair of green
 data/chapter/78.html-sunglasses, and handed them to Adam Beringer, who folded up the
 data/chapter/78.html-sunglasses before tucking them into his uniform pocket. Other
 data/chapter/78.html-soldiers were already wearing their own green sunglasses, despite
 data/chapter/78.html-the cloudy day.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>You might guess that there was some sort of incredibly
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-there. They taught you how to invoke potencies far beyond your own
 data/chapter/78.html-strength in ordinary Hogwarts classes.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Sometimes, even though you were looking straight at something,
 data/chapter/78.html-you didn't realize <em>what</em> you were looking at until you
 data/chapter/78.html-happened to ask exactly the right question.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html:<p><em>Defense. Charms. Transfiguration. Potions. History of Magic.
 data/chapter/78.html-Astronomy. Broomstick Flying. Herbology...</em></p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>"<em>Foe!</em> " screamed the voice from above.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>It was a good thing that Neville Longbottom hadn't the tiniest
 data/chapter/78.html-idea that his grandmother was watching; or he would've been more
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-bit.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>"Neville -" said General Potter. Harry's voice was a little
 data/chapter/78.html-distant, as he walked carefully and steadily through the forest,
 data/chapter/78.html-his wand still applied to the almost-finished Form of the object he
 data/chapter/78.html-was slowly Transfiguring. Beside him, Blaise Zabini, working a
 data/chapter/78.html:smaller version of the same Transfiguration, looked like a
 data/chapter/78.html-shambling Inferi as he stumbled forward. "I told you - Neville -
 data/chapter/78.html-you don't have to -"</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>"Yes, I do," said Neville. He looked down at where his fingers
 data/chapter/78.html-grasped the broomstick, and saw that not just his hands, but his
 data/chapter/78.html-whole arms were shaking. But unless anyone else in Chaos had been
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>(Augusta Longbottom and Charles Nott exchanged brief astonished
 data/chapter/78.html-glances and then wrenched their gazes away from one another as
 data/chapter/78.html-though stung.)</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Neville took a few deep breaths, trying to steady his hands,
 data/chapter/78.html-trying to think; Harry might not be good for deep strategic
 data/chapter/78.html:thinking while he was in the middle of an extended Transfiguration.
 data/chapter/78.html-"Lieutenant Nott, do you have any idea why Dragon Army just did
 data/chapter/78.html-that? They lost a broom -" The Dragons had started the combat with
 data/chapter/78.html-a feint to provide a distraction for Mr. Goyle's approach through
 data/chapter/78.html-the forest; Neville hadn't realized there were <em>two</em> brooms
 data/chapter/78.html-attacking until almost too late. But the Chaos Legion had
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-learned to his dismay that his weak magic was no match for my
 data/chapter/78.html-newfound dark powers, hahahaha!"</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Some Chaotics laughed with her, but a queasy sensation was
 data/chapter/78.html-starting in Neville's stomach as he realized how close the Chaos
 data/chapter/78.html-Legion had come to complete disaster. If Mr. Goyle had managed to
 data/chapter/78.html:disrupt both Transfigurations -</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>"Report!" snapped the Dragon General, doing his best to conceal
 data/chapter/78.html-the fatigue he felt after casting seventeen Locking Charms, with
 data/chapter/78.html-more yet to come.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Beads of sweat now dotted Gregory's forehead. "The enemy got
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-Dylan Vaughan," Gregory said formally. "Harry Potter and Blaise
 data/chapter/78.html-Zabini were each Transfiguring something dark-grey and roundish, I
 data/chapter/78.html-don't think it was finished but it looked like it would be big and
 data/chapter/78.html-hollow, sort of cauldron-shaped. Zabini's was smaller than
 data/chapter/78.html-Potter's. I couldn't get either of them or disrupt their
 data/chapter/78.html:Transfigurations, Tracey Davis blocked me. Neville Longbottom is on
 data/chapter/78.html-a broomstick and he's still a terrible flyer but his aim is really
 data/chapter/78.html-good."</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Draco listened, frowning, and then he glanced at Padma and Dean
 data/chapter/78.html-Thomas, who both shook their own heads, indicating that they also
 data/chapter/78.html-couldn't think of what might be big and grey and shaped like a
 --
 --
 data/chapter/78.html-Hex that Draco couldn't avoid, but he managed to point his wand at
 data/chapter/78.html-his own face and cry "<em>Quiescus!</em> " before the sudden urge
 data/chapter/78.html-to inhale could devolve into a sneezing fit that would've ended the
 data/chapter/78.html-battle.</p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>Draco Malfoy was already half-exhausted from all the Locking
 data/chapter/78.html:Charms and Transfigurations earlier, but his confusion was
 data/chapter/78.html-beginning to give way to a sense of his own blood boiling, he
 data/chapter/78.html-didn't know why Granger was attacking him so angrily all of a
 data/chapter/78.html-sudden, but <em>if she wanted a fight he'd give her one -</em></p>
 data/chapter/78.html-<p>(The Dragons and Sunnies weren't stopping to watch the duel of
 data/chapter/78.html-their Generals, the Dragons were too disciplined to stop and watch
 --
 --
 data/chapter/79.html-interrogating. He had not introduced himself.</p>
 data/chapter/79.html-<p>After some further leafing through parchments, carried out in
 data/chapter/79.html-silence, the Auror spoke again. "Born the 26th of September, 1955,
 data/chapter/79.html-to Quondia Quirrell, of an acknowledged tryst with Lirinus
 data/chapter/79.html-Lumblung..." intoned the Auror. "Sorted into Ravenclaw... O.W.L.S.
 data/chapter/79.html:quite good... N.E.W.T.S. in Charms, Transfiguration... an
 data/chapter/79.html-Outstanding in Muggle Studies, impressive... Ancient Runes, and ah
 data/chapter/79.html-yes, Defense. An Outstanding in that as well. Went on to become
 data/chapter/79.html-quite the tourist, visiting all sorts of places. Portkey visas for
 data/chapter/79.html-Transylvania, the Forbidden Empire, the City of Endless Night... my
 data/chapter/79.html-my, <em>Texas</em>." The man looked up from the portfolio, eyes
 --
 --
 data/chapter/80.html-squirrel -</p>
 data/chapter/80.html-<p>- and the source of the horrible wrongness, half-hidden beneath
 data/chapter/80.html-a tattered cloak.</p>
 data/chapter/80.html-<p>Harry shot to his feet before he could even think, it was only
 data/chapter/80.html-Professor McGonagall's sudden frantic grab on his wrist that
 data/chapter/80.html:stopped his hand going for his wand; and the Transfiguration
 data/chapter/80.html-Professor whispered desperately, "<em>Harry it's all right there's
 data/chapter/80.html-a Patronus -</em>"</p>
 data/chapter/80.html-<p>It took a few seconds for Harry to remember himself. For the
 data/chapter/80.html-part of himself that understood that Hermione hadn't been directly
 data/chapter/80.html-exposed to a Dementor, to argue his other parts into something like
 --
 --
 data/chapter/81.html-existence he'd forgotten, was staring at them.</p>
 data/chapter/81.html-<p>And then Minerva McGonagall, who <em>was</em> Head of House
 data/chapter/81.html-Gryffindor even if she didn't always act like it, looked up high
 data/chapter/81.html-above at where Lucius Malfoy stood; and she said to him before the
 data/chapter/81.html-entire Wizengamot, "I regret every point I ever gave you in
 data/chapter/81.html:Transfiguration, you vile little worm."</p>
 data/chapter/81.html-<p>Whatever Lucius was about to say in reply was silenced by a tap
 data/chapter/81.html-of the short rod in Dumbledore's hand. "Ahem!" said the old wizard
 data/chapter/81.html-from his podium of dark stone. "This session has carried on quite
 data/chapter/81.html-considerably, and if it is not dismissed soon, some of us may miss
 data/chapter/81.html-their entire luncheon. The law of this matter is clear. You have
 --
 --
 data/chapter/81.html-spoke coolly in reply. "Are you openly threatening me, Mr.
 data/chapter/81.html-Potter?"</p>
 data/chapter/81.html-<p>"I'm not threatening you," said the Boy-Who-Lived. "I'm
 data/chapter/81.html-<em>scaring</em> you. There's a difference."</p>
 data/chapter/81.html-<p>"Enough, Mr. Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "We shall be
 data/chapter/81.html:late for afternoon Transfiguration as it is. And do come back here,
 data/chapter/81.html-you're still terrifying that poor Dementor." She turned to the
 data/chapter/81.html-Aurors. "Mr. Kleiner, if you would!"</p>
 data/chapter/81.html-<p>Harry strode back to them, as the Auror addressed moved forward
 data/chapter/81.html-and pressed a short rod of dark metal to the dark metal chair,
 data/chapter/81.html-muttering an inaudible word of dismissal.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/82.html-the office -</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>"I really don't know why you're still on his shoulder," Harry
 data/chapter/82.html-said to Fawkes.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>- out the oaken door and into the endlessly turning spiral.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/82.html:<p>Harry had arrived in the Transfiguration classroom before anyone
 data/chapter/82.html-else, before even Professor McGonagall. There was Charms class
 data/chapter/82.html-earlier, for his year, but that he hadn't even bothered trying to
 data/chapter/82.html-attend. Whether Professor McGonagall would make today's class he
 data/chapter/82.html-didn't know. There was something ominous about all the empty desks
 data/chapter/82.html-beside him, the absence at the board. As if he stood alone in
 --
 --
 data/chapter/82.html-attend. Whether Professor McGonagall would make today's class he
 data/chapter/82.html-didn't know. There was something ominous about all the empty desks
 data/chapter/82.html-beside him, the absence at the board. As if he stood alone in
 data/chapter/82.html-Hogwarts, with all his friends departed.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>According to the class schedule, today's lesson was on sustained
 data/chapter/82.html:Transfigurations, all the rules of which Harry had learned by heart
 data/chapter/82.html-back when he was Transfiguring a huge rock into the small diamond
 data/chapter/82.html-that shone on his pinky finger. It would be a theoretical subject,
 data/chapter/82.html-rather than practical, for the rest of the class; which was a pity,
 --
 data/chapter/82.html-back when he was Transfiguring a huge rock into the small diamond
 data/chapter/82.html-that shone on his pinky finger. It would be a theoretical subject,
 data/chapter/82.html-rather than practical, for the rest of the class; which was a pity,
 data/chapter/82.html:because he could have used a dose of Transfiguration's trance.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>Harry noted distantly that his hand was trembling, to the point
 data/chapter/82.html-where he had trouble undoing the pouch's drawstring as he drew
 --
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>Harry noted distantly that his hand was trembling, to the point
 data/chapter/82.html-where he had trouble undoing the pouch's drawstring as he drew
 data/chapter/82.html:forth the Transfiguration textbook.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p><em>You were monstrously unfair to Dumbledore,</em> said the
 data/chapter/82.html-voice Harry had been calling Slytherin, only now it also seemed to
 data/chapter/82.html-be the Voice of Economic Sensibility and maybe also Conscience.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p>Harry's eyes dropped down to his textbook, but the section was
 data/chapter/82.html-so familiar it might as well have been a blank parchment.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/82.html-set out to break him in the cruelest possible way. He had to choose
 data/chapter/82.html-between losing his war and his brother. Albus Dumbledore knows, he
 data/chapter/82.html-learned in the worst possible way, that there are limits to the
 data/chapter/82.html-value of one life; and it almost broke his sanity to admit it. But
 data/chapter/82.html-you, Harry Potter -</em> you <em>already knew better.</em></p>
 data/chapter/82.html:<p>"Shut up," the boy whispered to the empty Transfiguration
 data/chapter/82.html-classroom, though there was nobody there to hear it.</p>
 data/chapter/82.html-<p><em>You'd already read about Philip Tetlock's experiments on
 data/chapter/82.html-people asked to trade off a sacred value against a secular one,
 data/chapter/82.html-like a hospital administrator who has to choose between spending a
 data/chapter/82.html-million dollars on a liver to save a five-year-old, and spending
 --
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-<div id="chapter-title">Chapter 83: Taboo Tradeoffs, Aftermath
 data/chapter/83.html-1<br></div><div class="storycontent nocopy" id="storycontent">
 data/chapter/83.html:<p>When Padma entered the Transfiguration classroom, she saw that
 data/chapter/83.html-half the class had beaten her there, a strange, deathly silence
 data/chapter/83.html-pervading the room. Harry Potter sat alone in one corner, staring
 data/chapter/83.html-off into some unknown distance, his eyes half-lidded, nearly
 data/chapter/83.html-closed.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Rumor said that the Aurors had discovered that the Defense
 --
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>But if <em>that</em> were true, Harry Potter wouldn't be sitting
 data/chapter/83.html-there, he would be -</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Padma didn't know what General Potter would do. Her mind went
 data/chapter/83.html-blank, trying to think about it.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Even when Professor McGonagall got there, the silence hadn't
 data/chapter/83.html:broken. The Transfiguration Professor walked up to the board
 data/chapter/83.html-without a pause, erased it with a sweep of her hand, and then began
 data/chapter/83.html-to write.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"Today, children," began the calm professional voice of the
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-without a pause, erased it with a sweep of her hand, and then began
 data/chapter/83.html-to write.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"Today, children," began the calm professional voice of the
 data/chapter/83.html:Transfiguration Professor, just as though nothing out of the
 data/chapter/83.html-ordinary had happened that week, "we shall learn how much effort it
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-ordinary had happened that week, "we shall learn how much effort it
 data/chapter/83.html:takes to sustain a Transfiguration, and why, at your age, you
 data/chapter/83.html-should not even try. The original Form is not gone, only
 data/chapter/83.html-suppressed; and to maintain that suppression -"</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"Excuse me," said Padma Patil. She knew her voice was shaking,
 data/chapter/83.html-she knew that she was trembling visibly, but she had to ask.
 data/chapter/83.html-"Excuse me, Professor, what happened with Miss Granger?"</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-should not even try. The original Form is not gone, only
 data/chapter/83.html-suppressed; and to maintain that suppression -"</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"Excuse me," said Padma Patil. She knew her voice was shaking,
 data/chapter/83.html-she knew that she was trembling visibly, but she had to ask.
 data/chapter/83.html-"Excuse me, Professor, what happened with Miss Granger?"</p>
 data/chapter/83.html:<p>The Transfiguration Professor paused at the board, and turned to
 data/chapter/83.html-look at Padma. The Professor should have looked stern, having been
 data/chapter/83.html-interrupted without a hand being raised, but instead her face was
 data/chapter/83.html-kindly. "You don't already know, Miss Patil? I expected that rumor
 data/chapter/83.html-would have spread."</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"There's too many rumors," said Padma. "I don't know what's
 --
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-Miss Granger is resting with Madam Pomfrey for now, and coming back
 data/chapter/83.html-to classes tomorrow. And if I catch anyone bothering her, I shall
 data/chapter/83.html-turn them into glass vases and drop them."</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>The entire class gasped at this; it wasn't so much that the
 data/chapter/83.html-threat was fatal, as that it broke the safety rules for
 data/chapter/83.html:Transfiguration.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Professor McGonagall turned back to her board -</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>From a corner of the classroom, another voice rose up. "What
 data/chapter/83.html-about Professor Quirrell?" said Terry Boot. "Has he been
 data/chapter/83.html-arrested?"</p>
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Professor McGonagall turned back to her board -</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>From a corner of the classroom, another voice rose up. "What
 data/chapter/83.html-about Professor Quirrell?" said Terry Boot. "Has he been
 data/chapter/83.html-arrested?"</p>
 data/chapter/83.html:<p>"The Aurors are only detaining him," said the Transfiguration
 data/chapter/83.html-Professor without turning around. "If they have not given back our
 data/chapter/83.html-Defense Professor by tomorrow, I shall ask the Headmaster to go
 data/chapter/83.html-fetch him. Though I may as well tell you now that the Board of
 data/chapter/83.html-Governors has scheduled a vote on whether Professor Quirrell's
 data/chapter/83.html-battles shall be allowed to continue."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/83.html-fetch him. Though I may as well tell you now that the Board of
 data/chapter/83.html-Governors has scheduled a vote on whether Professor Quirrell's
 data/chapter/83.html-battles shall be allowed to continue."</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>Kevin Entwhistle spoke. "And General Malfoy? When's he getting
 data/chapter/83.html-back from St. Mungo's?"</p>
 data/chapter/83.html:<p>The Transfiguration Professor paused in her drawing.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>She turned around again, more slowly, this time.</p>
 data/chapter/83.html-<p>"I <em>am</em> sorry, Mr. Entwhistle," said Professor
 data/chapter/83.html-McGonagall. Her face looked a little more lined than when she had
 data/chapter/83.html-entered the room. "Mr. Malfoy's health is in no danger, I am given
 data/chapter/83.html-to understand. Unfortunately, I have received an owl from Mr.
 --
 --
 data/chapter/84.html-happened. The Headmaster suspects even Darker magics may have been
 data/chapter/84.html-involved - that your own hand might have cast the spell, but not
 data/chapter/84.html-your own will. Even Professor Snape finds the affair completely
 data/chapter/84.html-unbelievable, though he may not be able to say so publicly. He was
 data/chapter/84.html-wondering if Muggle drugs might have been used on you."</p>
 data/chapter/84.html:<p>Hermione's eyes went on staring distantly at the Transfiguration
 data/chapter/84.html-Professor; she knew that she'd just been told something
 data/chapter/84.html-significant, but she couldn't find the energy to propagate any
 data/chapter/84.html-changes through her mind.</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>"Surely <em>you</em> don't believe it?" said Professor
 data/chapter/84.html-McGonagall. "Miss Granger, you cannot believe of yourself that you
 --
 --
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>It was like a glass of warm water thrown into her face.
 data/chapter/84.html-"What?"</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>Professor McGonagall took out her wand, a gesture so practiced
 data/chapter/84.html-and quick that it seemed like pointing a finger. "I can't offer to
 data/chapter/84.html-rid you of the memories entirely, Miss Granger," the
 data/chapter/84.html:Transfiguration Professor said with her customary precision. "There
 data/chapter/84.html-may be important facts buried there. But there is a form of the
 data/chapter/84.html-Memory Charm which is reversible, and I shall be happy to cast that
 data/chapter/84.html-on you."</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>Hermione stared at the wand, feeling the stirrings of hope for
 data/chapter/84.html-the first time in almost two days.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/84.html-wouldn't have had to give away all his money to save her -</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>Hermione shut her eyes, squeezed them shut really tight, she
 data/chapter/84.html-couldn't bear to start crying again. "I'm a horrible person," she
 data/chapter/84.html-said in a wavering voice. "I'm awful, I'm not heroic at all -"</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>Professor McGonagall's voice was very sharp, like Hermione had
 data/chapter/84.html:just made some dreadful mistake on her Transfiguration homework.
 data/chapter/84.html-"Stop being foolish, Miss Granger! <em>Horrible</em> is whoever did
 data/chapter/84.html-this to you. And as for being heroic - well, Miss Granger, you have
 data/chapter/84.html-already heard my opinion about young girls trying to involve
 data/chapter/84.html-themselves in such things before they are even fourteen, so I shall
 data/chapter/84.html-not lecture you on it again. I shall say only that you have just
 --
 --
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Is it done,
 data/chapter/84.html-Albus?"</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>The old wizard nodded in affirmation. "If any hostile magic is
 data/chapter/84.html-cast on her, or any spirit touches her, I shall know, and
 data/chapter/84.html-come."</p>
 data/chapter/84.html:<p>"I spoke to Mr. Potter after Transfiguration class," said
 data/chapter/84.html-Professor McGonagall. "He was of the opinion that Miss Granger
 data/chapter/84.html-should go to Beauxbatons, rather than Hogwarts, from now on."</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>The old wizard shook his head. "No. If Voldemort truly desires
 data/chapter/84.html-to strike at Miss Granger - he is tenacious beyond measure. His
 data/chapter/84.html-servants are returning to him, he could not have retrieved
 --
 --
 data/chapter/84.html-did not think the Ministry would consent to such use of our
 data/chapter/84.html-Time-Turners, and he said that we should not ask. I expect he will
 data/chapter/84.html-want Miss Granger to receive the same, if she stays. And for
 data/chapter/84.html-himself Mr. Potter wants a three-person broomstick to carry in his
 data/chapter/84.html-pouch." She wasn't awed by the list of precautions. Impressed with
 data/chapter/84.html:the cleverness, but not awed; she was a Transfiguration Mistress,
 data/chapter/84.html-after all. But it still sent shivers of disquiet through her, that
 data/chapter/84.html-Harry Potter now thought Hogwarts as dangerous as spell
 data/chapter/84.html-research.</p>
 data/chapter/84.html-<p>"The Department of Mysteries is not lightly defied," said Albus.
 data/chapter/84.html-"But for the rest -" The old wizard seemed to slump in on himself
 --
 --
 data/chapter/86.html-without citing specifics? Harry couldn't think of one.</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"Please, Harry," said Professor McGonagall. "Please, Harry, I
 data/chapter/86.html-beg you - <em>take the Dark Lord seriously!</em> He is more
 data/chapter/86.html-dangerous than -" The senior witch seemed to be having trouble
 data/chapter/86.html-finding words. "He is <em>far</em> more dangerous than
 data/chapter/86.html:Transfiguration."</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>Harry's eyebrows went up before he could stop himself. A dark
 data/chapter/86.html-chuckle came from Severus Snape's direction.</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p><em>Um,</em> said the voice of Ravenclaw within him. <em>Um,
 data/chapter/86.html-honestly Professor McGonagall is right, we're not taking this as
 data/chapter/86.html-seriously as we'd take a scientific problem. The difficult thing is
 --
 --
 data/chapter/86.html-<hr size="1" noshade="noshade">
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>Minerva stared as the boy put himself into the dueling stance,
 data/chapter/86.html-his wand held low. For a second Minerva wondered if Harry might
 data/chapter/86.html-possibly - no, that was completely ridiculous, it was <em>Mad-Eye
 data/chapter/86.html-Moody</em> and that was beyond impossible. Of course that was what
 data/chapter/86.html:she'd thought about his partial Transfiguration, too...</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"Let's go, then," Harry said and fell over.</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>Severus gave a single chuckle. "Mr. Potter has his points, I
 data/chapter/86.html-must confess," the Potions Master said. "Though I would never say
 data/chapter/86.html-it while he was awake, and if you repeat the words I shall deny
 data/chapter/86.html-them, for the boy's ego is quite large enough already. Mr. Potter
 --
 --
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>The Defense Professor hesitated minutely. "Perhaps."</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"Actually," Harry said then, putting a thoughtful frown on his
 data/chapter/86.html-face, "I don't suppose you know offhand if any of the current
 data/chapter/86.html-Professors at Hogwarts were around back when Mr. Hagrid got framed
 data/chapter/86.html-in 1943?"</p>
 data/chapter/86.html:<p>"Dumbledore taught Transfiguration, Kettleburn taught Magical
 data/chapter/86.html-Creatures, and Vector taught Arithmancy," Professor Quirrell said
 data/chapter/86.html-at once. "And I believe that Bathsheda Babbling, now of Ancient
 data/chapter/86.html-Runes, was then a Ravenclaw prefect. But Mr. Potter, there is no
 data/chapter/86.html-reason to suppose that anyone besides You-Know-Who was involved in
 data/chapter/86.html-<em>that</em> affair."</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/86.html-"I'm not asking you to be loyal to <em>me.</em> But if you do know
 data/chapter/86.html-- if you <em>are</em> sure - what you'll do if it comes down to an
 data/chapter/86.html-innocent Hogwarts student versus the Order of the Phoenix a second
 data/chapter/86.html-time..."</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>But Professor McGonagall shook her head. "I'm <em>not</em>
 data/chapter/86.html:sure," the Transfiguration Professor whispered. "I don't know if it
 data/chapter/86.html-was the right choice even then. I'm sorry. I can't decide such
 data/chapter/86.html-awful things!"</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"But you'll do <em>something</em> if it happens again," Harry
 data/chapter/86.html-said. "Indecision is also a choice. You can't just <em>imagine</em>
 data/chapter/86.html-having to make an immediate decision?"</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"All right, let me be more specific," Harry said. After
 data/chapter/86.html-Professor Quirrell had done it to <em>him</em> several times, Harry
 data/chapter/86.html-was starting to get the hang of it. "What change have you
 data/chapter/86.html-<em>already</em> observed in Professor Snape that you're trying to
 data/chapter/86.html-decide whether to tell me about?"</p>
 data/chapter/86.html:<p>"Harry -" the Transfiguration Professor said, and then closed
 data/chapter/86.html-her mouth.</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>"I obviously know <em>something</em> you don't," Harry said
 data/chapter/86.html-helpfully. "See, this is why we can't always put off trying to
 data/chapter/86.html-decide our awful moral dilemmas."</p>
 data/chapter/86.html-<p>Professor McGonagall closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath,
 --
 --
 data/chapter/91.html-finger, noting the emptiness of the setting where the jewel should
 data/chapter/91.html-have been. "I shall mention it to the Headmaster," her tongue
 data/chapter/91.html-replied.</p>
 data/chapter/91.html-<p>"Is that a usual tactic, by the way?" Harry said, voice still
 data/chapter/91.html-odd. "Carrying something large Transfigured into something small to
 data/chapter/91.html:use as a weapon? Or is that a usual exercise for Transfiguration
 data/chapter/91.html-practice?"</p>
 data/chapter/91.html-<p>Distantly, she shook her head.</p>
 data/chapter/91.html-<p>"Well, let's go, then."</p>
 data/chapter/91.html-<p>"I have -" her voice stopped. "I'm afraid I have something else
 data/chapter/91.html-which I must do, now. Will you be all right on your own, and will
 --
 --
 data/chapter/94.html-someone kidnapped him and took him outside the wards of Hogwarts
 data/chapter/94.html-(and didn't put up anti-Apparition, anti-portkey, anti-phoenix, and
 data/chapter/94.html-anti-time-looping wards, which Severus had warned Harry that any
 data/chapter/94.html-inner-circle Death Eater would certainly do). It was verified that
 data/chapter/94.html-the magic radiating from the toe-ring was indeed the magic of a
 data/chapter/94.html:portkey, and not the magic of a Transfiguration. The rest of Harry
 data/chapter/94.html-was deemed clear.</p>
 data/chapter/94.html-<p>Not long after, the Potions Master returned, bearing Harry's
 data/chapter/94.html-pouch, and several other magical things which had been in Harry's
 data/chapter/94.html-trunk, which the Headmaster also examined, one by one, even to all
 data/chapter/94.html-the items remaining within the healer's kit.</p>
 --
 --
 data/chapter/95.html-not grown up with the Muggle concept of the increasing power of
 data/chapter/95.html-science, and nobody's ever told her that when a friend's life is at
 data/chapter/95.html-stake is a time when you need to <em>think very rationally</em>
 data/chapter/95.html--"</p>
 data/chapter/95.html-<p>The Defense Professor's voice was also rising. "The
 data/chapter/95.html:Transfiguration Professor is <em>reading from a script,</em> Mr.
 data/chapter/95.html-Potter! That script calls for her to mourn and grieve, that all may
 data/chapter/95.html-know how much she cared. Ordinary people react poorly if you
 data/chapter/95.html-suggest that they go off-script. As you already knew!"</p>
 data/chapter/95.html-<p>"That's funny, I could have sworn I saw Professor McGonagall
 data/chapter/95.html-going off-script at dinner yesterday. If I saw her go off-script
 --
 --
 data/chapter/97.html-turned out that sulfuric acid would freeze at just ten degrees
 data/chapter/97.html-Celsius, which meant Harry could buy a liter of acid on the Muggle
 data/chapter/97.html-market, freeze it solid, and Transfigure it down to a tiny little
 data/chapter/97.html-unnoticable water-ice chip to be flipped into someone's mouth and
 data/chapter/97.html-ingested. No bezoar would compensate for that, once the
 data/chapter/97.html:Transfiguration wore off. Harry had no intention of saying it out
 data/chapter/97.html-loud, of course, but now that he'd failed decisively to prevent any
 data/chapter/97.html-deaths during his quest, he had no further intention of being
 data/chapter/97.html-restrained by the law or even the code of Batman.</p>
 data/chapter/97.html-<p><em>Last chance to live, Lucius. Ethically speaking, your life
 data/chapter/97.html-was bought and paid for the day you committed your first atrocity
 --
 --
 data/chapter/98.html-been told about Hermione; with Daphne hiding around a doorway to
 data/chapter/98.html-listen, choking back her tears and trying not to make sounds.</p>
 data/chapter/98.html-<p>Mother had said that the sad fact was that if only one student
 data/chapter/98.html-died every year, well, that still made Hogwarts safer than
 data/chapter/98.html-Beauxbatons, let alone Durmstrang. There were more ways for a young
 data/chapter/98.html:witch to die than being murdered. Beauxbatons's Transfiguration
 data/chapter/98.html-Master just wasn't on the same level as McGonagall, Mother had
 data/chapter/98.html-said.</p>
 data/chapter/98.html-<p>Father had soberly remarked how important it was for the
 data/chapter/98.html-Greengrass heir to stay at Hogwarts where all the other Noble
 data/chapter/98.html-families sent their children to school (it was the reason for the