Transfiguration 3:1

Lesson One: The Limits of Transfiguration
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Leif leaned against his desk as his students walked in, greeting them when they did. Once he was sure they were all inside he waved his wand at the door to close it, leaving it open just a crack in case there'd be any latecomers he hadn't accounted for. He then moved his wand to point at a piece of chalk near the blackboard to make it come alive.

Gamp's Laws of Elemental Transfiguration: Limitations​

"Good morning, third years. My name is professor Leif Odegard, your Transfiguration instructor until you enter fifth year. Today's lesson is going to be heavy on writing and theory, but its absolutely one of the most important topics about Transfiguration to understand. I know it can be hard to focus but please try to take as many notes as you can." He told them, not liking the fact they were doing theory any more than they did, but this was something that they needed to learn before they'd be moving on with more transfiguration spells. "So, let's get started. Today we'll be looking at limitations within Transfiguration. What can't we do? Well, there's five specific categories: Food, Wealth, Knowledge, Love, and Life. These are known as Gamps' Laws."

Leif took a few steps away from his desk, walking around the room with his wand still pointed towards the blackboard where the chalk wrote down the most important aspects of what he was saying. In that case, if anyone failed to keep up they could still copy the board and have part of the information ready. "I'm sure by now you're all aware that, while magic makes it seem like we are capable of doing anything, but magic too has its limits. Like how magic is not capable of bringing back the death. We can foresee death and perhaps even prolong it, but nothing can reverse death - not even Transfiguration." He stopped, glancing at the students faces to find some were dismayed, whereas others knew this already. It could be a bit of a heavy topic for young students.

"This next one is a bit obvious." Leif continued, wanting to move on from the subject. He couldn't have their thoughts lingering on it for too long, that wouldn't be good for them. "You cannot use magic to gain knowledge. There's no way to pluck something out of a book or thin air and embed it into your brains. Knowledge, I'm afraid, will have to be gained the old-fashioned way. Which is why all of your professors probably push you to start studying for your exams on time." He informed them with a wink, sure some of his students would be disappointed by this information.

"Next on our list may come as a bit of a surprise to some of you, but food is unable to be created. You can summon it if you know where it is, and are able to duplicate existing food, but creating it from nothing is impossible. Your meals every day don't simply appear out of thin air. It's all prepared by the house elves and summoned to your plates." Leif nodded his head as some of the kids looked shocked. Apparently it was not common knowledge, which was unsurprising given the house elves rarely worked in the open or mingled with the students. "Imitations of food can be conjured, objects that look or smell similar to what you'd expect it to, but lacks any nutritional value. It will never truly feed your body."

"Another commonly surprising fact of limitation is the inability to create Love. That is, true love. You've all heard of love potions, I'm sure. However, a love potion does not create love. It creates an intense infatuation which is very far from what genuine love would feel like. Someone under the influence of a love potion would do anything for the person they're infatuated with, but they'd never truly love them. Love potions are unhealthy and dangerous."

"And lastly, we are unable to gain wealth or quality possessions by magic. Gold is nearly impossible to create without the use of external influences, such as a Philosophers Stone, which alchemizes rather than transfigures, and even then we know very little about it. Certain things are resistant to transformative magics. Circe was well known for transfiguring sailors into swine, as pigs are so un-magical that transfiguration involving them is usually more difficult, which is what makes Circe's skills so impressive. It is theorised that gold particles are the same. It's not impossible to turn metals such as lead into gold - muggles can do it with a particle accelerator and billions of dollars, but this process is less efficient than a Philosopher's Stone, the creation of which Nicolas Flamel took to the grave. Like food, you could duplicate galleons fairly easily, however magical systems are in place to detect whether any money used in shops or the like is real, or an imitation, so I wouldn't waste time bothering. We also can't simply lavishly furnish our homes with magic, either. At least, not permanently. If we could do that, we wouldn't have much use for money in the first place. This isn't to say it's impossible to conjure something out of nothing, but the things you do conjure are never permanent - you need something to transfigure to begin with. Sure, you may be powerful enough to keep something around for weeks or months, maybe even years, but not only would it take great skill, it would also eventually fade back into the nothingness it came from. This is why not every wizard lives in a mansion with fine silks or rich mahogany. To sustain the false appearance of wealth is taxing on the average wizard."

Leif took a breath, almost tired of talking. He was sure his students had gotten tired of listening to, hoping they had at least managed to write down the most important aspects of what he was saying. "So. Some of you might think, what can you do? With Transfiguration, we can change what we already have, living or not. As for the rest of its capabilities..that's simply something you'll need to find out as the course progresses, so stay tuned. See you next week!"

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Roleplay the lesson for full marks.

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

Teddy found Gamp's Laws of Elemental Transfiguration really interesting, and appreciated how clearly the professor explained it. Teddy wrote notes as the professor spoke, already considering ways around the limitations, like duplicating food in a supermarket before paying for it, or using magic to rob a bullion depository instead. One idea was much more extreme than the other.

When Professor Odegard touched on the impossibility of creating wealth or love through magic, Teddy nudged @Audrey Beauchamp , "That's my life plan scuppered then." he joked, before returning his focus to his notes.

As the lesson drew to a close, Teddy packed up his notes, thanked the professor and left the classroom.

 

[Audrey Beauchamp]

Audrey loved Transfiguration, not as much as Charms perhaps but that was an impossibly high bar to reach and either way, Transfiguration was easily one of her favourite classes. Sometimes parts of it were harder than they should be, but she liked doing things like animating chess pieces. And even the theory wasn't awful, although she would have rather been doing spells, actually understanding the rules and logic behind them wasn't so bad.

At least, that was the attitude she had to have for this lesson, as it was turning into a long lecture. Audrey didn't like the idea of limitations, but it did make sense. She was trying very hard to be dutiful and take notes without distraction, although when @Teddy Pirrip made a comment she couldn't help but bite back a giggle, placing the back of her right hand to her mouth to stifle it. "Good thing I wouldn't need the help," she whispered back. She swallowed her amusement, quickly returning to taking notes about the limitations. No bringing back the dead, no creating wealth (although she could surely patent uses of magic that would make her wealthy, right?), no forcing love, no creating food, and no magically acquiring knowledge. Audrey figured she'd just have to think more about the things she could do around these limitations.

 

[Callie Cardoso]

Callie walked into the transfiguration classroom and took a spot near the front of the class. She took out her notes and parchment, and had her quill in hand as the professor began the lecture. It was a little unsurprising that she was getting a lecture, transfiguration was a good balance between practical and theoretical work, but there was a lot of theory. She took notes as the professor went over them, the limits of their magic, what they could and could not do. She hadn’t tried any of those things yet, so it wasn’t like she’d known, though food felt obvious. Callie got down everything that the professor was saying, and then eventually the lesson was wrapped up and she was able to pack up and leave the room.

 

[Enoch Goldewyn]

Enoch walked into the transfiguration classroom, he moved to sit a little closer to the back of the class thaan he would’ve otherwise done. He just was tired, and could maybe relax a little more if the professor saw him less. It didn’t really matter the professor was beginning to lesson and it was to be a lecture. Enoch took his quill and began taking notes from what he was sayin. He stared at his notes on the subject of death. He had always known that magic couldn’t bring back the dead, but it just…why not..they could do so much else. His life would be easier if they could be brought back. He didn’t hear much of the rest of the lesson, his mind a little caught in those thoughts in thinking of his parents, of how he missed them. Eventually people around him moved and Enoch packed up his things and left the room.

 

[Friday Weeks]

Friday headed into the transfiguration classroom and took a spot near the back of the room. She was not looking forward to this, it was going to be awful. She hated lessons with too many lectures and though she had thought that this class would be one with lots of spells, it consistently wasn’t. Though objectively still better than like history. Friday had her quill in hand but wasn’t really taking notes. Friday was listening along, but was very glad when the lesson wrapped up and she was just able to pack up and leave the room.

 

[Artemis Vasilakis]

Artemis Vasilakis had fun over her break with her oldest brother. She got to play some games with him, and watched his actual games and practices. It was super neat! But now it was time to actually get back to school work. Artie was not the studious type, and it showed with her average grades, but at least she was doing okay and not poorly. Artie did not want to disappoint anyone with poor grades. She felt she would never hear the end of it. She tied her hair back and made sure she looked okay in her Hufflepuff uniform. She hauled her backpack over her shoulders and left the Hufflepuff house to go to class for the day.

Artie walked in the Transfiguration classroom and sat down next to her friend. Profesosr Odegard let them know what they were going over this year. She took notes over Gamp's laws, which she felt were reasonable. No one could really create love, or knowledge, or food. If wizards could create food, and never solve world hunger, then it would be cruel to not help. So, she understood why it would not have any nutritional value. The lesson overall was enjoyable, and she looked forward to the subject ahead as she left upon dismissal.​

 

[Dante Styx]

Dante Styx was going through his condition and stuff well. One could even say that he might have calmed down a bit. He was not that aggressive, though his roommate might differ on his opinion. Dante was still a werewolf, and he did not like the idea of staying that way. It was a lifelong condition and the wolfsbane never seemed to taste good, no matter what he chased it with. And the week leading up to the full moon was such a pain. Oh well, silver lining was that he could not pass it on through kids or whatever. Dante still missed his sister dearly, and hoped that him trying to get better grades and stuff would appease her. That was why this year, Dante was going to class prepared.

Dante walked in the Transfiguration classroom and wanted to settle in his seat from last year, but he sat down next to Callie instead. She was someone he liked a lot after all. Professor Odegard got started with going over Gamp's Laws and the limitations of the subject. He got out his parchment, ink and quill to get started. He knew that about the whole thing about death, and how magic could not gain knowledge magically. The food was sort of cool, but it had no nutritional value at all if it was conjured. The next thing was love and gold, but that was it for the time being. He could not wait to see what they would be doing the next week though. He liked doing spells. He really did.​

 

[Atlanta Jackson]

It was still a little strange to Atlanta that she now shared her classes with all houses rather than being split up, she would get used to seeing the same faces in each lesson rather than having a degree of rotation, but the time being it was odd. She settled into her seat and focused on Professor Odegard who started the lesson once everyone else had taken their seats. He started by introducing himself then moving onto the subject of the lesson, the limits of Transfiguration which were governed by Gamps Laws. Food, Wealth, Knowledge, Love, and Life were all off the table via Transfiguration which was a shame, Atlanta fancied herself some wealth but she would have the gain it another way. The rest of the lesson was Professor Odegard going into greater detail about each of the five limits to Transfiguration. It was quite interesting and by the end of the lesson Atlanta had taken substantial notes that she folded into her back and once they were dismissed she made her way out of the classroom.

 

[Veronica Walden-Cade]

Veronica settled herself into her usual seat in the classroom for Transfiguration, Professor Odegard was a new face at the top of the classroom, Veronica had been expecting a lot of new faces during the semester due to having taken electives, but she hadn't expected a new Transfiguration professor to be among them. Professor Odegard quickly introduced himself and the rules they would need to follow before he moved on to what they be learning about in that lesson and in the semester more broadly. For the first lesson they would be covering the limitations of Transfiguration, specifically Gamp's laws which covered Food, Wealth, Knowledge and Love. Veronica followed along with the lecture scribbling notes along, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Millie who had her nose to her parchment furiously taking notes at a pace Veronica couldn't comprehend, she'd have to take a look at her sisters notes later to see if she missed anything. When the lesson was finally over, Veronica packed away her notes and made her way out of the classroom once they had been dismissed.

 

[Millie Walden-Cade]

Gamp's laws of elemental transfiguration was something Millie had read up on prior to the start of the new year. Veronica often made fun of her for reading ahead in her textbooks but the Ravenclaw liked to be prepared and she felt a certain level of smugness when the words appeared on the blackboard behind Professor Odegard. It wasn't unusual for Millie to feel prepared for a lesson, her knowing a lot of what the professor was saying also didn't stop her from taking detailed notes, she scribbled furiously completely oblivious to the eyes of her sister who was watching from over her shoulder. Veronica would no doubt want to sneak a peak at her notes after class was Millie tended to pick things up the Gryffindor missed. When the lesson was over Millie folded up her somewhat chunky set of notes and shoved them into her bag and once they had been dismissed she made her way out of the classroom.

 

[Elodie Wynshaw]

Elodie was trying a little harder this year. She'd gotten caught up last year, busy in exploring the castle and trying to memorize its many halls and secrets. She knew she needed to get back into her lessons. So, she threw on a freshly pressed uniform, twisted her hair in a braid, and went up to class. She took her seat, not feeling close enough to anyone to really be bothered with any particular seating. She wondered idly if that was her own fault but pushed the feeling aside. She'd never been one to rely on others, and she didn't need a close knit friend group to have a fulfilling time here.

She settled in, taking out her notebook. She listened to the Professor as he spoke, scribbling down a few notes. It all made sense to her. She was pleased she seemed to understand the lesson, and the thought of a love potion disturbed her. Did people really do that? She winced. It was nice to know the limitations of magic- that you couldn't make food or money or things that lasted forever. She had a lot on her mind as she gathered up her things and headed out, thinking she'd need to do some more studying.

 

[Dominic Owens-Lee]

Dominic was glad to be back for his third year. He was thrilled to have made the Hufflepuff quidditch team as a chaser, especially after not even getting an alternate position the year prior. He knew that meant that his practice paid off, and he just had to try his best to keep on impressing the captain. The Hufflepuff had classes to attend now however, so he packed everything that he needed before heading to them.

Dominic's next class was Transfiguration and so he made his way there promptly. He took a seat within the room as the professor started the lesson. There were going to be lectured today, and so Dominic took out his writing equipment so that he could take some notes. The professor began talking about the limitations of using Transfiguration, and Dominic thought that this was important to know. He tried his best to keep up as the professor went on, and soon enough the class had finally come to an end. He happily left the classroom once dismissed.