Transfiguration 4:4

Lesson Four: Using the Switching Spell (swap Slug for Snail)​

Leif leaned on his desk as he waited for his students to arrive. Today's lesson material was interesting, took more effort than switching quills had done last week. He did wonder if any of his students would be repelled by the slugs. Once everyone had taken their seat he waved his wand to close the door.

"For today's lesson, we will be learning cross-species switches." Leif started, looking around the room to observe his students' faces. "You worked with small inanimate items last week, but I'd like to move on to something doubly as challenging. First," He pulled a rather large terrarium full of slugs from under his desk. "We will use living creatures rather than small items as our subjects. Second, we will switch them with snails, which are very similar in both appearance and complexity. Cross-species switches occur when a wizard takes one animal and swaps it out for another. Understand? Good. Remember that you don't need to know the exact location of what you are switching the two with."

"Use the same technique you employed in the last lesson to swap your slugs and snails. You all recall it's non-verbal, right?" The class nodded slightly and murmured to themselves. "Complex, but not impossible. If you cast it properly, your slug will seem to grow its own shell, just like it would with a regular transfiguration spell. You and I both know, however, what is really taking place. It might take a few tries, but I've no doubt you will be able to pull off the spell effectively. Take a slug, and get started. If you need me, don't hesitate to yell out." Leif watched as his students came up to the desk to take a slug, some more stoically than others. Once everyone had theirs he got up to move around, observing their work and lending a helping hand every now and then.

---

Roleplay attempting to turn a slug into a snail for full marks.

 

[Teddy Pirrip]

It had really annoyed Teddy that he had struggled with the switching spell last week, so much so that he had spent a lot of time practicing in his free time until he could finally switch two quills comfortably. It seemed so simple once he mastered it, but his introduction to non-verbal magic had been harder than he expected.

He arrived for his next Transfigurations lesson and listened to Professor Odegard explain that they were turning a slug into a snail. It wasn't the most interesting creature to work on but still he got started. Using the same method, he managed to grow a shell on the slug after just a couple of goes. Feeling chuffed with himself, he finished the lesson in a good mood before packing up his belongings and leaving the classroom.

 

[Veronica Walden-Cade]

Veronica’s previous attempt with switching spells during the previous Transfiguration lesson had been a failure. She had practiced a lot since she last left the classroom and she just about managed to get it done. She knew that if they moved on to switching something more complicated then she would struggle, but she would have to try and do her best. Hopefully, now she had successfully done the basics, she could do it again.

Professor Odegard informed the students they would be attempting to switch slugs and snails. It seemed simple in theory, it was essentially just moving the shell from one to the other. It was a little more complicated than that, but Veronica needed to keep it simple in her mind if she had any chance of performing the spell. She tried several times without any movement, before she eventually managed switch the slug and the snail. Veronica felt a huge sense of relief as she sat back in her chair and watched the two moving around her desk in different spots to where they started. Once the lesson was over she returned them to Professor Odegard and left the classroom.

 

[Elodie Wynshaw]

Elodie was eager and ready for the semester to just be over. She wanted to go home, see Byron, cuddle with her dog. She sighed, forcing herself out of bed. She was feeling more isolated at the school, and she just missed being home. But she was determined to make it through this- the education was what mattered, and she needed to do her best.

Elodie dragged herself out of bed, getting ready for the day. She got in a bit of reading, taking some comfort from the fantastical stories. Ready for the day, and sure she'd make it somehow, she walked to class. She had practiced a lot with the last switching spell, and while it wasn't her strongest, she did feel a little better about it this time. She bit her lip, chewing on it as the Professor spoke. She sighed and looked at her snail and slug. She spent most of class attempting it, and thankfully, just before they were dismissed, she managed a full swap.

Elodie practically melted in her seat, sighing and gathering her things after a few moments. She needed a nap.

 

[Lucy Montague]

Lucy had practiced a lot since last lesson, and was feeling a bit more confident this time round. It made her a bit uneasy to be working with live animals, even if they were molluscs or whatever they were called. Lucy gave it a go, however, and somehow she managed to switch them on her first go - the shell was now on the other creature. Lucy gave a small 'yes!' to herself, then looked around to make sure no one had noticed. She was very pleased, practice had definitely paid off.

 

[Audrey Beauchamp]

Audrey was pretty confident after getting the switching spell down - though she wasn't resting on her laurels. She had kept practicing it both in and out of class to the point that the magic wasn't as difficult for her anymore. It still took concentration, but the level of concentration required wasn't painful. She felt ready to move on to animals. At least it was slugs and snails, she didn't feel like messing that up would be a big deal. The caretakers weren't going to resent the removal of snails by splinching, Audrey was sure.

It didn't mean Audrey wouldn't be careful and try to do the spell right, however. She had to pause and think about what features a snail even had, as it wasn't like she spent much time hanging around such slimy creatures. Once she felt she had a decent picture of a snail shell in her mind, Audrey focused her energy on switching the slug and the hypothetical snail. It took a little bit of work, as she had to be careful to do it right but also not block herself from completing the spell. Eventually, however, the slug seemingly had its own snail shell, which was to say it had been replaced with a snail. She wondered where the slug had even gone, but then realised she didn't really care, since she'd done the spell.