Transfiguration Lesson Three (All Years)

Another year was coming to a close. Grayson had actually managed to get through all of his curriculum slightly ahead of schedule, so with exams fast approaching, he decided the best use of their time would be to review what they had already learned throughout the year. He had overheard many students in the library bemoaning how little they knew and how ill-prepared they felt for the final exams now just weeks away, so he had prepared a little test for them to see how they were doing. He wagered most of them probably knew more than they thought they did.

In line with his general philosophy, this test would require them to think outside the box and practise their creativity. It was also another display of interdisciplinary magic, which had been Grayson's focus for much of the year. Unlike his previous lessons, however, it was not the interaction between transfiguration and charms that his students had come to expect. This time, he offered up another subject for their consideration.

The desks and chairs had been pushed out of the way to leave a wide empty space in the middle of the classroom. The usual furniture was still present in the room, but it had been shoved up against the walls on either side and was clearly not available for use at the moment. Grayson's own desk and chair remained in their usual position, though anything remotely valuable or important to him had been cleared away just in case. Grayson himself stood off to the side, next to the chalkboard which bore the words: Combative Transfiguration.

He scanned the room one last time to confirm the space was large enough for what he had in mind. He often worried that certain lessons might be dangerous with so many students and just one teacher, but he figured if Jake was allowed to do it, so could he. He held his wand loosely at his side and watched the door, waiting for his students to arrive.

Transfiguration happened to be one of the subjects Gabriel felt pretty confident in. Not even because his last school was ahead in the subject, but because of Lyra. As soon as his cousin had learnt that he wasn't caught up in the class, she'd set about catching him up. And, it being her favorite subject, she actually knew quite a bit more than he had, and had set about teaching him in a way that only someone passionate about the material being taught could.

So, as he followed a group of students heading to the class, grateful to have someone, or in this case someones, to lead the way, he wasn't the least bit nervous about the class. He listened silently to a conversation near him, butting in when he felt his team needed defending, though he was sure his accent probably gave him away as a biased supporter. "We don't need Jacques Clement to win. It's an added bonus, sure, but take away the fancy stuff and we could still beat the other teams in two seconds flat. Besides, it seems to me that you wouldn't know talent if it whacked you in the face with your own broom."

The room they walked into wasn't what he'd been expecting, and he immediately wondered if they'd entered through the wrong doorway until his eyes landed on the professor, and then the board. Then it made sense. He wasn't quite sure that he really knew his Transfiguration to use them in "combat." But he supposed he would find out as he took a place along the edge of the room, giving the professor a small nod. He was only grateful that the twins didn't take this class. The mess they would make if they were...

"Good morning, class," Grayson started once everyone was settled. "As I'm sure you've noticed, the room looks a little different today. If you have any bags, feel free to stash them in the corner over here and out of the way. All you'll need today is a wand."

Grayson waited as some students took the opportunity to tuck their belongings in the corner. When they were finished, he addressed them once more.

"It's been a long year and exams are fast approaching. At least some of you have already begun to study. If you have, you may find yourself at a bit of an advantage in today's exercise. We've learned a lot of content in the past few months, and the more you remember, the easier this will be. If you don't remember much, take this as an opportunity to see what you need to review - and know that you may be able to compensate with a bit of creativity if you can muster it. Now, who here can tell me the rules of dueling?"

He surveyed the class, hoping for a positive reaction to the day's topic, since it provided an opportunity to move around. With spring upon them, he knew students tended to get a little antsy sitting still. As he waited for some hands to go up, he silently counted the number of students in attendance, pleased to find that it was even. Mentally, he began pairing people off based on relative ability, and who might learn best from each other. There was a combination of older and younger students, so he hoped the numbers would work out nicely.

When Professor Hughes had indeed confirmed that today would not be a studying day - he tried to be sneaky about it by starting off with exams but Mimosa was too clever to fall for that! - the witch tuned in more, her attention on the man as he asked what the rules of dueling were. Mimosa knew the answer of course. In addition to being super smart, she had worked at dueling tournaments too, and internationally at that. Raising her hand, the child spoke up cheerily.

"You have to begin duels by bowing to each other," she offered with a knowing nod that made her ponytail bob behind her head. 'Though that's only in British and European style dueling. In America, that's not necessary." the information had been retained from a childlike man who had once been her partner in a dueling championship in Italy, and Mimosa remembered everything.

"Though in an actual, proper duel, I don't think you should wait to bow. Because if your opponent wants to win badly, he will attack you while you're bowing," she finished proudly. the brunette was abotu to lapse into silence when she remembered something else and amended her statement.

"Also, Ladies don't bow, they curtsy, but Ladies also do not duel, which is why the rule was only made about bowing and not curtsying." A little knowledge of palace etiquette was always helpful, she reasoned as she stepped back, entirely too pleased with herself for the answer.

Grayson nodded at the answers provided, lips quirking with amusement as Mimosa rambled a bit about ladies and curtsying. He supposed she would have learned that, given her connection to the Clements.

"That's correct, Mimosa. Five points to Slytherin. And I agree, if you are ever in a proper fight - which I hope you never will be - don't bother bowing. But for recreational purposes, proper etiquette is expected."

He nodded approvingly at Nikolai's response as well. "Very good, another five points to Slytherin. I suspect the rule of using only magic is much the same as the rule of bowing - dueling is generally seen as a sport, so the goal is more about showing off your technical abilities than actually incapacitating your opponent. In a practical situation, you would use whatever means necessary to win."

After a few more answers, all the rules had basically been covered. He acknowledged each student for their contributions, then moved on to the next order of business.

"So, today, as I'm sure you've guessed, you will be dueling one another. However, there is a catch: the objective is either to trap or disarm your opponent, using only transfiguration. You may not cast spells on your opponent's body or directly target each other in any way. You must use whatever objects you can find in this room and transfigure them into helpful tools using the spells you have learned this year. I'll come around and put you into pairs. If I see anyone using a spell that does not fall under the realm of transfiguration, you will automatically lose the match. Good luck."

Pairs:

Spoiler:

The young Slytherin wasn't surprised when Professor Hughes agreed with her. She had known she was correct but now so did everyone else, and they really needed to learn. Not everyone could be all knowing like her. The witch was also appreciative of the fact that when they were divided into dueling pairs, she was teamed with Squid Boy. At least she would be able to go easy on him given his learning curve. Anyone else would have just smashed him to pieces.

Skipping happily into place some ten feet opposite the tall Slytherin male, Mimosa tucked one leg neatly behind the other and arched her small frame forwards in a perfect curtsy. Around them, people were prepping for their own duel and performing clumsy bows left and right, which made the child feel even more superior.

"Are you ready?" she trilled over to her dueling partner. 'We can start with you, the person who starts usually has an advantage and you need it more than I do," she proclaimed loudly enough for those nearby to hear and quietly chuckle at. Of course she was going to win this, but she would make sure Squid Boy learned something from the match. She was teaching him after all.