On this other side, George Doppelganger at Hogwarts Magic School was also struggling with magic.
In the second-year Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall was lecturing about the knowledge of human transfiguration.
Although George actually already knows the knowledge in the textbook, the textbook is just a textbook, and class time is class time. When professors teach, they don't just stick to explaining textbook knowledge; they will also extend many aspects.
He had mastered the transfiguration spell and had reached the level of an average adult wizard.
But he sought more than that level; he aimed to become a master, to fully comprehend these magical knowledge, so that he could later improve upon them and integrate them into other worlds' magical systems.
Therefore, a solid foundation is crucial. One cannot skip classes just because they have already reached a certain level.
Since he had a Time-Turner, he could adjust back after attending the class to focus on other magical learning and practice, without any conflict.
"Transfiguration of the human body is the most difficult and dangerous part of transfiguration, because humans have intelligence. Intelligence subconsciously resists being transformed, which makes the transfiguration process extremely difficult.
Before having enough strength, do not use human transfiguration on enemies lightly, nor use it on oneself.
There was a witch named Thersa in ancient Greece, who lived on the island of Echus. She was particularly skilled in transfiguration, especially the transformation spell to turn into a pig.
She often transformed wayward sailors passing by into pigs, after which the sailors would lose their human consciousness and act according to the instincts of pigs.
Because she had not dispelled the spell for a long time, she eventually could not transform back into a human.
This practice now constitutes illegal behavior and could lead to serious consequences that would directly result in a person being sent to Azkaban.
Upon hearing Professor McGonagall's lecture on human transfiguration, most of the young wizards were so frightened that they involuntarily leaned back.
Azkaban is a place guarded by Dementors, those terrifying creatures that the students saw for the first time on the train when they arrived at the school. There are still many Dementors stationed at various entrances and exits of the school.
Thoughts of Dementors again involuntarily drew their gazes to George, who was paying close attention to the lecture. He is not afraid of Dementors, and has even killed them before.
"Professor, does transfiguring oneself with the human body transformation spell work like you transforming into a cat?"
A curious wizard raised their hand.
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"That's right. Transfiguring oneself is known as Animagus transformation, and you will learn about it in your fifth-year textbook."
However, it is not recommended for you to practice it, as one mistake and you will be stuck as a certain animal and never able to change back.
"Also, the entire process is extremely complicated and difficult. Many wizards fail multiple times and can't make it to the final step of transformation, forced to give up in disappointment."
"Why do you say it's complex? Is it because the spell is long?"
"But I've seen you transform, Professor, and you didn't seem to recite a spell."
Another curious wizard raised their hand.
Professor McGonagall hesitated and then said:
"Since you are interested, I'll give you a simple explanation so that you can have an understanding."
"The complexity of Animagus transformation lies not in the spell itself, but in the extensive preparation work required."
She put down the textbook:
"First, for an entire month (from one full moon to another), you must continuously keep a single leaf of mandrake root in your mouth."
Under no circumstances should you swallow the leaf or take it out of your mouth. If the leaf leaves your mouth, the entire process must start over.
Second, at the full moon, take out the leaf and fill a small crystal vial with saliva, submerging the leaf in it to receive the pure moonlight.
"(If that night the sky is overcast, you must find a new mandrake root leaf and start again.)"
Add a strand of your hair and a silver teaspoon of dew to the crystal vial, with the dew collected from a place that has been free from sunlight or human contact for seven days.
Finally, add a cocoon of the moth Manduca quinquemaculata, and place the mixed liquid in a quiet, dark place. Do not look at it or disturb it until the next storm with lightning and thunder arrives.
Third, during the period of waiting for the storm to arrive, you should perform the following actions every sunrise and sunset: point your wand's tip to your heart and recite the corresponding spell.
Fourth, during the period of waiting for the storm to arrive, the crystal vial must remain completely undisturbed and not exposed to sunlight.
Because sunlight contamination can lead to the most severe mutations.
If you repeat the spell at sunrise and sunset continuously, at some point, when your wand tip touches your heart, you will feel a second heartbeat. Sometimes it can be stronger than the original heartbeat, and sometimes it can be weaker.
All actions should remain unchanged.
The spell must be recited the correct number of times, and no repetitions can be missed.
Fifth, when lightning slices through the sky, immediately go to the place where the crystal vial is buried.
If you complete all the above steps correctly, you will find a potion of blood-red color inside.
Sixth, you must immediately set off to a spacious and safe place, ensuring that the transformation process will not attract attention or put your body in danger. Point the tip of your wand to your heart and recite the spell while drinking the potion.
If everything goes well, you will feel intense pain and two fierce heartbeats, and a vision of the transformed creature will appear in your mind.
At this time, one must be resolute in their heart. Otherwise, if the transformation fails, they will become that animal permanently and lose the memories and consciousness of being human.
Many wizards have mysteriously disappeared in the wizarding world, and it is because they failed in their transformation and became ordinary animals, living by animal instincts, and even being hunted and eaten by Muggles."
"It truly is not easy to achieve."
George listened to Professor McGonagall's narration, and a similar sense of emotion also sprang up in his heart.
No wonder there are so few wizards in the wizarding world who can perform Animagus transformation. It's not just about having strength and determination; luck is also important, and any slight mistake means starting over.
The steps after that are not mentioned, but just the first step of needing to keep a single leaf in your mouth for a month without speaking is enough to deter many people.
Many wizards probably don't just fear the failure of Animagus transformation, but also don't want to waste such a large amount of energy and time on a transformation spell.
This also shows that Harry, Sirius, and the others truly had very good luck, as they all passed the Animagus transformation in one go.
"However, it doesn't concern me."
George had already decided to undergo Animagus transformation.
After merging with the dragon's heartstone, he had a premonition that his Animagus transformation might break through the limitation of this world's inability to transform into magical creatures, allowing him to become the form of the dragon Gloum.
In fact, for him, keeping a mandrake root leaf in his mouth was not difficult. Even if he couldn't speak verbally, he could still communicate through mind link.
If he encountered clouds blocking the moonlight, he would fly directly to the clouds with the crystal vial to receive the moonlight.
If he can't wait for the storm, it will be even simpler. He can use ancient magic to summon it whenever he wants, lightning and rain will follow.
The last step is what he calls determination, and with his mental power, he can completely ignore it.
So compared to ordinary wizards, he finds Animagus transformation not at all difficult; it just takes a lot of time, and the outcome is not completely certain if he can transform into the form of the dragon Gloum.
"I'll go to the greenhouse where we grow mandrake root tonight and get a leaf."
