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Chapter 3
On the Train
All seven subjects—get Outstanding in all of them?
Shane carried his suitcase while thinking about this difficult problem.
He had arrived early. The first few compartments were not full yet, so he found an empty one in the second carriage. He dragged and lifted his suitcase, trying to put it up, but couldn’t lift it at all. After two tries, the suitcase fell to the ground both times.
Shane stopped, then waved his wand:
“Wingardium Leviosa!”
【You practiced the Levitation Charm at beginner level once, proficiency +3】
As the spell and system notification sounded, the brick-like suitcase quickly floated up.
This thing is really useful.
Shane put away his wand with satisfaction and pulled the suitcase into the compartment.
What he didn’t notice was that a young witch was watching him curiously.
Outside the train window, thick smoke from the steam engine drifted above the noisy crowd. Cats of all kinds ran between people’s feet.
Amid the buzzing voices and the noise of dragging heavy luggage, owls also hooted softly.
Shane opened Hogwarts: A History, which was half the size of the table. One page listed the seven main subjects at Hogwarts:
Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Astronomy.
These were all required courses…
So how do you achieve Outstanding?
Shane found a reference standard—the top student of the trio, Hermione.
If he remembered correctly, she got nine O’s (Outstanding) and one E (Exceeds Expectations) in her O.W.L.s.
And Hermione’s grades were always stable. So by comparing himself to her performance, he could know what level he needed to reach.
Was it difficult?
Of course. His magical talent was terrible. Except for History of Magic, all other subjects required magical ability.
But could he not do it?
If he still couldn’t do it even with this advantage, he might as well smash his head into tofu.
“Just grind it out!”
While putting away his luggage, Shane thought for a few seconds.
“Then I’ll start with Transfiguration…”
He sat down on the cushioned seat, put away A History, and took out A Beginner’s Guide to Transfiguration. It was a brown-red book with golden patterns, explaining the rules and techniques of Transfiguration in detail. It was a textbook for first- and second-year students.
The most classic example was turning a matchstick into a needle. If he could reach that level within a month, Shane felt getting an Outstanding would be easy.
【When performing Transfiguration, it is important to wave the wand firmly and decisively.
Do not move or rotate the wand unnecessarily, or the transformation will fail.
Before casting, clearly picture the desired result in your mind.
Beginners should clearly speak the incantation, while advanced wizards do not need to…】
Shane carefully read every sentence. He planned to memorize all 200+ pages before attempting Transfiguration.
The reason was simple—Hermione had memorized all her books when she first learned magic and achieved excellent results.
So memorizing must be useful.
The path to success was right ahead—why not imitate it?
Besides, his talent wasn’t enough. He had to work harder.
Another important reason was that these books cost him eleven Galleons. It hurt so much that he studied like crazy to “get his money’s worth,” like trying to eat enough at a buffet.
Just like that, without realizing it, he had roughly memorized all the books he bought.
He had already finished over 180 pages of this one. He would finish today and then start practicing Transfiguration.
This made Shane, who had average grades in his previous life, sigh—
Poverty really makes people capable of anything.
Steam filled the station. Shane was immersed in his book and didn’t notice when a young witch entered the compartment.
“Excuse me, is anyone else coming here?”
A bushy-haired girl opened the door and asked, lifting her chin.
“No.”
Shane kept memorizing. If his six months in the orphanage gave him anything, it was focus. People like them, whose lives were not in their own control, had to learn to grow on their own—or be blown away by the wind.
After that simple reply, he said nothing more. Even when the train started and the number of people in the compartment went from two to three, he didn’t react at all.
Outside the window, the scenery looked like a painting.
Winding rivers stretched across the land, waves of wheat rolled one after another, with occasional farmhouses and cattle, then hidden again by dark green hills.
Hermione read her book, sometimes glancing at the scenery and at the focused boy opposite her.
His hair was fluffy on both sides, slightly raised. His long eyelashes fluttered. He looked calm and quiet. More importantly—
“He really looks like my cat. I know wizards can’t be cats, but he really does…”
The black-haired boy muttered, scratching his head awkwardly. Unexpectedly, the person beside him immediately agreed.
Hermione nodded strongly and looked at him with excitement.
“Justin, that description is… perfect!”
Justin’s eyes lit up, and the two began whispering together.
Shane stayed focused on his book, completely unaware he had become the topic of discussion.
The train rocked rhythmically. The window was like a canvas, showing beautiful and magical scenes.
In the compartment, besides their whispers, there was only the soft sound of turning pages.
Finally, Shane finished the last part. He let out a long breath and rubbed his tired eyes.
“I don’t lack anything now!”
His eyes quickly lit up. He put down the book, took out a matchstick from his robe, and visualized its shape, structure, and properties.
His memories from his previous life and his current knowledge confirmed each other—
“Transfiguration!”
With confidence, he softly spoke the spell.
Unfortunately, the match didn’t change much.
But Shane smiled.
【You practiced a basic Transfiguration once at beginner level, proficiency +3】
“Did he just say something? And what is he doing?”
Justin whispered to Hermione, completely confused.
“It looks like… Transfiguration. Oh no! The book says it’s dangerous. If you say it wrong, terrible things can happen!”
Hermione gripped her clothes, frowning, about to stop him.
【You practiced a basic Transfiguration at skilled level once, proficiency +10】
【You practiced a basic Transfiguration at skilled level once, proficiency +10】
…
Shane kept trying and became more skilled. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
Magic… suddenly felt simple.
Could it be… I’m a Transfiguration genius?!
【You practiced a basic Transfiguration at skilled level once, proficiency +10】
【Beginner Transfiguration unlocked】
【New Transfiguration title unlocked, please check】
【A wizard talent unlocked, please check】
As the notifications sounded, Shane narrowed his eyes.
Scholarship fragment, +1!
At that moment, a sharp voice interrupted:
“You can’t use dangerous Transfiguration here! You can’t control it!”
Hermione spoke loudly, her tone serious and a bit angry.
As soon as she finished—
The match trembled.
Under her wide eyes, it slowly turned into a needle. The silver tip reflected light.
The air froze.
Hermione’s words stuck in her throat.
“Merlin… I read about this case in a book. Did he… succeed?”
Justin widened his eyes in disbelief.
Shane looked up and met Hermione’s slightly pink ears and Justin’s close gaze.
“Sorry, could you say that again? I didn’t hear it.”
He had been too focused—he hadn’t heard a single word.
