Transfiguration Notebook - Year One
written by Elizabeth Black
Here are my notes from Transfiguration year one! The last chapter has links to the rest of my books of notes for the other subjects, so be sure to check those out as well!
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
10
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594
Lesson Four
Chapter 4
Transformations
• first four years of Transfiguration will be centered on transformations
• Transformation is the branch of transfiguration that alters the physical state or being of an object
• done by rearranging all of the molecules in the object, drawing in from the environment around us and releasing particles into the atmosphere when necessary, and manipulating them to form the thing we desire
see this physical change as the spell progresses as the target appears to morph from one object to the next
• discussed the sub-branches that fall under transformation
• focusing on general transformations, or, more specifically, inanimate to inanimate transformations
• easiest types of transformations as the objects you are dealing with are typically less complex than their animate counterparts
How to Cast a Transfiguration Spell
• There’s more that you have to do to be successful other than wave your wand and say a couple of fancy words.
• spells fall under one of two different classes of spells: static or dynamic
• Static spells are those for which the effects are immediate and end almost instantaneously after casting
• dynamic spells are those in which you may continue affecting the target object even after casting
• doesn’t play a major role in transfiguration as all transfiguration spells fall under the “static” category
• completed within a second or two of the time you cast them
• no way to alter the spell halfway through or make a continual morph from one object to another to another.
• Almost all transfiguration spells will require willpower
• Willpower is the mental push or desire to make a spell happen that gives power to your magic and draws it out of your body
Everything - object, creature, or otherwise - has a natural willingness to exist and be what it was meant to be
• gets stronger in objects that are greater in size or complexity
• general idea is that every object has an inertia that holds it where it is
• Newton’s First Law, which states “an object at rest tends to say at rest until acted on by an outside force,
• objects will resist change unless there is some outside influence, which, in this case, is our magic
• entire field of transfiguration deals with overcoming that natural desire and forcing the target to become what you want it to become
as the targets you are working with become larger and more conscious, the transformations become more difficult to perform and require a larger amount of willpower to overcome
• Up next is concentration
• It is the act of centering the mind in order to directly influence the world via magic
• you must focus your mind on what you want your target to turn into
• picture the target morphing, keeping in mind all the details of the resulting object, and in that way, you direct your magic to do what you want it to do
• concentration must be held until the entire transformation is completed
• usually no more than a second or two
letting your mind wander too early in the process could result in your transformation only half completing
• An increase in concentration is also necessary when the resulting object is more complex
• determine how much concentration is necessary, and what exactly it is that you are concentrating on, you must first take a look at the two objects you are dealing with
• you to explore both objects with all five of your senses in addition to exploring their purposes, molecular makeup, and any other aspects that may be important
• Wand movements in general are used to help focus, direct, and shape your magic towards a specific goal
• more grandiose movements aid in projecting magic and making the spell stronger
• there is no need to strengthen a spell when casting as the magic is inherently focused and controlled by the nature of the spell
• Incantations and their pronunciations are essential in the successful casting of transfiguration spells.
• As with those in other fields, transfiguration incantations are usually derived from Latin origins.
Variations
• Many of the targets we will be transforming in this class have different types and variations to them
• while we will only be practicing on one particular type of the object, the transformations may be performed on any of the types
• these spells can also be performed on objects that are similar to, but not exactly, those for which the spell is meant
• This doesn’t only apply to your starting object, but your ending object too
• So long as you can draw the connection between the object the spell was originally intended for and the object you wish to perform it on, the transformation is still possible
• possible for you to embellish on the resulting object with the right concentration
• Essentially, if you can picture it, you can make it, but doing more than a simple color or design addition requires an intense amount of concentration in order to direct your magic to create exactly what you want.
