Gold eyed her tag a bit.

Then she raised a hand. "Professor, would it not be the actual change that matters?" She offered, a little shyly. Shy. She had somewhat grown that, since the end of last term. Maybe a little less cheerful. But not overall. She was still the same old Gold, most of the time. But when she wasn't, even if it was not all that often, the change was remarkable.

"I mean, if you take charms. They alter an object too, but the transition is purely superficial. The cup is still a cup, whether smaller or larger or repaired or snapped into two. Transfiguration changes the nature of an object, so to speak. We give it both the physical and chemical set of properties, of something else. If you transfigure a cup - correctly - into a mouse, it is no longer a cup. It won't look like a cup, not feel like a cup, not act like a cup. It will be a mouse - it can breathe, twitch its whiskers, chew through things, and very well end up being a parent mouse, because we've changed the nature of the object."

Then she added, still shyly, "I guess my point is that Transfiguration works on total conversion. When you transfigure, the change is actual. Not on the surface, but in the system. Of course, that's only my understanding of the subject." She looked down at her hands. She needed to stop rambling. Or at least get her old confidence of rambling back. Soon.

Dianna thought very hard about the question.
She raised her hand very slowly but thought twice and placed it down. She couldn't think of any answer that can compete with the others..

Sidney raises her hand. "Transfiguration uses magic to change a living creature into an inanimate object. It also can conjure things out of thin air. I imagine it transfigures things by changing their molecular structure."

Adelyn stared at the Professor from her seat towards the back of the room. Her parchment read:

Adelyn Bennett-Black
First year Gryffindor
Personal item: silver bracelet

She was having a rather difficult day and was simply ready to go back to the dormitories, but alas, she could not. After deciding to remain quiet for the class, she glanced down at the bracelet in her hand. The Professor said that they'd be transfiguring it; did she really want to go get something else? Sure, Shawn had given it to her, but he'd given her loads of other things, as well. She shrugged; this would be fine. After all, it was just a simple, silver bracelet.

Adelyn raised her hand. "Transfiguration, as everyone else has pointed out, basically means changing one object into another, right?" She said quietly, feeling her cheeks turn pink.

Preston nodded at both girls, but was begining to wonder if he had confused his students...

And indeed he had. He smiled kindly. "It's a subtle difference and a 'how' can be included in the 'what'. To answer your question, let me use an example. If I were to ask how a watch works, you might tell me about gears and motors, but if I were to ask what it is, you might simply tell me that it is something that tells time." Clearer?

"Your answer about properties was getting at the 'how' level of Transfiguration, so you were there, even if you didn't realize it."

Preston noticed the hand raise and then lower. Dear. He had confused them, hadn't he.

"You're almost there, Miss Flores. Almost. Bending and twisting are good words. Illusion isn't quiiiite what I'm getting at, but you're close."

Preston gave the girl a kind smile. It was ok. Not everyone always knew all the answers.

Preston nodded. "Yes, incorrectly performed spells can have consequences, which is why I've asked for you to not use items you are worried about harming."

Preston had to blink a few times before answering the boy. "I think you probably understand a piece if it," he started encouragingly, "but are having trouble articulating that idea."

Preston frowned at another hand raised and then put down. He wouldn't press them, but he hoped they would aske questions if they had them.

Preston began to walk the front of the room again. "Yes and no, Miss Marlowe. Yes and no. You can conjure things, though they aren't out of 'thin air' so to speak, and the field is broader." He paused. "And molecules are the domain of muggles. We'll be speaking of something different."

Preston smiled, nodding at the girl's answer.

Ah! Prefect Laksh. Preston paused and listened to her intently. "You are mostly correct. Excellent explanation." Preston gave her a nod. She had done the kind of study she had claimed.

"But, be careful when talking about nature. If I were to transfigure you, at this moment, into a cat. Would you cease to be you? You would look like a cat, feel like a cat, and act like a cat."

He paused. "But would you BE a cat? A philosophical question, to be sure. But, in some cases, we are dealing solely with surface appearances."

----

Preston walked over to the corner of the room, picked up a small wooden box, lined with towels. Setting it on the desk in the front of the room, he picked up a small calico kitten.

"Perhaps a demonstration?" He stroked the kitten behind the ears. "This... is Princess. Take a look at her. What properties, to use the language Miss Ballard used, does she have?" Preston held his cat up for all to see.

"Now, when I transfigure her into, say, a rabbit," Preston sat her down, extracted his wand, and did just that, "What's happened to her? What properties changed? Is she still my cat?"

Tapping her lightly with his wand, she shifted back. Picking her up again, and stroking her behind the ear. "In other words, when I ask how transfiguration works, I've asked what happened to my cat that changed her. But, I maintain that she always remained, in essence, my cat. That is why changing her back is called untransfiguration. Something of her remains her, so she is able to be changed back, instead of changed again."

Preston looked up at the class, kitten still in his arms. "Does anyone want to elaborate on an answer? Or maybe you have questions?"

He smiled kindly. "It's ok to be confused. This isn't easy. But understanding, or trying to, will make actually casting these spells easier."

"Professor," Ellie said, raising her hand, "Isn't it that, at least as far as animals go, when you transfigure it, it takes on characteristics of that animal. Whereas, an animagus, which is a form of transfiguration, right?, keeps it's human personality, it's only in the animal form?" She thought she'd heard something like that somewhere. Only, she couldn't remember where...

Well, this part in Transfiguration she definitely wasn't good at. Philosophical questions. Eh. "So, you're saying, Transfiguration is just changing the appearance of something, and it takes on the qualities of that something, but it still keeps it's original nature?" she asked after raising her hand once more. It was confusing, sure, but...

Okay no, it was confusing. It could be the fact that she was suddenly distracted by the cute kitten. Not as cute as her little Poof though, and probably not as smart, but it was still something distracting. Which, somehow, made her think of a rather odd and funny question. To her it was funny...she didn't know how the professor would take it.

"Sir, I have another question." she said, raising her hand once more. "If you were to transfigure a cat into a piece of paper... and you ate that piece of paper whole..." Really random question. "Would you be able to transfigure that piece of paper back into the cat? So you'd have like, eaten a cat?"

Timothy doubted you could transfigure anything that had been destroyed. "But if you burn that piece of paper you would have killed the kitten...correct? Or could you take the ashes that have undergone a different type of transformation, from solid into carbon and transform it into the kitten again? Would the cat remember anything of that horrifying ordeal?"

Timothy had actually eaten cat before...not incredibly good...but whatever. He wondered if you could transform humans as well....but he felt that this was going far over his own head

"Professor -" Gold's hand was still in the air, but she hesitated. She did not want him to think she was trying to be too smart, or anything. But a moment later she decided to speak on, because from what she had seen of Professor Kingsley, here and in his office, she was certain he was someone who actually appreciated thinking. Even if she was wrong, he wasn't going to eat!her or anything, for it. He seemed to appreciate discussion.

"I think I would be a cat," she said, a little shyly. "But it would be temporary and, above all, I will retain somewhat of who I am. If you take animagi when they are in their animal form, for instance. They can still think clearly, even if they can not use wands." She had a mental picture of a ladybug, trying to lift a wand on its back. Eh? Why was she thinking of ladybugs? "In that sense, maybe we can say they are at an intermediate. But when we consider an object that is essentially inanimate, there is never a brain at work, to begin with. The material has no life, so I feel like it temporarily ceases to be what it is, when we transfigure it into something else. Of course, that said, it would be incomplete, to say that the nature changes, every time - I guess I was concentrating only on the example I had given. There is obviously the sum of nature and magic at work, when we transfigure, or untransfigure something."

Untransfiguration was one thing Gold had never been able to completely grasp. The delightful Transfiguration professor they had had, last term, had helped Gold improve her concepts of it wonderfully, though. She could still be at a loss with the subject, sometimes. But, overall, it wasn't one of her weaker ones. She liked trying to understand.

And, of course, understanding.

Quote:

"Now, when I transfigure her into, say, a rabbit," Preston sat her down, extracted his wand, and did just that, "What's happened to her? What properties changed? Is she still my cat?"

Preston looked up at the class, kitten still in his arms. "Does anyone want to elaborate on an answer? Or maybe you have questions?"

Gold had lowered her hand, for a second, but she raised it again, now. "She's still your cat," she said, with half a smile. That was such a CUUUTE question! Really! "She changed, physically, chemically and biologically. But there's magic at work and magic is that is not intended for harm is generally reversible. I would say we forced the cat to look like and act like and be something else, under the effect of magic. But the cat is still a cat. We magicked her into something else; and, as long as the magic is there, she is essentially a rabbit. But take away the magic, and you have the original, again. Would that be actual transfiguration, sir?" She added, thoughtfully. In the end - the sum of nature and magic. Take away the magic, and you had the original nature, again.

The other point was --- bring the magic back, and you might get a different nature. This was where Gold was confused. Exactly what the relationship between the former and latter nature, was. Were they one? Or was the second 'nature,' only magic, and not a nature at all?

Well, she knew Professor Kingsley would explain, in due time. The questions were probably written all over her face.

Alex paled at the questions..Her face turned a greenish tone and she turned to look horrified at the people who asked them why would anyone? Alex could feel her insides turning and her hands clasped over her mouth in a i'm going to be sick gesture.

Preston thought a moment, considering his students questions and wondering how best to address them. He tried to push aside concern over the two who were apparently hypothesizing how one might eat and/or kill a cat, though he stroked Princess a little nervously.

"Always ask questions. Though, perhaps the more unsavory should be saved for after class." He looked pointedly at Miss Flores and Mr Danford, before turning his gaze toward the young Slytherin who looked ill. "If you need the healer, you may be excused," he added gently.

Placing Princess down - but keeping an eye on her box nearly at all times - Preston pursed his lips.

"I fear we may be treading over the heads of some of our younger students. This is very abstract, advanced discussion, and I commend those of you who have kept up."

Preston folded his arms across his chest and considered another moment. "I think we are having a problem of language. The same word can mean different things. Being, nature, appearance. All imprecise. Let me try to be plainer." He looked to the students who had asked questions before addressing the entire class.

"When I say appearance, I do mean that which is observable. Change a mouse into a teacup and it will, for all intents and purpose, be a tea cup to all who observe it, who interact with it, who use it to drink. It also will not think or have desire or get hungry. But, at the same time, there is a... tether, let's say, that connects that teacup to its previous existence as a mouse. The mouse continues to live, even though the teacup shows no signs of life. When it is no longer a teacup, it will be the mouse it was before, and not just any mouse. The essence of mouse, you might say, remains."

"To go back to the example of turning Prefect Laksh into a cat, yes, she is correct that she would no longer even think like herself. She would have the instincts, desires and intellect of a cat. She would look like a cat, inside and out. But who she is doesn't disappear."

Preston paused and nodded in the direction of Miss Stone. "As an aside, yes, you are correct that animagus transformations are different in that the person retains their intellect and simply takes the form of an animal."

Pausing, Preston turned to the blackboard, erasing the instructions from earlier and simply writing "Gamp's Laws" across the top.

"Sometimes its helpful to know what can't be done, in order to understand what can. Earlier, one of your classmates mentioned Gamp's Laws. Who can tell me what that refers to and what they are?"

ooc: One answer each, please, to spread it around. The entirety of Gamp's Laws are not in the HP canon, though several suggested lists have been made. I have a list that we'll be using, but for this part, feel free to be creative around what sorts of transfiguration isn't possible. We don't bite. Promise.

Gold raised a hand. "They are basically principles that strive to explain Wizarding Physics, sir," she said. "The most common is, of course, that of Elemental Transfiguration. It details on what we can, and can not, create with the use of magic. Basically, you can say they are there to help us understand how magic works. Food, for example. You can not create that, and hence it is an exception to the Law of Elemental Transfiguration."

She lowered her hand, then, all thoughtful. Professor Kingsley was simplifying things, and she was grateful for that. She had never been as good at theory, as at the practical side of Transfiguration. She didn't always have the right words to put to use, or to explain her mind. Well, that was why she was here. To learn what she didn't know. Extend her knowledge. Gold eyed her notebook for a bit, and then gaave Alex a gentle, little look.

"I can take her there, if she would like someone to accompany her, sir," she offered, out loud.

More unsavory... her question wasn't unsavory! And he didn't answer it. Hmph. Well then, she'll just have to stay after class to have it answered. Because she really did want to know if that was possible.

Writing a few things down in her notes, trying to understand what the Professor was saying, she instead, thought to draw the picture out instead. It seemed pictures helped her more than actual listening and writing. Just, hopefully she drew the concept out correctly. Hmm, would a mouse live on forever if you kept changing it into a teacup for three years after every few months? Could HUMANS live on forever if that happened?

Looking back up to the Professor when he went onto Gamp's Laws, Evelyn thought about it for a moment, trying to think of the laws that she knew of. Hearing the Gold girl explain what Gamp's Laws were actually made her remember one. "There is another...that states one can't bring the dead back to life again...i think." she said after raising her hand.

Which was a shame of course, but also rather useful. Still though...

:: Ehgad knew one and raised his hand, "Money cannot be created." He laughed and added, "Or else there'd be rich wizards all over the place." His mind thought more about it and he continued, "It would make many problems if galleons were like grass in a field." ::

Xylon raised a hand.

"One of the laws tells that you can't create love," he said simply. "I mean, we can whip up potions to imitate it but the infatuation only lasts as long as the effects of the potion. We can't create actual love."

Daniel Raised his hand and said, "another is that we cannot create anything out of thin air. I mean we cannot create food from basically nothing." he then lowered his hand and smiled.

Hmm. Brody had heard something like this, but she wasn't too sure. Maybe her father had mentioned it or something. She raised her hand, before speaking. "Isn't one of the laws related to magical injures? Like how some injures, when caused by dark magic can't be healed?" She wasn't too sure. But it was a try right?

Hmm amy rootled in her bag and pulled out a hair band of no importance and set it on the table and listened to the other students

He loved and was very impressed how vocal the Professor was and how he explain things so clearly and precisely. Truth be told he didn't really understand what Transfiguration really was till now. Although he did know the essence and fundamental of the said subject before, there were really things that were bothering him about the subject and he was immensely grateful that as their discussion goes by, he learns new things and get to have a different perspective of the subject.

"So Professor, If Gold were to turn into a cat and have its, say, 'nature, and although that cat is a completely another thing and don't look like Gold anymore, she could still retain of who she really is and how she looks like because the essence of her remains?

"The thing that is bothering me, Sir, is what the essence of hers that remains," He started, smiling slightly and with utter curious tone, he continued, "Is it the strands of her hair? The blood that runs through her veins and arteries? Or perhaps, is it the memories and the love she possesses before she's been made a cat that remains?

"Or is it the whole being of her? Her nature. Her nature and the sheer fact that she is a human and whatever she may transformed into, she will still be always a human 'cause she's a born human, destined to be human...

"Is that really is the essence of a person?"

He wasn't really sure 'bout what he was saying but at least, he articulated what he would want to know and all. In hope that he would get a proper and justifiable explanation, he sighed and took a deep breath. Guh, he did forget to breathe while answering.

And he raised his hand once again upon hearing the Professor's question. "Sir, I think Gamp's law says that we can't transfigure a thing, say a quill, into absolutely nothing and vice versa. Albeit you can make a thing vanish, you can't be so assured that it's been completely vanished.. that it's forever gone. And even the vanishing spell transforms a thing into some other thing. Reducto, for example, vanishes things and transforms it into pure powder."

Iris listened to the professor talk, finding herself getting more and more confused as he spoke. Why would he want to turn Gold into a cat? He didn't make much sense.

As he asked the question, Iris smiled, glad to know that there was at least SOMETHING that she knew. She raised her hand slowly before speaking, "Uh... Gamps Law says that food can't be produced out of nothingness. You can make more of what you have, or move it to somewhere else, but you can't just create it from nothing." Iris looked at the professor as she finished speaking, wondering what other people were going to say.

Alcemee tried to think of an answer that none of the other students had probably said. She raised her hand and said, "I'm not certain about this...but I think you can't transfigure a dead person or animal into a living one."

Dianna raised her hand at this question.

"Ah.. The Geminio Curse can cause the illusion of gold or any money.. but after a while will turn back into dead leaves or dirt so it is merely and illusion and is worthless in value.." she lowered her hand and hoped that her answer is accepted.

Rae completely understood what the Professor was saying, this was her favorite subject so she had tried harder in this class than any other one. Then she heard a familiar voice... Her eyes darted around until she saw Xylon talking about not being able to create love or something. She didn't even know he was in this class, did he come in late? She smiled at him then turned her attention back to Professor Kingsley, so she would not fall behind. She had also forgotten that she had picked something up out of the box. and her bracelet was still clutched in her hand. She slid the bracelet back on and waited for answers to be called out.

Cadence listened very, very closely as the Professor explained, and it cleared up her confusing immensely, which made her smile. She took notes, but didn't dare look away from the Professor, and she barely breathed. She didn't want to miss anything that could be important and lead her back down the path of confusion. oo! And now they were supposed to answer questions again. Gamp's Laws... Gamp's Laws. This was so important. Why couldn't she remember all of them? Well, she'd give it a try. Raising her hand, she said, "Professor, would one be that you can't transfigure something into nothing or non-existence? I mean, that makes sense, right? Because of what you said about there being a tether to what something was before, and if you transfigured something into nothing then that tether wouldn't remain!" she said brightly, feeling very proud of herself for this answer.

Alex slowly regained the color in her cheeks at the Professor's question. Alex knew what he was talking but she was still recovering from the talk about eating cats so she waited for the actual lesson to begin silently.