....

Jared cleared his throat.

Jared smiled. "It's not as simple as that, I'm afraid." That would make transfigurational spells another term for spells that weren't covered by Charms or Defense, after all. "Remember, there are transfigurational spells that are still studied under the heading of charms, and points where charms and defensive magic overlap."

And? "Take two points for your house."

"Not a precise definition, but yes. Take two points for your house."

"Does that mean I've been demoted?" Jared asked. Though, how do you demote a Little Professor? What's little-er than little?

He'd have to think about that one.

"Most charms do affect the physical appearance of the target," Jared corrected. "The Paint-Flashing Charm, for example. Take two points, though."

"Transfiguration is a separate branch of magic, but transfigurational spells and charms do overlap at certain points." Jared gave the girl a faint smile. "Take two points for your house."

How soon could he move to China?

"That isn't a precise definition but yes, charms do 'come out' of one's wand." Pause. "Take two points."

He hadn't heard that last bit. Of course not.

Jared had to grin at that one. "And so is barbecue."

And? "Take two points for your house."

"One could call 'nature' is a relative term, but if you talk of basic or inherent nature, than no. Charms alter the behaviour of, or give an added characteristic to, the target. Its inherent nature, remains unaffected."

Two points for her house, though.


Other? We haven't talked about one charm, let alone another, child.

"Patience is a virtue."

...

Moving on.


Jared nodded. "You've all said the same thing, more or less. Take three points each. Charms is that branch of magic which deals with spells that produce a superficial change in the object. This could mean altering how it looks, how it acts, and the things it is capable of - all on a superficial level. This could mean levitating the target, giving it wings, changing its size or colour and so on. Remember that a charm does not change the inherent nature of an object - that is transfiguration. Transforming an object into, or reverting an object to, one that has a different set of vital functions - like a cup into a mouse - and conjuring objects out of nothingness is all part of transfigurational magic."

"Keeping that in mind, do you think there are some spells studied as charms, that could be called transfigurational spells? Or where the boundaries between Charms and Transfiguration blur?"

Sounding quite serious, Aiden coolly answers the professor. "In my opinion, yes, it could since there are charms that could change the form and appearance of an object such as the Engorgement Charm."

Aurora nodded. "I guess so, like Aiden said, the Engorgement charm is one, or Densagio, the one that makes your teeth bigger, though I suppose that's a hex rather than a charm." she added, beginning to doubt herself a little. "What's the difference between a hex and a charm?" she asked.

Well, if she'd already gained three house points and participated in the question, she might as well go ahead and continue, no? Plus, Koala Boy was here. Yep yep, participating seemed quite legitimate to her this lesson.

Hmm. "Professor, I think the main difference between Charms and Transfiguration is that Transfiguration morphs the actual object into something else whereas Charms just alters its properties... So no," Ryden said, then tried to think of an example she could give. "I suppose, if you take the Permanent Sticking Charm... The charm gave it a quality that enabled it to stick BUT if you transfigure a part of it into superglue or something, then you've actually changed the object. Changing an object's size doesn't change its actual properties, it just makes them all larger... And so on and so forth."

Come to think of it, this was a fascinating question if one thought about it deeply enough. Seriously.

Kurumi thought for a moment before raising her hand. "I think that the two subjects overlap on another. There are many spells that do involve transfiguring an object into something that it wasn't originally. While the actually state of the object is the same, there is a certain quality to it that has changed. The Colour Change Charm changes the objects color, so one could argue that you have transfigured it into something that it wasn't. I don't imagine there are many purple tomatoes around as an example." She paused for a moment to scratch the back of her head and think a bit more. "We have all mentioned that Charms cause an object to do something unexpected, but I wouldn't really consider the effects of the Scouring Charm to be in that category since it simply cleans the object. If you want to get technical, you could also say that this spell changed a dirty object into a clean one and therefore transfigured it."

Kurumi held the side of her head. She was probably over thinking things, which wasn't the best of ideas considering she was still in recovery mode from her concussion.

"I also think that the Mending Charm is in the gray area between Charms and Transfiguration. In mending something, you actually are changing the state of the object."

She put her hand down. No more thinking for a little. Her head was beginning to hurt.

Raising her hand, Zara began to recite, "I think so, Professor. Because isn't there something called a Protean Charm? But it's classified as under Transfiguration. It's known to be able to link several objects together, but with the need of a common purpose. Erm, it was said to qualify under Transfiguration.." Whoah, she wasn't sure with her answer. Just basing what she had read through a book.

Oh, and she's heard about this charm too. Her grandfather had told her during the last few months after she got her letter and before she went to Hogwarts about Hermione Granger being able to do this charm. "Oh, and Professor, Hermione..Granger had used this charm. I think he linked fake coins as means of communication to the members of the D.A. So when one of the fake coins changed shape, the others did so too. I guess that's kind of some relation of Transfiguration and Charms."

And Zara went on reciting, quite enjoying herself. "So the boundaries of the two blur somewhat in the extent of what the charms could do," confusing, her answer was. So she decided to explain it. "Like for example a needle. A charm casted on this would make it behave or look differently, just like if a transfiguration spell is casted, it would change its shape--causing it to be out of its normal state." Mehh, it still sounded confusing. But hopefully, professor got it.

Those grey eyes caught Aurora. Whenever she is talking about any spells at all; Charms, Transfiguration and even Hexes, Aiden has this undisguised excitement on her face. "Charms does not alter the subjects, but there changes made. Hexes somehow contain a slight element of Dark Magic. As far as I know, hexes are the worst after curses," she says eagerly, unable to refrain herself.

"I think they are very similar subjects, but I don't think spells should be considered as both." Just give 'em one category! MAke them less confusing. Funnily enough, when he was eleven-ish, Jamie didn't see any difference in the two at all anyway. Growing older now, he had learnt a thing or two, yup. Using the Professor's example, giving an object wings still doesn't change the object into something completely new, only modifies it. So, it does make them quite different, in his opinion. "So, I suppose you could use both types on the same object, but they would produce totally different things."

"Although, I do know of the.... Protein Charm.." Merlin knows what it did, though. "Isn't it somethin' to do with health, sir? Anyway... that is classed under transfiguration, despite being a charm." Maybe it transfigured your insides to have lots of protein in it. Eh, that sounded extremely unlikely, but what else could a PROTEIN charm do?

The third year scratched his head. Boundaries? Errr... no. Jamie kept his hand firmly down, and sank lower in his seat a little. Yea, he was brilliant at most things but not everything was in his brain wavelength.

"I suppose so..." Eino said after raising his hand and been granted permission to speak. Maybe the boundaries between the two could, sometimes, be blurred, but they would still entirely different things. "I suppose less experienced wizards and witches, like ourselves, could easily get some of them confused, but only because we don’t know exactly what is being performed on the target.” So it was really ignorance, or the lack of knowledge, that blurred the boundaries between the two, but the nature of the magic would easily identify it as a charm or transfiguration. “For example, the Hover Charm might make the target lighter, or maybe immune to gravity, or maybe it summons a little invisible dragon that comes and picks the object up, but the object remains the same.” Eino could come up with a million reasons as to how the Hover Charm might work but the point is it didn’t change the object. “I don’t think some charms could be called transfiguration spells, though.” Just because an Eino might look like a Hugo does not mean a Hugo could be called an Eino. The blur between the two only existed to those who didn’t know any better. “Just because some of us,” Yes, Eino was speaking of himself mostly, “misidentify a charm as a transfiguration doesn’t mean it is so, or could be. Spells are categorized according to their nature, not appearance.” Spoken like a true below average Ravenclaw.

Charms that could be called traaansfiiiiiguuuuraaatioooonaaal spells? That word couldn't get any longer. But anyway. What charms?

"How about the freezing charm?" Helena suggested, with her hand raised. "It kind of changes the nature of water for example, if we freeze it." Or... not? Well... the water is liquid and blah blah, and after it is frozen, it's... frozen. Not liquid anymore.

Now let's hope that this made any sense at all.

As for the man's next question, Helena didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything.

Uhm the blur between Charms and Transfiguration thought Penny, chewing the end of her quill...

"Professor, I think there is a clear difference...I mean A Charm might cause something to flash different colours. It might cause an object to float in the air or even fly. Charms can make a person happy and giggly or dance. In all cases, the object or the person doesn't really change, they just do something unexpected.
eg...The Hover Charm (Wingardium Leviosa)... or The Silencing Charm (Silencio) or Cheering Charm

Penny stopped to breath....

"But Transfiguration is the art of changing the form and appearance of an object and the vanishing of objects. it's governed by Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration which acknowledges the limits to the power of this branch of magic.

Transfiguring can be done to most, if not all objects.
eg...Draconifors — Is used to turn a dragon statue into a real dragon that will breathe fire".

"Sir, would the invisibility Charm be classed as one the blurs the boundaries between Charms and Transfiguration?"
Penny hoped she had explained herself properly - it made sense to her !

"i personally believe charms is very similar to transfiguration; however, they could never be the same thing. In most cases charms can change the physical appearance or behavior of an object, it cannot change what an object is. Like you can send things away from you with a banishing charm but you cannot make them disapear. Also with a charm you can make something with nothing but your wand, like water and fire. With transfiguration you need an item to transfigure into something else. Now where the line really draws thin is with incendio because putting something on fire changes w=it's chemical makeup as it burns into the object into a new substance and in transfiguration you are changing an object into a whole new substance and back again. The damage of fire can't be reversed however there are some charms that can. I guess the only true difference is that charms can never never make a living thing into a whole new subatance.", Chloe responded rambling out an answer she hoped made some sense.

Kimalia merely took down writing what everyone said, as she felt answering would make her sound like a parrot when the others had responded well to this question.

Anasta L. Riddle was so glad to listen that she is with Charms her three points already, that no new thought more than how it is wonderful. But there is a question: where the boundaries between Charms and Transfiguration blur? Anasta L. thought a little... They are very similar subjects. There is when one is part of another in similar sphere. Where they connect?? May be in part, where charm is giving smth in transfiguration wings, changing its size or colour.

Ha-chew. Again. Then, Janice answered the question.

"Professor, I think there is. Like the Colour Changing Charm. It changes the object's physical properties.
"Well, both charming spells and transfiguration spells are used to change the object being charmed or transfigured int something, err, different. But, in Transfiguration you change the object's physical properties or even into something that is totally different, like changing a rock, which has no life in it, into a terrier, which is a living thing. In Charms, you change the behaviour of the object. For example, charming a pen-- I mean, a quill to fly using the Wingardium Leviosa spell. The quill still looks like a normal quill, but a not-charmed quill can't fly, right?"

3 points. Orlando was proud of himself, yep yep. Even though he may not be able to gain anymore points in this class. Because then came the hard question. The sixteen year old contemplated for a moment before answering. "Ahh .. Professor I am not really sure if Transfiguration and Charms have boundaries that blur at some point. Because with charm you are just making an object do things while in Transfiguration you end up changing the appearance of the object as well"

Did he make sense?

Near by, Fist Girl was surely making sense.

Melina wasn't sure if she knew the answer to this one, but she figured she'd give it a go. She was a firstie, after all- how much could she know yet?

"Um... I think that a charm changes the behavior of an object or person, while a transfiguration changes that object or person completely into something else. I think."

Hmmmmm. She thought she got it at least a little right.

Professor Sir, Oakey called him still unsure on how to pronounce his name. I'm a little unsure on this but in Transfiguration class Shaw had us create spells for him to test and change the objects form, and well he demenstrated our's on his cloak. It was supposed to transform into a dog but all it did was make the cloak act like a dog. He was still dissapointed in this event, but it seemed that this was what Disco Toe was talking about with the differences in Charms and Transfigurations. Is it possible that the spell my group made in that class was a charm because The cloak changed it's nature and not its form.

Vashti took a few moments to consider the question before raising her hand. "I think their boundaries do sort of blur or overlap with some spells, or at least they appear to," she began. "For example, the Patronus Charm. It's called a Charm, but when you use it, you conjure up a sort of white energy or magic that usually takes the form of an animal when fully formed. Conjuration is a branch of Transfiguration, so it could be argued that conjuring a Patronus is more of a Transfiguration spell than a charm."

"Professor I think that they wil be blured because you transform something in Transfiguration but a charm is where you decided that you want to charm an object or someone, you try and make them fall in love with you or something like that." Simon smiled.

Rose didn't put her hand up this time. She had no clue whatsoever! What? Rose thought as all these different people answered

Daisy looked round the room. Everyone was answering the question, but Daisy had no idea of the answer. She hadn't read it in any of her books, but at least she was learning. She spotted Rose, who thankfully looked just as confused as herself. She gave her a sympathetic look to show how confused she was.

Fallon listened as people threw out some suggestions. She figured she might as well participate in class. Her class participation was really lacking this year and she needed to make up for it. Charms class seemed to be the perfect way to do so. Fallon raised her hand and said, "There are a few Charms out there that can effect the way a person looks, which is a form of Transfiguration." A couple people had said something along those lines, but Fallon really didn't care.

Ooh three points for answering a question? Yay! Samira should answer questions more often. She eagerly raised her hand for the next one. "Professor, I think where the boundaries between Transfiguaration and Charms blur is...for example....in charms, if you change the color of an object. That's not really Transfiguration, because you're not transforming the actual object. Charms like the glamour charm do change the way a person looks, but it is not transfiguring the actual person." She paused a little. "So no, I think Charms and Transfiguration are two separate categories."

Isabella raised Her Hand Once More and Said , " Professor I Think That There Are Charms That Could be called Transfigurational Spells Since They Change The Appearance of things .

For Example One Transfiguration Charm is Reducio .
It Returns An Item To It's Regular Size Since The Engorgment Charm Makes the item Bigger the Reducio Charm Makes It Smaller . " She Finished .