Practical Transfiguration for All Ages
Chapter 1
Transfiguration- A Summary
What is Transfiguration?
- The art of Transfiguration is one of the most complicated fields of
magic that can be learned. In short, Transfiguration is magic that
transforms one object into another object. Though it sounds simple,
Transfiguration is much more complex that a simple flick of a wand and
utterance of an incantation. To be truly successful at Transfiguration,
one must be completely in tune with the magic that they are performing.
The Basics of Transfiguration-
For a successful transfiguration, one must follow three steps. First,
they must identify the item or object, whatever it may be, that is
going to be transformed. Next, the spell caster must correctly know the
spell and proper application of it to the object. Finally, one must be
able to visualize the transfiguration happening. If you cannot see what
is the final product, then the transfiguration will not be successful.
Principles of Transfiguration-
1. All transfigurations are reversible: The opposite of Transfiguration is Untransfiguration
2. The object that results after a correct transfiguration is still the original object, just in a different form.
3. Incomplete transfigurations, known as Partial Transfigurations can and do frequently occur (mostly with those who are inexperienced).
4. Includes Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration
- Gamp's Five Principal Exceptions -
- Food cannot be produced out of thin
air. Food can be moved from one place to another by magic, or changed, but
not created out of nothing.
Common Terms of Transfiguration-
Exordium: The beginning object to be transfigured
Eventium: The end result of the transfiguration
Going about Transfiguration as a beginner-
It is important to remember that Transfiguration is not an easy subject
to master. Taking great knowledge, concentration, and effort,
Transfiguration will require much work from most who attempt to learn
it. However, with constant practice, and a willingness to learn, this
subject can be fun, useful, and most important, practical for your
everyday life.
Chapter 2
Main Characteristics of Transfiguration
Main Characteristics of Transfiguration
are the properties of both the Exordium and Eventium. There are five
Main Characteristics of Transfiguration that one must examine to help
classify both the Similarity and Complexity of the
transfiguration (More discussion can be found about classifying
transfigurations in Chapter 3). The main focus when dealing with the
Main Characteristics of Transfiguration is to determine if there is a
change in the characteristic from the Exordium to the Eventium.
1. Size-
Simply enough, the characteristic of size relates to the amount of area
or space that the Exordium and Eventium occupy. When classifying, one
can infer that the characteristic of size is altered if the final
object of transfiguration is either more than half the size than the
original or less than half the size of the original. Any other size
change is not considered a change of size when it comes to determining
if the size characteristic is modified.
2. Shape- The
characteristic of shape refers to the appearance of the Exordium and
Eventium. Since objects are found in innumerable shapes, identifying
the actual shape of the object can be tricky. Thus, it is best to
relate any odd shape to a more familiar shape like a sphere or a cube.
For example, if the original item was a flower, you could say that it
was composed of a sphere (the flowering part of the plant, depending on
the type of flower) and a line (the stem). If the flower was
transfigured into book, then you could say that the shape was changed
into a rectangular cube. Thus, the characteristic of shape was changed.
However, if the flower was transfigured into a lollypop, then you would
still, in a sense, have a sphere and a line. Then, the characteristic
of shape would not have been modified. This is one of the more tricky
characteristics to determine if a change is occurring or not.
3. Color-
Color easily refers to the hue of the Exordium and Eventium. In the
case that the Exordium and Eventium have more than one color, you can
identify the main color, and treat it as the color for the entire
object. If there is no dominant color, then classify the color of the
object as multi-colored (If an object begins multi-colored, and
finishes multi-colored, then the characteristic of color was not
altered). To determine if the characteristic of color was changed,
compare the Exordium and Eventium colors. If they are noticeably
different in appearance, then the characteristic of color was changed.
However, if the original and final color are only a few shades of color
different, then it can easily be assumed that the characteristic of
color was not affected.
4. Texture/Material- The
texture/material characteristic refers to what the Exordium and
Eventium are composed of, or how the surface of the Exordium or
Eventium is formed. First identify a dominant texture (rough, smooth,
furry, etc.) and then a dominant material for the Exordium. If either
the texture or the material change after the transfiguration, then the
characteristic of texture/material is considered to be transformed.
5. Function-
The characteristic of function is indicated by what purposes the
Exordium and Eventium serve. This characteristic is the one that is
most often modified during a transfiguration. If the Exordium is used
for any other purpose or function than the Eventium, then this
characteristic is classified as changed. Very rarely do the Exordium
and Eventium share a similar function characteristic, however it is not
impossible that they will.
Chapter 3
Types of Transfigurations
In Transfiguration, there are four different categories in which the different spells can be divided. They are: Similar, Dissimilar, Simple, and Complex.
The labels Similar and Dissimilar help to classify the Similarity Range
of the transfiguration while the terms Simple and Complex classify the
Complexity Range of the transfiguration.
Similarity Range
Similar Transfigurations- Transfigurations in which the Exordium and Eventium share at least one Main Characteristic
Dissimilar Transfiguration- Transfigurations in which the Exordium and Eventium share no Main Characateristics
Complexity Range
Simple Transfigurations- Transfigurations in which two or less of the Main characteristics are altered between the Exordium and Eventium
Complex Transfigurations- Transfigurations in which three or more of the Main Characteristics are altered between the Exordium and Eventium
Thus, you can have 3 options for a full classification of a transfiguration:
1. Simple-Similar
2. Complex- Similar
3. Complex- Dissimilar
Note:
There can never exist a Simple-Dissimilar Transfiguration, since no
characteristics can remain the same to be considered a Dissimilar
Transfiguration, yet no more than two characteristics can be altered to
remain a Simple Transfiguration.
Review- If any
characteristics are similar from the Exordium to the Eventium, then the
transfiguration is Similar. If no characteristics are alike, then the
transfiguration is Dissimilar. A transfiguration is said to be Simple
if only one or two of the Main Characteristics of Transfiguration are
altered. If three or more of the Main Characteristics of
Transfiguration are changed, then the transfiguration is Complex.
Important Note:
Not all transfiguration spells can be divided into one of the above
categories. There are always exceptions to the rules. This
classification system will work for most spells. The main reason this
system would not be applicable to a spell would be if the spell is very
advanced magic. Some examples of these types of difficult spells that
have a category of their own include: Portus, Reverto, Reverto Maximus,
and Vivictum. There are others that qualify as advanced spells unable
to be classified, but this text does not cover these spells. For the
most part, one can use this basic method of classification unless
otherwise informed.
Chapter 4
Basic Transfiguration
Archaro- transfigures a shoe or boot into a box
Calculionis- transfigures a stone into a compass
Escensessio- transfigures a chair into a ladder
Lebesium- transfigures a bowl into a cauldron
Lumexis- transfigures a candlestick into a dagger
Plumartus- transfigures an owl-feather into a quill
Scrifolium- transfigures leaves into parchment
Tovestisim- transfigures a pillow into a blanket
Chapter 5
OWL Transfiguration
Alafunis- transfigures a snake into a rope
Aquincedo- transfigures an unknown liquid into water
Corovolvo- transfigures a flower into an umbrella
Evanesco- a vanishing spell that works on most objects
Feriverto- transfigures an animal into a goblet
Formofimus- transfigures water into clay
Lanxtectum-transfigures a dinner plate into a sword
Reverto- will untransfigure most simple transfigurations
Transfigorus Totallus- transfigures two items into one another to form a new item
Chapter 6
NEWT TransfigurationArbustus- temporarily transfigures a person to closely resemble a tree.
Bestium- transfigures another’s wand into an animal
Bestius ______ - temporarily transfigures the person into the animal of choice
Crustumus- transfigures any insect into an edible substance similar to bread
Defluo- a more advanced vanishing spell than Evanesco
Portus- transfigures an ordinary object into a portkey
Reverto Maximus- will untransfigure most all transfigurations
Vivictum- animates an inanimate object