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Comments 85

kindalikecurry September 29 2009, 23:08:18 UTC
Solemnly, as Seamus approaches: "When you turn animals into inanimate objects, they remain conscious throughout."

He has no idea if that's true or not, but it might be!

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gryffindortabby September 29 2009, 23:33:40 UTC
She raises well-marked eyebrows at him.

"Actually, that's a misperception. It's been generally accepted since Hillary Shuggen-Walderson's seminal work on the subject that the brain is transfigured along with the rest of the animal, and that therefore they do not remain conscious provided the transfiguration has been properly performed."

And if she sounds like she's swallowed a textbook, she also sounds very pleased about it, too.

"I have an exam on Tuesday," is the explanation. "But I won't charge you double, since it is a very common misperception."

By people who Haven't Done Their Homework.

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kindalikecurry September 29 2009, 23:36:19 UTC
Sagely: "That's very kind of you. Why don't I buy you a drink instead? It's like paying double."

She gets a grin directed at her. It's a very lopsided, self-deprecating grin, because he knows just how unsubtle and ham-handed that was.

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gryffindortabby September 29 2009, 23:53:33 UTC
And so does she, don't worry.

"I'm working, thank you," she tells him primly, but the self-deprecation allows for just a hint of the possibility of a smile in her face.

"What can I get you?"

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mycursedface September 29 2009, 23:31:43 UTC
Medusa has to ask.

"Transfiguration?"

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gryffindortabby September 29 2009, 23:35:13 UTC
...Huh.

"The magical art of transforming one thing into another," Minerva explains. "It's my favourite subject."

And her best, although that doesn't need to be stated: it's all in the tone.

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mycursedface September 29 2009, 23:48:50 UTC
"So, in saying that can be an act of will conferred on by a god wouldn't be helpful, then."

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 00:08:44 UTC
Her eyebrows raise. "Not in my world, I'm afraid."

Even at eighteen, Minerva's pretty sure there's no such thing as a god in her world.

She considers, however. "But technically I suppose that counts as something I don't know. What would you like?"

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venusadept_2 September 29 2009, 23:35:31 UTC
Felix considers but a moment before stepping up and asking, "Do you know the three ways of causing a transformation to be permanent?"

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 00:16:20 UTC
"In my world, there are no ways of making a transfiguration truly permanent: any wizard or witch powerful and skilled enough can undo a transfiguration. The trick is in finding someone sufficiently skilled."

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venusadept_2 September 30 2009, 00:25:33 UTC
Felix concedes with a nod. "Well, yes, but I was referring to preventing the change from undoing itself."

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 01:33:33 UTC
"If you have performed the spell correctly, it should not revert unless made to do so."

Beat.

"Or incorrectly, as the case may be."

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makesthings September 29 2009, 23:47:04 UTC
"Transfiguring in what sense?"

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 00:15:53 UTC
Eyebrow raise: she's getting some serious practice in that in Milliways.

"In the sense of magically transforming one thing into another?"

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makesthings September 30 2009, 00:19:20 UTC
"But wouldn't it be easier to just give the useful properties of something to another thing?"

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 01:32:35 UTC
"But not as efficient, nor as efficacious," Minerva explains. "In short: it doesn't work as well."

But she likes the longer words. They're harder work, and therefore more interesting.

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mechanicalswans September 30 2009, 00:12:50 UTC
One Norseman, approaching the bar with a raised eyebrow.

"Does it have to be an active lie," he asks, "or simply not true in your world?"

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 00:18:53 UTC
Minerva stares right back at him, fearless.

"An active lie," she says. "I was referring to people who would try to make something up in order to get their drink for less. Of course, seeing through them would be an exercise in itself."

She does not have a problem with this. All kinds of learning are helpful.

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mechanicalswans September 30 2009, 00:38:14 UTC
"I have no need to lie," he says with a light shrug, "but I don't know whether my methods would work for you. I have two ways to do it, myself--alloying and charging. How is it that you do it?"

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gryffindortabby September 30 2009, 01:31:16 UTC
Ooooooh, knowledge!

"The correct pronunciation of the correct spell," Minerva explains, fairly primly. "With the right concentration and wand movements. It becomes a knack, after a while."

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