As soon as Professor Magnus gave the go ahead, Jory went off to get the shoelaces. Once back at his seat, he read the instructions he had written down earlier on how to transfigure the umbrella.

He carefully laid out one of the laces and pointed his wand directly at it. "Protegamur Aqua!'' the badger said, making the complicated wand movement- a line and then tracing his wand down and then diagonally upwards.

Jory watched as the lace shudder at first and then begin to change. Slowly but surely, he could see a handle forming. No shaded part as yet but it was progress. And then! Progress ceased! All the boy had in front of him was one brown, curved handle. "That'll be useful for the weather,'' he thought sarcastically.