[quote=@Tatsua Aiisen]
[@Esterdi]
I read over that Transfiguration stuff, and I couldn't help but notice that it's not actually Transfiguration at all, but Alchemy (which is an actual thing in the HP universe). It's worth noting that, because Alchemy isn't actually taught at Hogwarts (1), all of these skills would have to be completely self-taught or learned elsewhere.

What you basically described was "Using Alchemy instead of Transfiguration" (2). Also, as far as I know, no legitimate "Spells" are preformed without the need for an incantation(3) (Verbal or non-Verbal).


[/quote]


1. [url=http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Alchemy#cite_note-pottermore-2]Except it's totally taught.[/url]

2. Alchemy is a branch of magic and an ancient science concerned with the study of the four basic elements, as well as the study of the transmutation of substances; it is thus intimately connected with potion-making, chemistry and transformation magic. From the wiki, once again. Notice how David's conservative transmutation doesn't entail any potions, and it's specifically made so that no transformation occurs. What you start with is what you get at the end. Thus, it is not alchemy.

Maybe you think it is because you're familiar with Full Metal Alchemist, but by any standards of the Harry Potter universe, FMA's alchemy is much more similar to HP's transfiguration than its alchemy. Or you can read about how an alchemy class takes place from Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince, where Slughorn teaches at Hogwarts, and see that said class is very similar to Potions, actually, and not much else.

3. This is markedly wrong. Almost all the early spells taught in transfiguration are performed with wand movements alone. You can check the books. Also, only Permutative Alchemy is wordless, it's just that for Rebuilding and Base alchemy you only need Reducto and Stabiliendum in varios combinations and tempo instead of a long list of incantations.