Transfiguration Today

• Type: Academic Journal / Periodical
• Subject: Transfiguration
• Known Subscribers/Authors: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall

Transfiguration Today is a respected and high-level academic journal within the wizarding world that publishes scholarly articles on the magical art of Transfiguration. As a periodical for specialists, it features papers on advanced theory, groundbreaking research, and complex new spells related to the subject. Being published in Transfiguration Today is a mark of significant achievement and recognition for a witch or wizard's skill and intellectual contributions to this demanding field of magic. The content is presumed to be highly technical, intended for an audience of academics, researchers, and expert practitioners rather than the general public or students below the N.E.W.T. level.

The journal is mentioned on a few occasions, primarily to establish the credentials and intellectual prowess of certain characters.

• In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Professor McGonagall is seen reading an issue of Transfiguration Today in the Hogwarts staffroom. This detail subtly reinforces her mastery and ongoing passion for her specialized subject.
• During Harry Potter's practical Transfiguration O.W.L. exam in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Griselda Marchbanks, the head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, reminisces about examining a young Albus Dumbledore. She specifically mentions having read a “terribly clever” paper he had written for Transfiguration Today on trans-species transformation, showcasing Dumbledore's prodigious talent from a young age.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Rita Skeeter's sensationalist biography, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, refers to Dumbledore's early, trailblazing research in Transfiguration. While not naming the journal, this is a clear allusion to his papers published in academic periodicals like Transfiguration Today, which Skeeter attempts to discredit.

The existence of specialized publications like Transfiguration Today adds significant depth to the wizarding world, suggesting a formal academic community that parallels the real world's scientific and scholarly institutions. It demonstrates that magic is not just an innate talent but also a field of rigorous study, research, and peer-reviewed discovery. There is no additional information about this publication from films, Pottermore, or author interviews.