Application of lessons

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 45007

A random thought occurred to me earlier about the Trio putting into 
practice what they've been learning in classes.

For instance (and these examples aren't meant to be an exhaustive listing!):

In Book One, the kids learn Wingardium Leviosa in Charms. Later on, Ron 
puts it to good use when fighting the Troll. Hermione knows about the 
Devil's Snare from Herbology. In Book Two, they learn of the polyjuice in 
Potions, and Hermione makes it; they learn all about Mandrakes in 
Herbology. In Book Three, there's the Patronus etc. In Book Four, in DADA 
Harry learns inter alia how to throw off Imperius, without which he'd not 
have survived the encounter with Voldemort. Even what they learn in 
Divination, a subject which Harry & Ron disparage, teaches them a few 
things, not to mention Trelawney's Second Prediction (which makes us all 
wonder about what the First was, and JKR has already said that it's important).

Now, my point is this: of everything on the Hogwarts curriculum, the one 
subject they've not applied *at all* in their adventures is 
Transfiguration. It's presented as an important subject and we witness at 
least once lesson in each of the books. Yet Hermione, who appears quite 
good at it, hasn't found a use for it a single time yet.

In a roundabout way, this ties in with a thread a few days ago in which I 
nominated McGonagall for "unnecessary character" status (I admit that the 
connection only just occurred to me having written all of the above). I'm 
therefore wondering: is Transfiguration as useless to the plot as its 
teacher, or is JKR  deliberately holding back and saving up Transfiguration 
(and McGonagall) for a BANGY moment at the climax of the series?

--
GulPlum, giving up on his Hagrid-like stance from the Magical Protection 
thread as he's getting a bit numb. :-)