Final answer:
Ron Weasley tries to turn his pet rat, Scabbers, yellow using a transfiguration spell that fails, indicating that Scabbers is not an ordinary rat.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Harry Potter series, Ron Weasley tries to turn his pet rat, Scabbers, yellow. This attempt at transfiguration is meant to demonstrate Ron's fledgling magical abilities. The spell, which is meant to change the color of an object, is a simple piece of magic that typically would be taught to younger wizards and witches, illustrating a basic level of spellcasting and showcasing elements of the wizarding world in the narrative. However, Ron's spell does not work on Scabbers, as the rat remains his usual color. This is an early indication that Scabbers is not an ordinary rat, a detail that becomes significant as the series progresses.