Lesson Two

Transfiguration in History

Objectives

• To be able to explain how transfiguration history differs from other subjects
• To understand the history and formation of the subject of transfiguration
• To be able to explain each of the four branches of transfiguration

Origin of Transfigurations 

• One of the news branches of magic
• Has always existed in magic 
• First recognized as lycanthropy, werewolves 
• Very little historical record 

The Disappearance of Atlantis 

• The only known nation composed entirely of magic users
• They had a free and easy exchange of magic is resulted in them being more advanced then their neighbours
• They jealousy guarded their knowledge from everyone
• between 9300-9400 BC they were so mistrusting they decided they needed to remove themselves entirely from the public eye
• They Vanished the entire island
• The spell was so powerful it is still in effect today
• Their location is the Bermuda Triangle 
• Any objet passing the boundaries also vanishes forever 

The First Animagus 

• The first animagus was Falco Aesalon, an Ancient Greek
• He was born in the Classical Period, when most of the scientific discoveries were made 
• He could change into a falcon and remain in control of his human mind- an incredible feat
• Falco Aesalon would change into a falcon and scout for the Greek Army 
• He would fly into the enemy camp and eavesdrop without any suspicion 

Witch Trials 

• Until the sixteenth century, magic was seen as something uncontrollable except by the strongest 
• Magic became necessary to exist when Muggles started persecuting 
• Muggles acted out of suspicion and many innocent Muggles died
• Muggles believed fire and water could kill no magical being
• Witches and wizards used flame freezing charms and Gillyweed
• If a witch ro wizard was caught without a wand, they would die 
• This stopped with the invention of the Gill-Forming Spell 
• This transfigured gills onto a small spot of the ears of the caster, lasting two days 
• Because it was a Muggle belief magical beings were only witches, some transfigured their figures into being more masculine 

Lost Colony of Roanoke 

• During the Witch Trial, many magical beings moved to The New World
• The first group on the island of Roanoke were Muggles, but they left because of a draught 
• A magical community, who knew they could provide their own water, moved onto the island 
• However, in 1591, an arriving vessel could find not a single colonist or their remains
• An experimenting wizard fascinated with Vanishing had accidentally taken out half the village, and the spell was so powerful, everything next to it Vanished also 

The Four Branches of Transfiguration

1. Transformation- that which causes an alteration in the intended target

• Most widely known branch 
• Range of skills needed are extensive 
• Some spells are very basic with little risk 
• Others should only be casted by highly skilled and trained professionals 
• There are three subcategories: Human Transfiguration, Switching and Trans-species transformations
• Switching spells have there own subcategories: Target transformation and Target switch
• Target Transformation is when one object, or the target, is transfigured directly into another object 
• Target Switch is when there are two targets, and they remain the same in essence, but their locations are changed around  

2. Untransformation- to return an object into it pre-transfigured state 

• Also referred to as counter-transformation, but this is not the limit of the branch 
• Most transfiguration spells are not permeant, as the objet gains enough power over the charm and reverts to it's original state
• This is referred to as natural untransfiguration 
• Intentional untransfiguration is preformed with the intent to return the target to it's original state 

3. Vanishing- to make an object vanish into non-being

• Vanishing is more natural, unlike conjuring 
• Vanishing is moving an objet or target into non-being 
• The essence of the target is expelled, and even though the particles still exist, they are broken down and no longer identify as the objet they were before
• It's like the objet is broken down in a million pieces, invisible to the human eye

4. Conjuring- to bring an object into being, making it appear

• Is least natural and requires more concentration then Vanishing 
• Is the most difficult branch, not studied until fifth year
• Conjuration can be as simple as bringing a simple object into existence or an entire animal, with an ability to act on it's own accord 
• This is the most regulated branch of transfiguration and strictly controlled by Gamp's Law: time, magical energy, knowledge, love and food cannot be created by magical means
• Nothing conjured is created or destroyed
• It requires a large amount of energy to combine existing matter into an object, creating essence 
• Not to be confused with Summoning