From Alterations to Altercations: The Transfigurative Guide
written by Katherine Lutz
Companion to a Beginners Guide to Transfiguration, for First, Second and Third Year Transfiguration Students.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
20
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3,869
Through the eyes of the Animagi
Chapter 12
Becoming an animagus is a closely monitored process by the Ministry of Magic, for although many Animagi do in fact look similar, each one is, in itself, unique.
An Animagus (plural Animagi) is a witch or wizard who can morph him or herself into an animal at will. It is a learned, rather than hereditary skill, unlike those of a Metamorphmagus. Only very powerful and skilled wizards are able to become Animagi. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and arduous, and it has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong. However, once the initial training is over an Animagus can change at will, with or without a wand. Animagi can only take on the form of one specific animal. This animal form is not chosen by the wizard but determined by their personality and inner traits. Thus, one's Animagus form is a reflection of one's inner nature. Animagi cannot take the form of a more "magical" creature. An Animagus in animal form is also not restrained by the lifespan limit of the creature that they otherwise transform into. For example, if a witch or wizard became a hummingbird, they would outlast the standard lifespan of the average hummingbird.
Each Animagus bears an identifying mark on their animal form that is caused by something on their human body. This may be a physical trait like dental structure, or an acquired trait such as glasses. For example, if you were to wear glasses then your Animagus form would have a circular marking at some point that specifies your spectacles. If an Animagus undergoes a major physical change, such as the loss of a limb, their animal form will also reflect that.
In addition, an Animagus will appear to lose their clothing upon morphing. The clothing will reappear upon re-establishing the human form. What physically happens to the clothing is unknown. A strong possibility, however, is that the clothing is enchanted beforehand and will morph/disappear with the person as they do so. If the Animagus wears glasses, the glasses seem to morph with them. Thus, they have good sight as an animal, assuming they were wearing glasses at the time. The frames of the glasses seem to show in the animal's markings.
Of the many questions raised by people about Animagi, one of the first is their ability to converse. It is known that they may not converse whilst in animagus-form with a human being, but they can converse with other animagi. The language of the animagus is unknown and shrouded in confusion from all sides. Although Animagi know how to converse when in said form, once they revert to their human form, they can no longer remember how to speak in the way of an animagi. Magical historians claim that this is due to the great amount of magic and concentration that is sapped from the wizard or witch during the morph.
An Animagus (plural Animagi) is a witch or wizard who can morph him or herself into an animal at will. It is a learned, rather than hereditary skill, unlike those of a Metamorphmagus. Only very powerful and skilled wizards are able to become Animagi. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and arduous, and it has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong. However, once the initial training is over an Animagus can change at will, with or without a wand. Animagi can only take on the form of one specific animal. This animal form is not chosen by the wizard but determined by their personality and inner traits. Thus, one's Animagus form is a reflection of one's inner nature. Animagi cannot take the form of a more "magical" creature. An Animagus in animal form is also not restrained by the lifespan limit of the creature that they otherwise transform into. For example, if a witch or wizard became a hummingbird, they would outlast the standard lifespan of the average hummingbird.
Each Animagus bears an identifying mark on their animal form that is caused by something on their human body. This may be a physical trait like dental structure, or an acquired trait such as glasses. For example, if you were to wear glasses then your Animagus form would have a circular marking at some point that specifies your spectacles. If an Animagus undergoes a major physical change, such as the loss of a limb, their animal form will also reflect that.
In addition, an Animagus will appear to lose their clothing upon morphing. The clothing will reappear upon re-establishing the human form. What physically happens to the clothing is unknown. A strong possibility, however, is that the clothing is enchanted beforehand and will morph/disappear with the person as they do so. If the Animagus wears glasses, the glasses seem to morph with them. Thus, they have good sight as an animal, assuming they were wearing glasses at the time. The frames of the glasses seem to show in the animal's markings.
Of the many questions raised by people about Animagi, one of the first is their ability to converse. It is known that they may not converse whilst in animagus-form with a human being, but they can converse with other animagi. The language of the animagus is unknown and shrouded in confusion from all sides. Although Animagi know how to converse when in said form, once they revert to their human form, they can no longer remember how to speak in the way of an animagi. Magical historians claim that this is due to the great amount of magic and concentration that is sapped from the wizard or witch during the morph.
