Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re going to be discussing animagi- witches and wizards with the unique ability
to transform in to an animal (and back again) at will.
A single witch or wizard who possesses this ability is known as an ‘animagus’.
The practice of becoming an animagus and transforming your body in this way is considered to be
a specialized form of transfiguration- a branch of magic focused on changing the form and
appearance of objects, creatures and people.
Transfiguration encompasses a wide range of magical spells and techniques, from simple
object transformations to more complex human transfiguration.
Animagus is a combination of the word "animal" and the Greek word magus, meaning "animal
wizard."
Once a witch or wizard masters the ability to become an Animagus, they will ‘adopt’
an animal form that is closely linked to their personality and inner traits.
One very important thing to note is that your animagus form is not something you can choose-
it’s entirely out of your control and is left entirely up to fate.
Whatever you are destined to be is what you’re stuck with.
Sometimes this works against you, like Peter Pettigrew who transforms in to a rat, and
sometimes it works in your favour, like James Potter transforming in to a stag.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is a distinct relationship between your animagus
form and your patronus form.
If you know what your spirit animal is, then it’s likely that you’ll have insight in
to what your animagus would be IF you took the time to master the ability.
There don’t seem to be many limitations with regards to what an Animagus can actually
be- as we’ve seen witches and wizards transform in to both regular AND magical creatures.
IF the correlation between Patronus animals and Animagus forms is as concrete as we suspect,
then we can logically deduce that it is possible for the Animagus form of witches and wizards
to resemble even the mightiest of creatures, like Dragons, Chimaeras, Thestrals and Phoenixes.
In the books,however, we’re only introduced to a handful of more common animals like dogs,
cats, rats etc.
This brings me to the short list of KNOWN Animagi in the series.
James Potter was the father of Harry Potter and achieved the feat of becoming an animagus
at the age of 15!
His animagus form matched his corporeal patronus form which was a tall and powerful red stag.
Sirius Black was the godfather of Harry Potter.
Like James, Sirius also accomplished this feat at the age of 15- his animagus form resembling
a large black dog.
Peter Pettigrew, with the help of his fellow Marauders, was also able to become an Animagus.
Pettigrew’s animagus form was a rat, which eventually earned him the nickname of wormtail.
Rita Skeeter was a journalist and witch with a bit of a dubious reputation for being dishonest
in her journalistic endeavours.
Skeeter used her unassuming and unregistered animagus form of a blue beetle to get dirt
on whatever it was that she was writing about.
Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration master, had the ability to transform in to a silver
tabby cat.
She was known to use this ability when she didn’t want to be seen or recognized.
Talbott Winger, a Hogwarts student from the 1980s, was said to have been able to transform
in to an Eagle.
His mother, whose name we don’t know, was able to turn in to a swan.
And as far as KNOWN animagi are concerned, that’s about it.
In the above list, you may have noticed me throwing around the terms ‘registered’
and ‘unregistered’.
What I’m referring to here is whether or not these witches and wizards have registered
their animagus status with the ministry of magic.
Let me explain.
If you are able to successfully transform in to any kind of animagus form, wizarding
law dictates that you must register this ability with the Ministry.
The following quote explains this:
"... We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall.
And I looked them up when I did my homework -- the Ministry of Magic keeps tabs on witches
and wizards who can become animals; there's a register showing what animal they become,
and their markings and things... and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the
register, and there have been only seven Animagi this century."
Once you’ve achieved this massive accomplishment- the registration is processed by an employee
at the Improper Use of Magic Office in the Ministry of Magic.
It's not a certification proving that you have the skill, but merely adding your specific
info to the Ministry list so they can keep tabs on you if needed.
If your animagus status is unknown it gives you a little bit too much flexibility to just
drop off the face of the earth, as we saw with Peter Pettigrew.
But perhaps the most surprising aspect of the above passage is that, according to Hermione’s
research, there are only 7 known animagi from the last century.
What I want to discuss further is…Why?
How is it that this powerful ability is so underutilized in wizarding society?
Why haven’t powerful wizards like Voldemort and Dumbledore attempted it?
Let’s dive in.
Misreporting
The first (and simplest) answer to this question is that there are many more Animagi in the
wizarding world than we are led to believe.
I’d bet money that there are dozens of witches and wizards out there who achieved this impressive
feat and have simply decided NOT to register themselves with the Ministry of Magic.
The primary function of the registration system was to ensure that Animagi did not abuse their
abilities- but I imagine that existing as a non-registered animagus would undoubtedly
come with many advantages that most witches and wizards wouldn’t be so quick to relinquish.
But, can you blame them?
I feel like most of the advantages gained from becoming an Animagus go straight out
the window upon registration.
The Complex Process
The next answer to this question is that for some, the drawn-out, intricate and precarious
process involved with becoming an Animagus simply may not be worth pursuing.
The extensive process involved with becoming an Animagus has been outlined on Pottermore:
Step 1: Do your homework… …in Transfiguration and Potions at least.
Becoming an Animagus requires a witch or wizard to be skilled in both these areas in order
to stand a chance of achieving such a complex transformation.
Step 2: Carry a single Mandrake leaf in your mouth…
…for an entire month – from full moon to full moon to be precise.
Yes, we’re serious.
If you swallow the leaf or remove it from your mouth at any point, you have to start
the whole thing again (no-one likes to see that happen).
You then have to find a ‘small crystal phial that receives the pure rays of the moon’,
put your saliva-filled leaf inside, and add one of your own hairs.
Step 3: Add a silver teaspoon of dew from a place that neither sunlight nor human feet
have touched… …for a full seven days.
And if that wasn’t hard enough, you then have to add the chrysalis of a Death’s-head
Hawk Moth to the crystal phial as well.
Then put ‘this mixture in a quiet, dark place’ and leave it alone until the next
electrical storm.
And really leave it alone – don’t even look at it.
Don’t even think about looking at it.
Step 4: While waiting for the storm, you must place your wand tip over your heart…
…every sunrise and sundown and speak the following incantation: ‘Amato Animo Animato
Animagus’.
If you keep repeating your incantation, ‘there will come a time when, with the touch of the
wand-tip to the chest, a second heartbeat may be sensed.’
Don’t change anything!
Keep going.
Keep waiting for that storm!
Step 5: As soon as lightning appears in the sky, go to the place where…
…you’ve hidden your crystal phial.
At last!
If you’ve done everything right then you will ‘discover a mouthful of blood-red potion
inside it.’
Then move somewhere where you aren’t going to alarm anyone or place yourself in physical
danger during your transformation.
An Animagus transformation party is definitely a bad idea.
Step 6: Place your wand-tip against your heart and speak…
…the incantation ‘Amato Animo Animato Animagus’ and drink the potion.
You will then feel fiery pain – lucky you – and an intense double heartbeat.
Step 7: The shape of the creature into which you will shortly transform will appear…
…in your mind.
The instructions then warn: ‘You must show no fear/ It is too late now, to escape the
change you have willed’.
Yikes!
Step 8: When your transformation is complete you are strongly advised to pick up your wand……and
hide it somewhere safe, so you can find it post-transformation.
To return to human form, visualize your human self as clearly as you can.
Don’t worry if you don’t change back immediately, ‘with practice, you will be able to slip
in and out of your animal form at will, simply by visualizing the creature’.
Once you’re an advanced Animagus, you should be able to transform without your wand.
And if these extremely particular and time-consuming instructions STILL weren’t enough to put
you off the process, then surely the next point will…
It’s dangerous
Becoming an Animagus involves significant risks.
If the process is not executed correctly, the consequences can be disastrous.
This is also outlined on Pottermore:
-When the process of becoming an Animagus goes wrong, it often goes seriously wrong.
We’re talking horrible half-human, half-animal mutations here, with no known cure.
-The first transformation is usually ‘uncomfortable and frightening.
Clothing and items such as glasses or jewellery meld to the skin and become one with fur,
scales or spikes.’
-When you first transform, try to avoid panicking otherwise the animal mind ‘may gain the
ascendancy’ and you could do something stupid or dangerous.
Difficulty
The final reason that becoming an Animagus isn’t for everyone simply boils down to
the fact that it’s VERY difficult.
Not only do you need the mental fortitude to look past all of the aforementioned complications,
you also need to be extremely talented in the field of Transfiguration.
While transfiguration is a core subject taught at Hogwarts, the ability to become an Animagus
is a rare and advanced skill that few witches and wizards are capable of achieving.
Animagi transformations demonstrate the incredible potential of transfiguration magic, and the
mastery required to achieve such a feat is a testament to the magical prowess of those
who are able to do so.
In summary, the apparent shortage of witches and wizards capable of becoming animagi is
a direct result of the complexity, risk and commitment involved in the process of becoming
one.
HOWEVER, I also believe that we should be taking the ministry figures for animagi with
a grain of salt.
Though rare and complicated, I don’t think it’s nearly as rare as what we’re led
to believe.
More than likely, there are copious powerful wizards out there (like, oh I don’t know,
Voldemort and Dumbledore for example) that have mastered the ability but have simply
never chosen to reveal it.
And that’s it for this video!
What do you think?
Did this question ever occur to you?
Leave a comment down below
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Until next time
Remember
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live