Category:Animagi

From UnknowableWiki

An Animagus (plural Animagi) is a wizard or witch with the ability to Transfigure him or herself into an animal and back at will. The magic involved in one's becoming an Animagus is extremely complex and risky; there are only eleven known wizards who have achieved it in the twentieth century.

Becoming an Animagus

Unlike lycanthropy, which is transmitted through bites, and the skills of a Metamorphmagus, which are inherited, being an Animagus is an acquired skill. Learning to turn into an an animal is a complex process that requires intense preparations. James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew need almost three years until they succeed; however, they are teenagers who have not yet taken their OWLs and have no outside help at the time. It can therefore be suspected that a skilled, qualified wizard whose attempts are watched by the Ministry will achieve the transformation a little faster. Failed transformations can have horrible consequences, which is one of the reasons the Ministry of Magic keeps a close watch on existing and aspiring Animagi.

The Improper Use of Magic Office keeps a public Animagi register that contains information on which animal the Animagus can become and by which special markings or characteristics he or she can be recognized (PA18, GF26). Unregistered Animagi risk imprisonment in Azkaban (OP25). Nevertheless, there have been at least four unregistered Animagi in the twentieth century (PA18, GF37).

The Transformation

Once a wizard has learned how to become an Animagus, the change from human to animal and back can be performed in an instant, without preparation and even without a wand (PS1, PA6, PA19). The example of Pettigrew, who lives as a rat for twelve years, shows that it is possible to remain an animal for an extremely long time without suffering mental or physical damage. A transformed Animagus can be forced to change back with a special spell (PA19).

A wizard's animal form tends to reflect the most basic trait of his inner nature (just like patronuses). The witch or wizard who wants to become one is not able to chose in what animal to transform (WBD). A wizard's Animagus form usually shares some distinctive characteristics with his human one; for instance, Minerva McGonagall has square markings around her eyes as a cat that resemble the square glasses she wears as a human and black-haired Sirius Black turns into a dog with black fur (PS1, PA6, PA17). Furthermore, if a wizard is missing certain body parts as a human, he misses them as an animal as well (PA19). Animagi retain most of their human intelligence and emotions, although their feelings lose some of their complexity and humanity, which gives them some protection against the influence of Dementors, who feed on human emotions. They gain the biological advantages of their animal form, including immunity to werewolf bites. They are also able to communicate with animals of their own and – to a limited extent – other species (PA19, GF33).

Known Animagi

There are seven registered Animagi in the twentieth century; one of them is Minerva McGonagall, who can turn into a cat (PS1, PA6, PA18).

James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew become unregistered Animagi in their fifth year at Hogwarts in order to accompany their best friend Remus Lupin (who is a werewolf) during his monthly transformations. Their animal forms (stag, dog and rat, respectively) generate the four nicknames by which the Marauders become known: Moony (Remus), Wormtail (Peter), Padfoot (Sirius) and Prongs (James).

Rita Skeeter, the nosy reporter for the Daily Prophet, is also an unregistered Animagus. She can turn into a beetle; a skill she uses to spy on the subjects of her articles (GF37).

The first recorded Animagus was Falco Aesalon, a wizard from Ancient Greece whose Animagus form was a falcon. Other famous historical Animagi include the druidess Cliodne and the Dark witch Morgan le Fay, who could turn into birds (FW). Babbitty Rabbitty, the fictional heroine of the wizarding fairytale Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump, can turn into a rabbit (BB).