Transfiguration Spells Not Working on an Animagus (WAS: Ron's Rat?)

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

> Scott asked:

> *why* have we decided that Rat!Peter couldn't transform? Is there 
> canon evidence that I'm overlooking as to the impossibility of 
> Human to nonliving transfig? 

and GulPlum responded:

> You raise a good point. ;-) I certainly can't remember any specific 
> canon on that point, although I am ... uncomfortable... about the 
> possibility that Rat!Peter could be transformed into an inanimate 
> object. 

Now me:

I don't think there is any specific canon about a transfiguration 
spell not working on an animagus, but it would stand to reason that a 
wizard would need to use a different spell to turn an animagus (a 
wizard posing as an animal) into a goblet than they would have used 
to use to turn a true animal into a goblet.

Plus, how would Pettigrew have been able to breathe as a goblet?

GulPlum again:

> After all, it took both Sirius and Remus acting together to force 
> him back to human form, and the notion that second-year Ron (with 
> his faulty wand!) could transform him yet further seems extremely 
> unlikely. 

Me again:

Good point on Ron's faulty wand!  Or perhaps that's why the goblet 
still had a tail.  Or maybe the goblet still had a tail because the 
spell was only partially effective on an animagus.  Or maybe it 
wasn't Scabbers at all!

~Phyllis
who has pondered this *way* too much