Animal Transfiguration Vs. Animagi

[kdemcak at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24808

Here's something I was just mulling over... we've seen several 
instances in the books of non-Animagi wizards turning themselves 
into animals (Krum as shark in GoF, for instance).  Plus we know 
that it's possible to turn another person into an animal (say, 
Malfoy as the ferret in GoF as well).  Obviously there's a big 
distinction between an Animagus and the latter, but what makes an 
Animagus so special compared to the former?  

For instance, I know that Krum only half-transfigures himself into 
the shark, but since Harry notes he did it badly and Bagman says it 
was "an imcomplete form of Transfiguration," I'm led to think that 
full-Transfiguration would have been possible here.  So is it just 
the length of time it lasts do you think?  A normal wizard might be 
able to tranfigure himself into an animal for say, an hour, whereas 
an Animagus can do it for as long as s/he wishes? This seems most 
likely to me.  Or is it something else?

Cheers,
Katy


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"Excuse me, I don't like people just because they're handsome!" said 
Hermione indignantly. Ron gave a loud false cough, which sounded 
oddly like "Lockhart!"