Animagi vs transfigeration (was Re: Do Animagi choose their forms?

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11039

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Snuffles MacGoo <msmacgoo at o...> wrote:
> Mike said:
> "Here's an interesting question, though. Is there a difference 
between
> transfiguring a human into an animal and becoming an animagus? I 
would
> think there is based on the clues we have, but darned if I can 
figure
> out what that difference is"
> 
> WARNING  I have no cannonical evidence for the following, I just 
*thunk* it
> 
> Ok, I think there is a difference, I think it has to do with skill 
level and 
> probably indicates different level of attributes while in non-human 
form
> 
> I think that transfiguration is easier and can change anything to 
anything 
> (porcupine to pin cushion, desk to pig for example, with the 
phonetically 
> allied words appearing easier. You might change yourself as part of 
this spell, 
> storm to dog, or cat, or Siamese fighting fish for example.
> 
> animagus would appear to be a *true* expression of your self. (to 
me), akin to 
> the 'true name' concept (as I understand it) in that you can only 
have one and 
> you don't get to choose it. I think it's a more 'natural' 
transformation 
> because its an expression of yourself, requiring less energy to 
maintain 
> (though more skill to execute).
> 
> You know how some people are just skilled in some things. Think 
about watching 
> a child who is 'naturally' talented on the hockey field, or playing 
the violin 
> or what ever and place a 'normally gifted' child next to them. With 
practice 
> the second child might get really good but they will never have 
that 'natural' 
> grace of the first child.
> 
> The same person could be both, say a person who's 'natural' 
instrument is the 
> violin (animagus) might not be so graceful with a horn or woodwind 
instrument 
> (transfiguration).
> 
> Also I think that someone who is transformed is a human (with human 
thinking) 
> in an animal body. An animagus is a person who can access all the 
> skills/attributes/unthinking abilities etc of the animal they are.
> 
> Anyone who has any cannonical/non-cannonical comment about this - 
I'd be 
> interested to hear about it.
> 
> Storm (watching the 'last night of the proms' while I type - you'd 
never 
> guess!)

Well put, Storm!

In fact, Sirius tells Harry at some point the reason he survived 
Azkaban was that while he was a dog his emotions were less complex, 
more dog-like, thus the Dementors didn't affect him as much.  His 
(human)mind was also strong enough (i.e. he *knew* he was innocent) 
that he just kept holding on to that thought.  

This is either in PoA or GoF, I can't remember right now.

Parker
> 
>