[HPforGrownups] Re: Do Animagi choose their forms?

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 11141

mschub at yahoo.com wrote:

> (Don't ask me why, but the image of the stag makes me
> think strength of character and responsibility. It's like the scene in
> Bambi where we see Bambi's father, and he just EXUDES strength of
> character.).

Not to mention he's the only one with a decent rack. <g>

> Here's an interesting question, though. Is there a difference between
> transfiguring a human into an animal and becoming an animagus?

I'd say so. I think there's a class of magic that I called "wandless" magic in some earlier discussion. I think wands help focus and direct the caster's intent, a la Chris
Stasheff's "Her Majesty's Wizard" and related books. Magic cast without such a focusing device is bound to be much more uncontrolled and dangerous (hence the bizarre things that
Harry did as a child), so that attempting things like animagus transformations or apparation (also wandless) are regulated.

In line with this, a human transfiguration would be a spell cast with a wand, not all that dangerous, and it's something usually cast on others. I'd bet this is why Krum's
transfiguration didn't work too well--he was casting a spell on himself with a wand. But the animagus spell involves a great focusing of the will to alter oneself, to give animal
form to your "self" or personality, and as such is much more involved.

I hope that made sense.

--Amanda