Animagi (was: Animagus vs. Transfigured)

[ftah3 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 30472

Hello!

I'm a newbie to the list.  I apologize for dragging up a discussion 
that trickled off at the beginning of the month, but it's something 
that very much interests me!  I hope you don't mind.  :)

Gwen said:
> > 1. The Animagus can only transform into one animal, and does NOT 
> get to
> > choose which. We can only guess that the nature of the mage has 
some
> > determining factor regarding the type of animal. (This parallels 
the
> > Patronus as an extension of the individual's psyche, too!)

And then Cindy C. said:
> Also, I'm not sure that the wizard has no input on the type of 
animal 
> he/she becomes.  Rita Skeeter might easily have transformed into a 
> slug, or a weasel or hyena, but none of these animals (all of which 
> are consistent with her personality) would help her spy on people.  
A 
> beetle is helpful, but doesn't have any strong personality 
> associations.
<snip>
> To confuse things further, my current pet theory is that the 
> size/power of the Animagus relates to the power of the wizard, not 
> the wizard's character.  So James and Sirius are big and powerful 
> animals because James and Sirius are powerful and clever.  Peter is 
> talentless and is a rat.  Rita is really talentless and is a 
beetle.  

You know, I had assumed, based on Lupin's explanation of MWPP's 
history, that Sirius, James & Pettigrew all specifically chose their 
forms for function.

In my (American-print, large-size paperback) copy of PoA, pages 354 & 
355, Lupin says:

"They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as 
animals," said Lupin. "...They transformed...Peter, as the smallest, 
could slip beneath the Willow's attacking branches and touch the knot 
that freezes it.

"...Sirius and James transformed into such large animals, they were 
able to keep a werewolf in check...."

My assumption was, from this, that it was necessary for one of their 
three to be small enough to reach the knot on the Willow, and for the 
remaining two to be large enough to control a werewolf.  If they 
couldn't determine such an outcome (one small, two large) in advance, 
what would be the point of spending three years and risking great 
danger in learning to become Animagi on the sly?  Granted, Sirius & 
James, and possibly Pettigrew at that time, appear to have been loyal 
friends to Lupin, and were willing to risk a lot for him.  But if 
they couldn't be certain of the animals they would become, I think 
they would have dropped the Animagus plan as a waste of time, and 
looked into other means of helping their friend.

Also, I don't think the end-product of the transformation could have 
*as* much to do with level of power, because the Animagus 
transformation is made out to be extraordinarily difficult and rare ~ 
something that not all wizards are capable of, nor want to attempt, 
regardless of their skill level.  Yes, Pettigrew had to be helped 
along by his friends, but even then, he did eventually become expert 
at it, and went on to set up a clever ruse which required a high 
level mix of talent, timing, and ingenuity (his faked death/set-up of 
Black), so I don't think he could be said to be talentless at all.

As for Rita, I don't think it can be assumed that she is talentless, 
either, simply because she's a scheming, conniving snake with no 
compunction against invading privacy and twisting the truth beyond 
recognition.  For example, do we know where she got that nasty self-
writing quill?  I've wondered if she charmed it herself ~ which would 
be an impressive feat (though I might be simply drawing a blank, and 
another origin is, in fact, outlined in GoF).  My assumption had been 
that she did have great talent ~ per being an Animagus ~ but that her 
choice of career required less magical action than basic sleuthing.  
I.e., she has talent, she just hasn't call to use it very often.

On the other hand, I do like the symbolic quality of their animal 
alter egos, and I can very much see that if animal form is left up to 
the qualities of the individual ~ such as priorities, levels of 
ambition, bravery, loyalty, and potential for hostility, etc. ~ the 
animals they each became are archetypally dead on, and rather fit 
with the sense of metaphorical philosophy I've interpreted in 
Rowling's books.  (Er.  If that makes any sense at all....)

...and can I just say that the opportunity to wax analytical with 
people about these wonderful, many-layered, and completely charming 
books is just...fab!  :)

Dana