Who can apparate?

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 27864

Susana wrote:

> Well, at least Dumbledore apparated on Privet Drive.
> 

I'm surprised at the consensus that Dumbledore apparated to Privet 
Drive in PS/SS.  I thought it was possible that he arrived there as 
an animagus and then transformed.  If he were a small animagus (e.g., 
a bee), then this is possible because his animagus transformation 
would look just like popping in out of thin air.


Cindy wrote:

> >Apparating surely would have been a handy way for some of the
> >characters to travel at various times.  Black could have apparated
> >off of Azkaban instead of traveling as a dog.  Lupin could have
> >apparated to school instead of taking the train.
> 
Susana wrote:

> Black didn't apparate, because it's not possible in Azcaban (it's a 
PRISON 
> and only Sirius has excaped from it. You just can't have a working 
prison 
> from where one can apparate from).

Good point about not being able to apparate from Azkaban.  <*hits 
self on forehead for missing this*>  

But isn't it possible that Sirius is apparating at points during his 
journey to Hogwarts?  Wasn't there the occasional Sirius Black 
sighting in PoA? If he is living only as a dog, then these sightings 
wouldn't happen, and it would be curious for MoM to put dementors in 
Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.  I mean, how would they know where to focus 
their search?  

I would also assume that characters who can apparate have passed 
their exam and are competent and therefore aren't at risk of 
splinching or landing on top of people, which is why Molly allows 
Percy to apparate around the Burrow in GoF.  Also, if Sirius 
accidently apparates next to someone who might apprehend him, he 
could just apparate away again before they grab him.  

But then again, to play devil's advocate, if Sirius can apparate, 
then MoM must know about it.  He would probably have taken his exam 
like Percy did, and MoM would have a record of it.  So that suggests 
MoM knows he can't apparate, so that's how they know to concentrate 
their search in Great Britain.

> Sirius, well, after Harry was relatively safe, he went to Bali or 
another 
> such place. Well, maybe he apparated there?

I don't think Sirius would have apparated to Bali or wherever he 
decided to hide because he needed to keep Buckbeak safe, and it's 
clear that Sirius still has Buckbeak by the time of GoF.

So the characters who we are 100% sure can apparate are the adult 
Weasleys, Pettigrew, Snape, Lucius Malfoy, Bagman, Crouch Sr., other 
DEs, Hagrid (didn't he apparate to fetch Harry in PS/SS?).

Characters who can probably apparate are Moody, Dumbledore, Sirius.

Characters about whom we have minimal information and just have to 
guess are Lupin, McGonagal, other teachers.

Does that work?

Cindy  (getting a little confused about whether Sirius can apparate)