Mugglemagi? (was Re: Why do Muggles get a capital letter?)

[ftah3]

No: HPFGUIDX 37575

Weaver wrote:
> I'm 
> thinking of ancient wizarding families considering Muggles as
barely 
human, 
> as beneath their dignity, something less than a dog or a cat (given 
that 
> Animagi can *become* cats and dogs).
> 
> (Digression: on that same track, *can* an Animagi transform into a 
Muggle? 
>  Maybe Snapeykins is an Animagi and his form is that of an old 
crotchety Muggle
>  man...  ::giggling:: Maybe Draco Malfoy can, and that explains his 
bitterness 
> towards the less magically-gifted...)

*stares*  Wait!  I'm...!

I'm confused.  

What does being able to turn into a cat or dog, and potential 
prejudice against Muggles have to do with....

Why would....

Okay, hang on.  The point of being an Animagus *seems* to be to 
transform into something completely Other than oneself in *form*.  
Person to bug; person to dog; person to stag; etc.  Person to Muggle 
would be...pointless.  

But more than that, I also think it's a moot question.  The animagus 
transformation has nothing to do with latent talent, except as 
pertains physical capabilities, right?  I mean, the only real 
difference between wizard and Muggle (other than capitalization, ta 
Weaver, :-) is magical talent/lack thereof.  Which wouldn't translate 
via physical transformation, would it?  I draw this conclusion from 
the fact that when a wizard transforms into an unmagical dog, said 
wizard is still able, via magic, to transform back into his wizard 
self; i.e., magical ability is in tact, despite physical form.  So 
transforming into a Muggle...no such thing, since that would mean 
transforming magical talent, rather than form.

Er.  Right?  Maybe?

But then, the Animagus gig is a really big deal ~ very hard and 
apparently dangerous.  There has been speculation on list that Mrs. 
Norris is a wizard who Animagus'ed and then couldn't transform back 
for whatever reason.  Suppose it is a distinct possibility to 
inadvertently Animagus away your magical talent.  In which case it 
would be possible to transform into a Muggle, i.e. rid yourself of 
magical talent.  But why would a wizard want to do that?  And if they 
did, how would they transform back (a la your Snape & Draco examples 
above)?  It sounds like the sort of thing 
that would be used as a punishment rather than by choice.

Mahoney
befuddled