Krum the shark (Was Animagi)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 37654

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jaymzhuk" <jwh at c...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> wrote:
> 
> > This brings up something I've been wondering recently.  During the 
> > second task in GoF, Krum attempts to transform into a shark, and 
> > only partially succeeds.  Was this an attempt at an animagus 
> > transformation?  If it was, how did Krum know he was going to 
> become 
> > a shark?  And talk about an inconvenient animagus form -- can't 
> > transform unless you've got a large body of water handy.  If it 
> > wasn't animagic, then what was it?  Are there ways to take on an 
> > animal shape without becoming an animagus?  If so, then what's so 
> > special about being an animagus?  
> 
> It's always possible Krum is a would-be Shark animagus, but
unlikely.
> 

Given Krum's flying talent, and the way his gawky and awkward self
becomes graceful and confident when he's in the air, I would expect
his animagus for to be a bird of some sort.  An albatross, maybe? 
They're gorgeous flyers, but comically clunky on land.

> H'mm - well perhaps transfiguration (Krum into Shark) is different 
> from an anigami transformation? After all, Draco got turned into a 
> Ferret...
> Perhaps animagi is an innate ability, where you can transform to and 
> from the animal shape at will *without a wand*, and still *retain 
> your faculties.* 

It can definitely be done without a wand, since Sirius did it in
Azkaban.  And it does seem as if the Marauders retained at least some
human intelligence in animagus form.  Not all, though -- one of the
reasons transformation helped Sirius stay sane in Azkaban was that a
dog's thoughts are simpler than a man's, and therefore apparently less
likely to get munched by Dementors.

It does seem, on reflection, that Krum's partial transformation had to
be intentional.  As a full shark, even with human intelligence, he
would've had a great deal of difficulty getting Hermione to the
surface without arms to hold her with.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com