Illegal animagi (was Rita Skeeter, was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Things I don't understand)

[MB1984]

No: HPFGUIDX 48597

How many illegal animagi do you all think there are?  On another list some
people commented that JKR had overused the idea and if another were to pop
up it would stretch the idea to implausibility.  On the other hand, I
recently read a fanfic in which the only reason McGonagall was forced to
register herself was that she choked during the test for her Apparating
license and transformed into a cat instead.  This lends credence to the
theory that there are many more animagi than are listed by the Ministry and
they keep their ability hidden for their own purposes.  After all, what's
the good of being able to transform into an animal if everyone knows all
about it?

Becoming an animagus is supposed to be quite difficult, but I think if three
unsupervised schoolchildren in one year can manage it, it can't possibly be
a talent as rare as only seven (or eleven) in a century.  I'm more inclined
to believe that it IS a difficult process, but there are many talented
wizards and witches who have managed it and then kept quiet about the
ability.

I'm also curious as to whether Harry himself will become an animagus.  It
seems awfully logical that he would - he's an extremely powerful wizard and
both his father and godfather had/have the talent - and it would give him an
advantage against Voldemort.  For that matter, Dumbledore is powerful and
mysterious - what about him?  Could he be a phoenix?

By the same token, Voldemort himself is extremely talented and powerful.
Could he be an animagi as well?  (M is derailed by images of a pitched
battle between a snake and a mongoose...)  Anyway, I guess I'm wondering
where most people stand on the animagi idea - is it truly as rare as it
seems, or are there more wandering about than we've so far seen?

Millefiori