Marauders learning animagi - teachers?

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 35512

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Yoris" <msn.tsf at h...> wrote:
> 
> I don't think they knew, I think they just got lucky it turned out
> that way.  If Peter had become a large animal, they would've just 
had
> to work around it.  One of the Marauders would've had to approach 
the
> Willow in human form and push the button with a stick before
> transforming (we know it can be done, since Snape and Pomfrey both 
did
> it).

Yes, I agree.
 
> When you think about it, there are all sorts of risks associated 
with
> becoming an animagus?  What if you turn into fish?  Better keep a 
tub
> full of water handy when you're practicing.  Or you could become an
> elephant and crash through the floor.  No wonder the MoM regulates 
it.

Hmm... Risks, yes - like being seen by Muggle when transforming...

> The Marauders got lucky that all of them turned into animals that 
are
> normally found in England, so it was not too weird if someone saw
> them.  It would've been awkward if one of them turned out to be a
> kangaroo or a polar bear.
 
Yes- Noble Stag, Loyal Dog related to name, and Rat who'd 'leave the 
sinking ship' ... Personality/mythology/name holds some validity.

One risk is no doubt that you don't transform well enough and gain 
trouble  breathing or other lethal thing. Or something...
While others were learning animagi, RL was learning the antispell(he 
used it to force Peter into human-form along with Sirius). Otherwise 
he'd felt left out.

Supposedly the Animagi-books are in restricted section (as it requires 
registration) in Hogwarts Library. They must have begun during 4th 
year if not earlier. I think Lupin's parents were animagi and agreed 
to teach the group so that they didn't have to do it alone. (AND gave 
them the books - so that they don't need to break rules for them...)

> I suppose, like the Marauders, she just crossed her fingers and 
hoped
> for the best, and got lucky.
> 
> 
> > So how did Rita Skeeter, in my opinion a witch with
> > below average magic capability;s manage to become an animaga 
without
> help?
> 
> I don't remember the book giving any indication of Rita's magical
> ability.  Just because someone is obnoxious and unethical doesn't 
mean
> she can't be a powerful witch.  Or maybe she just has a freakish
> talent in one field (transformation), but is no good at other forms 
of
> magic?
 
Her animagi ability shows clearly she was good in transfiguration. 
Possibly with other spells, too (did she make that Quill or buy it?)