Animagi: can they chose what they will become?/How did Rita Skeeters become an Animaga?

[siriusgeologist]

No: HPFGUIDX 35514

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "marinafrants" <rusalka at i...> 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).
> 

This question reminded me of a question I've always had about james 
as a stag in the tunnel itself.  Aren't stags on the large size?  At 
least the size of a horse.  Then add the antlers.  In PoA wasn't the 
tunnel beneath the womping willow described as cramped...requiring 
them to stoop slightly.  How the heck would James and his antlers fit 
in the tunnel?  And wouldn't it have been easier for him to negotiate 
the tunnel in human form.

For all you old timers, this was one of my very first questions to 
this list...nearly 2 years ago, when there were but a couple of 
hundred messages (getting misty eyed reminiscing...sigh)

Carole