What *Really* is the Purpose of Transfiguration?

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 39672

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "greg_a126" <grega126 at a...> wrote:
> So far we've all read 4 Harry Potter books.  Thus far, we've seen 
a 
> grand total of 3 uses of Transfiguration: the Animagus 
> Transfiguration, Cedric Diggory turning a rock into a dog during 
the 
> first task, and Victor Krum partially transfiguring himself into a 
> shark for the 2nd task. 

There's also Crouch, Jr. transfiguring his father's corpse into a 
bone and burying it.  Which gives us a majorly useful purpose of 
Transiguration right there: getting rid of bodies (or other 
incriminating evidence). :-)

In general, I can see how Transfiguration would be really useful any 
time you have an urgent need for an object, but the object isn't 
handy.  Stuck in a desert and don't know how to apparate out? 
Transfigure a rock into a bucket of water.  Forgot to pack a blanket 
on your camping trip?  No problem!  Can't find a pen?  This bit of 
lint will do.  The possibilities are endless.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com