What *Really* is the Purpose of Transfiguration?

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 39684

Heidi R. wrote: 
> Hmmm...this is intersting. Why don't the Weasley's just transfigure 
> all of their stuff into newer/better stuff? The only thing I can 
> think of is that transfiguration is very difficult magic requiring a 
> lot of concentration, focus, and talent. It may be that the Weasley 
> parents aren't very talented in that department. It really may take 
> a very special hand. We know that MacGonagall is very well versed in 
> Transfiguration, but we see so many people struggling ("Your 
> pincushion still curls up whenever anyone comes near it with a pin" 
> and the like).
> 
> I would also surmise that they *have* to learn it for the same reason 
> that we *have* to learn all sorts of useless trivia in school. Do I 
> use trigonometry or calculus in my daily life? No. But, one cannot 
> discern one's area of talent (or level of talent) without exposure to 
> many different subjects/practices/whatever.
> 
> Heidi R.

I believe that one of the basis of transfiguration is the fact that it 
is not permanent: Sooner or later (depending on the amount of power you 
invest in it), the transfigurated thing goes back to being the original 
object (much in the same way the leprechaum gold dissapears). If this 
is the case, it's a waste of time transfigurating your tables and such 
into newer versions of themselves, since they may change back in the 
middle of the important visit (or whatever you needed them for). 
Charms, on the other hand, would be permanent (but you cannot change 
things as much with charms: no charm will change a match into a pin... 
I hope).

This theory answers the question on the animals: if you change an 
animal into an object, it's soul is not gone: as long as you don't 
break it, the animal is still there and well, and when it changes back 
(at the end of the transfiguration spell), it will be able to continue 
with his normal life. Troubles arise when explaining the things that 
get turned into animals: how can this animals think? As with many other 
special circunstances in magic, it is probably based in the intent of 
the caster: the animal will act like the caster expects him to act 
(that way, Minerva's Table!Pig is probably a nice little rascal, very 
clean, that squeks in congratiating voice, and is all-around cute).

Finally, if you get things wrong, the object still retains part of the 
capabilities of the previous object (the pin-cushion can still curl up, 
and so on).

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf