LOON on transifguration/transformation & intelligence retentioni

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 39734

> > Maybe it's time for me to reread the books, but I was under the
> > impression that Rita was also an unregistered Animagus.  IIRC, in
> > discussions about what-we-don't-want-to-see-more-of in the
> remaining
> > books in the series, a number of people had said that we have
> quite
> > enough unregistered Animagi, thank you very much. If that's the
> case,
> > then of course she retains her human intelligence the same as
> > Wormtail, Padfoot or Prongs.
>
> Huh?  What does being registered on unregistered have to do with
> retaining one's human intelligence while in Animagus form?
> Registered just means you go down to the Ministry and fill out a
> little form saying "I'm an Animagus, this is what I turn into."
> It's a bureaucratic procedure, not an aspect of the transformation.

I believe the point that was being made is that Rita Skeeter is an animagus,
not that's she's unregistered.

As I understand it, animagi are working a very complicated and wandless
"animagus spell" on themselves. They *do* retain their intelligence in their
animal form, although from some of what Sirius says, outside perception of
that may be altered. However, he was referring to emotions:
"They [dementors] feel their way toward people by feeding off their
emotions....They could tell that my feelings were less -- less human, less
complex when I was a dog...." (PoA, US, p. 371)
This says nothing about thought processes, and every other evidence we are
given about animagi (McGonagall reading the map; Sirius listening in at the
end of GoF as a dog, evidently following things; Rita Skeeter gathering
information; Peter Pettigrew knowing how to act and knowing his peril in the
Shrieking Shack, etc.) is that their human intelligence is intact in
animagus form.

This is contrasted with a *transfiguration* worked by a wizard on someone
else. It is a different spell, I think Moody used a wand, and the
transfigured person does *not* retain their intelligence.

I do not believe the term "transfiguration" is used in reference to animagi;
when Sirius turns into the dog, I think the verb is "transformed"?

The actual wording of the passage in Quidditch through the ages makes this
fine distinction:
"Those few Animagi who transform into winged creatures may enjoy flight, but
they are a rarity. The witch or wizard who finds him- or herself
transfigured into a bat may take to the air, but having a bat's brain, they
are sure to forget where they want to go the moment they take flight." (p.
1)
>From this, I see a distinction between *animagi* who *transform* themselves
and *someone* who *is transfigured* (i.e., by someone else). This quote
presents the first two examples of a sequence of ways wizards can get into
the air unaided, it is #1 and #2 of a list. The second sentence is NOT a
restatement of the first. They are two different situations being described.

My conclusion is this:
Transfiguration - the changing of the shape of something else (person or
thing) by a wizard. Wand used. Many grades of this spell, beginning with
matches to needles.
Transformation (via animagus spell) - the changing of oneself into one's
animal form. Wandless. Only one variant of this spell; very complex and hard
to learn.

Hope that helped clear things up,

--Amanda