What *Really* is the Purpose (or nature) of Transfiguration?

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 39756

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "greg_a126" <grega126 at a...> wrote:
<Snip>
> The other suggestion that's come up is dealing w/ all of the       
> animals may be a way to prepare those who are capable & ready to   
> become Animagi.

<Snip>

> So again,isn't the whole subject pretty useless on the whole?  
> 
> Greg

Hmm.. I think we will see the genuine usefulness of transfiguration 
in a later book. I don't think it can be a useless subject (beyond 
finding potential animagi), because we have been specifically told 
that Dumbledore was originally the Transfiguration teacher (CoS) - 
somehow I can't see JKR making him expert at something she didn't 
intend to use in a major way.[grin]

Incidentally, how many of us have spotted that Dumbledore is an 
Animagi? Any ideas on his transfigured form (a phoenix??)

Pip (hurray! a post that isn't about my theory!)
Squeak