[HPforGrownups] Re: Animagi

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 67727

Lorrie asks:

> Doesn't this contradict canon? Didn't Sirus Black in
> PoA  say that he and James became animals large enough to handle a
> werewolf? If you can't choose your form, then how did they think they
> would be able to 'handle' Remus? I know, I know, someone will say that
> they just wanted to keep him company...But, that's not the way it
> read. Don't have the book right here in front of me, so can't tell you
> chapter and verse.

L.O.O.N. on deck. Canon is just fine with JKR's comments. Being a L.O.O.N.,
I did go find chapter and verse, and the original reason for becoming
animagi was indeed to be able to keep Lupin company. From pp. 259-260,
UK/Canadian:

(Lupin speaking)...'And they didn't desert me at all. Instead, they did
something for me that would make my transformations not only bearable, but
the best times of my life. They became Animagi."
.....
    'But how did that help you?' said Hermione, sounding puzzled.
    'They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as
animals,' said Lupin. 'A werewolf is only a danger to people. ...'

and only later in the passage does he mention that exciting new
possibilities opened up:
'Sirius and James transformed into such large animals, they were able to kep
a werewolf in check.'
<end quote>

So the initial reason to become animagi was indeed so that they could be
around Lupin without being in danger of being killed or contracting
lycanthropy. It is indirectly supported in canon, that animals cannot
contract the disease, because in their animal forms, Sirius and Lupin fight,
and Sirius does not become a werewolf in subsequent books. So it was to be
able to safely be with their friend that they mastered the spell. It was a
side benefit that the forms that Sirius and James took just happened to be
large enough to control Lupin outside the shack.

~Amanda