Animagus

[karenoc1]

No: HPFGUIDX 74003

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tish " <tish9774 at g...> wrote:
While re-reading OOP, I noticed that DD tells Fudge that he 
can "break out" of Azkaban.  Now, if Sirius was the first to do it 
and he did it because he was an animagus, wouldn't that make DD one 
too?  Do you think that is enough to prove DD is an animagus?  I 
mean aside from the fact that I would think someone would have to be 
one to teach Transfiguration.
Tish <snip>

Me:
Transfiguration is the thing!  I tried looking through the archives 
for this, and it probably has been discussed a bit in the past (I 
wish there were a Dumbledore section for Fantastic Posts!).  Anyway, 
you're right, it would be logical for Dumbledore to be an animagus.  
And there are textual hints.  Anamagism seems to mean transfiguring 
oneself into an animal, and not just any animal, but an animal that 
most suits one's personality (I think!).  McGonagall is the resident 
expert in transfiguration; she is an animagus.  James Potter's wand 
was good for transfiguration; he, Sirius, (and Peter) figured out how 
to become animagi.  Dumbledore was a transfiguration teacher, so one 
would suppose he's an expert.  He *probably* is an animagus.  I bet 
Hermione would know!