[HPforGrownups]RE: Polyjuice potion and animal transformations, was Hopes for Book 5

[mmemalkin]

No: HPFGUIDX 59251

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Helen R. Granberry" 
<helen at o...> wrote:
>  
> 
> One thread that has been left dangling and might offer plot 
> possibilities is the Hermione-turns-into-a-cat problem. We now 
know 
> that pollyjuice and an animal part turns you partly into that 
animal, 
> and that it is reversable, if not easily. Why were we told all 
that 
> if not to set up for a future plot point? Could a trapped person 
> pollyjuice a hippogryff hair and fly away? Could a dying person 
> pollyjuice a phoenix feather and resurrect? It might be worthwhile 
to 
> carry a flask of pollyjuice and a collection of animal artifacts 
when 
> one goes into dangerous or uncertain situations.
> 
> If Ms. Bulstrode's cat wasn't inserted into the pollyjuice episode 
> expressly for this, then what other possible reason could there be 
> for turning Hermione into a kitty? Was it to keep Hermione out of 
the 
> Slytherin common room? What purpose would that provide? Does 
anyone 
> have any other ideas? Just thought I'd throw this pebble into the 
> pond and see where the ripples go ....
> 
> ~Constance Vigilance
> 
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
> Oh wow, I never even thought of that. What would happen if one 
kept a
> phoenix feather on hand for such occasions?  
> 
>  
> 
> Really, why didn't Hermione get to go with Harry and Ron? It was 
not, in
> anyway, particularly important to the plot of CoS. Much in the 
same way
> the polyjuice potion itself was a dead end. Malfoy was not the 
heir of
> Slytherin... but the polyjuice potion in CoS set up the use of the
> polyjuice potion in GoF. Perhaps Hermione's unsuccessful animal
> transformation was a setup for another type of animal 
transformation?
> 
>  
> 
> Helen
> 
>  
> 
> ---------------
> MmeMalkin:

    I hate to rain on the parade, but I don't think polyjuice 
potions and animal parts would be very useful.  It only does a 
partial transformation and leaves you stuck that way for weeks.
   
I see the kitty transformation as pure comic relief.  Hermione the 
perfectionist had the whole operation planned in excrutiating 
detail, and it went off without a hitch, except for one little 
item...  Just when you think you've got Life by the tail, it turns 
around and gives you one instaed!  :-P