Transfiguration Question

[freddie mac]

No: HPFGUIDX 58859

Hi all ---

I've recently begun thinking about transfiguration etc.,
and would like some input.  Of course, if this has been
discussed in detail earlier, please redirect me.

I think it is fairly well established that wizards cannot
make something out of nothing.  For example, a book can be
made out of a a glass, but not out of empty air.  Here
then, is my question:

While wizards can change the shape of something (glass to
book), can they change the *essence* of something from the
original object to the new object?  This is a bit clearer
(or more convoluted, depending on your perspective) if you
consider living things.

A ferret (*grin*) can be changed into a human-shaped
ferret, but can the essence of a ferret be changed into the
essence of a human?  

When I think about transfiguration, I have a sense that the
outer form is changed, but not necessarily the
inner/intrinsic aspects.  If you change a ferret into a
human-shaped ferret, does the ferret gain human senses,
reasoning, soul (for lack of a better term), or is the
ferret simply reshaped into a human-like shape?

I hope this is clear, but if not let me know and I'll try
to clarify things.


Thanks,

Freddie

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