Animagi revisited was: Sirius revisited

[Mandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 104097

> > Kneasy:
> > No.  There is no evidence that he was particularly bright. By all 
> accounts the Animagus spell doesn't require brains, just practice 
to get it right.
>  
> Alla:
> Animagus spell does not require brains? I beg to differ. There are 
> only seven of the registered after all in the last century. It must 
> have been not very easy to manage it. Besides McGonagall calls 
Sirius and James the brightest students in PoA.


Mandy here:
So why are there not more of them?  We know of many brilliant wizards 
in the canon, yet only seven animagi currently alive?  It seems odd.

Perhaps it has less to do with talent, and more to do with how 
animagi are perceived by the WW.  Perhaps they are looked down upon 
and prejudiced against in some way. Considered untrust worthy.  I 
don't have canon to support this but the lack of Animagi keeps 
bothering me, and I wanted to put these questions out there.

Why did the marauders hide their animagus status after school?  If 
not from the WW, why hide it from DD?  Surly it would have benefited 
them in the Order?  It seems as though it would be a useful skill 
during a war, fighting and spying.   

Why should Rita Skeeter hide her animagi status? Yes, it's a great 
disguise to use to have as a reporter, but even if she was registered 
and it was known that she was one, who's going to bother to 
remember?  `Oh, that's Rita Skeeter, look out she can turn herself in 
to a beetle.'  Would anyone, other then the extremely paranoid spend 
the rest their lives looking for beetles everywhere?  Could Hogwarts 
have kept her out if it was known she was an animagi? Could the 
school have set up anti-beetle wards everywhere to protect its 
students?  I don't think so.  I don't see how her being a known 
animagi would harm her, other than cramping her style.  The only 
reason it would behoove Rita not to have her animagi status know, is 
if it was something that she has to display about her at all times. 
Like a big red letter emblazoned on her chest.  A for Animgus.  It 
seems more likely she couldn't get a job as a reporter if she was 
know to be one.  

And why is it not taught at Hogwarts?  If only at NEWT level?  

Perhaps the WW are extremely suspicious of animagi wizards, to the 
point of discriminating against them.  It's the only reason I can 
think of why everyone wouldn't at least want to attempt to become one.

There seems to be something very suspicious about the whole Animagus 
ability.

Mandy