Animagi revisited was: Sirius revisited

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 104107

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mandy" <ExSlytherin at a...> 
wrote:
> > > 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.  

Carolyn:
Further to your argument, Mandy, see my recent post 103152, raising 
renewed doubts about Minerva McGonagall, and her status within the 
Order. It may be that transformation generally, and perhaps 
especially animagi-skills, are regarded with some nervousness by the 
wizard-in-the-street. Tom Riddle said he went through many 
transformations to become Lord V, so perhaps the skill can easily 
become Dark Magic. 

Remember also the odd way that Bella referred to Sirius, her cousin, 
as 'the animagus Black' at the MoM. Perhaps it was important for her 
to warn/remind her master of Sirius's status, for some reason.