Is Harry a Metamorphmagus?

[ginnysthe1]

No: HPFGUIDX 116506


Vivamus wrote:

>I apologize if this is an already visited topic, but I cannot find 
reference to it anywhere. JKR has already said that none of the three 
(Harry, Ron, Hermione) will become animagi -- but could Harry be a 
metamorphmagus? He did, after all, make his hair grow back, which one 
could argue is changing his shape.  Tonks also told him that being a 
metamorphmagus was not only hard, it was based on an inborn ability --
 as with parseltongue.   Make sense?<

Pat replied:

>Yes, I've wondered the whole thing.  It seems to be just the reason 
for including Tonks's unusual abilities, doesn't it--as well as the 
references to his hair growing back overnight.  It also fits right in 
with Harry wanting to be an auror.  Tonks as we have seen, has this 
special useful talent, but in other areas she definitely isn't 
perfect.  Perhaps if Harry is a metamorphmagus, it won't matter so 
much if he isn't perfect in some other area--such as potions.  Now 
wouldn't that just peeve Snape to no end?<<

Kim here, with questions and comments:

First, Vivamus, where did you find out that JKR said that the 3 kids 
wouldn't become animagi?  I believe it -- just wondered where you 
heard or read it.

Second, in the case of Harry's parseltongue ability, it wasn't 
inborn, so maybe some abilities can be transferred from wizard to 
wizard.  Unless it was only a fluke because of the backfired spell 
that Voldemort cast at Harry, so maybe ability-transfer isn't likely 
to happen any other way than by accident.  Anyway then it would make 
sense that Harry had some other innate ability besides being really 
good at flying a broom.

So I too agree that Harry could be a metamorphmagus since he's done 
it before, but just didn't know that's what he was doing at the 
time.  Although, wonder why he hasn't demonstrated the ability lately 
(or has he?)  What other way could he show metamorphmagus ability 
than growing his hair or changing hair color (like Tonks)?  Lots of 
possibilities there, I'd guess.

I think transfiguration-like abilities (i.e. animagi, metamorphmagi, 
Polyjuice Potion) are some of the most interesting aspects of JKR's 
books.  Hope we'll get to see more of these "deceptions" in the last 
two books.

Cheers, Kim (chuckling at the image of an even-more-peeved-at-Harry-
than-usual Snape)