Is Harry a Metamorphmagus?

[Vivamus]

No: HPFGUIDX 116580


> Chancie: 
> I do recall someone bringing something up about Harry bing a 
> metamorphmagus. Although wouldn't he have discovered being 
> able to change something else about his apperance? Like his 
> scar for instance? <snip>
> 
> If you could point me to the post that states JKR says one of 
> the trio will become an animagus, I would greatly appreciate it!

Sorry. She said that NONE of them will become an animagus. I can't recall
where, exactly, but I think it was in an online chat shortly after POA came
out. I read it in her comments when I read the transcript (I think.)

And I don't think it is something he would necessarily find out by accident.
I get the impression from what Tonks says and does that it is (1) extremely
unusual, so it wouldn't be expected, and (2) somewhat hard to do, even for
those who are trained and practiced in it.

Maybe something critical will be just out of reach, and he will reach it
without realizing how MUCH it is out of reach.

> > Kim:
> > First, Vivamus, where did you find out that JKR said that 
> > the 3 kids wouldn't become animagi?  
 
> Finwitch:
> I don't recall exactly *where*, but it was in an interview - she said
> that "Harry won't become an animagus like his father".

Vivamus:

It was long enough ago that I could easily be mistaken, but I *think* she
stated flatly that none of the three would become animagi.

I do remember the interview comment in which she said that Harry would not
become "an animagus like his father" which sounds like hedging to me, too --
and part of what got me to think he must become something else equally
interesting.  I'm pretty sure the quote I am remembering was from an earlier
piece, and I think it was a transcript from an online group chat, not an
interview.  I'll have to see if I can find it, if there isn't someone on
here who already has it filed away.

Here's an additional piece of *possible* evidence for Harry being a
metamorphmagus: Harry's hair is naturally ruffled like his father, but
James' hair wasn't naturally ruffled; it was ruffled because he kept it that
way.   Could it be that the year old child knew enough of how his father
looked that he was subconsciously making himself look like his father?   How
about all the comments he gets from people who tell him he looks
*extraordinarily* like James, but with his mother's eyes?  Maybe that's not
just genetics.

Another thing:  Why aren't Harry's nearsighted eyes correctable with magic?
His father wore glasses, didn't he?  I know, we haven't heard anything about
nearsightedness correction spells, but made up spells are appearing all the
time -- just look at the Weasley twins and the Marauder's Map.  Perhaps
Harry *needs* his eyes to be that way.

> Finwitch:
> While that could mean that Harry won't become an animagus at all, it
> could also mean that 1)Harry will become a *registered* animagus
> and/or taught how to do it by McGonagall. - unlike his father, that.
> 2) Harry's animagus form is NOT a stag. again, not like his father.

If I'm misremembering that quote, you could well be right.
 
> Finwitch:
> Still, now that we have this Metamorphmagi to explain that
> over-night-groving hair, it is more likely he won't be animagus.
> Besides, it was rather curious that as much as McGonagall complained
> about those celebrating wizards not wearing Muggle-clothes and OWLs,
> *She* in her cat form drew more of the attention of Vernon Dursley by
> acting oddly for a cat. (reading a map/sign)

Vivamus:
I know this is OT, but I felt there were a number of things in that first
book, particularly in the beginning, that were indicative of the book being
a standalone, with not everything being planned out for a series.
McGonagall's reading of the map on a muggle street, but especially her
asking DD how he knew it was her, don't quite fit the rest of the series.
That is no criticism of JKR.  The book is brilliant; I just think she
probably hadn't planned things out to the nth detail of seven books before
she wrote her first chapter as a completely unknown novelist.

> Kim:
> > 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.
 
> Finwitch:
> Hmm-mm... Howabout this: his glasses had been broken several times due
> to Dudley having punched his nose, covered in Sellotape. Harry's nose,
> however, does NOT have any sign of having been broken or hit.

Vivamus:
Excellent point!

> Finwitch:
> Also: how did he turn his teacher's wig blue? What area of magic does
> that belong, or was it Harry at all(I sure can imagine Dudley to put
> dye into it and blame Harry)?

Vivamus:
Charms, maybe?   Good like his mother in that area?

> He made the sweater shrink.

Transfiguration?  No, Charms again -- the opposite of an engorgement charm.
 
> Finwitch:
> How did he 'jump' onto the school roof? Harry's description sounds
> more like flying than apparition...? <snip>
> 
> Harry's also VERY fast, broomstick or no.

Vivamus:
Maybe that's related to his flying onto the roof?
 
> Finwitch:
> Uhh.. what if Harry's a natural Phoenix-animagus, and has been since
> birth? That way he sure wouldn't *become* animagus, because he's
> always *been* one, he just didn't know it... Or maybe he'll be
> Poly-animagus, and can turn into any animal he likes..

Vivamus:
Y'know, that sounds extremely cool, but wouldn't that make Harry something
of a super-hero?  He's extraordinary enough as it is, don't you think?  The
Metamorphmagus thing would be an interesting touch, but if it starts turning
into a central plot point, wouldn't that take away from the courage and
general resourcefulness needed to fight V?   Harry's already shaping up to
be the next DD, and we should expect additional extraordinary skills to
emerge as he matures in his NEWT classes, but if he gets too much of an
advantage over V, it becomes hard to relate to him.   It would turn the
seven-book plot, I think, away from a chosen everyman vs cosmic evil plot
into a battle of the gods.

If Harry had the full ability of Tonks, imagine what he could do with that
in fighting V.  It's too much.  It seems to me that JKR has been moving
towards the idea that evil is defeated only when we all stand together to
fight it.  Harry, like DD, functions best when he is leading others to stand
together.  Give him too much power, and it becomes Yoda vs. the Sith.

I expect, if he turns out to be a metamorphmagus, that it will be a matter
of years of training before he can use it properly.  That way, it can be a
fascinating plot point without upsetting the struggle too much.

Vivamus