[HPforGrownups] Re: Is Harry a Metamorphmagus?

[Christopher Nehren]

No: HPFGUIDX 116586


On Wed, Oct 27, 2004 at 07:42:39 EDT, Vivamus scribbled these
curious markings:
> Vivamus:
> Interesting.  Does this mean, though, that Sirius was not really a dog, but
> only *looked* like a dog?  That doesn't seem to fit things like his being
> unaffected by werewolf bites, being able to drag Ron by the leg, etc.  We
> have to conclude that animagi are truly changing substance, don't we?  (One
> assumes that their "souls" are the same -- "consubstantiation instead of
> transubstantiation," said the cat with a snicker -- but still affected by
> the transformation.)

Pardon? As far as I can see, I was describing metamorphmagi -- not
animagi. 

> If metamorphmagus is the same basic paradigm as an animagus, wouldn't it
> imply that the physical form does in fact change?

I've thought about that, and it's really a scary prospect if it's true.
It's stated in _Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them_ that there is
no known spell which allows a wizard to fly unassisted. If a
metamorphmagus adopted the form of a bird, they'd be able to take
flight, correct? The two facts seem to be mutually exclusive.

... of course, this could be more of JKR's masterful misdirection. She
could rebut such an argument with "But the metamorphmagus' ability isn't
a spell; it's an innate talent". It'd be rather frightening if a
metamorphmagus could take any form they want. I'm forcibly reminded of
shapeshifters from Star Trek -- *particularly* of their invasion of
Earth in DS9 -- but I digress. Imagine a Death Eater impersonating
Dumbledore, or Snape, or Sirius, or anyone else. Imagine that
impersonator being an expert Occlumens & Legilmens and imagine them
reporting what they've learned to Voldemort or anyone else.

> Vivamus, whose cat has an annoying tendency to jump on the keyboard with
> inane comments. Unlike cockroaches, of course, cats can use the shift keys.

And flick surge protector power switches into the "off" position.

Christopher

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