Is Harry a Metamorphmagus?

[ginnysthe1]

No: HPFGUIDX 116739


Imamommy wrote:

>Ok, for the sake of argument, we seem to see a lot of animagi
transforming without wands. Firstly, when transforming back from
animal form they can't use one. Secondly, McGonagal doesn't seem to
use one. Thirdly, I can't ever remember a reference to Sirius using a
wand to transform; how would he ever have transformed in Azkaban?<

>I guess we have interpreted the text differently. I do think wands
would be necessary to *become* an animagus, but not to use that power
once you were one.<

>So, until I have further evidence, I stand my ground.<

Kim repsonds:

I was standing on a lot shakier ground than you when I wrote that 
post and should have re-read the entire chapter, and even a couple 
before that, before I opened my keyboard mouth!  My pitiful excuse is 
that I didn't have the book with me at the time. 

Now that I do, here's more proof that you're right:

Ch. 18, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, p. 354:  Lupin 
says: "... took the best part of 3 years [for James, Sirius, and 
Peter] to work out how to do it...  Animagus transformation can go 
horribly wrong, one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those 
attempting to do it ... Finally in our fifth year, they managed it.  
They could each turn into a different animal *at will.*"  (emphasis 
mine)

So I agree that canon does say that a wand isn't necessary for 
animagi to transform.  It's canon via Lupin, but there's no reason to 
think he was being inaccurate.  And there are other examples of 
wandless transformation as well, as you say.  Actually I always 
thought that *not* needing a wand did make more sense, especially for 
one of the reasons that you pointed out (i.e. how would a rat, cat, 
etc. use a wand to change back into human form?), but it was just 
that the scene in the book (bolstered by the movie scene) implied to 
me that Peter had used a wand to transform himself.  What still 
bothers me about the book version is that it's not an innate ability 
(not with those 3 animagi anyway) and yet it also doesn't require a 
wand or a potion.

The movie scene also contradicts the book in another key aspect, but 
I guess that's a discussion for the movie list, which so far I've 
avoided joining.  My head is spinning enough as it is ;-)

Cheers, Kim