DD as Animagus

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 182799

> CJ:
> As a corollary, I've missed it somewhere, but why can witches only 
> transform into a single animal? Has there never been one who has 
> mastered multiple forms?

Zgirnius:
This is discussed in Fantastic Beasts. People can Transfigure into 
other animals using more "regular" Transfiguration, but it is 
dangerous because it is hard for them to maintain a human memory and 
personality under those conditions. The Animagus transformation is 
somehow different, allowing the witch to still entirely retain her 
human self, and it is the one that is only to one particular, and 
initially not known, animal. I think the idea is that when 
transformed into an animal that is "like" the true inner self, that 
true inner self can be preserved in a way it is not with a random 
animal.

For an example of this in the books - I doubt Krum was a shark 
Animagus. He transformed part of his body using transfiguration in 
otder to breathe underwater. I imagine he could have gone all the 
way, but then the danger mentioned in FB would kick in (and he would 
lose the use of his hands/wand, with no way to hold it).