[HPforGrownups] Digest Number 10266

[Jerri/Dan Chase]

No: HPFGUIDX 182800


>> MusicalBetsy asked me:
>>
>> I'm just curious - why do you think DD was an Animagus?  I
>> don't remember anything in the books that even hints at it,
>> ...
>
> bboyminn replied:
>
> Well, you are right, it is never addressed directly or
> indirectly in the books, but Dumbledore was supremely brilliant,
> and he was the transfiguration teacher, and Animagus is a
> form of transfiguration.
>
> If seems the pieces are there to make it likely someone so
> talented, and especially knowledgeable and interested in
> Transfiguration would have pursued it.

Jerri now:
bboyminn summed up my reasons pretty well.  I don't think JKR has ever 
said, and I know that the books don't "say" one way or the other. 
But, given the type of person DD was, and his skills, interests, 
powers, etc. it seems like a natural sort of thing for him to do. 
Also, I think it is assumed if not stated that DD was McG's 
transfiguration teacher, and so might well have taught her.

However, one reason JKR might not have wanted to bring up the subject 
is that it might raise one more issue in DD's death on the tower.  It 
seems clear that no wand is needed for an Animagus to transform. 
While we now know, post-DH, that DD was already dying on the tower, in 
HBP we were not supposed to know that for sure.  And the two most 
suggested forms for a DD Animagus that I saw were phoenix and 
bumblebee, either of which would have allowed DD to fly away from the 
tower top.  If we had known for sure that DD was an Animagus and that 
his animal form could fly, then it would have added even more 
confusion to the tower top death.  (Including more assumptions that 
Snape had used some other non-verbal spell that gave green light, 
faking the AK and just knocking DD off the tower, and that DD had 
transformed on the way down.)

But, until JKR denies that DD ever became an Animagus I will continue 
to assume that DD was one, as it fits his personality so well for him 
to try and fits his skill level so well for him to succeed.

Jerri