Harry potter general

[Liz Clark]

No: HPFGUIDX 190766

> Nerona:
> OK, in book three at the end when Harry, Ron and Hermione find out
> the truth about Sirius, I noticed something, Sirius said that while
> in Azkaban to avoid the dementors he used to transform himself into
> a dog. Since he is Animagus, then when Lupin was transforming to a
> werewolf, Wormtail grabs Ron's wand I think, and then transform
> himself too into a rat.  How come Sirius was able to change at
> Azkaban without a WAND???
>

Taya Responds:
I can't answer the DH questions as not read that far yet! But PoA I can do.

Here is the booke quote to what you are referring:
   Pettigrew had dived for Lupin's dropped wand. Ron, unsteady on his 
bandaged leg, fell. There was a bang, a burst of light - and Ron lay 
motionless on the ground. Another bang - Crookshanks flew into the air and 
back to the earth in a heap.
   'Expelliarmus!' Harry yelled, pointing his own wand at Pettigrew; Lupin's 
wand flew high into the air and out of sight. 'Stay where you are!' Harry 
shouted, running forwards.
   Too late, Pettigrew had transformed. Harry saw his bald tail whip through 
the manacle on Ron's outstretched arm, and heard a scurrying through the 
grass.

So he didn't have a wand to transform, Harry had just disarmed him. Which 
means a wand isn't needed to transform into an Animagus form and would leave 
Sirius free to transform at will in Azkaban.