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Animagus

"AnAnimagusisawizardwhoelectstoturnintoananimal."
HermioneGranger[src]

AnAnimagus(pl.Animagi)isawitchorwizardwhocanmorphhimorherselfintoananimalatwill.Itisalearned,ratherthanhereditary
skill,unlikethoseofaMetamorphmagus.InformationonAnimagiistaughttoHogwartsstudentsduringtheirthirdyearTransfiguration
class.

MinervaMcGonagall,aregisteredAnimagus
Contents [show]

Acquiringtheskill
Ittakesskill,practise,andpatienceforwizardsandwitchestobecomeAnimagi.TheprocessofbecominganAnimagusislongand
arduous,andhasthepotentialtobackfireandcausethetransformationtogohorriblywrong.Manywitchesandwizardssimplyfeelthat
theirtimemightbetterbeemployedinotherways,astheskillisoflimitedpracticaluseunlessonehasagreatneedofdisguiseor
concealment.[1]PartoftheprocessbywhichonebecomesanAnimagusisholdingtheleafofamandrakeintheirmouthforanentire
month,usingtheleafforthecreationofapotion,andrecitinganincantation(AmatoAnimoAnimatoAnimagus)onadailybasis [2].Once
theinitialtrainingisover,anAnimaguscanchangeatwill,withorwithoutawand.Animagiwhotakeontheformofspeciescapableof

SiriusBlackas"Padfoot,"oneofthefour flightcanenjoythesensationwithouttheneedofbroomsticks,flyingcarpet,orridingonflyinganimals.[3]

known(modern)unregisteredAnimagi
Animagicanonlytakeontheformofonespecificanimal.Thisanimalformisnotchosenbythewizard,butdeterminedbytheir
personalityandinnertraits [4].ItmayalsobethatthefullbodiedPatronusmayrevealwhatawitchorwizardwouldturnintoiftheywere
anAnimagus.Forexample,MinervaMcGonagall,aknowncatAnimagus,alsohadthePatronusofacat.Apparently,theformthePatronustakesmaybedeterminedbythesame
innertraitsastheAnimagusform.AnAnimagusinanimalformisalsonotrestrainedbythelifespanlimitofthecreaturethattheyotherwisetransforminto,seeninthecaseofPeter
Pettigrew,whostayedintheformofaratforatleasttwelveyears,remainingalivedespitethefactthatrodentshaveashortlifespan.

EachAnimagusbearsanidentifyingmarkontheiranimalformthatiscausedbysomethingontheirhumanbody.Thismaybeaphysicaltraitlikedentalstructure,oranacquiredtrait
suchasglasses.Forexample,bothMinervaMcGonagallandRitaSkeeterhavemarkingsontheirAnimagusformscausedbytheirspectacles.IfanAnimagusundergoesamajor
physicalchange,suchasthelossofalimb,theiranimalformwillalsoreflectthat,asinthecaseofPeterPettigrewmissingafinger.[5]

Inaddition,anAnimaguswillappeartolosetheirclothinguponmorphingiftheyarewearingclothing.Theclothingwillreappearuponreestablishingthehumanform.Whatphysically
happenstotheclothingisunknown.Astrongpossibility,however,isthattheclothingisenchantedbeforehand,andwillmorph/disappearwiththepersonastheydoso.Anexampleis
whenPeterPettigrewmorphsintoaratwhilstSiriusBlackandSeverusSnapeareoccupieddetainingthewerewolfRemusLupin.[6]Anotherexplanationwouldbeiftheclothes
themselvesarephysicallyinvolvedinthemorphing,i.e.transformingintotheskinandfuroftheanimalform.

Teaching
AtHogwartsSchool,thetheoryofAnimagustransfigurationistaughtaboutinthirdyear.WhileMinervaMcGonagall,anAnimagusherself,wastheteacher,italsoincludedapractical
demonstration.

Especiallytalentedstudentsmayacquiretheskillduringtheirschoolyearsiftheywishto.MinervahadbecomeanAnimagusbytheageofseventeen,beingtaughtbyProfessor
Dumbledore.

AtUagadou,aschoolknownforitsfocusonselftransfiguration,studentscanbecomeAnimagibytheageoffourteen.

Transfigurationvs.Animagustransformation
ThedifferencebetweenTransfigurationandtheAnimagustransformationabilityisthatanAnimaguscanchangeintoananimalwhenevertheywant,withoutawandoranincantation.
BeinganAnimagusisanability,andTransfiguringrequiresaspell.AnAnimagusstillthinksasahumandoeswhentheyareintheiranimalform,seeingasRitaSkeeterwasableto
eavesdroponothers'conversationswhenshewasintheformofabeetle.However,anAnimagus'feelingsarenotascomplexwhentheyareintheiranimalform.

Animagialsohavetheabilitytocommunicatewithnormalanimals.Thereseemstobeaclearunderstandingofwantandneedinthis
ability,butthefullextentandqualityisunknown.SiriusBlack'sAnimagusform,ablackdognamedPadfootorSnuffles(Codenamefor
SiriusbetweenSirius,Harry,Ron,andHermione),wasabletocommunicateonarudimentarylevelwithCrookshanks,Hermione
Granger'spartkneazlecat.Aswell,PeterPettigrew'sAnimagusform,agreyratnamedWormtailorScabbers(namedbytheWeasley
family),wasabletocommunicateonthesamelevelwithpassingratsthatgavehimhintsanddirectionsashetravelledaroundAlbaniain
searchofVoldemort.Thepreciseformofcommunicationisyetunknown,thoughitisprobablynottelepathysinceSiriusdidnotknow
SiriusBlacktransformsbacktohishuman
form Crookshanks'nameuntilHermionetoldhim.
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ThereisaparticularspellwhichcreatesablueandwhiteflashthatwillforceanAnimagusoutofitsanimalform.RemusLupinandSirius
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BlackonceusedittoforcePeterPettigrewoutofhisratform.ThisspellcouldpossiblybetheHomorphusCharmthatGilderoyLockhart
claimsheusedontheWaggaWaggaWerewolftoforcehimintohishumanform. TravellikeBatmanan
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ItisalsoimportanttonotethatwerewolvesarefundamentallydifferentfromAnimagi.Lycanthropyiscausedbyabloodinfectiontransmitted
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throughthebiteofawerewolf,whereastheAnimagusskillislearned.Thewerewolvescannotkeeptheirmindsafteratransformation(unless STARTAWIKI

theytaketheWolfsbanePotion),norcantheycontrolthemselveswhentheytransform,whileAnimagicandoboth.However,aswerewolves
onlyharmhumans,Animagi,whileintheiranimalforms,aresafetobeinthecompanyofwerewolves.

Wizardinglaw

"YouknowthatIcandisguisemyselfmosteffectively." PeterPettigrewistransformedbackinto

PeterPettigrewspeakingabouthisadvantageofbeingunregistered[src] hishumanform

EveryAnimagusisrequiredtoregisterwiththeMinistryofMagicattheAnimagusRegistry.Thisregistrationincludesrevealingone'sanimal
formandone'sdistinguishingmarkings.Theregisterisavailabletothepublic.TheprimaryreasonforregistrationistoensuretheAnimagidonotabusetheirabilities,astheMinistryis
abletokeeptrackofthem.AprimeexampleisthatRitaSkeeterwasabletogetintoHogwartsundetected(despitebeingbannedfromHogwartsgroundsbyDumbledore)by
transformingintoabeetle.SiriusBlackwasabletoescapefromAzkabaninhisAnimagusform,astheMinistrydidnottakethisintoaccountwhenimprisoninghim.PeterPettigrew
managedtofakehisdeathandhidefromtherestoftheworldinhisAnimagusform,astheMinistrydidnottakethisintoaccounteithersinceitwouldhelpthemconsiderthe
possibilitythathewasalive,andhereferreditasaneffectivedisguisetotheDarkLord.

ThepenaltyforfailingtoregisterasanAnimagusisasentenceinAzkaban,[7]althoughthelengthoftimeisunknown.RitaSkeetergaveupanentireyearofwritingarticles,hermain
meansoflivelihood,sothatHermioneGrangerwouldnotturnherinasunregistered,andconsentedtowritinganarticleaboutHarry'saccountofthenightLordVoldemortwas
resurrectedfreeofchargeatHermione'srequest.Thatsuggestsaratherlengthysentence,eventhoughbeingsenttoAzkabanforanylengthoftimeisaconsiderablybadpunishment
tobeginwith.

Duetothecomplexityofthemagicinvolved,thetimeittakes,andthelimiteduseoftheability,Animagihavebecomeveryrare.TherewasatotalofsevenknownregisteredAnimagi
inthetwentiethcentury.ItisalsopartiallybecauseofthiscomplexitythatAnimagiarerequiredtoregisterthemselves.

KnownandspeculatedAnimagi
PreRegistrationSystem

FalcoAesalon Cliodna Morrigan MorganLeFay LisettedeLapin

Falcon Seabird Crow Bird Whiterabbit
(possibly)

Addaphototothisgallery

PostRegistrationsystem

Minerva Unidentified JamesPotter SiriusBlack PeterPettigrew RitaSkeeter

McGonagall witch Tallredstag Shaggyblack Fatgreyrat Bigbluebeetle
Silvertabbycat Blackcat (unregistered) dog (unregistered) (unregistered)
(registered) (registered) (unregistered)

Addaphototothisgallery

Miscellaneous

Babbitty AdrianTutley
(fictional gerbil[8]
character)

Addaphototothisgallery

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Etymology WatchDogs2 GiftGuide SuperMarioRun TravellikeBatmanan

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Animagusisacombinationoftheword"animal"andtheLatinword"magus,"meaning"animalwizard."
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Behindthescenes
J.K.RowlinghasstatedthatshewouldfancyanotterherfavouriteanimalasherAnimagusform,thoughifsheactuallytransformed,shesuspectsshemightbe"aguinea
pigorsomething,whichwouldbequiteembarrassing."[9]
J.K.RowlingoncejokedthatGodricGryffindorwasactuallytheGiantSquidintheHogwartslake.
AccordingtoW.O.M.B.A.T.,anAnimagustransformationistwoofthefollowing:akindofSelfTransfiguration,akindofSelfCharm,orakindofmagicthatisneither
TransfigurationnorCharm.Youareaskedtopickthestatementthatisincorrect.ThiswouldmeanAnimagustransformationiseitherakindofSelfTranfigurationbutnotactually
aTransfigurationorCharmspell,akindofSelfCharmbutnotactuallyaTransfigurationorCharmspell,orakindofSelfTransfigurationandCharmspell.
InthefilmadaptationofHarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban,PeterPettigrewisfullyclothedwhenhetransformstohishumanformintheShriekingShack,butlater,when
hetransformstoarat,heleaveshisclothesbehind.
AlsointhefilmadaptationofHarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkabanSirius'sAnimagusformisalargetoughlookingdogbutinOrderofPhoenix,helooksmorelikeakind
harmlessdog.Itcouldbethathefixedhisappearances.
AnAnimagusdoesnotknowwhathisorheranimalformwillbepriortothetransformation.[9]
Interestingly,thefirstfourknownAnimagipriortotheregistrationsystemalltooktheformofbirds(FalcoAesalon,Morrigan,MorganleFayandCliodna).Thetwoknown
registeredAnimagibothbecomecats(MinervaMcGonagallandanunknownwitch).
AlbusDumbledoremadeanotewithinTheTalesofBeedletheBardtoexplainforMinervaMcGonagallthat,whileAnimagiareusuallypeoplewhoseektoavoidpunishmentwhen
theybrokethelaw,shemerelybecameonetofurtherherstudiesinTransfiguration.ShelearnedtobecomeanAnimagusunderDumbledore'stutelageduringhertimeasa
student.[1]
AteacherwhoteachestheskilldoesnotneedtobeanAnimagushimself/herself,asshownwhenProfessorDumbledoretaughtMinervaMcGonagall.
Itisnotknowniftheregistrationsystemisusedworldwide,orjustbysomecountries.
Inlatin,thefemaleformofMagusisMaga.However,femaleAnimagiareneverreferredtoas"Animaga"or"Animagae",whichwouldbethefemaleplural,incanon.

Seealso
Metamorphmagus
AmatoAnimoAnimatoAnimagus

Appearances
HarryPotterandthePhilosopher'sStone(Firstappearance)
HarryPotterandthePhilosopher'sStone(film)
HarryPotterandthePhilosopher'sStone(videogame)
HarryPotterandtheChamberofSecrets
HarryPotterandtheChamberofSecrets(film)
HarryPotterandtheChamberofSecrets(videogame)
HarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban(FirstidentifiedasAnimagus)
HarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban(film)
HarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban(videogame)
HarryPotterandtheGobletofFire
HarryPotterandtheGobletofFire(film)
HarryPotterandtheOrderofthePhoenix
HarryPotterandtheOrderofthePhoenix(film)
HarryPotterandtheOrderofthePhoenix(videogame)
HarryPotterandtheHalfBloodPrince
HarryPotterandtheHalfBloodPrince(film)
HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows
HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows:Part1
HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows:Part2
TheTalesofBeedletheBard
LEGOHarryPotter:BuildingtheMagicalWorld
LEGOHarryPotter
LEGOHarryPotter:Years14
LEGOHarryPotter:Years57
HarryPotterforKinect
Pottermore
LEGOHarryPotter
HarryPotter:TheCharacterVault
HarryPotter:TheCreatureVault

Notesandreferences
1.1.01.1TheTalesofBeedletheBardAlbusDumbledore'scommentaryfor"BabbittyRabbittyandherCacklingStump"

2.Pottermorefactsfromthe2014UKeditionsoftheHarryPotterbooks(transcriptandlinktophotographshere )

3.QuidditchThroughtheAges

4.2004WorldBookDayChat
FantasticBeasts,SuperMario
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6.HarryPotterandthePrisonerofAzkaban(film)

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7.HarryPotterandtheOrderofthePhoenix,Chapter25(TheBeetleatBay)HermioneGrangerinstructedRitaSkeetertointerviewHarryPottertruthfullyandfreeofcharge,commenting,"Otherwise,asyouvery
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wellknow,IwillinformtheauthoritiesthatyouareanunregisteredAnimagus.Ofcourse,theProphetmightgiveyouratheralotforaninsider'saccountoflifeinAzkaban."
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8.8.08.1PottermoreWritingbyJ.K.Rowling:"Uagadou"

9.9.09.1Edinburgh"cubreporter"PressConference,availableviaAccioQuote!

Transfiguration(class)

Professors:AlbusDumbledoreMinervaMcGonagall

Textbooks:ABeginner'sGuidetoTransfigurationIntermediateTransfigurationAGuidetoAdvancedTransfiguration

Knownpractitioners:EmericSwitchCirceFalcoAesalonMirabellaPlunkettThaddeusThurkell

TransfigurationspellsstudiedatHogwarts:ChairtocatMatchtoneedleSnailtoTeapotTeacuptoRatSwitchingSpellTransformingSpellAviforsSpellMiceto
SnuffboxesBeetleButtonsRabbitSlippersVeraVertoTeapottotortoiseDraconiforsSpellLapiforsSpellVanishingSpellOwltooperaglassesGuineafowltoguinea
pigHedgehogtopincushionSmallChildtoRatMeddlingMantoMonkeyCrinusMuto

BranchesofTransfiguration:TransformationVanishmentConjurationUntransfiguration

Animagi

BeforeRegistrationSystem

FalcoAesalon(Falcon)MorganleFay(Bird)Cliodna(SeaBird)

Registered

MinervaMcGonagall(Cat)Unidentifiedwitch(Cat)Fiveunidentifiedindividuals(Unknown)

Unregistered

JamesPotter(Stag)SiriusBlack(Dog)PeterPettigrew(Rat)RitaSkeeter(Beetle)

FictionalAnimagi

Babbitty(Rabbit)

Categories: Animagi

Languages: Espaol Polski Franais Suomi

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HermioneGranger1313 42minutesago Harrypotterfreak233 21hoursago

OksoIwillstartwiththenameofacharacterinHPex.Tonksthenu I'llsayacharacterforexampleRonThenyouhavetosayacharacterbeginningwiththe
havetosayanothercharactersname... lastletterofthe...

1 25 RolfScamander81 adayago

(PleasewaitfornextupcomingRPforanyregistrationsor...

Catherene 6hoursago
GRYFFINDORFrancescaPotter@GinnyPotterisAwsomeGarimaPotter
@Garima2003hpCathereneMalfoy@CathereneJean... HermioneGranger1313 22hoursago

Goonlinetowww.hogwartsishere.com

6 40

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