Sirius Black as "Padfoot," one of the four unregistered Animagi.
- "Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog. In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent."
- — Sirius Black, about his Animagus ability[src]
An Animagus (pl. Animagi) is a witch or wizard who can morph him or herself into a specific animal at will. It is a learned, rather than hereditary, skill, unlike those of a Metamorphmagus.
Aquiring the Skill
Minerva McGonagall, one of the seven registered Anamagi of the twentieth century.
Only very powerful and skilled wizards are able to become Animagi. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and arduous, and has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong. Once the initial training is over, an Animagus can change at will at any time, with or without a wand.
Animagi can only take on the form of one specific animal. This animal form is not chosen by the wizard, but determined by their personality and inner traits. Thus, one's animagus form is a reflection of one's inner nature. It is unknown whether Animagi can take the form of a more "magical" creature
Each Animagus bears an identifying mark on their animal form that is caused by something on their human body. This may be a physical trait like dental structure, or an aquired trait such as glasses. For example, both Minerva McGonagall and Rita Skeeter have markings on their animagus forms caused by their spectacles. If an Animagus undergoes a major physical change, such as the loss of a limb, their animal form will also reflect that. Also, an animagus in animal form will retain the lifespan of an ordinary human being.
In addition, an Animagus will appear to lose their clothing upon morphing. The clothing will reappear upon reestablishing the human form. What physically happens to the clothing is unknown.
Transfiguration vs. Animorphing
Animagus Peter Pettigrew as "Scabbers", Ron Weasley's pet rat.
The difference between mere Transfiguration and the Animagus morphing ability is a transfigured wizard will lose his or her mental capabilities and take on the intelligence and brain power of the animal, whereas an Animagus is able to continue to think as a human does.
An Animagus also has the ability to to communicate with normal animals. There seems to be a clear understanding of want and need in this communication ability, but the full extent and quality of it is unknown. Sirius Black's Animagus form, a black dog named Padfoot, was able to communicate on a rudimentary level with Crookshanks, Hermione Granger's part-Kneazle cat. The precise form of communication is yet unknown, though it is clearly not telepathy since Sirius did not know Crookshanks' name until Hermione told him.
There is a particular spell which creates a blue and white flash that will force an Animagus out of their animal form. Remus Lupin and Sirius Black once used it to force Peter Pettigrew out of his rat form. This spell could possibly be the Homorphus Charm Gilderoy Lockhart claims he used on the Wagga Wagga Werewolf to force him into his human form. However, given the source, the Homorphus Charm might not even exist.
It is also important to note that a werewolf is fundamentally different from an Animagus. Lycanthropy is caused by a blood infection transmitted through the bite of a werewolf, whereas the Animagus skill is learned.
Wizarding Law
- "Rita Skeeter isn’t going to be writing anything at all for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her... I found out how she was listening in on private conversations when she wasn’t supposed to be coming into the grounds... Rita Skeeter is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn into a beetle... I've told her she’s to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. See if she can’t break the habit of writing horrible lies about people."
- — Hermione Granger on her blackmail of Rita Skeeter[src]
Unregistered Animagus Rita Skeeter.
Every Animagus is required to register with the Ministry of Magic at the Improper Use of Magic Office. This registration includes revealing one's animal form and one's distinguishing markings. The Register is available to the public.
The penalty for failing to register as an Animagus is unknown, but presumed to be quite severe. Rita Skeeter gave up an entire year of writing articles, her main means of livelihood, so that Hermione Granger would not turn her in as unregistered.
Due to the complexity of the magic involved in becoming an Animagus, they have become very rare. There was a total of seven registered Anamagi in the twentieth century. It is also partially because of this complexity, in addition to the danger involved, that Animagi are required to register themselves.
Known Animagi
- Falco Aesalon — Falcon and the first recorded Animagus; the registration system was not in existance in his time.
- Morgan le Fay — Bird; the registration system was not in existance in her time.
- Minerva McGonagall — Cat; registered.
- James Potter - Stag; unregistered.
- Sirius Black — Dog; unregistered.
- Peter Pettigrew — Rat; unregistered.
- Rita Skeeter — Beetle; unregistered.
- Cliodna - Sea Bird; the registration system was probably not in existence in her time
- 6 unknown animagi — forms unknown; registered.
- The fictional character Babbitty of the tale Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump — rabbit.
- Bobby Barker - Wolf; registered
Behind the scenes
J.K. Rowling once joked that Godric Gryffindor was actually the Giant Squid in the Hogwarts lake.