Chapter 119: Animagus
As the bell rang to signal the end of class, Jon Hart and Zacharias Smith hurried out of the Divination classroom and made their way down Professor Trelawney’s spiral staircase.
“How did you come up with that?” Zacharias stifled a laugh, glancing back to make sure Professor Trelawney hadn’t followed them. “That old fraud looked like she was about to eat you alive!”
“Come on, let’s go!” Jon winked. “We’ve got Transfiguration next.”
Just as they returned to the castle, they were caught in one of the staircases’ mischievous fits. It took them quite a while to finally find their way to the Transfiguration classroom.
When they arrived, only a few students were present, and Professor McGonagall hadn’t yet arrived.
Jon chose a seat near the middle and pulled out his textbook, while Zacharias sat down behind him.
Transfiguration was still held jointly with the Gryffindors, and within a few minutes, their classmates from Gryffindor began filing in one after another.
A group of Gryffindor girls led by Ginny Weasley kept sneaking glances at Jon, whispering quietly among themselves.
...
They didn’t have to wait long.
Professor Minerva McGonagall soon entered the room.
“Welcome to the new term!” Professor McGonagall’s tone was as stern as ever. “From third year onward, your studies in Transfiguration will advance to a higher level. You will no longer be learning only simple, impractical spells as you did in your first two years.”
“You will now face more complex transformations, which are also more dangerous—so you must exercise caution at all times...”
In McGonagall’s classroom, no one dared whisper. Jon listened carefully while flipping through the contents of Emeric Switch’s Intermediate Guide to Transfiguration.
“Now, turn to page three,” Professor McGonagall instructed. “Our first lesson this term is an introduction to the Animagus!”
“First question: can anyone tell me what an Animagus is?” Her eyes swept the class. “Yes, Miss Weasley.”
Ginny Weasley stood nervously. “A wizard who can freely transform into a particular animal while retaining their magical powers.”
“A textbook-perfect answer. Five points to Gryffindor!” McGonagall nodded approvingly. “An Animagus allows a wizard to shift freely between human and animal form. With enough skill, no wand or incantation is required, and there are no harmful side effects.”
“But Animagus transformation is highly complex. A wizard cannot choose just any animal—the form is tied to the wizard’s own nature. Typically, each witch or wizard can only transform into one animal. And note this well: Animagus transformations are limited to non-magical creatures. Attempting to transform into magical creatures—such as a phoenix, dragon, or hippogriff—will result in unpredictable and extremely dangerous consequences.”
“Moreover, the process of becoming an Animagus carries significant risk. That is why the Ministry of Magic enforces strict control, requiring every Animagus to register their animal form and distinguishing features with the Office for the Improper Use of Magic.”
“In the Middle Ages, Animagus transformation was quite popular and seen as the mark of a skilled Transfiguration master. After all, the ability to transform into an animal without a wand or incantation could be a highly effective means of survival in dangerous situations.”
“For example: the French witch Lisette de Lapin was arrested in Paris in 1422 after being accused by Muggles of witchcraft. Her wand was broken, and she was sentenced. Yet the night before her execution, she vanished from the Bastille. In truth, Lisette de Lapin was an Animagus—she could transform into a white rabbit, small enough to squeeze between the bars of her cell window. Henry VI, the last king of England from the House of Lancaster, famously kept a large white rabbit as his closest advisor. Many thought him mad, but some believe that rabbit was Lisette herself. After all, following her escape, witnesses swore they saw a white rabbit sailing the English Channel in a cauldron rigged with tiny sails.”
“Of course, with the passing of time and the establishment of the International Statute of Secrecy, the role and status of Animagus magic declined. At the International Symposium on Transfiguration in 1711, the requirement that participants be Animagi was abolished. And in 1821, the Animagus Regulation Act was enacted on Saint Helena, mandating that every Animagus must be officially registered with their country’s Ministry of Magic.”
...
After this thorough explanation, Professor McGonagall transformed before their eyes into a tabby cat—indistinguishable from the real thing, save for the spectacle-like markings around its eyes.
The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students burst into enthusiastic applause.
“Of course, the purpose of today’s lesson is only to give you an understanding of Animagi,” McGonagall said as she resumed her human form. “Those of you truly interested may apply formally to the Ministry of Magic in sixth year, provided you earn Outstanding grades in your OWLs for both Transfiguration and Potions. At that time, I will personally guide you through the steps and procedures of becoming an Animagus.”
“The process requires several complex potions—and they must be brewed by the Animagus themselves,” she added.
Jon skimmed through the chapter in Intermediate Transfiguration Guide. Sure enough, it contained only an introduction, with no description of the actual steps or procedures. Clearly, Animagus transformation was a branch of magic tightly restricted by the Ministry.
When the bell rang to end class, Professor McGonagall assigned homework. Jon tucked his textbook into his bag and left the room with Zacharias.
“Animagus... that sounds amazing,” Zacharias said eagerly. “When I hit sixth year, I’m definitely going to ask Professor McGonagall to teach me. Then I can turn into a bee, a mosquito, or a hummingbird—sneak into the girls’ bathroom, and do whatever I want...”
“That’s assuming you get Outstanding in both Transfiguration and Potions,” Jon said, patting him on the shoulder and shaking his head. “Stop daydreaming. Let’s grab lunch—we’ve got Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon!”
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