If “A potion spends that which is invested in the creation of its ingredients.” then what the heck goes into an Animagus potion? Something that’s been transfigured a lot?
Edit: It doesn’t seem like the method for becoming an Animagus is described in canon, so the potion aspect might be new to MoR.
As counter-proof, a person’s Animagus form is supposed to represent an aspect of their personality or what they want to be. There are only two characters whose corporeal patronus and animagus forms are shown to us. McGonagall (both in canon and HPMoR) is a cat animagus and has a cat patronus charm. James Potter (in canon) is both a stag animagus and has a stag patronus. In HPMoR Hermoine already knows what her patronus would be if she could make one; she says Otter and in 4 years later in canon she creates an Otter patronus. This would imply that anyone could know beforehand what their animagus/patronus would be.
As counter-evidence against my theory, I should note that Rita Skeeter was a beetle animagus: a form that provided her with significant material advantage. It’s possible that she’s just has a ‘beetle-like’ personality and her patronus form is also a beetle, but it’s equally probable that she chose the animagus form of beetle intentionally. If the latter is true then my theory is incorrect; although it would still mean you’d be able to find out your animagus form beforehand.
Side note: In books we observe that a patronus can change form under unusual circumstances and we aren’t told if animagus forms can change. However, do note that the one patronus we see change belongs to Nymphadora Tonks who is already a metamorphagus (and thus more malleable than most). It’s possible that her animagus form could change even if others’ could not.
I would have never expected Snape to have a doe Patronus either. Additionally, I wouldn’t expect Dumbledore to have a phoenix Animagus form. Although I suppose if anyone had a phoenix as their Animagus it would be him; he is a master of transmutation.
There are not many data points to consider. In canon, there were only 7 registered Animagi in the entire century (though hilariously four unregistered Animagi canon!Harry knows about). At such a low sample size it could be coincidence or just the simple matter of liking an animal so choosing it as both your Animagus and Patronus form. I do weight my quoted theory as marginally probable, maybe 70% at best.
Whoops. It seems my memory was playing tricks on me; that’s not actually stated in the story. The scene I was thinking of was:
All prisoners are tested before their arrival at Azkaban; and if they are Animagi, their Animagus form is destroyed. But we had not considered that someone protected by a Patronus Charm while taking the potion and performing the meditation, might be able to become an Animagus after they went to Azkaban—”
“I understood,” Severus said, having by now put on his customary sneer, “that the Animagus meditation required considerable time.”
“Well, Mr. Snape,” Thicknesse barked, “records show that Bellatrix Black was an Animagus before she was sentenced to Azkaban and her form destroyed; so maybe her second meditation didn’t take as much time as her first!”
Not necessarily—what would the Polyjuice make you look like? Also, hair in Polyjuice is used at time of use, not at time of brewing, and that may be the difference.
More likely, from what we know in MoR, would be something from a troll. “The troll is unique among magical creatures in continuously maintaining a form of Transfiguration on itself—it is always transforming into its own body”(Ch. 16). Also, rereading that passage, with it’s “Expose them to sunlight” bit, does make the potion Harry brewed in 78 a lot more interesting. It’s probably too obscure to ever come up again, except maybe as a throwaway line about brewing troll repellant for sale, but it’s amusing anyways.
If “A potion spends that which is invested in the creation of its ingredients.” then what the heck goes into an Animagus potion? Something that’s been transfigured a lot?
Edit: It doesn’t seem like the method for becoming an Animagus is described in canon, so the potion aspect might be new to MoR.
Maybe just part of the animal?
Except you don’t know what your animal is until after you take the potion.
As counter-proof, a person’s Animagus form is supposed to represent an aspect of their personality or what they want to be. There are only two characters whose corporeal patronus and animagus forms are shown to us. McGonagall (both in canon and HPMoR) is a cat animagus and has a cat patronus charm. James Potter (in canon) is both a stag animagus and has a stag patronus. In HPMoR Hermoine already knows what her patronus would be if she could make one; she says Otter and in 4 years later in canon she creates an Otter patronus. This would imply that anyone could know beforehand what their animagus/patronus would be.
As counter-evidence against my theory, I should note that Rita Skeeter was a beetle animagus: a form that provided her with significant material advantage. It’s possible that she’s just has a ‘beetle-like’ personality and her patronus form is also a beetle, but it’s equally probable that she chose the animagus form of beetle intentionally. If the latter is true then my theory is incorrect; although it would still mean you’d be able to find out your animagus form beforehand.
Side note: In books we observe that a patronus can change form under unusual circumstances and we aren’t told if animagus forms can change. However, do note that the one patronus we see change belongs to Nymphadora Tonks who is already a metamorphagus (and thus more malleable than most). It’s possible that her animagus form could change even if others’ could not.
I would expect that if Snape became an Animagus, he would not turn into a female deer.
I would have never expected Snape to have a doe Patronus either. Additionally, I wouldn’t expect Dumbledore to have a phoenix Animagus form. Although I suppose if anyone had a phoenix as their Animagus it would be him; he is a master of transmutation.
There are not many data points to consider. In canon, there were only 7 registered Animagi in the entire century (though hilariously four unregistered Animagi canon!Harry knows about). At such a low sample size it could be coincidence or just the simple matter of liking an animal so choosing it as both your Animagus and Patronus form. I do weight my quoted theory as marginally probable, maybe 70% at best.
Reference?
Whoops. It seems my memory was playing tricks on me; that’s not actually stated in the story. The scene I was thinking of was:
Metamorphmagus hair? No, that would be Polyjuice, wouldn’t it… huh.
Not necessarily—what would the Polyjuice make you look like? Also, hair in Polyjuice is used at time of use, not at time of brewing, and that may be the difference.
More likely, from what we know in MoR, would be something from a troll. “The troll is unique among magical creatures in continuously maintaining a form of Transfiguration on itself—it is always transforming into its own body”(Ch. 16). Also, rereading that passage, with it’s “Expose them to sunlight” bit, does make the potion Harry brewed in 78 a lot more interesting. It’s probably too obscure to ever come up again, except maybe as a throwaway line about brewing troll repellant for sale, but it’s amusing anyways.