Animagus

In the Harry Potter universe, an animagus is a wizard or witch capable of changing into an animal. Several animagi have been mentioned in the Harry Potter books, most famously Professor McGonagall, who is depicted in the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as being able to change into a cat.

Becoming an animagus is difficult, taking years, and a wizard/witch is able to turn into a specific form - it is not a general talent allowing one to become any animal.

Offically, all animagi have to register themselves with the Ministry of Magic, as transforming into an animal can be extremely dangerous; also, registering their specific markings allows the Ministry to track crimes committed in animal form, or wizards/witches who might use an animal form to escape justice. However, several unauthorised animagi have been mentioned in the series. These include:

• James Potter (into an antelope)
• Sirius Black (into a large dog)
• Peter Pettigrew (into a rat)
• Rita Skeeter (into a beetle)