Hot Topics-Week #1

I think the reason that we have not seen much transfiguration is because it is one of the more difficult forms of magic. I do find it interesting that during Harry's parents time James, Sirius and Peter all were capable of becoming animagus, as it does not appear to be something that anyone in Harry's present class can do (with the exception of Hermione). I think we could see more transfiguration during book 7 because we'll see far more battles against highly skilled dark wizards.

i agree with Rigby. Transfiguration is a tough subject to learn and not many wizards are very good at turning one thing into another. Even just saying that makes it sound hard....well at least to me. hopefully there will be more in the future and i think that James, Peter and Suirus were able to become animagus at that early of an age because they were determined and also they were quite bright too

Perhaps we've not yet seen much transfiguration because JKR can't reveal too much as it is going to be used in book seven? Although a lot of the transfiguration we have seen has been important, for example animagus transformations.

I also think that perhaps in terms of the plots of the books, it hasn't been that important. For example, in book one, things like flying and potions prove important to the plot. Same with potions in CoS, and ComC in PoA.

I agree with Laura on the fact that j.k might not want to reveal anything with the transfiguration side or it just might not be such an important subject we hear as much about charms as we do transfiguration and charms would also come in useful for fighting dark wizards. So maybe the lesson is important but not as important as others the same applys for herbology as well. We hear about them becuase Harry has to take them to become an auror and his skills there might help in the futre but we hardly ever hear about astronomy so that subject could be completly no relivent.
One other thing could be that j.k simply didn't have time to insert all those lessons she does some to show about Harrys schooling etc but they the main focus of the books are they.

I am still learning about transfigurationg but, I agree with Laua I believe JK is wanting the elimate of surpise in book 7,if she used alot more transfigurations it the other book it wouldn't be that much surprise in the last but I do believe it is going to play a major role in defeating he should not be named if they work together as a team as always[/b]

Rigby Dumbledore wrote:

I think the reason that we have not seen much transfiguration is because it is one of the more difficult forms of magic.

So...do older more trained wizards use Transfiguration more often? Such as Death Eaters or the Order?

i say that they would because of the fact that they are older and are more educated in the subject.... The order an dthe Death Eaters ahd all already gone through that education and had learned more through thier jobs and others that they meet and become friends with.

I think that it's natural to assume that Aurors would have top skills in transfiguration. Voldemort would likewise want his Deatheaters to be competant in transfiguration. Laura brought up the point that Rowling might not have focused on the subject much simply because it has not been crucial to the plot thus far, which I think is a fair statement. However in the hunt for horcruxes I am sure that we will see Hermione, and possibly Harry, applying lessons learned at Hogwarts to aid their search. I think the ability to transfigure would help them greatly in keeping themselves and their mission a secret.

Transfiguration is quite important becuase say they needed to get across a river they could change into a mermaid etc becuase Harry could not get some gillyweed just like that. I think it is most likly that it will be Hermione using the transfiguration.

Considering the example polly gave of having to cross a river, they could also transfigure something into a bridge or anything like that, but whatever they do, I also think that there'll be more Transfiguration in DH because it will be more important than it was before. We shouldn't forget that the books are pretty much written from Harry's POV, and he simply might not have figured out the importance of Transfiguration yet, and there wasn't any other reason to focus on the lessons. For example, there's always a reason to tell how Snape has been the total meany in the last Potions (DADA) lesson, or how stupid Trelawney acts, but there's not really anything special about McGonagall's lessons.
As for the question whether older more trained wizards use Transfiguration more often: I agree that they do because they simply are better at it, plus with it being easier for them, they probably also use it for practical meanings at work, in the household or something the like. That's as much as comes to my mind right now
Gemmy

well those lessons that McGonagall gives are sometimes improtant... like the time that she turned herself into a cat... that was important because later harry found out that his own father was an animagus.... so there has already been some transfigarution already used that was improtant

True, there have been many examples of transfiguration in the previous HP books, but they have yet to be crucial to Harry and his battle against Voldemort. Are there times in the books that the characters should have used transfiguration? For instance, I wonder if it would have been possible to transfigure the liquid Dumbledore was forced to drink in HBP into harmless water?

harry tried to turn it into water but he did not succed... it was planned for them to take it out of the lake..... and as for the battle against voldemort i think that he would be using more of dada than transfiguration against him... afterall he was the tops in his grade

he did well in transfiguration as well and I think this might help. I think voldemort might be trying to use transfiguration. Did dumbledore use transfiguration at the ministry or was that another type of thing becuase if he did then that show that transfiguration can be life saving

(isn't there supposed to be another topic now o well)

I guess that in case Voldemort uses Transfiguration in a battle, at that point Harry should have to understand just how crucial it might be.
Then again, I'm not too sure about this, but didn't Harry and Ron always do, erm, not that well at Transfiguration? Or were they just worse than Hermione, but doing as bad/well as everyone else?

Harry and Ron got Exceeds Expectations- they needed to in order to continue with Transfiguration and move on to become Aurors. So maybe even if we haven't seen them do it much they will still be able to summon up the knowledge and skill when they need it.

Hermione is the best so she just made Ron and Harry look like they werent very good at it but i think that they did what most wizards thier age should have been able to do

Well Done to everyone...scores are as follows


Ravenclaw
Rigby Dumbledore:50
Stephy:50
Polly:50
Wedelin Creevy:20

Gryffindor
Raxacoricofallapatorius:25

Slytherin
Gemma_Cullen-Malfoy:40