In Harry Potter, is one's patronus form and their animagus form the same animal?

Question

I was talking with a friend today about Harry Potter. At the end of the discussion, I had one question that neither of us could answer... Is the form of one's animagus the same as the form of one's patronus? That is to say, since McGonagall's animagus form is a cat, is her patronus one also? And, since Hermione's patronus form is an otter, (theoretically) would her animagus form be an otter?

And, since Harry's patronus form is a stag, would his animagus form, should he ever achieve the status of animagus, be a stag as well? Or is it simply that his patronus is a stag because it was his father's animagus form and, as J.K. Rowling has said, your animagus form is often related to someone you care for...in which case we don't know what Harry's animagus form would be?

I don't recal having read anything about it in the books but, then again, I never really looked or tried to until today, when I first thought of this question. I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Thanks!

Answer 1

Good question. Time for some thinking.

None of the animagus' ever produced a patronus.

Let's see...a Animagi can be an animal that reflects the wizard's character. James was proud and brave, so he had a stag. Sirius had some "doglike tendacies," so he was dog. And Wormtail had always been a scumbag and and a traitor, so he was suitably a rat. Also, you can't choose an animagus form. You have no control over what animal you want to be, and it can't change. I doubt Pettigrew wanted to be a rat.

Also, a patronus is in the form of an animal that reflects the wizard's character. I think that and animagi's animal form and a patronus would be the same, because they're both animals that reflect character.

Answer 2

One's patronus can change to fall into line with a loved one, as seen in some cases in the books. I understand that, because the skill required to achieve the ability to become an animagus wouldn't allow one to change its form once it has been achieved. I would think that the animagus form is more permanent than the patronus, which is not solid like the animagus, which is an actual transfiguration and not an directed emanation like a patronus.

Answer 3

I'm not sure but I think the two are unrelated.

You get to choose what your animagus animal is. In the third book Sirius talks about how he and James strategically turned into animals large enough to take on a werewolf, while Peter turned into one small enough to get past the whomping willow's branches and touch the not that froze the tree.

Patronuses change form as we see in book six when Tonk's patronus turns into Lupin as a werewolf. But you can't change your animagus form.

Harry's stag is meant to represent his father's protection and love for him.

Answer 4

I don't think so, you know?

Remember, Patronuses can change. And I don't think animagus' can as easily.

I think that, if you're an animagus, you have just an animal you can change into and that's it--- unless you are like Tonks a morphomagus, of course.

If I don't remember wrong, Harry once jokes about trying to change into a toad if he was an animagus... By then he knew already what his patronus was and this did not seem to bother him ;)



That's my impression, of course!

But you make a good point!

Goodluck!

Answer 5

Somewhere, JKR said that someone's Patronus form is a form that a person perceives as their protector. (Like Harry's Patronus is his father's animagus form.) It also says that someone's animagus form represents them as a person- their personality traits and such. So, while the patronus and animagus CAN be the same, they are not always the same and they represent different things.

Answer 6

I think that if they become animagus first that will be their patronus. But if not it will be alike somebody they care for. It can even change. Snape's was a doe because he loved Lily and that was what her's was. I think Harry's is a Stag because of his Father and his Mother.

Answer 7

Not all wizards/witches can transform,....so, no, I don't think so. I believe that your patronus takes a form of its own, and for some, its a particular affinity to the characteristic of the animal...for some, its linked to the memory that conjures it. Like Harry...his patronus takes the form of his father when he was an animal...his happiest memory WAS of his parents, particularly his father. Hermoine....quick witted, ultimately able, adaptable, inquisitive, just like the otter.

I may be totally wrong...but, its what I feel.

Answer 8

I could be totally offbase on this, but I always thought they could somehow choose what they would transform into...

Answer 9

you can't choose the patronus

but it can change.



you can choose your animal animagus.

and that can't change.