Human Transfiguration
By Kya Lark
Wizards and Witches have been able to transfigure themselves into lower life forms for over a century now. Those with this ability are called animagus and are registered with the Ministry of Magic. For the past decade, Sir Hector Vaunbricht has been looking into the possibility of human to human transfiguration. The only known life forms that can achieve this are Shape-Shifters. Shape-Shifters must make contact with the person they desire to transform into. Although this transformation lasts for less than a day, it was the foundation of Sir Vaunbricht’s research.
Vaunbricht performed testing on a deceased shape-shifter, hoping to learn its secrets. He hypothesized that a shape shifter drained the energy, or life force, of its target in order to assume its physical nature. In his examination of the shape-shifter’s brain, Vaunbricht discovered a peculiar abnormality of the hypothalamus. A normal hypothalamus regulates the bodies temperature, sleep, and appetite. It also activates, controls, and integrates the peripheral automatic nervous system. Which means that it can automatically jump-start the rear nervous system, which controls all functions of the body. The shape-shifters hypothalamus however also controlled brain wave patterns. With this discovery, Vaunbricht furthered hypothesized that this unique pairing of hypothalamus and brain wave was the basis for their ability to transfigure into humans.
Pairing animal transfiguration with shape-shifter’s higher life form transfiguration, Vaunbricht aspires to discover a way for Witches and Wizards to transfigure into higher life forms also. Most witches and wizards use a polyjuice potion to change into another person. This potion is complex and time consuming however, thus the urgency for Vaunbricht to find a technique.
With each passing day Vaunbricht finds himself closer to a Human-to-Human Transfiguration Theory. It took him less than two years to discover the connection the process by which a shape-shifter changes. It is important, though, for Vaunbricht to find a way to transfigure without causing the medical fatigue that a shape-shifters victim feels.
It is realistic to imagine that in less than five years time there will be a way to transfigure according to the Vaunbricht Theory. It remains to be seen how the Wizarding world will react to such a discovery. To become another person, even if only temporarily, can be an abusive power. The Ministry of Magic will no doubt raise its concerns as that time nears.
By Myra Banks
The Ministry of Magic’s Committee on Animal Transfiguration has released a report on the long-term effects of animal transfiguration. This research, compiled over a period of ten years, focuses on those who have not had a sound education in animal transfiguration.
Professor Truhart, head of the Committee, commented, “As most know, animal transfiguration is a very complex form of magic. Those that are able to complete the transfiguration must register themselves with the Ministry. There is a good percentage of the Animagus population that has not had a sound educational background in animal transfiguration.”
“Our study focused on these people, and the effects that their transfiguration had on their bodies. What we found was rather astonishing.”
What they found was that in less than ten years, 75% of those uneducated Animagus suffered from schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder in which the person suffers from a gross distortion of reality. Disturbances are also found in language and communication, withdrawal from society, and disorganization and/or fragmentation of thought, perception and emotional reaction. The person suffers from delusions, hallucinations, ramblings, and stylized patterns of speech (such as, evasiveness and incoherence). They also become withdrawn, regressive, and engage in bizarre behavior.
By the ten-year mark, some participants of Truhart’s study began to show symptoms of schizophrenia. They would start to engage in the activities commonly associated with the animal they transfigured into.
For example, one participant’s, Erin, animagus form was that of a dog. When the schizophrenia began to show, researchers noticed the following personality changes. Erin began to bark occasionally during civilized conversations. She also began to eat animal foods, sleep in small, enclosed spaces, and walk on all fours. Eventually, Erin transfigured into her animagus form and refused to return from it. Her mental transformation had become complete.
These are quite serious findings, and the Committee has been authorized to continue their study on the latter mentioned group of Animagus. The Committee is also going to begin studying more educated Animagus. Perhaps witches and wizards are putting themselves at risk of serious mental problems later in life.