Animagi are witches and wizards who have learned the complex art of transforming into an animal. Animagi all have distinguishing features in their animal form to set them apart from normal animals (something that carries over from their human form). And ALL animagi are required to register with the Ministry (or whatever government they report to). Anyone that fails to register and is caught will be sent to Azkaban.
While in animal form, you will have the animal’s ‘natural instincts’ but you are also able to fight it and act the way you desire. But this does make it easier to blend in as a normal animal at times! You will maintain your normal life span and not the animal’s. (Example: Wormtail lived as a rat for 12+ years. Rats do not live that long, so he was aging like a human.)
Legilimens are unable to enter your mind or persuade your thoughts while you are in animal form, nor are they aware of your real identity being human without prior knowledge.
At Hogwarts and Ilvermorny they are taught about Animagi at an early age but are not taught how to learn the ability. Those that desire to learn it must be in NEWT level Transfiguration classes (6th-7th years), and at least 17-years old (of age).The Transfiguration professor will oversee the process and guide them through the steps. Druid children, and Uagadou students are taught how to become Animagi at an exceptionally young age.
HOW TO BECOME AN ANIMAGUS
We’ve been given quite a bit of information on how one becomes an Animagus. It requires several steps that we’ll briefly cover, as anyone that wishes to play an animagi should know what their character had to go through!
The animal you turn into will be the same as your Patronus (if you wish for it to be different please contact staff for our exceptions to this restriction.) and limited to non magical animals (you can't turn into magical creatures.).
- Keep a Mandrake leaf in their mouth for an entire month (even when eating and sleeping. If it falls out at any time you have to start over.)
- At the next (visible) full moon, the wizard must put their spit-soaked leaf in a phial within range of the moon's pure rays. (If the moon's hiding behind clouds or something you have to start over.)
- In the phial you will also need dew that hasn't been exposed to sunlight or human feet for a full seven days (again… start over if you fail.)
- Keep the potion hidden and out of sunlight. For a while.
- Every day at sunrise and sunset you have to say. "Amato Animo Animato Animagus." (This can go on for days or weeks or months.)
- Wait for an electrical storm. When one finally blows in, get outside, drink the potion and say the incantation again. You’ll be transformed into your Animal form.
- Go register with the Ministry.
We don’t require characters to go through all of this in character, but if you want to have an existing character start to learn how to become an Animagi it could be fun and interesting to roleplay all of this out! It’s entirely up to you.