The
Exploration of the Wizarding World
Metamorphmagus - Issue No. 1
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to this new blog series, where we will dive into the various magical creatures, abilities and all other oddities, which might arise within the next couple of issues of this bi-weekly series. This is The Exploration of the Wizarding World, where we will be exploring some of the coolest and oddest things that we can think of.
The first issue of The Exploration of the Wizarding World will centre itself around one of my favourite magical beings in the Harry Potter series, which is the witches and wizards, who call themselves metamorphmagi - or metamorphmagus, if it is just one. These wonderful beings are incredibly rare within the Wizarding World and they have the ability to change their appearance at will without the assistance of a wand like many other witches and wizards. This ability is hereditary, which means that you can only be born with this ability and not learn it any other way.
Whenever I think of metamorphmagi, I think of one character in particular and might be a bit obvious as to who I think of. Nymphadora Tonks, the badass auror that Harry Potter met before the start of his fifth year at Hogwarts, when he was travelling to Grimmauld Place with members of the Order of the Phoenix. Tonks, as she likes to be addressed, is a wonderful character in the books through and through, where we see her grow as a character and develop a deep bond with the ever wonderful werewolf, Remus Lupin.
I realise now that I may have lied to you all regarding the ability of a metamorphmagus. They aren’t only able to change their appearance at will, but also subconsciously, where a metamorphmagus might change their appearance against their will to portray their emotions. Tonks usually had very vibrant emotions throughout the fifth book in the Harry Potter series. In the sixth book however, she had boring brown hair to portray the sadness that she felt throughout the book and her early steps towards a relationship with Lupin. As soon the two of them had gotten together, her hair had turned to a bubblegum pink again.
Despite the tragic end to Tonks and Lupin’s story in the books, I have always found the character building for Tonks incredibly entertaining in regards to her magical ability to change her appearance at will - and as said before - and by feeling certain strong emotions.
Metamorhphmagi are in my opinion some of the most amazing beings in the whole of the wizarding world. The prospects for roleplay seem almost endless, when looking at the various jobs, activities or situations, where human transformation is truly inspiring and exciting to write about.
Here on World of Potter, we have a member who won a status contest a few years ago after an incredible entry into the competition. I am talking about the talented Victoria Alexander Rosefall, who has done amazing things through roleplay as a metamorphmagus, so I am just happy she was able to win it back then, because she is absolutely a wonderful writer.
We asked Victoria a question that she had to answer in character about the best and worst things about being an animagus and this was her wonderful answer:
Victoria's answer
"I struggled with what I am for a long time because I found it hard to gain a sense of my own identity as the individual – if everyone else looks one way, then who am I if I can look a thousand? So that's probably the worst part. Also the fact that my appearance tends to give away what I'm feeling, and I'm often a step too late to catch it >:/ so much for being mysterious.
Of course, the best part definitely has to be the amount of stuff I can do or get away with. Don't want to be recognised? Want to sneak in somewhere? Easy peasyyy once you've got it down to an art. Just, er, don't tell my boss I said that D:"
I feel like this answer just proves the various lengths that you can go as a metamorphmagus within the wizarding world. I have always loved this ability and I don’t think anything is going to come close anytime soon - well, maybe apart from a maledictus, but that will be a blog for another day. I think I have talked your heads off enough about these wonderful witches and wizards.
I just want to end by thanking Victoria for her answer to my question and that she is going to continue rocking it at the best metamorphmagus. Hopefully, we’ll see one more join the roster in the future, when we put it up for a status competition in the future once more.
Thank you all for reading this piece of fangirling over Tonks, Victoria and the wonderful metamorphmagi. See you all in two weeks for the next issue in The Exploration of the Wizarding World, which will focus on the ability to talk to snakes - you guessed it! Parselmouths! Ssssee you sssoon!