My question: What are you intending to use in place of this idea? Is it more logical than Harry learning the Animagus Transformation in presumably under a year? An original take on Animagi can draw attention away from slightly contrived plot points, in many cases.

 

Just thought I'd point out, depending on which Harry you are using, having a good excuse to spend lots of time with someone who knows his parents well, seems to like him, and was a good friend of his parents is a perfectly valid reason. Furthermore, having a stress break before a battle is important as well, and it useful after. Stress Relief is good, and it makes Harry humane, what orphan doesn't want to spend time with people who like them, learn how to cast a cool spell (assuming Harry is interested in learning), and follow in their parent's footsteps?

 

For any of those reasons - you'd do better to get the boy laid or have someone punch him in the face and introduce him to smoking after that... both ways are great stress relievers and would be much better to read than any animagus training...

The only two stories I can think of where Harry gets an animagus ability and both use it in original way and seem like it does contribute for the plot, would be jbern's stories.
Anything else I've read that includes an intensive week/month training before turning the-boy-who-lived into a super chihuahua (hey, the magical equivalent of course... with the deadly eyes of an basilisk O_0 ) has been just as good read as heavy angst story where the main plot point is Harry who can't understand how foolish he'd been to not bring Ginny along on the "Horcrux hunt" where her "awesome" magical power would have crushed the endless legions of Death Eaters.

 

Nonjon's A Black Comedy, where Harry was a ghost animagus, was pretty inspired. Marinda Flairgold's pieces, where Harry's a basilisk/thunderbird/X multianimagus, less so.

 

I always wonder what the point is. I mean, from canon we know that becoming an animagus is a lot of work and probably very time consuming, so why would Harry bother? Most of the animagi in canon had very good reasons for becoming one(Marauders did it for Moony, Skeeter did it so she could eavesdrop). If Harry has a good reason, than I wouldn't mind seeing it in a fic, I guess. Just don't use any faggy magical potions or have him learn it in a month. There are no shortcuts. Pretty sure that's a Potter Law.

 

Your Harry already talks to river spirits. Let's leave out this power just for the sake of keeping the focus on this new, magical atmosphere and not on the tired powerboosts of the past.

 

I would have to agree with the general consensus here. Seeing as it is very easy for you to remove the concept, I don't think that it really makes a big impact on the story. Unless there is some pressing need for Harry to be an animagus, putting it in will simply distract and detract from the central plot of your story. If you think it is needed then by all means place it in, but otherwise I would say to forget about it.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it's been very helpful and illuminating. I added the subplot really early on when I was first outlining--before I'd started writing, really. The further along I got, the less it really fit in. So I guess i'm kind of relieved; I don't like leaving pieces behind, but if it isn't a major draw to anyone, then I think I probably will leave it out.

I think I, too, cringe first when I read about it, and hope it just doesn't suck, rather than expecting it to be a bonus.

 

Well the Evil overlord list says turning into a giant snake never helps.....

I like it as a useful skill, but moderation is needed. The small bird getting away from danger and spying is one of my favorites.

 

I agree with this. If you ever change your mind and do include it, I suggest Megalodon.
Or this guy, because he looks fucking awesome. Giant sea serpent Harry would be a fun thing to see.

 

Perhaps you could link it to the 'otherside' thing you got going on.

A animagus form purely to the otherside. So that way he doesn't have to hitch a ride.

Though, it has to be said crazy!chinesewatersnake was pretty awesome.

 

I'd say leave it out. It's done enough times already in shitty stories. If you use it, make it actually useful instead of the other authors just making him an animagus "just because its cool", which for that reason, is utterly retarded.

 

As has been stated many times over, it's all about your intent with it. I've read stories where it was done in a new, yet engaging way, *cough*BitJ*cough*, and I've read them where it destroyed the purpose behind it, making it out to be a cheap parlor trick. Yes, I can see a bit of leeway over him being a 2nd generation animagus, but not to the point where he destroys his father's record of four/five years without legit reason, as jbern has supplied in Lie and Bungle. That said, you'll want to approach this warily, as you could make or break your story with it.

*shrug* My take on things. >>

 

Yeah, I dont have anything new to add but I'll put in my two bits anyway. I do enjoy reading stories where Harry becomes an animagus, but only if it is relevant to the plot. If he does it just because he can, then it doesnt come into play ever again... Yeah, dont like that so much.

 

I suppose if it's not plot central, it can be used for character development, in connection to his parents.
canon he has a bit of a connection to them while at Hogwarts for example... his old man on the quidditch team, mirror of erised, stag patronus etc.
so I don't see why it couldn't be used in any format, including extreme AU's for his personal character development, and that of his comrades.

 

Because "connecting to his parents" is perhaps not an adequate justification for the huge amount of time it takes to become an animagus?

 

Because becoming an animagus does not connect him with his parents? Not even with his one parent that was an animagus...

 

All I can say is that if I were to write an HP story, I'd certainly have Harry learn the skill. The fact that he didn't in canon when I was sure it would be an important event makes me hate JKR all the more.

Then again, I expected Harry to actually be a hero too, but enough of that.

I would say don't let the fact that it's an overused plot point discourage you, so long as you make it actually relevant to the story. Doing it for shits and giggles is a big no-no, but if you can fit it in and make it believable then I'd say go for it.

The fact that other, poorer authors use and abuse cliches like the Animagus shouldn't preclude you from doing something interesting with it, if you're so inclined.

 

Howdy... is that Laurence Fishburne?