Skip to main content

harry potter - The rules of Transfiguration: examples of making the inedible edible?


Information from the official website of J.K.Rowling is generally considered canon. I remember at least one case when she 'changed her mind' after a particular rule has been published on her website (what happens with a secret if a Secret Keeper dies). Nevertheless, the information from the website can generally be considered reliable.


A rather obscure piece of information is J.K.Rowling's Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test (W.O.M.B.A.T.) published on her website in 2007 and now accessible with a Time Turner.


In particular, we know that only one of the following options is correct (as the software allows you to choose only one option):



Which of the following is CORRECT?
a. Food can be conjured out of thin air.
b. Any object can be Transfigured into food.
c. Foodstuffs can be increased, Transfigured, summoned from a distance and magically cooked.
d. It is impossible to make the inedible, edible.

e. Food-related Charms are some of the simplest forms of magic.


W.O.M.B.A.T. Grade 3, 13 June 2007, question 8



The test appeared on J.K.Rowling's website before the release of Book 7, but we can almost safely assume that there was no time for J.K.Rowling to change her mind after compiling the test (though she must have submitted these questions weeks before they were eventually published).


As Hermione explained in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:



Your mother can’t produce food out of thin air, no one can. Food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfigura[tion]. It’s impossible to make good food out of nothing! You can Summon it if you know where it is, you can transform it, you can increase the quantity if you’ve already got some...



It means that the correct option is c, and therefore all other statements are false. So, apparently, you can make food out of something else, though not any object can be transfigured into food. Can you come up with any example of such transformation mentioned in the books?




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...