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harry potter - What are the limits on a Metamorphmagus?


In the Harry Potter books, Metamorphmagi are people with the innate ability to change their own shape at will. Tonks is the main example of a Metamorphmagus, and she is shown changing the shape of her nose, the colour and shape of her hair, and once even taking the form of an entirely different old lady.


What are the limits imposed on this ability, though? Do Metamorphmagi have to maintain some human form? Are they free to morph into any anthropomorphic creature, such as a goblin or a house-elf? What about any animal or plant? Can they go even further, and transform into inanimate objects such as an oversized armchair like Slughorn does through Transfiguration? Can they get as big or as small as they want?



Answer



In Order of the Phoenix, Tonks explains to Harry that she can change her appearance at will, not her shape.



‘I’m a Metamorphmagus,’ she said, looking back at her reflection and turning her head so that she could see her hair from all directions. ‘It means I can change my appearance at will,’ she added, spotting Harry’s puzzled expression in the mirror behind her.

Order of the Phoenix - pages 51-52 - Bloomsbury - chapter 3, The Advance Guard




If there is an example of Tonks changing into another race, such as a goblin or house-elf, I personally cannot recall it from canon.


I don't think being a Metamorphmagi extends to animals because turning oneself into an animal is specifically called an Animagus.


My interpretation of canon is that a Metamorphmagus can change their human appearance. So, yes, Tonks can change her appearance to look like an old lady or Mundungus Fletcher or Aunt Petunia or Dumbledore. But she cannot change her appearance to look like Griphook, Dobby, Firenze, Peeves, or the Weasley clock.


As well, baby Teddy Lupin, who is a Metamorphmagus, in his baby picture is not shown turning into a goblin or chair -- his hair is shown changing colors. As children in the wizarding world do not have control over their magic (Tom Riddle being the exception), our best bet at seeing whether a Metamorphmagus could turn into a broomstick or a Grindylow would have been with Teddy Lupin. Yet he did not turn into anything non-human.


This is only going by what we know from the books. Perhaps a Metamorphmagus has powers we don't know about, but J.K. Rowling hasn't disclosed any to date.


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