Can Voldemort Conjure a Patronus (WAS Defeating Voldemort, )

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 30511

Elizabeth wrote:

> Really? You think V. has *happy* thoughts? 

Oh, yes, I think Voldemort has happy thoughts sufficient to conjure a 
patronus.  Not "skipping-through-a-field-of-daisies" happy thoughts, 
though.  Voldemort, as an Evil Overlord, might conjure a patronus by 
thinking of things he'd like to accomplish that would make him 
happy.  Killing Dumbledore.  Killing Harry.  Conquering the world.  
After all, Voldemort got quite a rush when he thought he was about to 
kill Harry in GoF:  "A little break," said Voldemort, the slit-like 
nostrils dilating with excitement . . . 

I think canon supports the idea that the happy thought needed to 
conjure a patronus needn't be an actual memory, BTW.  It can be a 
wish or desire.  In the maze, Harry conjures a patronus based on the 
desire of "getting out of the maze and celebrating with Ron and 
Hermione."  So, Voldemort's evil desires, bent though they may be, 
probably would be happy enough to allow him to conjure a patronus.

I guess it is possible that a thought has to be objectively happy, 
meaning that it would make anybody happy, not just someone who hopes 
to kill his nemesis and dominate the world.  But I didn't really see 
much in canon that suggests that a patronus can only be conjured 
based on happy memories that would be happy for someone else.  I 
assumed conjuring a patronus was very subjective, so it will work 
based on whatever makes a particular individual sufficiently happy.  

Cindy (wondering if Harry could conjure a patronus by thinking of the 
money in his Gringotts vault)