Another Dementor Puzzle

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 18982

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve Vander Ark" <vderark at b...> wrote:
> ?
> > 
And it's not 
> because they're "bad" -- they are what they are and they like what 
> they like, rather like a tiger isn't "bad" because he eats people. 
I 
> get the sense that they're version of intelligence is somewhat like 
> an animal rather than human.
> 
Another minor question about Dementors - how do they communicate with 
wizards? It is implied that some dialogue between Dementors and 
wizards is taking place. On Chap. 9 of PoA, Dumbledore says "I must 
go down to the dementors..I said I would inform them when our search 
was complete." Lupin later notes that the Dementors were "furious" 
with Dumbledore for restricting them from Hogwarts.

Of course Dumbledore is highly conversant in a number of languages 
(e.g., Mermish), but even the more maladroit Cornelius Fudge 
(remember his brief meeting with Bulgarian Minister of Magic in GoF, 
Chap. 8) is able to speak with Dementors. In Chap. 10 of PoA, Fudge 
says that "I've just met some of them. They're in a fury against 
Dumbledore --"  

Dementors never speak, although it has not been explicitly stated 
that they are nonverbal. Are they able to converse, but choose not to 
unless it is necessary?  Can they read minds? (since they can suck 
happy thoughts out of a person, it would seem that telepathy would 
not be beyond them). Or do they have their own unique idiom (it would 
have to be simpler than Bulgarian) that must be used to converse with 
them?

  - CMC