[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's patronus

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 44875

At 08:21 03/10/02 -0400, Eloise wrote:

>< tentatively, remembering that the last time they met, Richard had come over
>all Hannibal Lecter and was offering her Chianti>

That's all in the past. This evening's DVD movie was Stalker. :-)

>I think we do see, at least at second hand, another Patonus: Hermione
>describes how Dumbledore, 'whirled his wand at the Dementors. Shot silver
>stuff at them.'
>But she evidently didn't recognise the form it took (silver bees?). No, it's
>not specifically called a Patronus, but what else could it be? (It's one of
>JKR's typical introductions of something a little time before we realise it's
>relevance.)

Sorry, I had phrased myself badly. I hadn't forgotten that instance and I'd 
always assumed that this was a Patronus (same for the Lupin instance 
someone else (Richelle?) mentioned). Of course, the fact that neither Lupin 
or Dumbledore used the word  "Patronus" (or at least we/Harry didn't hear 
them say it) was of course for the benefit of us readers, so that when 
Lupin gives Harry the extra lesson, it's all fresh. In some respects, this 
is just yet another one of JKR's little continuity foreshadowings, of 
dropping something in but saving the explanation for later.

What I had meant to say was that the *form* of the Patronus was 
unidentified. If we'd had been given an idea, then we may have some grounds 
on which to determine what surprised Dumbledore about the form of Harry's. 
Until JKR gives us more details, I'm sticking with my "father-like" 
analogy. :-) Yes, I know someone suggested the Weasleys as a counter to the 
statement that "everyone's Patronus is unique", and right now I don't have 
an explanation, but I'm working on it. :-)

Incidentally (and I'd meant to bring up this point last time), I wonder if 
there's a connection between the silveriness of the Patronus and the 
silveriness of what Lexicon Steve called the "messenger charm" on the site? 
When Dumbledore sent off the silvery "something" towards Hagrid's hut, was 
this another Patronus form? I have no doubt that JKR will let us know when 
she's good and ready. :-)

><even more tentatively>

No need to be tentative. The Chianti's all gone. :-)

>Isn't 'patronus' a second declension noun, rather than fifth? So the
>nominative plural is 'patroni' (and the accusative is patronum, as in the
>incantation, 'Expecto Patronum').

Yes, it is. I couldn't believe that I'd said what I said when I read it 
back earlier. A lesson for the future: don't make LOONy points late at 
night, and if you do, *always* proof-read them. :-) Quite clearly, in the 
middle of writing that sentence, my fingers were typing faster than my 
brain was thinking, and I'd forgotten how I started it. "Patroni" is the 
plural of "Patronus"!

>Eloise
>Who's never yet threatened to eat a fellow list member, although now the
>subject comes up, she is rather partial to plums, particularly if stewed with
>a little sugar.  ;-)

If you'd have told me last month, I could have invited you over. We have a 
plum tree in the garden (one of the reasons my parents decided to buy this 
house years and years ago: it's what our surname means in English!) :-) and 
were looking for ways to use up the fruit. I've had so many plums in so 
many forms over the last few weeks that I couldn't touch another one - 
until next year... :-)

--
Richard AKA GulPlum, UK, off to eat his dinner now he's eaten his words. :-)