Animagus & Patronus Symbolism

[A.J.]

No: HPFGUIDX 104623

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Adan" <adanabbett at y...> wrote:
> 
> PETER/RAT:
> ~Often regarded as the image of avarice and greed

> ~Often associated with serpents and moles.
> 
> Adan: So, who is the mole?  Or is there another spy?  Or could we 
> substitute ferret(Malfoy)?
> better.

I hope not.  Traditionally in the real world, ferrets were used for 
rodent control-- running into burrows to scare out the rats and mice, 
which people would then kill at the entrances (the Pied Piper was a 
ferreteer).  I dunno whether JKR knows that and plans any symbolism 
of ferret vs rat (somebody getting PP?)

In Asian culture, rats are smart and bring good luck, but we're 
obviously dealing with Western in the books. (Interestingly, it was a 
different species of rat than the one common today, that brought the 
plague and bad reputation.)

aj (who has kept domestic ferrets AND domestic rats as pets, and they 
were both very nice!)