Secondary thought on Patronuses

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 145530

Julie  wrote: <snip> 
"1. Why wouldn't members of the Order already know the identity of 
Snape's patronus? I think they would, and it could be that they know 
Snape's patronus has always been a bat (or Hebridean Black). And 
even if they don't, that would seem a pretty obvious patronus for 
Snape. And if the Order (or someone like Hermione) would quickly 
figure out its origin, how could it remain anonymous? "

CH3ed:
I agree with Juli. I don't know exactly how a patronus communicates, 
but at least the 5 OotP members who were at 12 GP when Snape 
contacted them about Harry's disappearance have seen what Snape's 
pre HBP patronus was.


Julie wrote: <snip>
"My theory: Snape's patronus *was* a bat. That is how the Order 
members identify messages from him, messages they would certainly 
ignore after Snape's actions in HBP. So in book seven Snape will 
change his patronus to something else, the something JKR says will 
reveal too much (in essence, it will reveal his loyalty to 
Dumbledore). The brief mention of Tonk's changing her patronus in 
HBP already served to let us know that a patronus *can* be changed 
(this bit certainly served no other purpose in HBP). Snape will then 
use his new post-HBP patronus to send messages to Harry and/or the 
Order. And since it will have some association with Dumbledore, no 
one will suspect Dumbledore's murderer could possibly be the one 
sending anonymous, helpful information to the Good side. Thus Snape 
will help Harry without revealing himself and ending up dead or in 
Azkaban first."

CH3ed:
I agree with most of what Julie says except for the form of a 
patronus being the way to identify from whom the patronus is from 
and the intentional changing of one's patronus. 

Like PotionCat in the other thread, I don't think one can 
intentionally change one's patronus (just like one can't pick what 
animal one turns into when one learned how to become an animagus). 
Tonks' changed patronus form is likely involuntary( I wonder if her 
patronus is back to its pre-HBP form now that Tonks and Lupin are 
together). I think the change of one's patronus reflects the change 
in one's character and that's why JKR can't reveal Snape's patronus 
form (and his greatest fear...in the form of his boggart). It would 
spoil the mystery of where Snape really stands. 

Also if the form of the patronus is the only way to identify who 
sent it then Snape shouldn't have recognized Tonks' changed patronus 
in HBP. So I agree with Steve/bboyminn that there are other features 
in the message-delivering patronus that helps identify it beside its 
shape. 


CH3ed :O)