The method of communication (Harry's patronus)

[jlv230]

No: HPFGUIDX 122585


JLV (I) said:
I definitely agree that the Patronus is the most likely candidate for 
being the method of communication that the Order use.

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Chancie replied:
Reasons I don't believe a Patronus is the answer:

1. Harry is told that the Patronus charm is VERY difficult.

JLV replies:
Aha, but the Order members are not just any old wizards, are they? 
Also many DA members managed to produce one after much practice. And 
most messages won't be sent in front of Dementors which may make 
thing a lot easier.

Chancie:
2. I don't remember that they make sound, so how can they deliver a 
message?

JLV: 
Messages can be delivered without the Patronus having to make a sound 
(especially as sounds could be overheard), and we do know that 
Patroni can move. JKR could devise many wonderful ways for a Patronus 
to pass on information if she wanted to. In addition, my Physics 
degree tells me that anything that is corporeal (=of a material 
nature i.e. tangible) which may move is perfectly capable of 
producing a sound in air. Whether or not it could talk is, of course, 
another matter entirely!

Chancie:
3. How could a witch or wizard send a Patronus, without it being seen 
by a muggle or possibly even a DE?

JLV:
Good question – I'm not sure. The gang sure could see the bird 
Dumbledore sent off - perhaps they just move so fast that they don't 
get seen – once they have time to accelerate out of the wand
 
However, if we do believe that Dumbledore's bird is the method of 
communication, then we can't deny that it would indeed be visible at 
least at some part of its journey, even if it isn't a Patronus.

Chancie: 
4. How would a witch or wizard be able to keep the Patronus from 
disappearing?

JLV:
Ditto above
 if they move fast then they could deliver the message 
before they disappear. Alternatively, perhaps the Patronus only lasts 
as long as the task it has been given lasts (if it is a corporeal 
one, at least), hence why it disappears after driving off the 
Dementors – it simply isn't needed anymore.

Chancie:
It just seems to me that there has to be an easier way to send 
messages!

JLV:
Couldn't agree more – but you don't need an O in your DADA OWL to be 
able to suppose that the harder the way to send messages is, the less 
likely they are to be faked by the opposition.

Just a few thoughts in favour of Patroni (or is it Patronuses – is 
there any canon on the plural of Patronus) as a means of 
communication.
JLV xx