The method of communication (Harry's patronus)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 122645


Musing over this and associated threads, one or two thoughts come to 
mind:

(1) It has been suggested that Steve's "little birdie" is a sort of 
mini-Patronus which just has the ability to alert the receiver to the 
need for his/her presence and help.

I was reminded of the situation around where I live. In the local 
town 6 miles away, there is a lifeboat station. In the case of an 
emergency, the current method is for the volunteer crew to have a 
bleeper which is activated. They rush to the lifeboat station to get 
kitted up before launching and they often do not know precisely where 
they are going - or why - until they are under way and in more direct 
contact with the Coastguard.

Until a few years ago, it was even more vague because they would be 
summoned by a maroon - assuming they were within hearing range. 
Perhaps Dumbledore launched the Wizarding World equivalent of a 
bleeper....

(2) Thinking about the word "enervate". It seems that the Scholastic 
edition may have a misprint; Bloomsbury certainly spells it with 
one "n".

This in turn brings up something which has always puzzled me and I 
have never previously commented on.

The English word means "to cause to be drained of energy". If someone 
is enervated, they are weakened and frail. This seems to be the 
direct opposite meaning of the spell which is used to rouse victims 
from stunning or similar mishaps.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Geoff
http://www.aspectsofexmoor.com
Enjoy a virtual visit to the Exmoor National Park 
and the preserved West Somerset Railway