The method of communication / Lupin's Patronus

[jlv230]

No: HPFGUIDX 122696


Geoff:
I did string some thoughts together about Patronuses/Patroni in 
message 122032 which might be relevant to this discussion:

JLV:
Thanks Geoff. I had no idea I was walking into a school of thought 
on this one
 let's see:

>From message 122032:
Pippin:
You did notice, perhaps, that Lupin didn't actually teach Harry to 
produce a corporeal patronus? He stopped the lessons while Harry was 
still only able to produce a silver vapor -- not enough to drive a 
dementor away.

Geoff:
I'm not entirely sure that you are taught to produce a "corporeal" 
Patronus; it may depend on your own ability. And I'm also not sure I 
agree with your last statement.

Let's look at canon:

'The witch with the monocle cut across him in a booming voice.
"You produced a fully-fledged Patronus?"
"Yes," said Harry. "because -"
"A corporeal Patronus?"
"A - what?" said Harry.
"Your Patronus had a clearly defined form? I mean to say, it was 
more than vapour or smoke?"
"Yes," said Harry, feeling both impatient and slightly 
desperate, "it's a stag, it's always a stag."
"Always?" boomed Madam Bones. "You have produced a Patronus before 
now?"
"Yes," said Harry, "I've been doing it for over a year."
"And you are fifteen years old?"
"Yes, and -"
"You learned this at school?"
"Yes. Professor Lupin taught me in my third year, because of the -"
"Impressive," said Madam Bones, staring down at him, "a true Patronus
at his age... very impressive indeed."'
(OOTP "The Hearing" p.129 UK edition)

Now, what can we infer from this? Madam Bones seems to imply that 
not everyone can produce a corporeal Patronus.

JLV:
I read this to say that Madam Bones was impressed because he is so 
young
 , "a true Patronus *at his age*." Not because it is very rare 
for a wizard to produce a Corporeal Patronus at all, but rare for 
one so young. I accept that there are some wizards who will never be 
able to produce one, but a reasonably good wizard should be able to 
produce one with enough practice and, crucially, time. But that is 
just the way I read it, and I think your interpretation is just as 
valid as mine so we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

Geoff:
"'And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked towards the 
Dementor, and pulled out his wand,' said Hermione. 'And said, 'None 
of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." But the Dementor 
didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot 
out of his wand at it, and it turned round and sort of glided 
away...'"
(POA "The Dementor" p.67 UK edition)

It would appear that even Lupin doesn't seem to produce a 
recognisable Patronus or Hermione would have given a clearer 
description of it - and his silver vapour, or whatever, did drive 
the Dementor away.

JLV:
Hermione doesn't describe this as silver vapour at all, but a 
silvery "thing". Surely if it was mist/vapur she wouldn't have 
called it a thing? And to say that "Hermione would have given a 
clearer description of it" if it was corporeal rather than mist is 
rather unjustified. JKR could be concealing the form of Lupin's 
patronus *at this stage* in POA – it may, after all, be a wolf and 
would have given part of the game away! JKR is never that careless, 
so could have decided to make Hermione not quite see what she was 
seeing
 if you catch my drift.

JMO,
JLV xx