Patronus (Was :Re: Order Communication)

[davenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 132871

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Ladi lyndi <ladilyndi at y...> 
wrote:

> What I found interesting is when she said each patronus is unique 
and cannot be replicated by anyone else.  So, is there some unique 
characteristic about each one (Harry's stag has 3 prong antlers but 
someone else's stag only has 2 prong) or is each a separate unique 
animal thing, i.e. only Harry has a stag or Hermione an otter?


I don't think there are enough distinct animal types for every 
person to have their own animal.  I rather think that the patronus 
is almost like a particular instance of that animal.  So two people 
might have Cocker Spanial patronuses but they are different in the 
way that two Cocker Spaniels are different.  On the other hand, that 
still opens the door for confusion.  What if both Tonks and 
McGonnagall have cat patronuses?  It might be hard to tell the 
difference, given that they are made of silvery mist!

The other possibility is that she really is only talking in the 
context of the story she is telling - meaning that we will never see 
two characters with the same animal for a Patronus, and who really 
cares if it's "possible" in the wizarding world - that's the rule as 
far as the books are concerned.  That may be a more realistic 
explanation.

- davenclaw, who is still mad that he has to wait another 36 hours 
instead of another 12.5 to read HBP...