Communication by Patronus (Was: Interpretation)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 142011

Hickengruendler wrote:
> >Since Tonks' patronus could tell, that she had found Harry, I think
the Patronuses have a method  to make themselves audible (or maybe
they are using a sign language???).
> 
Sydney responded:
> And if Snape's Patronus IS a Unicorn, it would have to tap the whole
thing out with his hoof, so add another half-hour...
> 
> Sorry, I just found that image irresistible.. the Patroni are a
lovely idea, but there's a Flipper/Lassie/Skippy element to them being
used as messengers-- "what is boy?  Did Harry fall into the quicksand?"

Carol adds:
On a more serious note, does anyone have a plausible idea of how the
ghostlike Patroni deliver their messages? I envision a wizard silently
composing a very brief message, one or two sentences, and the Patronus
carrying that conjured message in its mouth or claws and dropping it
in the hands of the person addressed. After the message is read, it
decomposes into a puff of air, shades of the old "Mission Impossible"
TV series. Somehow, the Patronus, like an owl, knows which person to
deliver the message to--and yet Tonks's new Patronus delivered a
message intended for Hagrid to Snape, clearly recognizing him as an
Order member.

JKR's rather detailed response to the communication question on her
website really doesn't explain the mechanism by which the messages are
delivered. Does anyone else have any ideas? Do we have any canon at
all as to how this process works?

It seems to me that the method is actually rather cumbersome,
especially if the Patronus doesn't arrive instantly. They could only
carry on a very limited correspondence, not the lengthy conversation
that's possible via the Floo network. How much could Snape communicate
to Sirius (and any other Order members who were present at 12 GP)? It
seems to me that he'd *have* to use the fireplace to explain about
Harry going into the forest with Umbridge once he knew what was going
on. (He might have used it to communicate with DD as well, since he
knew that DD was coming to GP. DD almost certainly arrived by Floo
powder and talked to Kreacher in person. He couldn't have communicated
with *him* by Patronus.)

So it requires only a wand and is an Anti-Dark Arts device. How does
either of those attributes make it an effective means of
communication? I'd rather use a cell phone--and I hate cell phones.

Carol