NATURE OF PATRONUSES

potioncat willsonkmom at msn.com
Wed Aug 2 12:02:24 UTC 2006


No: HPFGUIDX 156362

<flowerchild4 at ...> wrote: 
> Ok, questions about Patronuses. I'm sorry if this has been 
discussed to death, but I didn't find anything in the archives that 
answers this question. What can we learn about the character by 
knowing what form their Patronuses take?

Potioncat:
I don't think we learn too much about the character, except where (to 
whom) the character looks for strength and protection. Harry was 
looking to his father or to his father figure--even though he had no 
idea his father was a stag. 

I would suggest that other characters in the story wouldn't recognise 
the symbolism of the form, except that Snape clearly does when he 
sees Tonks's Patronus and DD recognised the stag as Prongs.


snipping bits of the quote: 
 >>It creates the Patronus, it creates a kind of spirit guardian in a 
way. compares to: 
>> Does the animal one turns into as an Animagi reflect your 
personality? 
> 
> Very well deduced, Narri! I personally would like to think that I 
would transform into an otter, which is my favorite animal. Imagine 
how horrible it would be if I turned out to be a cockroach! (I can't 
find it, but IIRC, we were told that the animagus and patronus take 
the same form.)<<

Potioncat:
 The Patronus is a Guardian and can protect the one casting the spell 
and others who are nearby. 

The Animagus reflects who you are.

I do have to disagree with one comment, Flowerchild, I've never seen 
any information that says the Animagus and the Patronus are the same 
form. In fact, I would think it would not be. We know the Patronus 
changes if there has been a major change in the character's life that 
perhaps changes who they would look to for Protection.

I think it is also unlikely the Animagus would ever change (Of 
course, that's up to JKR) 

Here's my guess about two of the Patronuses and what they may show:

Ron: Jack Russel---looks to his hyperactive twin brothers as Guardians
 
Hermione: Otter--Otters and Weasles are in the same family, she looks 
to the Weasley family for Protection.


> Kemper now:
> Nice to have a new thread...

Potioncat:
Merlin, yes!

>Kemper:  
> I disagree with a fox, but can see a chameleon, bat, spider, dragon
> (Hungarian Horntail), unicorn.  Yes, I said unicorn.  Does anyone
> really see otter characteristics for Hermione?  If so, then I can 
see
> unicorn characteristics for Snape (difficult to approach to start).


Potioncat:
I think Snape's Patronus will either be a symbol of Dumbledore (bee, 
phoenix, giant lemon sherbet) or (gasp) a symbol of Harry Potter.

If he were an animagus, I'd guess Hebridean Black Dragon.(take a look 
at the description.)

Now, to be honest, I thought Snape was a cockroach long before I ever 
saw JKR's quote. HOLD ON, I mean, I thought his Animagus would be a 
cockroach. Wouldn't it be just his Karma, to find out about the 
Marauders' Amimagus skills, go after it himself---and be a disgusting 
bug? He'd keep quiet about it I think.

However, I don't really think he is an Animagus. JKR writes in animal 
images for most of her characters. She's said Ginny's cat-like 
qualities won't go any farther. Still, I like the idea of the 
Hebridean Black.










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