Nature of a Patronus (Horcrux hunting)

[distaiyi]

No: HPFGUIDX 153227

I thought I'd break this off of the Horcrux Hunting thread...

So what is a Patronus charm. I've seen a few posts implying it's
basically a shield and some comments.

My thoughts are this. The Patronus charm is essentially an extension
of the caster's primal essence (insert sould if you like). However,
unlike making a Horcrux and splitting one's soul, this spell manifests
aspects of oneself to perform certain tasks... maybe almost like a
familiar in some respects. 

So why would it be difficult for some wizards to cast... I posit that
it's because, like most of us muggles, most wizards don't really
understand themselves very well. I posit that casting this spell
requires an intimate understanding of one's own nature. In Harry's
case, he's spent so much time alone and confined to a cupboard that
he's had plenty of opportunity to analyze himself and thus was able to
cast this spell much younger and more easily than other wizards.

Why would it protect you from Dementors? Well, dementors pull aspects
of a person out of themselves. Someone who is grounded and self aware
enough to cast a patronus charm may not be able to resist this attack
consciously, but when invoking the charm their inner resources and
reserve they built up are released to resist the dementors.

As an aspect of oneself then it would be logical that it could be used
to communicate with others.

What's interesting then is that the forms won't necessarily be unique
but I'd doubt we'd see identicle forms either. Harry's is a stag. I'm
not privvy to JKR's mind but... the Stag is the symbol of the
Greenman, Cernunnos, The Celtic Horned God of Fertility. The Horned
God is born at the winter solstice, marries the Goddess at Beltane,
and dies at the summer solstice. He alternates with the Goddess of the
moon in ruling over life and death, continuing the cycle of death,
rebirth and reincarnation. Cernunnos is also known as the "Lord of the
Hunt" ... nice as Harry now begins the hunt for LordV's Horcruxes and
LV himself! 

Distaiyi the Cynical