Patronus

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 167562

Magpie:
> I may be forgetting Harry's happy memory, but isn't it his finding out he's 
> a Wizard? That can be associated with the stag because it is connected to 
> his real self, his real heritage, and his real family. <snip>The memory comes from 
> them,  and it symbolizes their own protection of themselves, but it's not, imo, a 
> symbolic representation of things that make them confident in their life. 

Jen:  You know, I just realized we don't find out Harry's happy memory by
the lake.  When he tried to cast a Patronus the first time on the lake and
couldn't make one strong enough, he was thinking about leaving the
Durlseys and living with Sirius.  I've filled in the blanks in my own mind
that Harry is subconciously thinking of the short time he had with his
own parents when he casts the powerful Patronus across the lake
because 'Prongs rode again tonight' as explained by Dumbledore and
there was the symbolism of James being there to protect Harry.  But
that isn't mentioned in the books and was my own conjecture!  And we
also don't hear Harry's memory when he casts his first stag, at the
Quidditch match, unless I'm missing the reference.