CHAPDISC: DH Ch 9, A Place to Hide

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 179880


> 
> bboyminn:

> 
> Plus, if they sent the Patronus to a specific person, how
> could they be sure that person was in a secure situation
> so they could receive the message? Mr. Weasley could be
> standing in the hall of the Ministry talking to DE's when
> the Patronus arrived and delivered its message. That would
> be bad for everyone. 
> 
Potioncat:
So really, the DEs' dark marks or Hermione's fake galleons are better 
communication devices than the Messenger Patronuses.

Carol asked why Ron wouldn't have been taught the charm (as I had 
suggested Hermione was taught the spell as part of being an Order 
member.) I'll have to look at the chapter again to come up with an 
answer. But I'm sticking to my main belief---JKR is inconsistent wtih 
how the Patronus Charm works.
 
> bboyminn:

> 
> If the objections is to how a troll like Umbridge could 
> come up with the happy memory necessary to cast a Partonus,
> as someone else already pointed out, the memory only has
> to be uniquely happy to Umbridge. She could have conjured
> the Patronus with happy memories of torturing Harry with
> the Cutting Quill. Horrific to everyone else, but probably
> a happy memory for Umbridge.

Potioncat:
I went looking for the quote that I had in mind. At JKR's site she 
says the Patronus makes a good messenger because it is an "Anti-Dark 
Arts device and was resistant to interfernce." (paraphrased somewhat) 
So it's hard for me to understand how an anti-Dark arts device can be 
used by a witch for dark purposes.

But then, by the end of DH the definition of Dark Arts became more 
blurred than ever. And I suppose an anti Dark Arts device could be 
used in the same way a Drug dealer might use a drug sniffing dog.
> 
 
 
> bboyminn:
> Which brings up the question, exactly what was Snape searching
> for? Certainly his secondary objective was to find things
> related to Lily, nothing important, just mementos and keep-
> sakes. But what was his primary objective? What could have
> possibly been left in the house by the Order that they 
> would so disregard as to leave behind, and yet would be so
> valuable that Snape would seek them out? 

Potioncat:
I started to go in that direction too---except in chapter 9, Harry 
doesn't know the other parts of the house have been searched. The 
Trio just notice some signs on that main level.

So at this point, an intruder has been hinted at, we see Anti-Snape 
jinxes which may make us think Snape hadn't been in, and may make us 
think of him as really on LV's side. 

As for Snape's objective, I think he went there looking for a memento 
of Lily. It must have been within hours of his killing DD, because 
JKR said it was before Moody cast the jinx. I think at that time, 
having left all his possessions behind, having killed DD, he needed 
something tangible to hold onto.

(You don't want to ask me if I think this holds up. I'm just 
reporting what I think is happening, or supposed to be happening.)