Patronus from the Power of Love (Was: Deontological!Snape )

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 171283

> From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/171271
>
> Magpie:
> The Patronus seems to be connected with happy memories--what was 
> Harry's the first time? Was it learning he was a wizard? That 
> would make sense why it was a stag, because it represented 
> his wizard family-James-even if he didn't know it. <snip>

 
Mike:
It was during Harry's first Patronus lesson with Lupin that he 
settled on learning he was a wizard for his happy memory, on his 
third attempt. He was able to shoot Patronus-like material out of his 
wand, but no corporeal form. His first "Stag" Patronus occurs at the 
Quidditch match against Ravenclaw in response to Draco and company's 
fake Dementors. We know that because Dumbledore remarked on it in the 
PoA wrap-up brief.

So what happy memory was he using in his first real Patronus casting? 
Well, I suppose it was winning the match, but we weren't really told. 
We were told that "He didn't stop to think." He just "whipped out his 
wand a roared *Expecto Patronum*." (PoA p.262) Now, Harry was 
generally happy playing Quidditch, but he didn't exactly follow 
Lupin's recipe of thinking of a happy memory.

What about the Patronus that counted, the one that saved his, Sirius, 
and Hermione's souls against real Dementors? He was thinking about 
his father during the entire lead up. He even says out loud, "Where 
are you? Dad, come on --" (PoA p.411) the second before his 
revelation that it was *him* that he saw casting the Patronus. And 
once again he whipped out his wand a yelled the incantation. No 
thinking about a happy memory in advance.

In the alley in Little Whinging Harry can't think of a happy memory. 
Instead he hears Voldemorts words from the graveyard. At the last 
second he thinks of Ron and Hermione, but not a happy memory. He 
thinks he'll never see them again. It's when their images come to him 
clearly in his mind that he produces the Patronus. Again, no happy 
memory, actually quite the opposite, remembering the torture from the 
graveyard and the thought that he'll never see his friends again.

What I'm taking forever to say, is that I think Lupin teaches the 
basics of fighting dark creatures, using the most simple of tactics 
to get his pupil(s) started. That's using a *happy memory* for 
beginners when learning how to cast a Patronus. (BTW, I think it's 
the same for his Boggart lesson - make the Boggart look *amusing* and 
*laughter* is what finishes a Boggart. Really? Lupin's cockroach 
in place of the full moon is funny? There was loads of laughter when 
Lupin banished the Boggart at 12 GP for Mrs. Weasley, wasn't there?) 

For the real Patroni, a powerful Patronus, against real Dementors, 
Harry doesn't use happy memories. I contend that Harry used *Love*. 
Harry doesn't have any happy memories of his father. In fact the 
*only* memory he had accessed was James telling Lily to run, right 
before he died at the hands of Voldemort. Harry wasn't thinking any 
happy memories in the alley, he was thinking distinctly horrible 
memories and a sad thought of not seeing R&H again. But the *Love* 
for his father and for his friends is not dependent upon memories, 
that is something that is always there. He just needs to access it.

Whether this is peculiar to Harry, or a truism WW wide, I cannot say. 
Harry is the only one we've seen cast a Patronus, and his is 
certainly the only mind we've been in. But to me, this is the first 
case where Harry uses the *Power of Love*, even if he has not 
recognized it yet. Or, maybe he has! Was this what Harry wrote in his 
Dementor essay that he expected Snape to mark down? Food for thought.

This also underscores my belief that truely advanced magic does not 
depend on gimmicks or tricking yourself. That once a wizard learns 
how to cast the spell, the power behind the spell then depends upon 
the wizard's ability to harness his/her inate magical qualities. And 
when we learn what's required to cast an effective AK and Cruciatus 
Curse, from DEs that know from where they speak, this makes me more 
convinced. Bella told Harry he had to really mean it, to *want* to 
cause pain, something that seems to come easy to her. Something that 
is one of her strengths, her inate abilities. So, why wouldn't this 
work the same way for advanced *good* magic?

Since I think Dementors will play some key role in DH, I'm thinking  
that Harry's *Love Patronus* will also play a key role. When Harry 
realizes that he can harness his *Love Power* to strengthen his 
spells, then maybe he'll understand the full meaning of what 
Dumbledore was trying to convey to him.

Mike