Of Patronuses and Horcruxes (was: And the Trelawney award goes to...

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 177272

> Geoff:
> But our new Patronus is a different beast. It isn't a protective 
> guardian, it seems to be primarily for communicating with 
> others. Snape's is a doe, while McGonagall even manages a 
> triple Patronus:

zgirnius:
A Patronus is first used as a communications device in GoF. (In "The 
Madness of Barty Crouch, by Albus Dumbledore, to summon Hagrid. He 
casts the incantation nonverbally.) 

> GoF:
> "Should I go and get someone?" said Harry. "Madam Pomfrey?"

> "No," said Dumbledore swiftly. "Stay here."

> He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of 
Hagrid's cabin. Harry saw something silvery dart out of it and streak 
away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Then Dumbledore bent over 
Krum again, pointed his wand at him, and muttered, "Ennervate."

> Krum opened his eyes. He looked dazed. When he saw Dumbledore, he 
tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder and made 
him lie still.

> "He attacked me!" Krum muttered, putting a hand up to his 
head. "The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare 
Potter had gone and he attacked from behind!"

> "Lie still for a moment," Dumbledore said.

> The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them, and Hagrid came 
panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his 
crossbow.

zgirnius:
Rowling explained post-GoF, in an interview or her site, that 
Dumbledore discovered a way to use the Patronuses as communiations 
devices and this was the preferred method for secure communication 
among member in the Order of the Phoenix. I do not find it odd that 
Lupin skipped this additional information, which would not be in any 
textbook, which is irrelevant to Harry's present needs in PoA, and 
which is an Order secret, in his discussion of the Patronus Charm in 
PoA.

> Geoff:
> And we know that apparently their appearance can be 
> changed:
> `"And incidentally," said Snape, standing back to allow 
> Harry to pass him, "I was interested to see your new 
> Patronus."'
> (HBP "Snape Victorious" p.153 UK edition)

zgirnius:
Again, what a corporeal Patronus looks like, and what causes it to 
look like that, is beyond the scope of the PoA discussion. I would 
not say this is an improvement, but a revelation of additional 
information. Also, their appearance changes, but 'can be changed' 
suggests agency, which is not how I understand it. I would say, the 
form 'can change'. (As is explained by Lupin in HBP, emotional 
upheavals can cause this, as in Tonks' case. She did not make her 
Patronus change - when she fell hard enough for Lupin, it changed on 
its own accord.)

> Geoff:
> First, he is the only human Horcrux. Except Nagini, all the 
> others are inanimate objects. 

zgirnius:
But we DO have the example of Nagini. Supporters of the Harry!Horcrux 
theory definitely considered this a choice bit of evidence.

> Geoff: 
> I think those of us who argued against Harry being a 
> Horcrux should claim a moral victory; Harry wasn't  a 
> `standard' Horcrux created by the usual method. 

zgirnius:
Claim away <g>.

However, this was always the majority opinion in the Horcrux!Harry 
camp, that Harry became a Horcrux by accident at GH when the soul bit 
torn off by Lily's murder lodged itelf in him. The exact mechanism 
never interested me - I had no plans to make one myself. <bg> But 
those who did find that question interesting, suggested a number of 
mechanisms including one pretty close to the one Rowling used.