Lily's Patronus (WAS: Re: Patronus question again)

[zanooda2]

No: HPFGUIDX 187211

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

> Actually, the kid asking the question spoke about Lily's 
> and James's Patronus being a doe and a stag, but JKR's answer 
> relates to Patronuses sometimes changing to reflect the 
> person you love. 


zanooda:

Yes, but the point is, JKR didn't deny that Lily's Patronus was a doe, which means that it was in fact a doe in the book :-). I do remember that you gave this quote somewhere, but I'll give it once more, as I promised:

- James patronus is a stag and lilys a doe is this a coincidence?
- No, the Patronus often mutates to take the image of the love of one's life (because they so often become the "happy thought" that generate a Patronus).

Sure, she didn't correct the kid who mixed up James's Patronus and his Animagus form, but, as Lily is not an Animagus, there is nothing to mix up in her case, so I take it that Lily's Patronus *was* a doe. Besides, maybe James's Patronus really was a stag :-). 



> Carol wrote:

> For all we know, they might use them for protection 
> against Dementors, which had not yet gone over to 
> Voldemort's side at the time of his return. 


I think you are right. JKR said DEs don't use Patronuses, but she didn't say they physically *can't* cast them. I suppose they could, if needed. Here is what she said:

- Was snape the only death eater who could produce a full patronus?
- Yes, because a Patronus is used against things that the Death Eaters generally generate, or fight alongside. They would not need Patronuses.


> Carol wrote:

> And I don't think that Sirius Black would have laughed 
> at Snape's Patronus


zanooda:

Maybe not, but I still think that no one, except DD, knew Snape's Patronus. I'll bother you with one more quote from the same web-chat:

- How did snape keep his patronus secret from the rest of the order?
- He was careful not to use the talking Patronus means of communication with them. This was not difficult, as his particular job within the Order, ie, as spy, meant that sending a Patronus to any of them might have given away his true allegiance.



> Carol wrote:
 
> Anyway, I agree with Magpie that Harry's reference to the doe 
> as his mother's Patronus is a slip of some kind


zanooda:

I think Lily's Patronus was a doe :-). Besides, the sentence "Snape's Patronus was a doe, the same as my mother" sounds really strange :-).


> potioncat wrote:

> And I'm not sure Minerva's represents herself unless she's 
> incredibly self reliant and self confident.


zanooda:

I thought it was herself, because her Patronuses had those "spectacle markings" around their eyes :-). And why not? Maybe her Animagism(?) is something that makes her happy... :-).