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

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 187213

Carol:
> > 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 :-). 

Montavilla47:
In which case, both Lily and James would have been 
primarily in love with themselves.  If the Patronus takes
the form of your loved one, then Lily's Patronus would
be a *stag* and James's would have been a *doe.*

I thought I remember reading somewhere that James's
Patronus was a biting teacup, because he was so happy
to have finally learned the spell after a lot of difficulty.
But I have no idea where I read it and it could be dead
wrong.


> > 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.


Montavilla47:
What else do the Patroni guard beside Dementors?  And
wouldn't it have been a good idea for the DEs to learn that
spell for the decades in which Dementors were guarding
prisoners in Azkaban?

Of course, there is an alternative to using a Patronus
to protect yourself from Dementors.  We don't know what 
it is, but we know it exists because Snape was teaching that
alternate method in the D.A.D.A. class.


> > 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.

Montavilla47:
I wonder if JKR forgot that Snape had to communicate with
the Order in OotP.  But there are ways he could have done so
without using a Patronus.   

Someone mentioned using the fireplace in Umbridge's office.
I think he could also have taken advantage of the Phineas 
Nigellus's ability to move from portrait in Hogwarts to portrait
in Grimauld Place.

I always thought he used those methods rather than the
Patronus because those would be quicker--and we don't 
know if a Patronus *can* travel all the way from the north
of Scotland to London or how long it would take.