[HPforGrownups] Re: Patronus

[Shelley Gardner]

No: HPFGUIDX 190410


>>> likesblackcats:
>>> The Patronus charm is NOT just an Order thing. It's a very difficult
>> charm, but it is quite well-known. Reference Harry's DADA examiner who
>> asked him to perform the Patronus Charm for a bonus point in the
>> practical portion of his exam (OOTP).
>>
> Nikkalmati
>
> Interesting comments.  I see that the speaking Patronus being DD's invention is not confirmed, but a reasonable assumption.  Lupin does not teach Harry to make a speaking Patronus.  Does that mean Harry cannot make one?
> My thought always was that Harry felt safe following the silent doe in the Forest of Dean, because he believed it must have been made by an Order member.  I will have to revise that thinking.  Of course, Harry had seen Umbridge's Patronus by that time.  Could Umbridge have been in the original Order?  She was never confirmed as a Death Eaather (just a fellow traveler).  It is strange that both Umbridge and Prof. McGonagal have the same Patronus.
>
> Nikkalmati

I think it's a wrong assumption to link Patronus with the Order- as 
mentioned above, the examiner who asked Harry to perform one is an 
example of this common knowledge. Moreover, practically the whole world 
knew at that point that Harry could produce a Patronus, so common 
wizards weren't asking "what's a Patronus?" like it was some big secret. 
It's a common spell, even if most ordinary wizards haven't learned it 
for themselves how to do one. It's something recognized of "talented" 
wizards.

I do agree the Order had the Messenger ones- their Patronuses could do 
tricks, but then again, I am not sure that's limited to ONLY the Order. 
Note that Aberforth sends his Goat Patronus out romping so that that the 
Death Eaters people could chase it- thinking it was Harry's Patronus, in 
order to let the kids escape from Hogsmeade. (I'll grant Aberforth was a 
member of the original Order, but we are not certain that tricks or 
messages sent are limited to the Order.) We are not sure the Death 
Eaters can produce their own Patronuses, but I think they would since 
they are a defense against the Dementors. (Protection from a Dementor 
would be reason enough to learn the spell, IMHO!!!) But we can be 
absolutely certain that they know what a Patronus is, and that they 
actively chased Aberforth's Patronus as it led them away from the kids, 
so I doubt very highly by their (Death Eater's) reactions that it was 
only limited to a select group of people.

Shelley