Patronus

[Joey Smiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 190473

> Joey:
> 
> Does that mean that Dementors can differentiate between their victims and generate different experiences as per their will? If yes, that doesn't explain why Umbridge had to cast a Patronus to safegaurd herself and the DE named Yaxley. Dementors were already on Voldy's (and MoM's) side by then.

Steve explained:

> Consider this, we know that many wizards has interactions with Dementors. Minister Fudge had occasion to go to Azkaban. Mr. Weasley even went once, and he was affected by them, but at the same time, we was able to reasonably resist their influence. So, it is not impossible to be around Dementors, just unpleasant. 

[snip]

> So, I do think the presents of Dementors does affect the Death Eaters, but they generally endure it while it is there, but for the most part, avoid it much like wizards do.

[snip]

Joey now:

Wow! Really well articulated! Thanks, Steve! :-)

Steve continued:
 
> Sorry, I forget to specifically address this one question. Yes, I think Dementors can moderate their influence on people. 

[snip]

>I think for those the Dementor have agreed not to capture in their web of despair, they can dial it back a bit. 

[snip]

Joey now:

I appreciate what you are saying about how the effect of Dementors on wizards / witches also depends on the wizard's / witch's personailty, mindset, etc.. Canon makes sense to me now! :-)

But when it comes to Dementor's ability to distinguish between victims, I'm not sure if I got the hang of it yet. Didn't Sirius say (in PoA) that they couldn't differentiate whether he was a human or a dog? That it only mattered to them that some form of life with hope / joy is around so that they can feed off that emotion? If that is the case, how can they ever make out that the victim is their ally or not? Didn't they simply rush into Hogwarts grounds when they heard the Quidditch match uproar? They were supposed to be DD's allies then. 

In fact, I even wonder how anyone in the WW *communicate* feelings of friendship or enimity to them. Do they understand English? :-)

Cheers,
~Joey :-)