Patronus

From Hpwiki

A Patronus is the visible result of the Patronus Charm (incantation Expecto Patronum), taking up the shape of a creature or animal. Its magic power depends on the magic power and expertise of the wizard or witch who cast the spell; sometimes it just forms a silvery mist, other times it is the shape of an animal. A Patronus which visibly takes the shape of an animal is a Corporeal Patronus.

As with the animal form of an Animagus, the form taken by the patronus is individual to the witch or wizard who conjures it and is not consciously chosen, although it may alter due to deep emotional change (in the case of Tonks.)

The members of Order of the Phoenix use Patronuses to correspond with each other.

Known patronuses include:

- Harry Potter: a stag, symbolising his father's Animagus form, Prongs. Harry learned how to conjure the patronus from Professor Lupin and has made use of it on a number of occasions. I can be assumed James Potter's Patronus was also a stag, but this is not confirmed.

- Albus Dumbledore: A phoenix

- Nymphadora Tonks: A werewolf, symbolising Remus Lupin, her love. It was something else before Harry's sixth year.

- Hermione Granger: A "shining silver otter."

- Ron Weasley: A Jack Russell terrier

- Cho Chang: A swan

- Seamus Finnigan: A fox

- Severus Snape: A doe. This was due to his lifelong love for Lily Evans, later Lily Potter, whose Patronus was also a doe.

- Lily Potter: A doe. As Severus Snape was strongly in love he produced the same patronus as Lily.

- Kingsley Shacklebolt: A lynx

- Minerva McGonagall: A cat

- Aberforth Dumbledore: A goat

- Luna Lovegood: A hare