Patronus Charm

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In the Harry Potter fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling, a Patronus is an insubstantial animal form protector created by the advanced Patronus Charm spell, and one way to defend against Dementors and certain other dark creatures.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

1 Patronus
- 1.1 Communications
- 1.2 Known Patronuses
2 Charm
3 Etymology
4 References

[edit] Patronus

The Patronus Charm conjures an incarnation of the caster's innermost positive feelings, such as joy, hope, or the desire to survive, known as a Patronus. A Patronus can be viewed as the exact opposite of a Dementor. Even though it embodies all the positive emotions that a Dementor feeds on, a Patronus is conjured as a protector, and is a weapon rather than a feast: Patronuses shield their conjurors from Dementors, and even drive them away. Patronuses "cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so Dementors can't hurt it."^[1]

When conjured, a Patronus appears silvery, ethereal, and semi-transparent. Improperly formed Patronuses range from momentary formless bursts of silvery mist, to poorly-defined forms which are easily defeated or quickly dissipate on their own. A full-fledged (or corporeal) Patronus takes on a solid (if somewhat ethereal) fixed animal form that is appropriate and unique to the witch or wizard casting the charm; no two witches or wizards will conjure identical Patronuses. Patronuses summoned by a particular person always take the same form, although life-changing events — such as personal tragedy, or falling in love — can alter the form that one's conjured Patronuses will take from then on. This happened to Nymphadora Tonks when she fell in love with Remus Lupin.

The conjured Patronus protects the witch or wizard that summoned it, obeys his or her commands, and fades away shortly after it is no longer required.

The film and book versions of the Patronus have marked differences: in the books, Patronuses range from being an indistinct mist to fairly solid-looking animals. In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry's non-corporeal Patronus is more like a shield. Also, his corporeal Patronus, rather than running down the nearby Dementors, sends out a sort of omni-directional pulse, which drives the Dementors away.

[edit] Communications

As seen in the fourth and sixth books, and as revealed by the author before the latter, Albus Dumbledore has devised a method of using Patronuses to deliver messages. This offers great advantages in security, as Patronuses identify the caster and are Dark-proof; this means of communication is believed to be exclusive to the Order of the Phoenix^[2].

[edit] Known Patronuses

Witch/Wizard	Patronal Form	Notes
Harry Potter	Stag	Harry's Patronus is in the shape of his father's Animagus form.
Hermione Granger	Otter	JK Rowling has said that the otter is her favourite animal.^{[citation needed]}
Ron Weasley	Jack Russell Terrier	JK Rowling owns one.^{[citation needed]}
Cho Chang	Swan
Albus Dumbledore	Phoenix^[3]	His pet, Fawkes, is a phoenix.
Nymphadora Tonks	Werewolf	The form of Nymphadora's Patronus changed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to its current form. Harry and Hermione believed that it was due to feelings brought on by the death of her cousin Sirius Black, as his form as an Animagus was a large black dog. However, her love for Remus Lupin, as stated in Book 6, seems to be the true cause of the change, and the form of her new patronus was, in fact, a werewolf. It is unknown what Tonks' Patronus was prior to this.
Seamus Finnigan	"Something hairy"	He could not yet produce a fully formed (corporeal) Patronus in Dumbledore's Army
Flavius Belby	"Something with horns"	In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, he states he cast off a lethifold by performing the Patronus Charm. It says the lethifold was thrown into the air on the horns of his Patronus

[edit] Charm

The Patronus Charm is simple in theory, but hard to perform properly. The spell requires the use of a wand and the incantation "Expecto Patronum". Presumably specific physical gestures with the wand are also required but they are not mentioned specifically.

The caster assumes a very specific type of emotional state: he or she must tap into, and draw out, the positive emotions that will make up the Patronus, regardless of the situation. As the charm is used as a defensive spell at times of extreme duress and fear, this can be challenging. Dementors make things worse by evoking a person's negative emotions, making the Patronus Charm harder by their very presence. The best way is to concentrate on a very happy memory or thought. Harry Potter has successfully used both memories (such as the moment he learned of his magical heritage and that he would be attending Hogwarts), and pleasant wishes (such as visions of Dolores Umbridge being fired).

Because of the charm's advanced reputation, Harry impressed his O.W.L. examiners by demonstrating mastery of the spell, which was unusual for someone his age.

According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Charm is also the only known defensive spell against Lethifolds: shroud-like creatures that silently slip into houses to suffocate and digest victims. Presumably there are also other Dark Creatures against which the Patronus Charm is an effective defence.

[edit] Etymology

The Latin word patronus means "protector" or "guardian" or (in archaic Latin) "father" (see patronus). The plural of patronus is patroni, but the plural of the term as coined in the books is Patronuses. The incantation for the charm is Expecto Patronum. The Latin word exspecto, or expecto, means "I watch for", "I await", "I expect", or (more rarely) "I require". The Dog Latin phrase ex pecto, which is pronounced identically, would mean "out of my heart" if it were grammatical. A rough translation of the incantation is thus "I summon a protector."

There is another latin verb expecto meaning "I cast out from my chest" (from which expectorate is derived) which may make sense in this case because the users are not awaiting their Patronus, they are literally casting it out. Note that in the French version of the book, the spell is "Spero Patronum". Spero sounds like a derivation of the verb "espérer" (to hope, to expect) rather like "expecto" sounds like a derivation of the verb "to expect". This could mean that the spell is based on hope and faith.