Patronus Charm

Patronus Charm
Incantation	Expecto Patronum
Pronounciation	Ex-pek-to Pa-tro-num
Light	Silver

The Patronus Charm is an ancient protection charm that creates the shape of an animal in its full corporeal form. It takes the shape of an animal with who the owner shares a great affinity which will act as a guardian. It is the main defence against Dementors.

On 22 September 2016, Pottermore released the Patronus Quiz. To find their Patronus, users follow the story and pick a variety of timed choices with their instinct. If the quiz determines the Patronus to be rare, they will be given an additional set of choices to clarify it.

New from J.K. Rowling

"The Patronus is the most famous (and famously difficult) defensive charm. The aim is to produce a silvery-white guardian or protector, which takes the form of an animal. The exact form of the Patronus will not be apparent until the spell has been successfully cast. One of the most powerful defensive charms known to wizardkind, the Patronus can also be used as a messenger between wizards. As a pure, protective magical concentration of happiness and hope (the recollection of a single talisman memory is essential in its creation) it is the only spell effective against Dementors. The majority of witches and wizards are unable to produce Patronuses and to do so is generally considered a mark of superior magical ability.

Some witches and wizards may manage an incorporeal Patronus, which resembles a mass or wisp of silvery vapour or smoke. In some cases a witch or wizard may choose to produce an incorporeal Patronus deliberately, if he or she wishes to disguise the form it generally takes (Remus Lupin, for instance, is afraid that his corporeal Patronus gives too much away). The incorporeal Patronus is not a true Patronus and while it will give limited protection, it cannot provide the defensive power of the corporeal Patronus, which has the form and substance of an animal.

The Patronus Charm is one of the most ancient of charms and appears in many accounts of early magic. In spite of a long association with those fighting for lofty or noble causes (those able to produce corporeal Patronuses were often elected to high office within the Wizengamot and Ministry of Magic), the Patronus is not unknown among Dark wizards. While there is a widespread and justified belief that a wizard who is not pure of heart cannot produce a successful Patronus (the most famous example of the spell backfiring is that of the Dark wizard Raczidian, who was devoured by maggots), a rare few witches and wizards of questionable morals have succeeded in producing the Charm (Dolores Umbridge, for example, is able to conjure a cat Patronus to protect herself from Dementors). It may be that a true and confident belief in the rightness of one's actions can supply the necessary happiness. However, most such men and women, who become desensitised to the effects of the Dark creatures with whom they may ally themselves, regard the Patronus as an unnecessary spell to have in their arsenal.

No reliable system for predicting the form of an individual's Patronus has ever been found, although the great eighteenth-century researcher of Charms, Professor Catullus Spangle, set forth certain principles that are widely accepted as true.

Lily Potter's Patronus - a doe

The Patronus, asserted Spangle, represents that which is hidden, unknown but necessary within the personality. ‘For it is evident,’ he writes, in his masterwork ‘Charms of Defence and Deterrence’:

‘… that a human confronted with inhuman evil, such as the Dementor, must draw upon resources he or she may never have needed, and the Patronus is the awakened secret self that lies dormant until needed, but which must now be brought to light...’

Here, says Spangle, is the explanation for the appearance of Patronuses in forms that their casters might not expect, for which they have never felt a particular affinity, or (in rare cases) even recognise.

Spangle is interesting on the subject of those unusual witches and wizards who produce a Patronus that takes the form of their favourite animal.

‘It is my firm belief that such a Patronus is an indicator of obsession or eccentricity. Here is a wizard who may not be able to hide their essential self in common life, who may, indeed, parade tendencies that others might prefer to conceal. Whatever the form of their Patronus, you would be well-advised to show respect, and occasionally caution, towards a witch or wizard who produces the Patronus of their choice.’

The form of a Patronus may change during the course of a witch or wizard's life. Instances have been known of the form of the Patronus transforming due to bereavement, falling in love or profound shifts in a person's character. Thus Nymphadora Tonks’s Patronus changes from a jack rabbit to a wolf (not a werewolf) when she falls in love with Remus Lupin. Some witches and wizards may be unable to produce a Patronus at all until they have undergone some kind of psychic shock.

It is usual, but not inevitable, for a Patronus to take the form of an animal commonly found in the caster’s native country. Given their long affinity with humans it is perhaps unsurprising that among the most common Patronuses (although it must be remembered that any corporeal Patronus is highly unusual) are dogs, cats and horses. However, every Patronus is as unique as its creator and even identical twins have been known to produce very different Patronuses.

Extinct Patronuses are very rare but not unknown. Strangely, given their long connection with wizardkind, owl Patronuses are unusual. Most uncommon of all possibly Patronuses are magical creatures such as dragons, Thestrals and phoenixes. Never forget, though, that one of the most famous Patronuses of all time was a lowly mouse, which belonged to a legendary young wizard called Illyius, who used it to hold off an attack from an army of Dementors single-handedly. While a rare and magical Patronus undoubtedly reflects an unusual personality, it does not follow that it is more powerful, or will enjoy greater success at defending its caster."

Known Patronuses

Patronus Form	Owner	Notes
Boar	Ernie MacMillan
Cat	Minerva McGonagall Dolores Umbridge
Doe	Lily Evans Severus Snape	Snape's Patronus become a doe because he fell in love with Lily
Fox	Seamus Finnigan
Hare	Luna Lovegood
Jack Russell Terrier	Ron Weasley
Horse	Ginny Weasley
Goat	Aberforth Dumbledore
Mouse	Illyius	The Patronus was considered small and weak until Illyius managed to prove it stronger than the others in his village when it was attacked
Lynx	Kingsley Shacklebolt
Otter	Hermione Granger
Phoenix	Albus Dumbledore
Stag	Harry PotterJames Potter	Harry shared the same Patronus as his father, James whose Animagus was also a Stag
Swan	Cho Chang
Weasel	Arthur Weasley
Wolf	Remus Lupin Nymphadora Tonks	Nymphadora's Patronus became a wolf when she fell in love with Remus

On Pottermore's Patronus Quiz

Aardvark	Abraxan Winged Horse	Adder	Albatross	Badger
Basset Hound	Bat	Bay Mare	Bay Stallion	Beagle
Black and White Cat	Black Bear	Blackbird	Black Mamba	Black Mare
Black Stallion	Black Swan	Bloodhound	Borzoi	Brown Bear
Brown Hare	Brown Owl	Buffalo	Buzzard	Calico Cat
Capuchin Monkey	Cheetah	Chestnut Mare	Chestnut Stallion	Chow Dog
Crow	Dapple Grey Mare	Dapple Grey Stallion	Deerhound	Doe
Dolphin	Dragon	Dragonfly	Dun Mare	Dun Stallion
Eagle	Eagle Owl	Elephant	Erumpent	Falcon
Field Mouse	Fire Dwelling Salamander	Fox	Fox Terrier	Ginger Cat
Goshawk	Granian Winged Horse	Grass Snake	Great Grey Owl	Greyhound
Grey Squirrel	Hedgehog	Heron	Hippogriff	Hummingbird
Husky	Hyena	Ibizan Hound	Impala	Irish Wolfhound
King Cobra	Kingfisher	Leopard	Leopardess	Lion
Lioness	Little Owl	Lynx	Magpie	Manx Cat
Marsh Harrier	Mastiff	Mink	Mole	Mongrel Dog
Mountain Hare	Nebelung Cat	Nightjar	Occamy	Ocicat
Orangutan	Orca	Oryx	Osprey	Otter
Peacock	Pheasant	Piebald Mare	Piebald Stallion	Pine Marten
Polar Bear	Polecat	Python	Ragdoll Cat	Rat
Rattlesnake	Raven	Red Squirrel	Rhinoceros	Robin
Rottweiler	Runespoor	Russian Blue Cat	Salmon	Scops Owl
Seal	Shark	Shrew	Siberian Cat	Snowy Owl
Sparrow	Sparrowhawk	Sphinx Cat	Stag	St Bernard
Stoat	Swallow	Swift	Thestral	Tiger
Tigress	Tonkinese Cat	Tortoiseshell Cat	Unicorn	Vole
Vulture	Weasel	West Highland Terrier	White Mare	White Stallion
White Swan	Wild Boar	Wildcat	Wild Rabbit	Wolf
Wood Mouse

Old Pottermore

The Patronus Charm is a charm described by J.K. Rowling in a special content for the third book. The content would be unlocked by clicking on Harry's patronus - the Stag.

Introduction

“

The Patronus Charm is a highly advanced piece of magic, well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level standard. When performed correctly, the spell produces a Patronus, a kind of guardian which acts as a shield between a wizard and a Dementor.

”

From the Story

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Discovered in chapter 12, The Patronus

“

The Patronus Charm is a highly advanced piece of magic, well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level standard. When performed correctly, the spell produces a Patronus, a kind of guardian which acts as a shield between a wizard and a Dementor. A Patronus is a positive force, a projection of the things that Dementors feed upon - hope, happiness and the desire to survive - but as it cannot feel despair, it cannot be harmed by a Dementor. Each Patronus is unique to the wizard who conjures it. It is conjured with an incantation, Expecto Patronum, but will only work if the wizard is concentrating properly on a single, happy memory. It is a hugely difficult to perform, and many qualified wizards have difficulty with it.

”

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Discovered in chapter 1, Dudley Demented

“

Harry attempts to use the Patronus Charm against the Dementors that appears in the alleyway between Wisteria Walk and Magnolia Crescent. The enormous silver stag erupts from the tip of Harry's wand on his third attempt, its antlers catching the first Dementor in the place where the heart should have been and throwing the creature backwards. Harry then directs his Patronus towards the Dementor attacking Dudley. The Patronus charges at the Dementor, forcing it to soar away, like the first one.

”

Discovered in chapter 27, The Centaur and the Sneak

“

The students taking DA lessons from Harry work on the Patronus Charm in the Room of Requirement. Several are able to produce corporeal Patronuses; Hermione's Patronus is an otter and Cho Chang's is a swan.

”

Behind the Scenes

• J.K. Rowling revealed that when she took the Patronus Quiz while she was still working on it, she was given the Pine Marten as her Patronus. However, when she took it upon its completion, Rowling revealed that her Patronus changed to the Heron which she loves more for personal reasons.
• Evanna Lynch revealed that she took the Patronus Quiz twice and was given the Greyhound and then the Salmon.