Difference between revisions 22287599 and 23080754 on enwiki

[[Image:Patronus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Harry performing the Patronus Charm, in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie]]
The '''Patronus Charm''' is a very difficult [[spell]] featured in the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series of [[fantasy]] [[novels]] by [[J. K. Rowling]]. It is the only known means of defence against the horrid [[Dementors]].

(contracted; show full)

According to ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]'', the Patronus Charm is also the only known spell that can deal with shroud-like [[Minor Harry Potter Beasts#Lethifold|Lethifold]]s, creatures not found in the books' setting that silently slip into houses to suffocate and digest their victims.

The word "patronus" is 
modern Latin for "protector", but it is also derived from "pater", which means meaning in ancient Latin is "father." This is appropriate, since Harry's patronus took his father's form. The word "expecto," which is also spelled "exxpecto" in a chapter title, has modern meaning ''I welcome'' but is identical in pronunciation to "ex specto" and "ex pecto." The older meaning of "ex specto" is ''I am on the look-out for'' (i.e., ''I expect''). The phrase "ex pecto" means ''out of the heart'' (or chest). Hence the words of the incantation have several significant meanings for the story.

The words "expecto patronum" can be used even by [[Muggles]] as a sort of [[mantra]] to restore tranquility and peace of mind in moments of agitation and depression.

==Communications==
According to the author, the extremely accomplished wizard [[Albus Dumbledore]] has devised a method  of using Patronuses to deliver messages. This offers great advantages in security, as patronuses uniquely identify the caster and are Dark-proof, and is in exclusive use of the [[Order of the Phoenix]].
[[Category:Harry Potter magic]]

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