Difference between revisions 23108489 and 26033299 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]].

The Charm creates an [[avatar]] of the caster's most positive feelings, like happiness, hope and the desire to survive, known as the Patronus. In essence, a Patronus is the exact opposite of a Dementor. Even though it embodies all the good emotions a Dementor feeds on, a Patronus lacks despair by definition, which renders it immune and a weapon rather than a feast. It can shield its caster from Dementors and even drive them away.

When cast, a Patronus appears silvery, insubstantial and semi-transparent. Less advanced ones are momentary formless bursts, like [[mist]] or [[water]] vapour. A fully-fledged (or ''corporeal[[wiktionary:corporeal|corporeal]]'') Patronus takes a fixed [[animal]] shape that depends on the person. Harry Potter's Patronus is a [[deer|stag]], his father's [[Animagus]] form. [[Hermione Granger|Hermione Granger's]] is an [[otter]], her favourite animal, [[Ron Weasley|Ron Weasley's]] a [[Jack Russell terrier]], [[Cho Chang]]'s a [[swan]], [[Albus Dumbledore]]'s a [[Phoenix]]. [[Nymphadora Tonks]]'s Patronus is believed to be a [[werewolf]], signifying her deep feelings for [[Remus Lupin]].  The form the Patronus takes can change, as Tonks's does in [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]].  The animal obeys the conjurer and fades away shortly after its use ends. Harry impressed the examiners during the O.W.L.s by his mastery of the spell, unusual for one so young.

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==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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