Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Patronus

Patronus
Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Magic
Type	Magical term
Features	Names effect of Expecto Patronum spell
First Appearance	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Overview

A Patronus is the visible result of the casting of the Expecto Patronum spell. By extension, it is also used to refer to the spell itself.

Extended Description

Beginner warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level.

When the Expecto Patronum spell is cast, the result is an apparent object made of white vapour. This object, the Patronus, often takes the shape of an animal; Harry's, for instance, is a stag. The animal in question often has some relationship to the person casting it: for instance, Dumbledore's is a phoenix, which seems to fit him well given his choice of pet, and Harry's takes the shape that his father took as an Animagus. Dumbledore has also devised a way of allowing a patronus to carry messages. More information is available at Expecto Patronum.

Analysis

Questions

Study questions are meant to be left for each student to answer; please don't answer them here.

Greater Picture

Intermediate warning: Details follow which you may not wish to read at your current level.