Behind the Spell
by Elena Black
Greetings fellow Slytherins! This is Elena Black once again, writing to you all with my choice for the Potion/Spell of the Month. Before I reveal that, however, let me say that it was a real chore figuring this one out. I didn't want to choose anything that would be too predictable, namely things like the Polyjuice Potion. Don't get me wrong, it's a nifty elixir and all. But everyone knows about it and, personally, I think it was a bit overused throughout the Harry Potter books. Hell, I wouldn't be too amazed if any of you knew the potion so well that you even memorized how to brew it.
So I looked and looked and looked before finally, something did indeed catch my eye.
Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the Patronus Charm!
Now, let's be honest with one another. Do you truly think all of the guardians fit each canon? Let's take Snape for instance. He had a doe rather than a serpent for example. Moreover, his Patronus happened to be the same one that Lily (nee Evans) Potter had. Weren't these supposed to be unique to each caster?
Ah well. That's not the main focus for this article, not the part about them being different at least. Nope. What I'm going to help explore with you all are the more typical traits of certain animals that were chosen and allowing you to decide if they were truly appropriate for the canons assigned or not.
Since I already started a bit on the doe, let's expand more on it, shall we? Since both doe and stags fit in this category, I'll elaborate on these at the same time.
In general, deer tend to symbolize love, gentleness, kindness, gracefulness, and even sensitivity. Furthermore, they carry the message of purity and purpose and of walking in the light.
That being said, does a doe symbolize Snape? Well .. somewhat. If you count his undying love for Lily, yes. All in all? Not really. If anything, he walked down a very dark path. Even when he pretended to still side with Voldemort, the route he chose was still relatively dark as opposed to light. I suppose one could argue there may have been some light to the readers if for no other reason than the simple knowledge that Snape sought out redemption by working for Dumbledore as opposed to against. But the rest of the traits really don't quite fit him. He was, to a very strict extent, kind.
Yes, Snape was. How so? Well, he never actually physically harmed Harry now did he? If anything, he kept him safe. Remember how he saved Harry from being hurled off his broomstick in his first year? That, I would think, constitutes as an act of kindness.
Thus the only traits that even begin to fit Snape, even if only a little, are kindness and his eternal love. Are those enough to deem him worthy of the doe Patronus?
That, in the end, is up to you. Personally though, I'd lean towards no.
The traits of the deer, however, do fit all of the Potters rather well. But it especially seems best suited for Lily. However, I would say that both James and Harry match enough traits from a deer for me to not really argue or question why their Patronus was a stag.
Onto Hermione Granger's Patronus. She was given an otter, which represents laughter, curiosity, and a mischevious nature. Furthermore, it symbolizes grace and empathy.
So what do I personally believe suits her in terms of the traits listed above? Perhaps laughter, though mainly that she did the action more than causing it, curiosity, and most certainly empathy. There could be times when Miss Granger could be graceful. But there were an equal amount of moments where she followed her heart rather than her head, which definitely doesn't count as graceful. Above all else, Hermione was definitely not the trouble-making type; that much we all know for sure.
Again, this is another hit and miss for me. There are some things I do see linked to Hermione and others ... I don't agree with.
Let's do one more good analysis really quickly and then I'll let you all think more on this.
The final Patronus I want to look at belongs to Luna Lovegood. She had the hare. The results of this animal honestly took me aback and I think they will do so to you all also. The rabbit symbolizes alertness, nurturing, physical or sexual obsessive preoccupation which leaves no room for spiritual development, longevity, vigilance, easily frightened, cowardice, self-sacrifice, and finally a trickster figure.
It's rather obvious which parts of this description do not fit Miss Lovegood and I don't just mean the sexual bits. She was by no means a coward nor easily frightened. I don't think I'd use the words 'trickster figure' to describe her either. While she was definitely self-sacrificing and vigilant, the hare seems like - all in all - a bad choice for Miss Lovegood.
Again, that is merely my opinion. However, now that you have a better idea on why I selected this topic, you all my research the meanings of each of these animals if you so desire and compare them to the canons that got each Patronus. This way, you can see for yourselves if you want whether you believe they got an animal that suited them or not.
Until next time, I bid you all farewell.
Sincerely,
Elena Black