This week Harry Potter fans everywhere rejoiced as the much anticipated Patronus test was added to the Pottermore website.
Pottermore is an official Harry Potter website owned by J.K. Rowling herself. There, you can get your wand measurements, and be sorted into your Hogwarts and Ilvermorny houses. Additionally, since the release of Deathly Hallows, it is a great place to keep one foot in the wizarding world. Rowling regularly releases new articles, including what magic is like in other places of the world, and the history of the Potter family.
A patronus is a kind of shield made of positive forces such as love, hope, and happiness. They are used to shield a witch or wizard against dementors, dark creatures that feed on misery. The patronus is extremely difficult to conjure (Harry was one of the youngest known wizards to master the spell) and comes in two forms. The weaker non-corporeal form is a white wisp like form. The corporeal form is much stronger and its shape is unique to the witch or wizard that creates it. In the series, Harry’s patronus is a stag.
When you first enter the test, you are in a dark wooded area. You are prompted to think of a happy memory, and to focus on that memory throughout the test. When the test begins, you are transported through the woods, and presented with collections of words. You must pick a word by pure instinct. Think about it too long and the test will move on without you choosing. At the end you will be presented with a patronus.
I did the test myself and my patronus was a deer hound. As a lifelong dog person, I’m quite happy with this. J.K. Rowling received a Heron as hers. And Eddie Redmayne, who stars in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, says the he is perfectly suited to his basset hound. However, not everyone is thrilled at their patronus. Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the films, was disappointed to get a salmon:
“I don’t geddit @pottermore…all of my happiest memories are spent in the presence of cats. Why oh why is my Patronus a SALMON?! #Patronus“
— Evanna Lynch (@Evy_Lynch) September 23, 2016
At first glance the salmon isn’t the most glorious of creatures, but after seeing her disappointment, fans encouraged Lynch to look deeper. The salmon is a symbol of strength, determination, dependability, and wisdom. Not bad when you look at it that way.
If you’re a fan of Harry Potter and haven’t checked out the Pottermore site yet, it is a great look into the deeper lore of the wizarding world. New articles and features are added all the time.
What’s your patronus?
YouTube Channel: WiseHufflepuff
Featured image via Pottermore
