Harry Potter: Every Main Character's Patronus (& What It Really ...

The Harry Potter books and movies introduced the audience to a bunch of characters, events, objects, and concepts from the Wizarding World, and one of the most fascinating ones is that of the Patronus charm – and here’s the Patronus of every main character and what it means. The fantasy genre has seen a variety of worlds with their own mythologies, and one of the most beloved and popular ones is that of the Wizarding World, created by J.K. Rowling and introduced in her debut novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997.

The Wizarding World is the main setting of the Harry Potter saga, a series of seven novels following the story of “the boy who lived” and Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of all, who had dangerous plans for both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds and a personal vendetta against Harry, who he failed to kill when he was a baby. Along with Harry, readers and viewers learned about the events that shaped the Wizarding World, its most notable wizards and witches, and some of its most interesting and intriguing spells and more, among those the Patronus charm.

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The Patronus charm was introduced in the third book/movie of the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where professor Remus Lupin taught it to Harry so he could defend himself from the Dementors, who were all around Hogwarts after Sirius Black’ escape from Azkaban. The Patronus charm is one of the most powerful defensive charms and also one of the most complicated and difficult ones to master, as it requires evoking a positive energy force. This is why it’s used to protect oneself from Dementors, and there are two types of Patronuses: corporeal, where the Patronus takes a particular shape, and incorporeal, with no shape and also not with the same power to protect against Dementors. The main characters in Harry Potter cast corporeal Patronuses, and their shapes say a lot about their personalities, backstories, and more. Here’s every main character’s Patronus and what each of them means.

Harry Potter – Stag

Harry Potter’s Patronus takes the shape of a stag, which was also his father’s Animagus form and Patronus. James Potter, along with friends Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, learned how to become an Animagus to keep Remus Lupin company during his werewolf transformations, and so he ended up transforming into a stag (which also earned him the nickname of “Prongs”). According to the official Wizarding World website, a stag is the protector of animals, and so a Patronus with this shape represents looking out for the rest (like James and Lily did, and later Snape and Harry, as this shape is closely linked to that of the doe) and also stands for leadership roles. As the stag’s antlers fall off and regrow every year, it’s also a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. Harry saved himself through his stag Patronus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where he initially thought he saw his father's spirit, but later realized it was him casting his Patronus.

Hermione Granger – Otter

Although Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of her generation, the one spell she had trouble with was the Patronus, but she eventually mastered it. Hermione was able to cast a corporeal Patronus in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, during one of the meetings and training sessions with Dumbledore’s Army, and it took the shape of an otter. Rowling has shared that the otter is her favorite animal and so she chose it as Hermione’s Patronus, but it also has a deeper meaning. The otter is described as a “clever and dexterous animal”, and while Hermoine’s carefree side was usually hidden underneath lots of responsibilities, tasks, and knowledge, her Patronus was able to move around playfully without care, reflecting that often unseen side of her.

Ron Weasley – Jack Russell Terrier

Ron Weasley’s Patronus is a Jack Russell Terrier. As strange as it might sound, Ron actually shares a lot with Terriers: although small, these dogs “will bark furiously at anything they see as a threat, no matter if the odds are against them”, similarly to how Ron protected Harry from Sirius Black (when they thought he was a dangerous murderer) standing on a broken leg and when he defended Hermione with a broken wand. Jack Russell Terriers are also stubborn and wilful, but also very loyal, very much like Ron Weasley.

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Albus Dumbledore – Phoenix

The phoenix was a very rare but possible Patronus shape, and Albus Dumbledore famously cast a phoenix Patronus – which is quite fitting as he had a strong connection to this mythical creature, having a phoenix companion named Fawkes and naming his anti-Voldemort group “The Order of the Phoenix”. The phoenix is known as the resurrection bird, one who dies in flames and rises again from the ashes, and its tears have healing powers (as seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Fawkes’ tears healed the wound the Basilisk left on Harry’s arm). The phoenix Patronus has been interpreted as symbolizing strength, wisdom, and power, but also as a representation of a lonely and untameable character.

Severus Snape – Doe

Perhaps one of the most emotionally charged Patronuses, Severus Snape’s corporeal Patronus took the shape of a doe, which was also the shape of Lily Potter’s Patronus. Snape’s Patronus was a doe as a sign of his undying love for Lily, and he used it to guide Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor, hidden in a frozen lake in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The doe has been interpreted as a symbol of care and nurture, as it’s fiercely protective of its loved ones, and it also represents gentleness and strong determination, along with high levels of intuition and sensitivity. Snape had his own way of protecting those he cared about, especially Harry, but given some of his actions, it’s up to every Harry Potter fan to decide if a doe Patronus was fitting with Snape’s personality or not.

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