Summary
Expecto Patronumis one of the most essential spells within theHarry Potterfranchise. The shielding spell is used as a defense against the evil Dementors and is a crucial source of protection. Notoriously,the Patronus charmis incredibly difficult to cast, but when done successfully, a full-bodied Patronus will appear in the form of a silver animal.
The animal that appears is unique to the witch or wizard who conjures it and will often possess a personalized meaning to the conjurer. For example, Harry’s Patronus takes the form of a stag to symbolize his spiritual connection with his father, James Potter. In a similar vein, Sirius Black’s Patronus is a dog – the same ashis Animagus form. However, Hermione’s connection to her Patronus seems a little less obvious. Amid Harry’s lessons with Dumbledore’s Army, it’s revealed that Hermione’s Patronus is an otter, leadingHarry Potterfans to wonder why her Patronus takes on this particular form. Although it initially appears like a random choice, Hermione’s Patronus reveals a lot about her character, and even links the beloved witch to other significant figures.
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When do we first see Hermione’s Patronus?
Like many other Harry Potter characters, we first see Hermione’s Patronus during Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. As a member ofDumbledore’s Army(DA), Hermione is taught how to summon her Patronus by Harry.
The Patronus charm is known for being incredibly complex and challenging. In order to successfully cast the Patronus charm, the witch or wizard must think of a happy memory – a challenging requirement when placed in a dangerous situation. Even though Hermione is known as “the brightest witch of her age”, she initially struggled with the spell. As Harry reminds the DA, it requires a significant amount of concentration to cast a full-bodied Patronus, and it’s an incredibly advanced spell. Aged just thirteen, Harry became the youngest wizard who was able to cast his Patronus – a fact which likely aggravated Hermione. Whilst some members of the DA are successful in their attempts, others are not. In a heart-felt scene,Neville apologizesfor his inability to master the spell, saying “I’m trying, Harry”.
LikeRon, Ginny, and Luna,Hermione eventually masters the spell. It’s then revealed that Hermione’s full-bodied Patronus is an otter – but why does Hermione’s Patronus take the form of an otter?
What does Hermione’s Patronus reveal about her character?
Although it’s not widely known, otters are highly intelligent creatures. They are naturally curious animals and have an excellent ability to learn new skills. Their intelligence means that the creatures can offer an array of surprising talents, including being able to juggle rocks. During her time at Hogwarts, Hermione earned a reputation for her impressive intellect. She was at the top of her class for almost every subject – a fact which both impressed and vexed her peers. Commonly referred to as a ‘know-it-all’, Harry Potter fans have often questioned why the talented witchwasn’t sorted into Ravenclaw. It seems fitting for Hermione to have an intelligent creature as her Patronus.
Otters are also incredibly social animals and are usually found in groups. They even hold hands whilst they sleep, showing their protective nature. As Harry Potter fans will know, Hermione is an exceptionally loyal friend. Throughout the franchise, the Golden Trio are utterly inseparable and Hermione’s loyalty to her friends never once wavers. She is devoted to Harry and Ron – even risking her own life to help Harry track down the Horcruxes. Like the otter, Hermione is incredibly protective of her friends and will often place herself in dangerous situations to guarantee their safety. Otters also aren’t afraid to attack if their group is under threat, much like Hermione bravely fighting against the Death Eaters.Gryffindors are well-known for their loyalty– a trait which Hermione clearly embodies. It is their loyalty which makes Gryffindors fearless. Hermione’s Patronus reflects this admirable Gryffindor trait of hers and signifies the importance of friends in her life.
After the Patronus has been conjured, its form can often reveal a hidden part of its conjurer’s personality – much likeSnape’s doe Patronus. Otters are known for being happy and carefree creatures. This means that Hermione’s Patronus reflects a side of her which isn’t often seen. Despite her serious exterior, Hermione truly comes into her own whilst in the company of her friends – a fact which Harry Potter fans will be aware of. Hermione’s Patronus places her fun personality in the spotlight, despite occasionally being overshadowed by her studious persona. Ultimately, the otter Patronus is rather rare, signifying Hermione’s unique personality. After all, she is one of themost memorable charactersacross the entire franchise.
Does Hermione’s Patronus connect her to Ron Weasley?
Some fans have theorized that Hermione’s Patronus establishes her romantic connection toRon Weasley. Otters are a part of the Mustelidae family, which also includes animals such as badgers and weasels. Fans have pointed out that otters are connected to weasels which parallels Hermione’s connection with Ron Weasley. In this case, Hermione’s Patronus would symbolize her romantic connection with Ron. In theHarry Potteruniverse, it is common for Patronuses to be impacted by romantic love. Famously, James Potter had a stag Patronus, which was complimented by Lily Potter’s doe. Nymphadora Tonks’ Patronus was also impacted by love. Originally her Patronus took the form of a jackrabbit, but this was transformed by her love forRemus Lupin, which turned her Patronus into a wolf.
As previously mentioned, the Patronus often reveals the hidden traits of a witch or wizard. As seen throughoutHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hermione’s romantic feelings for Ron were mainly subconscious, so it’s likely that her Patronus unearthed this buried part of herself – revealing Hermione’s romantic feelings for Ron before she even knew them herself.
This romantic theory behind Hermione’s Patronus is largely plausible, but J.K Rowling later admitted that she never planned to place Hermione and Ron together and had insteadenvisioned Harry and Hermione as a couple. This means that the Patronus’ connection to Ron is purely coincidental, but Hermione’s Patronus does link to another figure.
How is Hermione’s Patronus linked to J.K Rowling?
It is well-documented that J.K Rowling sees a lot of herself within Hermione. Whilst writing the series, Rowling regarded Hermione as an exaggerated extension of herself. Rowling previously revealed that otters are her favorite animal. This means that it’s likely Rowling chose the otter for Hermione’s Patronus because of her own love for the creatures.
Despite this connection, it’s undeniable that the otter shares a remarkable number of similarities with Hermione. They are intelligent, loyal, and fun creatures, making the otter a perfect fit for Hermione’s Patronus.
