This is not Hamilton, but a Harry Potter-themed quick fan art I did at a friend’s request for her birthday. It’s a patronus representation of Snape’s light and dark sides, represented by the doe and the snake. (you can tell which wins)
This is so magical to me since I imagined my Patronus being a Swan for a long time. Unsure why. I’m not even that fond of the bird but this makes me happy.
(Big thank you hugs to my mum for helping me turn the original weird-cat-mammal thingy I had drawn into something that actually looked like an otter! Love you, Mum!)
One of the things that we learn is that one’s Patronus can change if a significant event occurs. An example would be when Tonks falls in love with Lupin and her Patronus changes into a wolf.
But Lily’s Patronus never changes. It stays a doe.
Now a lot of people say that she’s a doe because James was a stag. Therefore they match because they are opposite sex/same species creatures and are meant for one another.
But a Patronus is not necessarily created ONLY from memories or thoughts about romantic love. Harry’s Patronus was originally cast with thoughts of his father.
So ostensibly, the memories she uses to cast her Patronus are not tied to James specifically, or it seems like her Patronus would have become a stag as well.
So what is Lily’s happiest memory?
It is my personal opinion that the very memory that Lily uses to cast her Patronus is the one from her childhood where she first learns that she is a witch from kid-Snape- the absolutely exhilarating feeling of finally figuring out what she is.
And we know that Snape has very few happy memories. In fact, the memories that Harry ends up seeing in the Penseive are all tied in some way to that first meeting between Lily/Severus, which to me shows that they were probably memories that Snape rehashes often, probably in order to cast his Patronus, which is why they were so easy to dredge up even as Snape was dying.
So, to some extent, I think that both Snape and Lily have the same Patronus not because Snape was in romantic/sexual love with Lily, but because both of them used the same memories to construct a Patronus in the first place.
For Lily, it was the exhilarating feeling of knowing what to call her odd abilities and the fact that there was more to that world and that she’d finally found someone else like her. For Snape, it was the exhilarating feeling of meeting someone who valued him and sought out his company for the first time in forever.
This fits in nicely to me with the fact that JK has officially stated that before Lily and James were murdered, Lily was seriously thinking of reconciling with Severus, especially after seeing his work for the Order.
I don’t think that they would have ever worked out as a romantic relationship in canon (of course, fanfiction is a totally different kettle of fish, ehehehe), but I do think she missed their friendship and that she respected the fact that he had admitted that he had made a mistake and was trying to make up for it.
And I think that they did truly love each other, even if that love was not of a romantic/sexual nature.
Your thoughts?
I’m totally behind the idea that Lily’s Patronus didn’t come about because of James’ stag. When I initially read DH, I thought it was meant to show they were “a perfect pair,” but I never thought his Animagus or Patronus form influenced hers. HP has a trend of semi-matching Patronus – Ginny’s is a horse, Harry’s is a stag; Hermione’s is an otter, which is a member of the weasel family, but Ron’s is a Jack Russell terrier. If James and Lily are a stag and a doe, male and female deer, that’s (afaik) an isolated match. Tonks’ Patronus changed to a werewolf because of Remus, and Snape’s (it was generally assumed) changed to a doe because of Lily. If Lily’s changed to a doe to match James’ stag, this is the only instance we know of a Patronus becoming a “mate” for another. What I mean is that it doesn’t map to any other love in the series and therefore we can take it any way we want – if that’s in fact what happened. I’ve never taken it as indicating influence but as supposed compatibility.
(Of course, if that’s the case, then Snape and Harry are compatible. As a longtime Snarry shipper, that’s always made me laugh.)
I once read a fic which posited that by matching Lily’s Patronus exactly, Snape’s doe represented perfect identification, as opposed to (male/female deer) affinity. I always thought that was an interesting take on it. I’ve read another fic where Snape and Lily’s doe was the result of an influential memory that they both shared, an idea I also liked.
I love this idea that the doe represents Lily’s pleasure at finding out she’s a witch, and that Snape’s doe is a reflection of that. James and Harry were very different people, and yet they both were represented by a stag. With James, the stag is suggestive of being a show-offy King of the Forest, whereas with Harry I think it’s more likely to represent the noble, sacrificial hero. Patronuses can definitely represent different things for different people, as if it’s refracted through the lens of their personality.
I like to imagine that Snape had no idea what Lily’s Patronus was (it’s not exactly a piece of Hogwarts’ typical curriculum, as casting it is beyond a lot of witches and wizards) but that because, in his mind, she represented love – whether you spin it as friendship or romance, which are not mutually exclusive – happiness and goodness, and that when he first cast it, he had no idea why it was a doe. Dumbledore called Snape’s love for Lily, his willingness to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and to honor her memory when she was gone, “the best of him.” Isn’t that what the Patronus is?
In fics where Snape survives DH and finds another female love, it’s been my experience that his Patronus changes to match hers. This is interesting to me, because it suggests that Snape has no store of happiness that’s not tied to another person. I tend to agree with that; but I think that Snape’s Patronus is “set” as a doe. If we take his Patronus as evidence of emotional upheaval or of love, I think that Lily’s friendship and her loss are so deeply a part of him that it would be virtually impossible for his Patronus to change, no matter if he loved someone else or not.
There’s so much left open to interpretation with the Patronus – so much that it represents, and imo, it’s one of the series’ most interesting pieces of magical world-building – that it majorly bums me out to see people (erroneously) reducing it to “Snape was obsessed.” I absolutely think that he and Lily loved each other and that the tragedy of their life made it impossible for them to be together, but that that love never went away. However we interpret the doe’s formation, it still represents his reason for everything he did to keep Lily safe and protect Harry. The series is all about how people are shaped by love, and Snape’s doe is a powerful symbol of that. It’s one of my favorite parts of the series.
Reblogging for the excellent added thoughts.
Wonderful commentary
Meta like this (and fic) is why I keep on loving HP even after all these years. There are always new facets to discover.
HOMIE I THOUGHT YOUR BDAY WAS 5/11 SO I PLANNED THIS WHOLE THING BUT WAS IT 5/10???? I AM FUCKING LATE??? SRY IF SO PLZ ACCEPT ALL OF MY PLANNED LOVE BELOW.
Thank you for everything you do for this fandom–from being part welcoming committee, part LCD Queen, part artist, part writer… It wouldn’t be the same here without you.
As a token of my gratitude, I wrote you a little something to accompany your gorgeous piece, The Ghost of Innocence.
The Ghost of Innocence
Harry/Gen | Rate G | No warnings | 315 words
Everyone knows the Patronus charm is an extension of one’s soul, a magical representation of our hidden depths. Everyone knows that in true love, the Patronus changes to match or complement one’s beloved. But a little-known fact about the charm is that it matures with its caster.
It’s a relatively unknown fact because up until the Second Wizarding War, no child knew the charm. It wasn’t even a requirement in the Hogwarts curriculum since only Aurors would ever be in need of it. It’s a charm meant for adults, to protect against unspeakable evil.
But during a dark time, one child was forced to learn. Through his extraordinary perseverance and the love that saved him, he was able to produce a corporeal Patronus. A stag like his dad’s he’d said, his voice filled with pride. No one had dared to say otherwise, silently agreeing that the boy deserved this one sweet thing in this cruel world about to break into war. But a stag it was not, it was a fawn that trotted along excitedly in its too-thin legs.
It was beautiful–powerful in its enthusiasm and a worthy protector of the boy that summoned him. For a year the fawn hopped playfully through the halls of Hogwarts, bringing joy to any who saw it skipping about. Until the day the boy saw Death and recognized him, an old and unforgiving friend. With a wink and a tug on his friend’s hand, Death changed the boy.
The next time he cast a Patronus, it was a true stag–just like his father’s. Imposing and majestic, he guarded many in the years of war that followed. The boy would never know it, but everyone around him grieved the loss of the fawn. Another casualty of war, one of the many the boy would experience. Relegated to live in their memories–a ghost of his innocence, gone far too soon.
you’re right on time!!!! it’s May 11 oh my gosh my heart!! thank you!! your words are perfect! you captured everything i tried to express so well! amazing!! thank you!!!
Surgery update! All went good and I’m a bit loopy but home resting. PLEASE READ TO THE END. • • • A little update about the animal totem necklaces. I never meant cultural appropriation but it seems that “Spirit Animal” have offended some people so I have changed the name to Animal Companion / familiar. This piece and most pieces I make are meant to be more than just jewelry. An adornment that will have a deep meaning to the wearer and bring comfort. We are bombed everyday with so much garbage and terrible news that I feel it’s nice to have little tokens to enlighten us at all times. With that said, I think we can all relate to the beautiful animals that surround us! Choose one and make it yours!
#animalcompanion #patronus ALSO!! These are made to order so you can email me to design yours. I don’t check dm’s often and it’s much faster to reply to email. Link in bio. Thank you for your continued support!
Theoretically, if they were a mentally deranged person who found happiness in torturing others, could a Death Eater produce a patronus with those dark memories? Because it’s happiness derived through darkness, but it’s also being used to drive away darkness. So, is it possible?
Those with this unusual patronus are truly unique in character. People with the Hippogriff are fiercely loyal to those who earn their trust, often willing to go the extra mile for those who they care for. If you have a friend with the Hippogriff it is likely they are the most Loyal to you above all others.
Those with the Hippogriff patronus are often very proud and self assured. They do not forgive insults easily. Occasionally this pride can drift into arrogance and cause friction with those around you.
The characteristic which makes it so rare to find people with the Hippogriff is the large heart. Not many people have such a large loving heart as those with this patronus, something very special indeed.
The second most rare patronus, only an unusual individual could produce a thestral.
Thestral patronus can be seen by even those who have no been close to death. This is due to them being summoned by a Charm and under the control of a witch or wizard.
Those with the Thestral patronus are gentle at heart and kind to those around them.
Those with this patronus have an understanding nature and will often make others feel like they are on the same wavelength. If this is your patronus you may find people around you open up to you with things they have told nobody else.
Having such a gentle nature does make people with the Thestral sometimes at risk of being pushed about, however it is uncommon for someone to feel negatively towards those who cast this patronus.
It is important to say that those with this patronus often have the most gentle souls of all.
This patronus is extremely rare and can be found in all houses but most common is Hufflepuff.
A person with a patronus of a thestral has seen and experienced many things, and are genuinely wise because of it. They may feel themselves as outcasts, and may often exclude themselves from others. But a thestral is very perceptive, and chooses their friends cautiously - and this usually ends up being for the better.
Trust is not in a hippogriff’s vocabulary, at least, not at first. They are extremely proud and honourable and won’t give you a second thought unless you prove that you are worth their time. They are very independant and hate to have to wait for people to catch up to their level since they are already on top. Intelligent and cunning, they seem very down to earth, but are more likely to be soaring in their own world.
