ArisKatsaris comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 11 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: Oscar_Cunningham 17 March 2012 09:41AM

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Comment author: ArisKatsaris 23 March 2012 04:42:45PM 8 points [-]

The trick of knowing how to send Patronuses to others as messengers has been implied to be kept in Dumbledore's close circle, as a tactical advantage. (e.g. Quirrel mentioning the possibility of Dumbledore teaching Harry this trick -- not as if it's public knowledge)

Comment author: rdb 25 March 2012 03:57:51AM *  0 points [-]

Harry & Draco have learnt to send Patronus messages. With the goal of preserving Hermione unbroken while working towards her exoneration, Harry could

  • Arrange teaching of sending messages to any Patronus wielders in SPHEW/Sunshine or anyone else willing to help Hermione ** will confirm whether it is possible to maintain a Patronus at a distance for long periods
  • Arrange teaching of Patronus to those willing to help who don't know it.
  • Given the Cloak & Harry's Patronus hide those protected from Dementors, research Rituals/Potions to confer that ** An aim of Quirrel's?
  • Enlist help in finding evidence for Hermione's memory charming (Daphne noting she missed the Sunshine army council of war in 79).
Comment author: Incorrect 24 March 2012 10:47:42PM -2 points [-]

Actually Malfoy sends his to Harry with a message.

Comment author: pedanterrific 25 March 2012 12:07:40AM 3 points [-]

As far as I know we have no indication that Lucius is capable of casting the Patronus Charm at all. Or are you referring to the scene where Harry teaches Draco how to send messages with it?

Comment author: Incorrect 25 March 2012 02:09:47AM 0 points [-]

The latter. Wait why would Harry teach Draco a secret trick belonging to Dumbledore's close circle?

Comment author: pedanterrific 25 March 2012 02:13:51AM 3 points [-]

"That reminds me," said Harry after a while. "Can we test my hypothesis about how to use a Patronus to send messages?" [...]

The trick - or so Harry hypothesized - was wanting to spread the good news, wanting the recipient to know the truth of whatever happy thought you'd used to cast the Patronus Charm. Only instead of telling the recipient in words, the Patronus itself was the message. By wanting them to see that, the Patronus would go to them.

He just came up with the idea independently.

Comment author: Normal_Anomaly 25 March 2012 03:13:02PM 0 points [-]

Or at least he saw that it could be done and independently came up with how.