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harry potter - Must a physical Patronus charm take the form of an animal?


To my recollection, all physical Patronus charms that we see in the Harry Potter story are in the form of an animal. However, to quote this answer the nature of a Patronus charm is that it represents that which is hidden, unknown but necessary within the personality, which depending on the traits revealed could be embodied in many different ways.


For example, if a muggle-born wizard's Patronus were to portray strong leadership and perseverance could the physical manifestation appear as Optimus Prime?



Answer



Yes.



In the Book of Spells (available as part of the supposedly canonical Wonderbook Book of Spells game), Miranda Goshawk states that...



... This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it.



and from Pottermore's "Patronus Charm by J.K. Rowling"



The incorporeal Patronus is not a true Patronus and while it will give limited protection, it cannot provide the defensive power of the corporeal Patronus, which has the form and substance of an animal.




Taken together, these statements seem to leave little ambiguity that the corporeal Patronus must be an animal.



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