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Is Harry's boggart still a Dementor?



Every HP fan knows Harry's boggart was a Dementor.


Dementors can make you relive your most fearful memories. Harry's was exceptionally fearful/tragic. That's why he was so affected by them, and maybe the reason why they turned into his greatest fear.


But that's before his classes with Lupin show him how to cast an effective Patronus against Dementors. Once Harry knows how to ward off Dementors, is he still afraid of them? He practically sent hundreds of them fleeing with his Patronus across the lake.


So, if he were to meet a boggart after that, would it still turn into a Dementor? Couldn't find anything relevant on the net. Wondering if there's anything canon to answer this. If not, I'm gonna ask JKR this whenever I meet her. :D



Answer



In addition to the more philosophical points raised by others, there is hard evidence that Harry's boggart remains a dementor after Lupin's lessons in Goblet of Fire. When Harry is in the maze he encounters a boggart and it takes the form of a dementor:



Then, as he turned a corner, he saw... a dementor gliding toward him. Twelve feet tall, its face hidden by its hood, its rotting, scabbed hands outstretched, it advanced, sensing its way blindly toward him. Harry could hear its rattling breath; he felt clammy coldness stealing over him, but knew what he had to do... ...A silver stag erupted from the end of Harry’s wand and galloped toward the dementor, which fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes... Harry had never seen a dementor stumble. “Hang on!” he shouted, advancing in the wake of his silver Patronus, “You’re a boggart! Riddikulus!” There was a loud crack, and the shape-shifter exploded in a wisp of smoke.


-- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, page 622, US edition




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