a magical silvery phantom shape of an animal, which embodied the positive thoughts of the witch or wizard that created it; a Patronus drove away dementors and Lethifolds; Lupin taught the spell Expecto Patronum to Harry, who conjured a stag as his Patronus; the Patronus Charm was very advanced magic; the members of the Order of the Phoenix communicated with their Patronuses (PA12, 13, 21; GF28; OP2, 3, 8, 10, 16, 21, 27; HBP8, 15, 16, 21, 29; JKR website)