Subject: Banishing Sue-Wraiths in Harry Potter Badfics
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Posted on: 2014-09-06 21:07:00 UTC
So, the spell Expecto Patronus is mainly used to drive off Dementors, but it is also known to harm other types of Dark Creatures. My question is, could an agent native to the HP continua who encounters a possessed character in a HP badfic use that spell to weaken the Wraith and facilitate banishment?
This is actually very closely related to a thread from last month, which featured banishments native to LotR, Pokemon, and, er, Wicca. In that thread, we read the 'proper combination' (ie, PPC standard) as modelled on the Bell-Book-Candle method of traditional Catholic exorcisms, but modified to invoke canon, rather than God. We then assumed that the same would work for other canons - take a canonical banishment method, and adapt it to protect canon.
I think using Expecto Patronum to banish a wraith falls into the same category. It's a canonical wraith-banisher, after all. But if you just use EP, then you have to explain why a character in the story casting it doesn't have the same effect.
I suppose it could be that PPC Agents' patronae (?) act against canon-unfriendliness, while canon characters' don't... but I think it'd be more fun to modify things slightly. So, what does a Patronus Charm look like? According to the HP wiki:
To successfully cast the spell, one must muster the happiest memory they can think of (the happier the memory, the better the charm will work) and begin drawing circles with their wand so as to increase the power of their spell. They must then say the incantation, "Expecto Patronum"; the Patronus will come from the tip of the wand and can be directed towards a target by pointing one's wand at said target.
Assuming we don't want to alter the words of the spell, that gives us two things we can change: the memory, and the 'drawing circles'. The first is easy - rather than a happy memory, require the agent to concentrate hard on remembering the canon. Then, either keep the circles - or require them to draw something related to the canon.
And remember, this isn't something that can only take place in HP-verse; we use neuralysers outside Men In Black, don't we? So let's decontextualise it a little...
The wand movement was actually never described in the books and I'm not sure whether it was shown in the movies. The HP wiki got it from the Video Game Wonderbook: Book of Spells, so it's not exactly canon.
Also, "a happy memory" is what Lupin said teaching Harry, but Lupin also said that he wasn't an expert. On later occasions, Harry used "a happy thought", like expecting to live with Sirius, expecting to escape from the maze of the third task and to celebrate with Ron and Hermione, or imagining Professor Umbridge being sacked.
HG
Yes, PPC agents do tend to use technology or other canon-specific techniques outside their original contexts, but also I seem to also remember that for example, you could use a neuralyzer on a HP-verse Canon, but a Memory Charm would work better.
So yes, I guess you could use a modified Patronus on any possessed Canon from any continua, but it probably would work on a HP one, wouldn´t it?
Your points about that modifications upon the nature of the thoughts while casting and the wand motions make perfect sense.
Also, may be then we could work with the HFA to modify Muggle-use Wands to include this modified version of the spell?
And apparently the plural of Patronus is Patronuses according to the HP Wikia.
(Also, the spell is Expecto Patronum. Just for future reference.)
Honestly I don't know how I screwed that up * sweatdrops like an anime character *
After all, exorcisms in the PPC are pretty much "whatever gets the job done". We have a "proper" combination (light, loud sound, circle and source of canon), but it doesn't get used every time.
A Patronus would be a pretty good source of light, too, so it can even fit into the "proper" exorcism!
Hi Sergio! We haven´t been introduced yet. I´m a fellow Nanoha and Sakura fan and also a fan of your PPC work. I really like that Air Combat mission you did and those two you co-wrote with firemagic!
Didn't think I would find a fellow CCS fan here, considering how old the series is.
Thank you for your support, and be on the lookout for new Blank Sprite chapters!*
*Warning: New Blank Sprite chapter might take months before being published.
Well, the original run of the series here in Brazil started around 2000, when I was still in elementary school, so I caught when it was fairly new. Luckly we were graced with a fairly good dub that didn´t butcher pretty much anything (I am making look at you, Card Captors!)
Of course, recently I have read all of the manga and watched the subbed version of the anime.
Good to know you will have some stuff up, even if it does take you a while.
I don't know how well you know Madoka Magica, but if you do you might want to check my fanfiction on FF.net
It's called Irregulars, and is a crossover between Nanoha and Madoka Magica. Just a little warning, it suffers from the same slow updating speed as Blank Sprite.
I certainly check that up! again, don´t worry about the update
rate. I am a loyal and patient fan!
It would make a good light source, wouldn't? Thanks for providing that
bit of information. While are on the subject, would casting a Sonorus charm and then casting the Patronus under its effect be enough of a loud sound to fulfill that part of the ritual?
Would that be related to the great Spoony One?
Here, have a read.
Warning: Time-sink.
Seems like no matter how long or much you wiki wank in Tv Tropes, there is always a new trope to read and then start a
new wank. See you a couple of hours... or months... or years.