Wizards Lack Common Sense Part 3

by Boy-Who-Hates-Hyphens

There are things that make absolutely no sense in Harry Potter. Some are serious plotholes. Some are not plotholes per se, but more like events that are supposed to be impossible. Some are more along the lines of hypocrisy, self-contradiction and not using an obvious spell at a time of need. This story resolves the ones in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. COMPLETE!

16. In Which Food Is Made

Chapter Fifteen: In Which Food Is Made

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Professor Lupin continued, "The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the dementor feeds upon — hope, happiness, the desire to survive — but it cannot feel despair as real humans can, so the dementors can't hurt it."

"So. . . . I'm supposed to make food for the dementor and hope it will go away?"

"Well, when you put it that way, Harry —"

"Magic never made much sense, but this is ludicrous. Just because a dementor can't hurt the Patronus, doesn't mean it will act as a shield! Why would it?"

There was silence as Professor Lupin tried to come up with an explanation.

"Because they are creatures of despair! They cannot stand such positive —"

"Uh — they feed on the same positive feelings. Obviously, they can stand it or they wouldn't be consuming them! Though the idea isn't completely useless; distract the dementor with food while you escape. . . ."

"Harry?" said Lupin.

"Yes, Professor?"

"My life was much simpler before I met you."

"I've heard that before."

They cracked up and did not stop laughing for a long time.

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AN: Simply put, dementors feed on happiness. A Patronus is a projection of happiness. Dementors feed on the Patronus. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.

What I reckon is that JKR wanted the Patronus versus Dementor fight to be the classic good versus evil and she didn't care much about whether it made sense or not.