Potter-all the-more
So, like anyone else born before the 2000s, I was a Harry Potter fan. However, even though I got an account when Pottermore first came out, I wasn’t passionate enough to find out more about the site beyond the fact I was a Griffindor.
But I’ve been back lately, got sorted into my Ilvermorny house--Go Thunderbirds!--and got my Patronus.
WELL I FEEL SAFE
This is a nightjar (specifically a white-winged nightjar), a nocturnal, early morning bird found all over the world. They’re not all this small, but in a world where I could have gotten a wolf or a phoenix, I was not impressed. But, I kept hope. Maybe, maybe there was some quality of the nightjar I truly resonated with (besides being small and weak).
Let’s see...eats insects, flies (duh), can’t even walk...
HOLY CRAP.
Yes, Nightjars (also known as nighthawks) are known for a large mouth, or “gape”, size. It’s much larger proportionally than birds their size typically have, and it can certainly be unexpected. They’re monogamous, yet independent. They can be hard to find, even if you’re looking for them. Also, when they really fly, they make a ‘boom’ noise akin to a racecar, if you’re not already hearing their very loud cries. They also have one of the longest migration distances!
The Patronus is meant to embody a part of the soul that is unknown, but necessary to the personality. If you met me, it’s easy to assume I’m quiet and shy, but the doctor that delivered me said I was the loudest baby she had ever heard in twenty years. In a Patronus sense, I believe the Nightjar represents the ability to be heard, rather than a desire. In other words, a Nightjar can hide themselves all day, everyday. But if they want you to hear them, you will hear them. A person with this quality may not always want to talk or be around people (they’re independent, remember), but they’ll get your attention if they want it. Not only will they get your attention, but they’ll surprise you because it was from someone you didn’t expect.
The Nightjar may also represent determination, due to their long migration. They show someone who will be willing to go wherever it takes, no matter how long it takes, to get the best result.
Someone who is hidden, yet can’t be ignored; independent, yet loyal; simple yet resilient--that is the person of the Nightjar Patronus.
When I look at it that way, I’m actually pretty impressed. Perhaps the fact that I even did all this research because of a result I got based on a book series website is a sign of the ‘resilience’ too.
