← Older revision
Revision as of 21:09, September 21, 2015
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[[File:Azkaban.jpg|left|thumb|251x251px|A modern [[Azkaban]] Prison]]
[[File:Azkaban.jpg|left|thumb|251x251px|A modern [[Azkaban]] Prison]]
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Those who entered to investigate the island came across dementors. Fearing the potential reprisals of these dark entities, should any attempt be made to evict them from their home, the Ministry decided to simply permit the sizeable colony to remain, unmolested and unchecked.
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Those who entered to investigate the island came across Dementors. Fearing the potential reprisals of these dark entities, should any attempt be made to evict them from their home, the Ministry decided to simply permit the sizable colony to remain, unmolested and unchecked.
When [[Damocles Rowle]] was elected Minister for Magic in [[1710s|1718]], he insisted on using Azkaban instead, seeing the Dementors as an advantage because using them as guards would save expense, time, and trouble. This plan was eventually put into motion and despite protests, Azkaban remained the prison of the wizarding world, mostly because of the complete lack of breakouts and breaches of security. Ever since the Dementors served the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] as the guards of Azkaban, as it allowed them to feed on the emotions of the prisoners with in its walls.
When [[Damocles Rowle]] was elected Minister for Magic in [[1710s|1718]], he insisted on using Azkaban instead, seeing the Dementors as an advantage because using them as guards would save expense, time, and trouble. This plan was eventually put into motion and despite protests, Azkaban remained the prison of the wizarding world, mostly because of the complete lack of breakouts and breaches of security. Ever since the Dementors served the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] as the guards of Azkaban, as it allowed them to feed on the emotions of the prisoners with in its walls.
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{{Quote|When they get near me — I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.|[[Harry Potter]] on the Dementors' effect on him|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
{{Quote|When they get near me — I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.|[[Harry Potter]] on the Dementors' effect on him|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
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During the [[1993–1994 school year|1993-1994 school year]], dementors were sent to guard [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] against "mass murderer" [[Sirius Black]], who had recently [[Azkaban escapes#1993|escaped]] from [[Azkaban]] in 1993.
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During the [[1993–1994 school year|1993-1994 school year]], Dementors were sent to guard [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] against "mass murderer", [[Sirius Black]], who had recently [[Azkaban escapes#1993|escaped]] from [[Azkaban]] in 1993.
[[File:250px-Dementor_Boggart.gif|thumb|250x250px|[[Remus Lupin]] protecting Harry Potter when Harry's [[boggart]] turned into a Dementor in 1993]]
[[File:250px-Dementor_Boggart.gif|thumb|250x250px|[[Remus Lupin]] protecting Harry Potter when Harry's [[boggart]] turned into a Dementor in 1993]]
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Harry endured a second encounter with a group of Dementors during a [[Quidditch]] match, which caused him to lose consciousness and suffer a fall from his broom. He was that time rescued by Dumbledore, who slowed Harry's fall and then drove the Dementors away with a [[Patronus]]. They seemed to be particularly attracted to Harry because, due to his miserable childhood and many bad memories, he was particularly vulnerable to their influence.<ref name="POA" /> [[Professor Lupin]] later claims the atmosphere of excitement during a Quidditch Match would be like a feast to the Dementors, and they were unable to resist it.
Harry endured a second encounter with a group of Dementors during a [[Quidditch]] match, which caused him to lose consciousness and suffer a fall from his broom. He was that time rescued by Dumbledore, who slowed Harry's fall and then drove the Dementors away with a [[Patronus]]. They seemed to be particularly attracted to Harry because, due to his miserable childhood and many bad memories, he was particularly vulnerable to their influence.<ref name="POA" /> [[Professor Lupin]] later claims the atmosphere of excitement during a Quidditch Match would be like a feast to the Dementors, and they were unable to resist it.
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To overcome the Dementors, Harry asked Lupin for assistance. Lupin taught Harry the Patronus Charm, using a boggart, as it transformed into a Dementor round Harry. Harry's Patronus took the form of a stag, which was both the form his father's Patronus took and the form his father himself took as an [[Animagus]]. During the next Quidditch match Harry was in, four [[Slytherin|Slytherins]], [[Draco Malfoy]], [[Vincent Crabbe]], [[Gregory Goyle]], and [[Marcus Flint]] disguised themselves as Dementors to distract Harry. However Harry cast a Patronus at them and won the match, after which the students were given detention by [[Minerva McGonagall]].
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To overcome the Dementors, Harry asked Lupin for assistance. Lupin taught Harry the Patronus Charm, using a boggart, as it transformed into a Dementor round Harry. Harry's Patronus took the form of a stag, which was both the form his father's Patronus took and the form his father himself took as an [[Animagus]]. During the next Quidditch match Harry was in, four [[Slytherin|Slytherins]], [[Draco Malfoy]], [[Vincent Crabbe]], [[Gregory Goyle]], and [[Marcus Flint]] disguised themselves as Dementors to distract Harry. However Harry cast a Patronus at them and won the match, after which the students were given detention by [[Minerva McGonagall]] as well as costing Slytherin fifty House Points.
[[File:Stag Patronus1.png|left|thumb|250x250px|Harry Potter's stag Patronus fending off a hundred dementors]]
[[File:Stag Patronus1.png|left|thumb|250x250px|Harry Potter's stag Patronus fending off a hundred dementors]]
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[[File:Tumblr_lupskzNgHS1qgt0vro2_250.gif|thumb|245x245px|Harry repelling the Dementors guarding the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]] trial courtroom|left]]
[[File:Tumblr_lupskzNgHS1qgt0vro2_250.gif|thumb|245x245px|Harry repelling the Dementors guarding the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]] trial courtroom|left]]
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In 1997 dementors had free reign and were often seen roaming muggle villages, casting their effects on the unseeing Muggles that were sure to feel their effects.
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In 1997, Dementors had free reign and were often seen roaming muggle villages, casting their effects on the unseeing Muggles that were sure to feel their effects.
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During the 1997 Infiltration of the Ministry of Magic, while Harry Potter was disguised as [[Albert Runcorn]], he encountered the Dementors in the Muggle-Born Registration Commission court room, where they were used to take away convicted [[Muggle-born|Muggle-borns]] after interrogation and to terrorize them during interrogation. [[Dolores Umbridge]] protected herself and the other questioners with a cat [[Patronus]], which dissipated when Harry stunned her. Harry and Hermione then performed the charm to save the Muggle-borns who had yet to be interogated from the dementors, and to allow them all to escape.
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During the 1997 Infiltration of the Ministry of Magic, while Harry Potter was disguised as [[Albert Runcorn]], he encountered the Dementors in the Muggle-Born Registration Commission court room, where they were used to take away convicted [[Muggle-born|Muggle-borns]] after interrogation and to terrorize them during interrogation. [[Dolores Umbridge]] protected herself and the other questioners with a cat [[Patronus]], which dissipated when Harry stunned her. Harry and Hermione then performed the charm to save the Muggle-borns who had yet to be interrogated from the Dementors, and to allow them all to escape.
After Apparating to [[Hogsmeade]], Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off a [[Caterwauling Charm]] and hid under Harry's [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak]]. Unable to find them, the Death Eaters dispatched Dementors to attack the trio, and Harry was forced to cast his Patronus to protect them from being [[Dementor's Kiss|kissed]]. He drove away the Dementors, but almost gave the three away before [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] saved them and passed off Harry's stag as his own goat.
After Apparating to [[Hogsmeade]], Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off a [[Caterwauling Charm]] and hid under Harry's [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak]]. Unable to find them, the Death Eaters dispatched Dementors to attack the trio, and Harry was forced to cast his Patronus to protect them from being [[Dementor's Kiss|kissed]]. He drove away the Dementors, but almost gave the three away before [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] saved them and passed off Harry's stag as his own goat.
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[[File:Dementors_coming_into_Hogwarts.jpg|thumb|251x251px|Dementors attacking [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]]]
[[File:Dementors_coming_into_Hogwarts.jpg|thumb|251x251px|Dementors attacking [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]]]
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Later, during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], the Dementors fought on the side of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and the [[Death Eaters]]. [[Harry Potter]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] were attacked by large numbers of Dementors, and due to the horrific events they had experienced and witnessed, including the recent death of [[Fred Weasley]], they all had difficulty summoning their Patronuses. In fact, Harry welcomed the fate that came with a Dementor's kiss, but [[Seamus Finnigan]], [[Luna Lovegood]], and [[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]] attacked the Dementors with their own Patronuss holding them at bay and encouraged Harry to do the same, allowing him to finally summon his Patronus, which caused the Dementors to scatter. Later, Harry encountered more Dementors in the [[Forbidden Forest]], but the presence of James, Lily, Sirius and Lupin, summoned through the [[Resurrection Stone]], shielded him from them.<ref name="DH" />
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Later, during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], the Dementors fought on the side of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and the [[Death Eaters]]. [[Harry Potter]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] were attacked by large numbers of Dementors, and due to the horrific events they had experienced and witnessed, including the recent death of [[Fred Weasley]], they all had difficulty summoning their Patronuses. In fact, Harry welcomed the fate that came with a Dementor's kiss, but [[Seamus Finnigan]], [[Luna Lovegood]], and [[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]] attacked the Dementors with their own Patronus holding them at bay and encouraged Harry to do the same, allowing him to finally summon his Patronus, which caused the Dementors to scatter. Later, Harry encountered more Dementors in the [[Forbidden Forest]], but the presence of James, Lily, Sirius and Lupin, summoned through the [[Resurrection Stone]], shielded him from them.<ref name="DH" />
=== Post 1998 ===
=== Post 1998 ===
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Dementors seem to suck all the light and happiness from the air as they draw long, rattling breaths, and cause darkness to close in everywhere and the victim to feel incredibly cold. They can glide toward a victim without sound, and they are sentient enough to taste and sense fear, being drawn to it and the promise of positive memories that it can feed off of. They are also intelligent enough to be greedy: they obeyed the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] for years because, in guarding [[Azkaban]], they were provided with sustenance of any remaining hope or happiness in the prisoners. They can understand and follow at least simple instructions, which allowed a Dementor to act as a bodyguard to [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]] in [[1995]],<ref name="GOF">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> and for them to escort prisoners in and out of the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]] courtroom in [[1997]].<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref>
Dementors seem to suck all the light and happiness from the air as they draw long, rattling breaths, and cause darkness to close in everywhere and the victim to feel incredibly cold. They can glide toward a victim without sound, and they are sentient enough to taste and sense fear, being drawn to it and the promise of positive memories that it can feed off of. They are also intelligent enough to be greedy: they obeyed the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] for years because, in guarding [[Azkaban]], they were provided with sustenance of any remaining hope or happiness in the prisoners. They can understand and follow at least simple instructions, which allowed a Dementor to act as a bodyguard to [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]] in [[1995]],<ref name="GOF">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> and for them to escort prisoners in and out of the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]] courtroom in [[1997]].<ref name="DH">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''</ref>
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They were able to communicate what they had heard [[Sirius Black]] saying in his sleep to the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] in [[1993]], implying that they can speak or otherwise communicate with wizards. [[Albus Dumbledore]] also said that Dementors are vicious creatures and won't distinguish between those they hunt and those that are in their way. He also informs the students to give Dementors no reason to harm them, saying that forgiveness is not in a Dementors nature.
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They were able to communicate what they had heard [[Sirius Black]] saying in his sleep to the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] in [[1993]], implying that they can speak or otherwise communicate with wizards. [[Albus Dumbledore]] also said that Dementors are vicious creatures and won't distinguish between those they hunt and those that are in their way. He also informs the students to give Dementors no reason to harm them, saying that forgiveness is not in a Dementor's nature.
==Abilities==
==Abilities==
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After Bartemius Crouch Jr.'s mother died in Azkaban, Dementors buried her body, which shows that Dementors are also capable of physical labour, such as grave-digging. Also, Sirius escaped when the Dementors came to give food, another way of labour.
After Bartemius Crouch Jr.'s mother died in Azkaban, Dementors buried her body, which shows that Dementors are also capable of physical labour, such as grave-digging. Also, Sirius escaped when the Dementors came to give food, another way of labour.
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Also, Dementors have the ability to fly freely, without support. It is also stated by[[Remus Lupin]] that, provided a wizard remains in close contact with Dementors for an extended period of time, a Dementor can drain a wizard of his powers. This is not touched upon after being mentioned, so the truth to this statement is unknown. If this is the case, however, it would make Dementors the only known being to permanently render a wizard without magic.
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Also, Dementors have the ability to fly freely, without support. It is also stated by [[Remus Lupin]] that, provided a wizard remains in close contact with Dementors for an extended period of time, a Dementor can drain a wizard of his powers. This is not touched upon after being mentioned, so the truth to this statement is unknown. If this is the case, however, it would make Dementors the only known being to permanently render a wizard without magic.
===Dementor's Kiss===
===Dementor's Kiss===
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[[File:Sirius_Soul.jpg|thumb|235x235px|The soul after it's been removed by the Dementor's Kiss]]
[[File:Sirius_Soul.jpg|thumb|235x235px|The soul after it's been removed by the Dementor's Kiss]]
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In addition to feeding on positive emotions, Dementors can perform their last and most dangerous ability: the Dementor's kiss, in which a Dementor latches its mouth onto a victim's and sucks out the person's soul.<ref name="POA" /> The victim is left as an empty shell, incapable of thought and with no possibility of recovery. It is believed that existing after a Dementor's Kiss is worse than [[death]]: as a person's [[soul]] is their true self, to be 'kissed' by a Dementor is to cease to exist, and yet also remain. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] occasionally allowed this as a punishment, before [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] became [[Minister for Magic]]. It is unknown what effect a Dementor's Kiss would have on a person who had split his or her soul through use of a [[Horcrux]].
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In addition to feeding on positive emotions, Dementors can perform their last and most dangerous ability: the Dementor's Kiss, in which a Dementor latches its mouth onto a victim's and sucks out the person's soul.<ref name="POA" /> The victim is left as an empty shell, incapable of thought and with no possibility of recovery. It is believed that existing after a Dementor's Kiss is worse than [[death]]: as a person's [[soul]] is their true self, to be 'kissed' by a Dementor is to cease to exist, and yet also remain. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] occasionally allowed this as a punishment, before [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] became [[Minister for Magic]]. It is unknown what effect a Dementor's Kiss would have on a person who had split his or her soul through use of a [[Horcrux]].
The only Kiss portrayed in the books occurred in [[1995]]; [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]], who had been working in secret for [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]], and was restrained at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] awaiting trial. His soul was sucked out by the Dementor accompanying [[Cornelius Fudge]] as a bodyguard.<ref name="GOF" /> The unfortunate consequence of this act was that it rendered Crouch unable to testify about his master's return, allowing [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] almost a full year to gather strength while the [[Ministry]] continued in its denial.
The only Kiss portrayed in the books occurred in [[1995]]; [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]], who had been working in secret for [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]], and was restrained at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] awaiting trial. His soul was sucked out by the Dementor accompanying [[Cornelius Fudge]] as a bodyguard.<ref name="GOF" /> The unfortunate consequence of this act was that it rendered Crouch unable to testify about his master's return, allowing [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] almost a full year to gather strength while the [[Ministry]] continued in its denial.