In the Harry Potter universe, the Patronus Charm is one of the most significant spells. As explained in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Charm is used to defend individuals against evil forces, particularly Dementors. While it is incredibly challenging to conjure a full-bodied Patronus, when successfully cast, a Patronus will often appear in the form of a silver animal. The animal which appears varies according to the individual personality of the witch or wizard who summons it.

As Harry Potter fans will know, a Patronus’ form can reveal a lot of information about an individual character. For example, Harry’s infamous stag Patronus represents his spiritual bond with his father, while Hermione’s otter Patronus showcases her intelligence and loyalty. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, it’s revealed that Cho Chang is capable of conjuring a full-bodied Patronus, which appears in the form of a swan. Throughout the franchise, Cho is a complex character who is often overshadowed by the Golden Trio. While Cho is often dismissed as a love interest, her swan Patronus can reveal a lot of information about her overlooked character.

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When Do We First See Cho’s Patronus?

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Cho joins Dumbledore’s Army (D.A.), a rebellious group formed by Harry Potter. In direct opposition to Dolores Umbridge’s orders, Dumbledore’s Army was set up in order to prepare students for the Dark Lord’s return. The group would secretly meet up in the Room of Requirement and Harry would teach the D.A. various defensive spells, including the Stunning Spell and the Patronus Charm.

However, as Harry Potter fans will know, the Patronus Charm differs from the average defensive spell due to its difficulty. In the Harry Potter universe, it is incredibly difficult to conjure a full-bodied Patronus due to the concentration required for the Charm. In order to conjure a Patronus, one must concentrate on the happiest memory you can think of. In the Order of the Phoenix movie, Harry explains this to the D.A:

As expected, multiple members of the D.A. struggle with the spell, including Nevile Longbottom. Even Hermione Granger, who is renowned as the ‘brightest witch of her age’, initially struggles with the Charm. Because of this, Harry reminds them that:

Throughout this lesson, only a few members of the D.A. are able to conjure a full-bodied Patronus, including Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, and Cho Chang. However, the movie does not include Cho’s Patronus, even though it is included in Order of the Phoenix’s book. In the book, Cho is one of the first members of the D.A. to conjure her Patronus, much to the annoyance of other students. In the passage, Harry has just reminded the D.A. of the difficulty of conjuring the Patronus when not under threat, prompting Cho to respond:

Here, it is revealed that Cho’s Patronus takes the form of a swan. Harry reminds her that Patronuses are not “supposed to be pretty”, and instead reminds Cho of the Charm’s importance when under the threat of Dementors.

Cho’s swan Patronus can reveal a lot about her personality. This is particularly significant because Cho’s character was often overshadowed in both the books and the movies. Because of this, Cho is largely disregarded as merely a love interest, but her Patronus reveals that there is so much more to her character than most fans would think.

What Does Cho’s Patronus Reveal About Her Personality?

A swan Patronus is often associated with emotion. Because of this, it’s implied that Cho is often ruled by her emotions, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cho wears her heart on her sleeve and is often hurt by people with ill intentions. Because of this, she always stands up for what she believes is right and isn’t afraid to do so. This is evidenced by the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

After Harry’s name was unexpectedly drawn from the Goblet of Fire, his peers believe that he has sabotaged the Triwizard Tournament by defying Dumbledore’s protective Age Line. Because of this, he is treated as an outcast and subjected to merciless bullying from numerous classmates. Even Harry’s closest friend, Ron, refuses to believe that Harry didn’t place his name in the Goblet of Fire. In order to humiliate Harry, many students started wearing badges which contained the phrases: ‘Support Cedric Diggory – the Real Hogwarts Champion’, and ‘Potter Stinks’. Despite being Cedric’s girlfriend at the time, Cho refused to wear one of these cruel badges, showing that she firmly disagreed with this bullying. This is depicted in the following passage:

This passage highlights Cho’s fundamental kindness. By refusing to participate in this harmful trend, it’s evident that Cho’s isn’t afraid to call out other people’s unkindness – a clear sign of courage. Because of this, Cho’s swan Patronus is a fitting match.

Cho was devastated by the untimely death of Cedric Diggory. His murder drove her to join the D.A., showcasing the fact that she was prepared to fight against the Death Eaters to gain revenge for Cedric’s death. While the swan Patronus is associated with grace and emotion, it is also connected to strength, particularly in battle. Those with swan Patronuses are known to be courageous fighters, as shown via Cho’s participation in the Battle of Hogwarts. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Cho bravely returned to Hogwarts to fight against the Dark Lord’s villainous army of Death Eaters. While her participation in the battle is greatly overshadowed, Cho’s return to Hogwarts showcases the fact that she was a determined fighter.

Swans are renowned for being loyal creatures, meaning that Cho’s swan Patronus showcases her loyalty to those in her inner circle. In Order of the Phoenix’s movie, it is Cho who betrays the existence of the D.A. by informing Umbridge of the group, ultimately dooming Cho’s short-lived romance with Harry. However, this is not the case in the book. Instead, the D.A. was betrayed by Cho’s close friend, Marietta Edgecombe. While Cho is devastated by her friend’s betrayal, the pair are once again close friends in the following installment, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Because of this, it’s clear that Cho forgave Marietta for her wrongdoing, showcasing the character’s unwavering loyalty to her friends.

Those with swan Patronuses are also renowned for being extremely magically gifted. As Harry Potter fans will know, Cho is a member of Ravenclaw, a House prized for its intelligence. While Cho’s abilities are often downplayed in the movies, the books highlight the fact she is an incredibly gifted witch. This explains why Cho was able to grasp the complex Patronus Charm with such ease in Order of the Phoenix’s book, making her swan Patronus a perfect fit. While Cho is dismissed as a side-character, she has the makings of a strong heroine. She is talented, courageous, and loyal – traits which are embodied by her swan Patronus.

Harry Potter

When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Latest Film

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two

Where to watch

HBO Max

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