Quote from luke on July 28, 2026, 1:36 pm

Quote from IFFIN on July 28, 2026, 10:42 am

Quote from Dark Angel on June 18, 2023, 11:03 am

Given that Lily's patronus is also a doe and that they had discussed dementors as children, they probably decided to learn the charm together. Lily is supposed to have been talented in charms, it was probably her idea and she helped Severus learn as well.

I like this. I know I came up with a theory for my headcanon many years ago that it is similar to this idea. Also reading whitehound's essay about how a doe is a buck's mate and not a stag. Someone has also posted about the history of the words and meaning here:
https://alwayssnape.com/forum/topic/stags-and-does-dont-mate-the-eternal-stag-doe-debate/

I don't believe we are told in the books that Lily's patronus is a doe, but by an JKR interview or something after book 7 publication. JKR never wanted to tell before book 7  if Severus had a patronus or if he did what it was.  I have read in other boards and whatnot, that the author's intent is that Lily's patronus was a doe because James animagus was a stag and  I think his patronus and that Severus patronus was a doe because of Lily.  Someone then said, wouldn't that mean Severus was in love with James. Then bring in the whole stag, hind,buck and doe debate. I personally don't want to take the time for this. My mind goes in circles and I can feel a migraine coming.

My head Canon wants to keep it simple and sweet. It doesn't have to be about romance, but about love between two innocent children.  So my own headcanon is that Lily and Severus saw a doe when they were young. A real friendly doe that would come to them and they would pet. It was before Hogwarts. Before there one was Gryffindor and the other  Slythrine.  It was a very happy memory for both and they ended up getting the same patronus. Basically soulmates. And soulmates do not have to be romantic for those who don't like Snily. I personally don't believe in soulmates IRL, but it is something that I don't mind in movies and books.  It is all about the best story for me.  My escape.

I also believe that members of the Order used their patronuses/patroni to communicate. I don't think that Severus used his patronus to communicate with them, because he didn't want them to know. I do believe that Dumbledore knew about it and it was part of why he trusted Snape. I think Snape wasn't able to produce a patronus during his dark years and it was dormant, and then when he turned to the "good side" he was able to and showed to Dumbledore in the beginning and then didn't show it to him until the end. I do think because he didn't use his patronus to communicate is  one of the reasons some people in the Order were never sure of him and had to trust Dumbledore. It was never Snape they trusted but Dumbledore.

I liked yout theory. The doe is part of severus and lily happiest memories when they are not began to torn apart because of the house,death eater and marauders.

 

I never believed Rowling words that James stag and lily doe is not coincidence. If rowling told her fans it was coincidence,she will got backlash. As simple as that. She quotes  that hermione is black  whe. In Prisoner of azkaban,Hermione is having White face.  Stag and doe if they met in real life will never considering to be mate. They are two diffetent species