Dementor

A dementor is an utterly foul fictional being, the worst creature J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series has to offer (so far). They guarded the extremely high-security wizard prison of Azkaban.

Related Topics:
Fiction - J. K. Rowling - Harry Potter - Book - Prison - Azkaban

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In appearance, dementors are humanoid figures approximately three meters in height covered in dark, hooded cloaks which reveal only grey, scabby, decaying hands. They grow like fungi in the darkest, dankest places http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/2000/1000-canadianpress-moore.htm, creating an odd, chilly fog. Their movie counterparts are considerably shorter, and fly instead of gliding.

Related Topics:
Cloak - Movie

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The wraith-like creatures have no eyes. They sense and feed on the positive emotions of human beings, forcing them to relive their worst memories. The very presence of a dementor makes the surrounding atmosphere grow cold and dark, and the effects are cumulative with the amount of dementors present. Those kept in the company of a dementor for too long are often driven insane, which is the main source of Azkaban's well-deserved horrible reputation. Prolonged exposure to a dementor can also rob a wizard of his power, which is probably the reason the ministry uses them as guards in Azkaban. Their source of sustenance allows the Ministry of Magic to reluctantly employ them; dementors are at least intelligent enough to be greedy, and to obey as long as doing so provides them with a bigger feast. Dementors are invisible to Muggles and Squibs, but affect them in the same way http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=19. The author has herself likened the effect of a dementor to the human ailment known as depression.

Related Topics:
Wraith - Ministry of Magic - Muggle - Squibs - Depression

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The only way to shield oneself from dementors is to use the difficult Patronus Charm to drive them away. The charm summons a patronus, a sort of magical manifestation of good will, which has no despair for dementors to thrive on. Chocolate is an effective first aid to mild cases of contact.

Related Topics:
Patronus Charm - Chocolate

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In addition to feeding on positive emotions, dementors can perform what is known as the Dementor's Kiss where the dementor latches its mouth onto a victim's and sucks out the person's soul. The victim is left as an empty shell, incapable of thought and with no possibility of recovery. It is believed existing after a Dementor's Kiss is worse than death. The Ministry of Magic occasionally allows this as a punishment.

Related Topics:
Soul - Ministry of Magic

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