3rd Harry Potter movie question.?

Question

When Harry is looking across the lake to see the "thing" that casts the dementors away.. why the heck is it an elk? And if it's an elk.. why does he think it's his father? That part confuses me.

Yeah, I read up to half of book 3. I found it incredibly boring because I had already seen the movie. So I gave up. Guess I should've read it, huh? Thanks guys.

Answer 1

It's called a Patronus, and it is NOT an elk, it is a stag.
Which was also his father's patronus. That is why he thinks it is his father.

Answer 2

Okay first a little background. James was an animagus, he could turn into an animal. His animagus form was a stag. Now the books are always emphasizing how much Harry looks like his father. This is why when Harry is looking across the lake he thinks it's his father casting the 'thing' but really he is seeing himself.

Now his 'thing' (which is called a Patronus by the way) is actually a stag not an elk. The reason it is a stag is because that is what his father's animagus form was.

I thought this movie was very confusing to those who haven't read the book because it left out the whole Marudar's plot which is what you needed to fully understand why Harry thought it was his father.

Answer 3

This question should be asked as a question from book 3 not movie 3. The Thing that casts the dementors away is the future Harry's patronus which is a stag. the present Harry thinks it is his father as his and his father's body is just of the same type. Again, Harry's father was an animagus and he could turn in to a stag not elk and Harry's patronus is a stag.

Answer 4

First of all its a Stag not an Elk. The 3rd Book it says its a Stag. He thinks its his Dad because only a Powerful Wizard could have made The Patronus. That is why Harry thought it was his Dad.

Answer 5

Have you read the HP book Prisoner of Azkaban?
That "thing" is a Patronus; and each wizard's own Patronus comes into the shape of an animal. For example- Lupin's Patronus is a wolf. Harry's dad's Patronus was a stag... so when a stag came up, Harry thought his dad was casting the Patronus.

And the movies are OK, but the books are way better. Read them.

Answer 6

if u read the books u would know
its not an elk
its a stag
its a stag because his dad (James) was an animagus and was also part of the marauders, along with sirius (padfoot), lupin (moony), and peter pettigrew (wormtail)
lupin was a werewolf and James, sirius, and peter found out and became animagi to help lupin through his transformation because werewolves dont attack other animals, only people
James= stag, Prongs
Sirius= dog, Padfoot
Peter= rat, Wormtail

and harry saw himself and becuase he looks like his dad so much, he thought that his future self was actually his dad

its less confusing in the book, believe me

Answer 7

He thinks it is his father because it is far away and he can't see that well and also his father could turn into a horse and that is what was coming across the lake. Read the book. It is SO not boring.

Answer 8

just read the book. ill explain it to u if u can understand. his father was an an animagus that could turn into a stag and his patronus takes the form of and stag. and he went back in time and let him see hiself

Answer 9

I think you should try reading first then watching the movie next time.
It was a Patronus in the form of a stag.

Answer 10

Its a white stag. You need to read Harry Potter. He thinks he saw his dad, as his dad always produced this white stag as a defence. However, it was actually himself that he saw, as later on in the film/book he travels back in time with Hermiones stopwatch thing. Therefore, he actually saw himself producing this deer, not his dad.