A symbol of despair and fear, Dementors are introduced in The Prisoner of Azkaban as a horrific spring, giving the literary saga a more mature twist. In the film, they are magnificently portrayed by director Alfonso Cuaron: their elongated, skeletal form and slow movements recall nightmarish creatures, heralded by a layer of cold that gradually sets in. Yet it's difficult to say everything about these mysterious entities from Azkaban. On the other hand, from books and websites specializing in the Harry Potter universe, we learn more about the specters of Azkaban.
#5 They've been guarding Azkaban for centuries
It's in the third installment that viewers discover the Dementors. These ghostly creatures that suck the souls of their victims arrive aboard the Hogwarts Express and attack Harry. The Ministry of Magic has sent them to infiltrate the school of magic and search for Sirius Black, who escaped from Azkaban, the highest prison in the wizarding world, whose gates they guard.
The books tell us that they have been guarding this very high-security magical prison forever. While the information is vague, J.K. Rowling specifies in Pottermore that Azkaban was originally a sinister island inhabited by a powerful Dark wizard named Ekrizdis in the 15th century, who used concealment spells to protect the fortress. After his death, Dark magic attracted wraiths, which proliferated there, until the Ministry (which refused to set foot there, afraid of the curse that reigned there) decided to use the place as a prison.
#4 How do they reproduce?
How do Dementors reproduce? As wraiths, they cannot reproduce genetically. The books briefly tell us that they multiply in desperate conditions. This point ties in with their origins. Attracted by dark magic and chaos, they appear spontaneously in places charged with negative energy.
#3 They Can't Be Killed
Whether at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban or later in Deathly Hallows, Harry and other wizards cast Patronus Charms on Dementors, which seem to vanish. Are they dead? Being wraiths, they already are. It is mentioned during a conversation between Lupin, Sirius, and Dumbledore in Order of the Phoenix that they cannot be destroyed, but repelled with the Patronus. In the films, the Patronus is presented as the only defense against Dementors, but it is not explained that they are indestructible, although this is implied. When a Dementor takes the full force of a Patronus, it immediately backs away or flees. A magical manifestation of hope and light, the Patronus represents the exact opposite of what a Dementor is and what it can tolerate. He therefore loses all his influence and cannot approach his victim, who is surrounded by a sort of invisible magical barrier.
#2 There's one in the Goblet of Fire
Anyone who has seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire knows that there is no Dementor in the fourth Harry Potter film. However, in the book, there is one. At least in the form of a Boggart. During the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry comes across a Boggart in the form of a Dementor when he ventures into the creature-infested maze. He then tries to push it back by casting an Expecto Patronum, unfortunately without effect. Harry then realizes by observing the creature stumbling that it is a Boggart, and casts Riddikulus, the spell intended to defeat them.
#1 Bonus: they are no longer used in Azkaban after the Wizarding War
After Voldemort's fall, the Ministry of Magic underwent a major overhaul. Freed from the tutelage of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Kingsley Shacklebolt took over as head of the institution. He then undertook several reforms to change the face of a lethargic ministry and repair the mistakes of the past. In addition to renovating the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and orchestrating a purge of corrupt staff, he also decided to end the use of Dementors in Azkaban, a symbol of a justice system that relied on fear as a tool of control.
This is not detailed in J.K. Rowling's books. The British novelist has provided a wealth of information on the end of the Harry Potter saga and the reconstruction of the wizarding world in writings intended for the most loyal fans. This information can be found on Pottermore in particular.
Want to continue reading? Discover these four anecdotes about Voldemort that only fans of the Harry Potter books know.
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