[HPforGrownups] Harry Potter Character Sketch - Part 3 of 3

[Amber]

No: HPFGUIDX 17138


--- joym999 at aol.com wrote:
> 1.  The primary question about Harry, which we have discussed a 
> million times, is WHY does Voldemort want to kill him?  And why did 
> he kill James and Lily, for that matter?

Personally, I don't think we know enough yet. I mean, there's still
three more books to go! I think we need to know more about the
different characters pasts before the answer(s) will be clear. And
until then, I can't even begin to guess.

> 3.  Will Harry's life end in tragedy or will he live happily ever 
> after?  Is there a reasonable argument for either, i.e. has JKR 
> indicated in any way how Harry will end up?

Well, I don't know. I think that JKR will have him live "happily ever
after", because too many people will be upset otherwise. But I'd love
to see how she would kill him off. In fact, I'd laugh if she actually
did. Here's this fictional boy that hordes of people adore, and JKR has
the gall to kill him. 

I wouldn't see Harry's dying as a defeat at all. Dying to save the
world from an unspeakable evil...well, that's something. Granted, it
doesn't change that he's still dead, but I still think that it's
meaningful.

> 4.  Why the hell did the Dursleys take Harry in, anyway?  Did they 
> feel obligated to beat the magic out of him?  Was Petunia even upset 
> when she heard that her sister died?  Were they threatened (or 
> charmed) by Dumbledore?

They might've been charmed. I mean, we don't know anything about this
Fidelius Charm or how it works. I know I'm consistently shocked that
after Harry totally disrupts the Dursley's lives before leaving for
Hogwarts each summer, Vernon is STILL THERE waiting to pick him up at
the end of term. I'm thinking its either magic, or they know something
that we don't. Or they're off their rocker.

We don't know if Petunia was upset when Lily died, but I imagine that
she wasn't. She might've shed tears for appearence sake, but I don't
think she would've been too distraught. Of course, I'm only basing this
off of all that Petunia has said about Lily, none of which has been
positive. For all we know, Petunia could be grieving inside for her
dead sister and hiding it...

> 5.  Probably the most popular question about Harry Potter is  Who 
> will he fall in love with?  Will it be Cho Chang, Hermione, Ginny, or
> someone else?  

Gah, I am going to probably alienate everyone on this list with my
answer. I don't want Harry to end up with ANYBODY! Nada, no one. In
fact, the idea that he ends up with Cho, Herm, or Gin almost makes me
sick. It just seems too pat, too contrived. "After having defeated
Voldemort, the most evil wizard of the century, what are you going to
do now Harry? I'm going ride off into the sunset with the girl of my
dreams!". Bleh, bleh, bleh! I'd much rather see Harry go riding off
with his group of pals, heading for a tropical island for a
much-deserved vacation. And besides, why do you say "will" in your
question? He doesn't HAVE to fall in love with anyone! He's an
independant person! Same goes with Hermione and Ron! Why must there
*always* be love and romance and cooing in the end?

<calms down> Yes, I know, love is the ultimate emotion. It is "the
thing to be sought for above all else". It makes "life worth living".
It makes life "fun, enjoyable, full". And people in love feel
"complete". Well, I think there are other things that can stand in for
love and marriage that will make people just as, if not more, happy.

Never mind me, I'm quite anti-romantic. I loathe Valentine's Day with a
Passion. I can't watch romantic movies without sniggering and making
rude comments. I'm the bane of my mother's existence, see as she loves
that type of movie. She refuses to see any with me because I, quote,
"ruin the experience".

> 7.  Why is Harry such a good Quidditch player?  How come he knows how
> to fly a broomstick without even being taught?  Does it have 
> something to do with his past?  Isn't it a bit much that Harry is not
> only the only one to have ever defeated Voldemort AND a natural-born 
> Quidditch superstar?

Innate talent? There are some people who just *know* how to do some
things without having done them before. And you don't necessarily need
to be a prodigy. Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with
his past. I'd be very surprised if it is.

As for being both a Voldemort defeater and Quidditch superstar, I don't
know. Part of me say I do find it a bit much since I loathe it when
characters are given numerous phenomenal powers and talents. But at the
same time, I must admit that I'd never thought about it until you asked
that questions. I didn't questions it, which means that part of me
doesn't have a problem.

~Amber



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"Any and all opinions/statements expressed within are subject to immediate and violent change at any time..."

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