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

[driveslucy at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 17284

Good summary.  Thanks!

> Questions
>  
>  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?

We know that Lily was killed because she was protecting Harry.  The question 
is why does he need to kill James and Harry.  Right now I think it may be 
related to them being heirs of Gryffindor, but it's all guessing until we 
know more about James.

>  
>  2.  What was Professor Trelawney's first correct prediction?  Was it 
>  about Harry?  More importantly, was it that only Harry could kill 
>  Voldemort?  Or that Harry would lead the fight against Voldy, or that 
>  only Harry could do something that would lead to Voldy's defeat?  Or 
>  that only a child born to the Potters could defeat Voldy?  WHAT WAS 
>  IT?  (Yes, I know this has been discussed to death)

I know I should be paying more attention to Trelawny's predictions but, like 
Hermione, she drives me crazy and I tend to mentally stomp off during her 
scenes!!
>  
>  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?

I will be devastated if Harry has to die.  I tend to think that Harry's fate 
lies somewhere in the middle; he will live but he will suffer many more 
losses.
>  
>  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?

I don't think that Dumbledore threatened them but I do think that they look 
after Harry primarily out of fear that he could pose a threat.  If Lily spoke 
at all about what went on at Hogwarts Petunia would almost certainly know 
that Dumbledore is considered the greatest wizard of his time.  But they are 
not completely cowed by him.  For instance, even though they feel compelled 
to keep Harry they are obstinate enough to refuse to tell Harry anything 
about his true background, which clearly must have been part of Dumbledore's 
instructions to them.  
>  
>  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?  This has already been discussed to death, but I'm sure 
>  the Shipping Contingent wants to discuss it some more.  Knock 
>  yourselves out.

Okay, I will "come out" as a Harry/Ginny shipper.  But only when (not if!) 
she is more fully developed, which I expect in 5, 6 and 7.  Ginny has to 
mature to be worthy of Harry and, of course, Harry has to notice her!  I want 
him in that family.  But to think that all the Weasleys will go happily into 
the sunset is unlikely.  The coming war will be devastating and I have a 
feeling that some of the losses that will hit Harry closest to home will be 
from the only family he has ever known.
>  
>  6.  What does the fact that Harry has chosen the fun-loving Ron and 
>  the bookish Hermione as his two best friends say about Harry's 
>  personality?

That he goes for substance over style!  
>  
>  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?
>  

I think flying ability, like musical ability, is something one is born with.  
Like a musician, you still have to practice, but there is probably not much 
one can do if the natural ability is not there.  We also know the both Lily 
and James were very talented wizards in their own right; it's not surprising 
that Harry, as their child, would inherit some of that talent which, combined 
with Lily's sacrifice, enabled Harry to defeat Voldemort.

Luce