Harry & Friends; Fidelius Charm; Imperius Curse; Sirius; Harry & Intimacy

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 17353

Hi --

Amy Z wrote:

> What is a "friend by circumstance"?  All of my friends are people with
>
> whom I was "thrown together," but they didn't "just happen."  We still
>
> chose each other, rather than all the other people we have been thrown
>
> together with in our lives; we chose to pursue the acquaintance, to
> deepen the relationship, etc.

I think I was objecting to the sense that *Harry* chose them and that
they were rather passive participants in the process (which is how I
interpreted Joywitch's question).

> The word "chose" stood out to me also, since fate is always a part of
> how friendships happen, but to say they "just happen" seems to
> sidestep Joy's question:  what do Ron and Hermione mean to Harry, that
>
> he is friends with them rather than someone else?

Now *that* phrasing makes sense to me!  :--)  Hmmm .... I'll have to
ruminate on that one some more.

FIDELIUS CHARM

I agree with Amy Z's first thought that the FC can't make you unknown to
*everyone* (since we have evidence that Sirius, Dumbledore & Hagrid all
knew where to find the Potters).  I like her theory that the charm
"updates" to keep the protectees protected even in the instance where
someone formerly trustworthy becomes untrustworthy.  But then, like she
later notes, how is it that only the Secret-Keeper seems vulnerable?  Is
this yet another mystery/plot hole?

How does the Fidelius Charm interact with the IMPERIUS CURSE?  Excellent
question Catherine!  I agree with Amy that the Imperius Curse is mental
- Krum was acting under it when he put the Cruciatus Curse on Cedric in
the 3rd Task.  Moody says he could make the students under an Imperius
Curse do *anything*!  So .... I think it's quite possible that you could
be forced to murder someone while under the Imperius Curse.  And, ooh,
yes, it raises all sorts of interesting questions with respect to Ron,
doesn't it?  Considering my betrayal theory and the fact that Ron is
seemingly more susceptible to the Imperius Curse than some others.
Granted, we don't know that Hermione isn't equally susceptible, but it's
arguably implied that she is not (since it's affirmatively stated that
Ron had a harder time shaking it off than others).

But, as to how it might work with respect to someone protected by the
Fidelius Charm ... hmmm.  If the FC "updates" itself as Amy suggests,
then it wouldn't circumvent the FC.  But, if it does *not* update
itself, then Harry could be vulnerable to attack by friends operating
under the IC -- it would seem.

SIRIUS

Amanda noted that Harry wouldn't have been allowed to live with Sirius
if the "ancient magic" protection can only extend to Harry while he is
in the care of blood relatives.  She also noted that it's been
speculated that this is one reason why Sirius' name has not been cleared
yet (plot point).  The other reason that comes to mind is that if Harry
were living with Sirius, he would surely ask lots of questions that JKR
doesn't want us or Harry knowing the answers to yet.  <g>  It was
inevitable (though quite sad) that he couldn't go & live with Sirius.

BTW, I loved Marianne's analysis of why Harry would feel closer to
Sirius than to Lupin (the emotionally-charged scene in the Shrieking
Shack).  Very nicely put.

HARRY & INTIMACY:

> Me, I believe that Harry doesn't even want to *fantasize* about making
> out with Cho or even talking to her, much less do so in real life. I
> believe that his crush conflicts only of he likes looking at her. To me,
> that is an aesthetic feeling rather than a romantic or sexual feeling. I
> believe that Harry is semi-consciously deliberating avoiding or
> sublimating all romantic or sexual feelings, because those are desires
> that can lead to intimate interactions with another person, and he is
> still in the habit of avoiding intimacy, because of his unfortunate
> Dursley background. Look, when he loved someone (his parents), they went
> away from (were killed) when he was too young to even remember, and from
> then until Hogwarts, everyone he has interacted with has kept him at a
> cold distance. Intimacy is first scary because of being unfamiliar, and
> more scary because the unconscious remembers that the one time he tried
> it, it was followed by disaster.
>
I can agree with this for the most part.  I do think he's had intimacy
with Ron & Hermione (friends on both counts!  <g>).  But, I think we
will see alot more of Harry pushing back from both of them as well as
from others -- he's going to realize that those close to him are very
real targets.  This "pushing back" may not be too extreme in OoP, but I
would wager it will become very strong when the first person that Harry
is truly close to dies (a Weasley, Hagrid, Lupin or Sirius (God
forbid!), etc.).  I think this is another reason why Harry may not have
a canon romance.  Avid shipper though I am ... it's really & truly
something I see happening post-canon (H/H that is).  I see FITD in the
canon, with Harry probably liking *no one* because intimacy will present
such issues for him.

Rita (aka Catlady) wrote:

> Not much of a comfort, except as a subject for daydreams, to other "ugly duckling" children who
> haven't discovered any great talents yet, or maybe only a great talent
> for schoolwork that leads people to call them nerd and geek and wonk and
> bossy know-it-all and showing signs of OCD.
>
LOL!  Thanks Rita .... from Hermione's greatest fan.  :--)

Yes Amy -- I did see your comment about letting Dudley-turned-ground
sloth live in a box in *Percy's* room!!  :--)

Penny (cleaning out the HP box in case the baby decides she might
actually come sometime soon!)


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