The Elusive Harry Fortnight

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 17740

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Magda Grantwich <mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> > On Harry...
> > I think he's going to be a somewhat different character in the 
next
> > book.  I think the weaknesses we see now -- pride, stubbornness, 
> > unwillingness to trust adults, lack of intense study of wizard (& 
> > Potter) history -- are going to evolve based on the events in GoF.
> > His pride was pointed out to him (by BC, jr. of all people).  
> 
> I am rather surprised at Harry's lack of curiousity about his family
> past.  Now that he's had a few years to get used to the wizarding
> world, I would have thought he'd be spending some time researching
> his heritage.
> 
> I don't mean just his parents: Hagrid's thoughtful gift of the photo
> album might have slaked an initial thirst for core knowledge.  But
> what about grandparents and ancestors?  Family history?  And for 
that
> matter, how about asking Hagrid about the various friends and former
> classmates who contributed the pics?
> 
> It just seems that he would be more curious.

I've wondered about this too - and indeed, have been frustrated by 
Harry's lack of curiousity.  I came to the dubious conclusion that 
this is merely a devise by which JKR keeps us guessing - I have a 
feeling that there are important things to be revealed about Harry's 
family/ancestors which she does not want to divulge yet.  Mind you, 
the odd rebuffed question from Harry would not go amiss.

Catherine