Harry-James-Lily relationship, posthumous (was: Harry's lack of curiosity)

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 17756

Sue wrote:
"*delurks once and for all*"

--It's nice to have you back!

"Regarding Harry and his parents' absence: one of the things that 
really struck me while reading GoF was how Harry referred to his 
parents as "Mum" and "Dad" during the battle scene.  To me, that says 
something-- Harry must be, on some instinctual level, familiar with 
his parents.  Although it isn't pictorally represented by JKR, it has 
been assumed by most readers that Harry *has* thought of his parents, 
and probably a substantial amount over the years-- it would have been 
impossible not to.  But *what* did he think about?  He had no idea 
what they looked like before Hagrid explained the situation, IIRC; 
did he picture that?  Did he think about what it would have been like 
if they had been alive all this time?  Most likely.  Did he think 
about (in his moodier moments) their deaths?  Probably."

--I agree that Harry has to think about his parents often if not all 
the time, but no matter how much he thinks about them it still 
doesn't explain his complete lack of intrest from outside sources. Of 
course I'm not in Harry's situation so I don't know what he's 
feeling. I do know however that I THINK I would feel the opposite of 
Harry, wanting to know all I could in order to come to terms with 
such a terrible tragedy of the past. Then again I'm not Harry...

Another thing to think about is that every time so far in the canon 
when Harry has has some contact with his parents lives, be it the 
mirror in PS, Lupin and Sirius in PoA, or the wand order in GoF, it's 
always been important to the plot. That's why I find it difficult, 
difficult but not impossible, to believe that Harry's parents 
influence is affecting him everyday and it's never mentioned.

"I wonder if perhaps Harry, when placed in certain situations (being 
bullied, etc.), thought about what would be different if his parents 
had been around, rather than the Dursleys... he might even have had 
an entire parallel universe roaming in his mind."

--I'm sure of it. I mean doesn't everyone do this in some form or 
another? I know I do...


Scott