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

[aprilgc at ivillage.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 17771


 Scott wrote (and others voiced similar opinions):> 
> --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...
> 
"Hey, Potter!  Find out anything NEW about your parents in that library 
book, then?  I mean, anything all the rest of us didn't already KNOW?"
"Poor, pathetic Potter.  Gotta find out about HIS family from a book."
"Trying to figure out who you are, then?  Why don't you let ME tell 
you?"

Really, though, do we actually see "poor little Harry" sitting in the 
library trying to read up on his background?  People would find out, 
and that would call more attention to his predicament (by the folks who 
care and the folks who'd use it against him).  I don't think he can 
afford too much curiosity right now.  All the times he's been in close 
contact with Dumbledore, who might be able to tell him things about his 
past, there have been pressing matters of the present going on that he 
needed/wanted information about.  Do we see Harry, some evening or free 
period, waiting outside the entrance to Dumbledore's office so that he 
can ask for a "story" about his parents?  What explanation would he 
give Snape if that gentlewizard happened to catch him?

Hagrid might tell him something more, but talking about Lily and James 
always seems to make Hagrid emotional, and the other two of the trio 
are usually with him when he sees Hagrid anyway.

The first time Harry was in Flourish & Blotts he didn't know he and his 
family were in books (Hermione told him on the train).
The next time he was in, he had just gotten back from Knockturn Alley, 
and then came the the interactions with Lockhart and Lucius/Arthur 
(brawl).

His third trip, there were the monster books to distract, and, more 
importantly, the "dog" on the cover of that divination book that looked 
like the one he'd seen before he fell in front of the bus.  He was also 
busy enjoying new freedom, and probably didn't think of "depressing" 
thoughts like getting a book about his parents.

He didn't go the 4th year (to F&B, I mean).  I really don't see him 
pulling Molly aside and saying, "You know, when you get my schoolbooks, 
I'd really appreciate it if you picked up a couple books that mention 
my family for me."

I think when he can find out from someone he trusts and is comfortable 
with he'll ask (in private).  I'm thinking it will be Sirius he asks 
(or Remus, if he's back in the picture).  When no other danger is 
"imminent", and noone else is around, I think he'll ask what he wants 
to know.  

There's also the chance that he'll get some time to himself in F&B 
where he can pick up a couple of books to stick in his trunk - but 
there's always the worry there that someone else in the shop will see 
"poor Harry" buying the books and know (and tell everyone) why.

That's my take on the issue, anyway.
a.