[HPforGrownups] Re: Wands and Magical Ability, Part Two

[shall at sfiweb.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 24363

> He came to 
>Hogwarts without the baggage of hatred, envy, anger, etc

I don't quite accept that; Harry's abusive treatment at the hands of the Dursleys is at least equal to Tom Riddle's experience in its capacity to produce hatred ("how dare they refer to my parents like that") envy (Dudley's 32 presents vs a pair of old socks) and anger (Aunt Marge); as Dumbledore stresses, it is what he does with his experiences that differentiates them.  Either Harry or Neville could have good grounds for saying they "had" to join the dark side - sofar they are resisting admirably.

Susan