Harry's Ego (was: Chap. 9 Summary)

[blpurdom at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24613

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Susanne Schmid <pigwidgeon37 at y...> wrote:
>  --- Zarleycat at a... ha scritto: 
> <3. We know Harry is not very trusting of adults. Even
> <so, and leaving aside what it would do to the plot,
> <do you think Harry should have told Dumbledore about
> <hearing a disembodied voice no one else can hear?
> 
> First, I wouldn't include Dumbledore into the long
> list of adults Harry doen't trust. But as Ron said:
> Hearing voiced that nobody else can hear, isn't a good
> sign, not even in the wizarding world. He is too
> insecure about his own perception, maybe he thinks the
> voice exists only inside his head and he's going mad. 
 
This is true; I think he is worried about what bad news Dumbledore 
might give him concerning hearing this voice.  He does not yet know 
he is a Parselmouth, or why he's one.  JKR likes doing this; in the 
next book (PoA) Harry sees the large black dog and is alarmed to 
discover that this is usually called a Grim, and it's a Death Omen.  
He definitely would have been happier not knowing that, especially 
since the thought keeps him up nights and it turns out to be nothing 
but his godfather keeping an eye on him...

While Harry does trust Dumbledore, he also has a healthy ego.  He is 
proud, to a certain extent, and does not wish to look like a fool, or 
a coward.  He should have told Dumbledore about his scar hurting at 
the beginning of GoF, for instance, be he does not.  His sometimes 
not confiding in Dumbledore is not because of any mistrust he has of 
the headmaster; it's simple pride and wishing to still command the 
older man's respect.  Perhaps it's this bit of ego which was causing 
the Sorting Hat to consider him for Slytherin...Slytherins certainly 
seem to have healthy egos.  (I mean that in a good way.)

--Barb