Greatness or Luck

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 32392

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., gte510i at p... wrote:
 
> However, to date most of Harry's triumphs  have been due to luck.  

> In the first book: Harry would not have been able to defeat Quirrell 
in a duel.  But Quirrell had been ordered to relive Harry of the 
stone. Harry saw that Quirrell couldn't touch him physically, and 
acted on that.  Good thinking on Harry's part, but no great sorcery 
there.>

See, I think what Harry did was great.  He was able to envision the 
stone without wanting its effects as well.  To me, that shows us his 
innate sense of goodness and selflessness, which will become 
greatness.  He was also well protected by his mother in this scene, 
and as I said before, his parents were obviously great wizards too, so 
much that his mother can protect her son even in death.  Her power has 
at least in part been passed on to Harry.  No luck there.
 
> Second book: Harry was a quick thinker.  Plus he had the help of 
fawkes.  he thought to stab the diary with the basilisk fang.>

Isn't his ability to think on his feet a sign of his greatness?  I 
can't think on my feet to save my life, yet Harry does it again and 
again.  He is also able to master his fears of both Tom Riddle and 
Voldemort, which shows his ability to control himself in important 
situations.  The more he is able to do this, the more powerful he may 
become.
 
> 4th book:  Harry's bravery and a weird plot twist with the wands 
save harry.  Harry, determined to go down fighting mangaged to send 
out a  curse simultaneously as voldy.>

I'm convinced more and more that it was Harry himself who forced the 
priori incantatem (sp?) out of Voldemort's wand.  His focus and desire 
to get out alive pushed him to do this.  Why wasn't Voldemort the one 
to force previous spells from Harry's wand?  Harry has a focus that 
Voldemort does not.  Harry is also powerful enough that, when the 
smoky forms emerged, they immediately went to protect him, even 
though, as someone mentioned, they did not all even know who he was.  

> but so far it has been 
> shear luck and pure nerve that has gotten him through.>

Far more than sheer luck as far as I can see.  I think that next to 
Dumbledore, Harry is the wizard Voldemort fears, and with good reason.  
I can't wait to see what kind of wizard Harry will be in book 7.

--jenny from ravenclaw *****************