There's Something Special About Harry...

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 11599

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., cassandraclaire at m... wrote:

> 
> Harry being special/having special powers and Harry being the 
> Destined One Meant To Save The World are not necessarily the same 
> thing. 
> 
> I'd agree that he is  most likely not a special kind of wizard, 
> though as for amazing  abilities no other (living) wizard has, JKR 
> has *already* given him  some of those: Parseltongue, prophetic 
> dreams, the ability to resist the Imperius Curse, etc. 

I don't think we have any evidence that these are powers that no 
other living wizard has.  Clearly parsletongue is rare, but it 
doesn't follow that Harry's the only living person with that gift.  
In fact, there are pobably many who would never admit to it if they 
were parslemouths, because of the dark arts connotation that goes 
with it.  And even animagi, who are supposed to be registered, are 
far more common than people thing.  As for prophetic dreams, there 
are real-life muggles who have those with some regularity, so I 
wouldn't venture to say no living wizard has them.  The ability to 
resist Imperio does seem also to be rare, but I would venture a bet 
that Dumbledore could do it, and probably a few others as well.  If 
not, V and his henchmen could just Imperio people into doing their 
bidding all the time.  


> Even if it did turn out that Harry possesses extraordinary  
> powers that are not common to the wizarding population at large 
> (outside of the ones he already has), that in no way diminishes his 
> essential humanity or contravenes the message that "It is our
> choices that make  us what we are, far more than our abilities." 


True enough, but what about the second - that it will only take 
someone else willing to fight what seems like a loosing battle?  That 
part would be completely untrue.  

<snip>

> 
> There is a middle ground between "Harry is completely normal and 
> possesses no special abilities that everyone else in his year at 
> Hogwarts does not possess in equal measure" and "Harry is Batman." 
> That's where I stand. (Although he would look lovely in the Batman 
> suit.)

Well then wonder of wonders, my dear, we're sharing ground! :D

I've never tried to say that Harry doesn't have any abilities that 
his classmates do not also possess.  I'm pretty sure I've said he's 
talented, and could be as strong a wizard as Dumbledore or 
Voldemort.  I just don't buy that he's beyond them all.  If he's so 
much stronger than every other wizard that he's going to 
singlehandedly defeat evil once and for all with his super-powers, 
well, where would be the sport in that?  If he's so strong that 
Voldemort doesn't stand a chance then the tension all kinda goes out 
of it.  That's pretty much all I meant to say.  So I guess we're not 
really disagreeing that much.  Well, except for the Harry in the 
Batman suit thing.  For some reason I keep picturing the footy pajama 
kind, which, while adorable, would look kinda silly on a teenage boy!

Kimberly