Harry's resilience (was SHIPS: Harry/Hermione/Ron)

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 12220

Jim wrote:

> <<  A better choice of words would be to say Harry might have 
>  no long-term or intimate relationships, or be isolated.  In Harry's 
>  case, if that happens it would probably be because of his 
experiences.


Elizabeth wrote:

> Thanks, Jim.  That is a much better way to put it.  My own mind 
somehow 
> refuses to accept that Harry is necessarily monogamous.  He might be 
happiest 
> with the freedom to have less-than-committed relationships with 
several 
> persons.

When I made the "not embittered and alienated" comment I wasn't 
referring to singleness--which, I agree, is a fine choice--but to an 
inability to make lasting relationships.  This inability is what I 
*don't* see in Harry, thus far and despite an upbringing that 
could give anyone "the stability of a slug" (LOL Ginny Love!).

He is definitely proud and independent, but he also almost always 
tells Ron and Hermione before he goes off to do something wildly 
dangerous.  He consults with them about almost everything--how many 
times in the books does something happen to him and the next scene is 
Harry going to the common room to tell R & H the whole story, and the 
three of them huddling to sort it out?  He reads them his letters from 
Sirius even before reading them privately.  He's even, per our 
discussion about "The Dream" last week, becoming a lot more intimate 
with adults--willing to trust them, take his problems to them, ask 
them the questions that are on his mind.  I was just listening to GF 
and I just love the give-and-take between Harry and Sirius on the 
whole scar thing--he's learning what it means to have a parent, 
someone who's *supposed* to drop everything and risk everything to 
take care of you.  All of these things are what teach people to be in 
long-term relationships.  

So Harry may voluntarily remain a swingin' single, and lots of lucky 
women (&/or men) will be happy with that, but so far I don't see him 
developing a fear of intimacy.

Amy Z