Harry's Special Powers

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 9817

Hi --

Carole Estes wrote:

> Furthermore I wanted to add that just because it seems that Harry has some
> extraordinary powers that are not common to the general wizarding population,
> it in no way diminishes his humanity and what he chooses to do with those
> powers.  The fact that he is lauded as special, yet really just wants to be a
> normal guy and not cash in on his "fame" attests to his strength of character.
>
> <snip> ...  If it turns out that JKR gives Harry has special abilities beyond
> what
> Lily provided by her sacrifice, the story still hinges on the choices Harry
> makes with his talents, and that is something we can all relate to whether the
> special talents are magical or mere mortal stuff like talent with numbers, or
> writing, or drawing, or law, or whatever.

I just had to say that I think this is so well-stated.  JKR is clearly making a
statement that people don't have to become a particular type of person because
of the circumstances of their birth.  But, it doesn't preclude her from endowing
Harry with some special powers that he may or may not choose to use (or he may
need to choose what *ends* to employ those special powers for or against).  His
character formation still rests largely on the individual choices/decisions
he'll make along the road of life, whether or not he has some special power that
allowed him to defeat Lord V as an infant (and may help him defeat or destroy
Lord V in a more permanent way later).

I definitely agree with Lori and others that there must be more to infant
Harry's defeat of Lord V than just Lily's sacrifice & layer of protection.  He
and his Death Eaters waged a long & seemingly costly war against both the
wizarding & muggle populations.  It hardly seems likely to me that not one
single person other than Lily Potter tried to save or died to save another human
being during that war.  I think there's definitely something special about
Harry.  I don't think we'll know it all though until after Book 7.

I'd be very interested to hear Peg's thoughts on this topic if she sees this
message.  <hint, hint>

Penny