[HPforGrownups] Re: Average Harry?

[Ebony Elizabeth Thomas]

No: HPFGUIDX 18871

Amber wrote:
>
>Up to now, we know that Harry is a phenomenol Quidditch player; a
>natural at it. We know that he's a Parlseltongue, a talent that is
>supposedly rare. Despite being an orphan and having never had friends
>before, Harry miraculously is able to make friends and not ostracize
>people. He's level-headed in a crisis and is incredibly courageous to
>boot. He witnesses someone begin killed first hand and doesn't collapse
>over it. Harry, in my opinion, is already larger-than-life. If JKR were
>to through in that he has *more* miraculous, rare, and
>powerful...er...powers, I would not believe it.
>

You know, I can relate to your last statement a bit.  I had a moment in GoF 
that I think was my turning point.  It was when Harry's name got pulled out 
of the Goblet.  And my first reaction on July 8 last year while I read was, 
"Why?"  I may have even said it aloud... I talk, giggle, and shout at my 
books.

I was with Hagrid--everything seemed to happen to this kid.  I felt as if 
JKR didn't need to make Harry a Triwizard Champion... there was enough going 
on in the narrative.  Harry didn't regain my sympathy until Ron shocked me 
later in the chapter by not believing him... and then he had it for the 
remainder of the book.

If I had not read GoF, I might be swayed by the "ordinary" theory.  But I've 
read book #4 repeatedly, until my cover's got inky fingerprints, and the 
pages are creased in the passages I want to look over again, and I've made 
notes... I've altered my views on several issues after re-reads, but never 
once have I read anything that changed my initial impression that "there's 
something going on here".

Harry already has enough unique about him to qualify for a "intrinsically 
special" label without adding another special trait.  I talked about the 
Patronus and Imperius last night... and the flying... he's also a 
Parseltongue... and he thinks extremely well under pressure (which in and of 
itself is a talent).

One of the things I'm now reading for in this series is for quest.  Harry is 
in the midst of several quests.  One is to find himself.  Each book has 
yielded random pieces of the puzzle.  That puzzle will be completed in Book 
7... however, I'm of the school that self-discovery is never complete.

In each book, Harry finds out something new about himself... much of which 
is setting him apart from his peers.  That, coupled with his experiences, 
just may make for increased alienation in future books... the quiet 
denouement of GoF comes to mind.

Still think the kid's not your average wizard.  Special doesn't necessarily 
mean flying without a broomstick or glow-in-the-dark eyes like my favorite 
X-Man (well, woman <g>) either.

It means being set apart.

That doesn't necessarily have anything to do with destiny (again, which I 
believe in) or Superman.  It's just what's there in canon already.

--Ebony

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Ebony AKA AngieJ
ebonyink at hotmail.com

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