Characteristic Moments

[hfakhro at nyc.rr.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27298

We all know why we like the characters we do. We understand their 
personalities (an example would be Hermione's speech to Harry at the 
end of PS/SS about friendship and bravery etc. We love Hermione 
because of that speech, we know what is really important to her.) I 
was thinking of other instances when the reader's depth of 
understanding or affection towards an already beloved character is 
strengthened. Just moments or small actions that strike one as being 
demonstrative of the character's personality core. For example, these 
are some minor moments that make me fonder of the following 
characters:

Harry: One moment that really gets me is in PS/SS when Malfoy has put 
a curse on Neville and Harry gives his last Chocolate Frog to Neville 
and tells him he's worth twelve of Malfoy.

Ron: I love his sense of humour (one of his greatest virtues IMO, 
though sadly the power of laughter is often underestimated). I was 
trying to decide which of his funny comments to choose, but the one 
time he really stands out without using wit is in GoF when Harry 
sends an owl to Sirius lying about his scar hurting him; Hermione 
tells him off for lying and Ron tells Hermione to "Drop it!"

Hermione: Rita Skeeter asks Harry if Hagrid is a `father 
substitute.' "Hermione stood up very abruptly, her Butterbeer 
clutched in her hand as though it was a grenade. `You horrible 
woman,' she said, through gritted teeth, `you don't care, do you, 
anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they?'" This is not 
the first time she has shown herself sensitive and ready to defend 
her friends from pain, including Neville.

Hagrid: In PS/SS when he gives Harry the chocolate cake with the 
green icing saying "Happy Birthday Harry." I love Hagrid!

Neville: From GoF: "Within a minute, however, Neville had moulted, 
and once his feathers had fallen off, he re-appeared looking entirely 
normal. He even joined in laughing."

Fred and George: In PoA when they cheer Harry up so effectively. 
After his first encounter with a Dementor, they tell him how 
unpleasant they found the Dementors to be. "Sort of freeze your 
insides, don't they?"

Sirius: At the end of GoF when Harry is telling Dumbledore and Sirius 
about what happened to him: "He looked around at Sirius, and saw that 
he had his face in his hands." What awful memories Harry's experience 
must bring back to Sirius.

Lupin: I love the first impression of him: "
a small battered case 
held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The 
name `Professor R.J. Lupin' was stamped across one corner in peeling 
letters." He can't afford expensive items but he is painstakingly 
careful with the things he does own.

Percy: I love him during the Second Task – firstly when he tells 
Harry off for being late and then when he wades in to get Ron out of 
the lake.

Snape: In CoS, when he finds out a student has been taken into the 
Chamber and he grips the chair very hard.

McGonagall: Love her in all the Quidditch scenes, but especially when 
she is described following Malfoy's holding on to Harry's broom: "She 
was actually shaking her finger in Malfoy's direction, her hat had 
fallen off, and she too was shouting furiously."

Dumbledore: From PS/SS – "Albus Dumbledore had got to his feet. He 
was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing 
could have pleased him more than to see them all there." That's basic 
Dumbledore right there!

This reminds me that one of JKR's fortes is characterization. You've 
got to admire the effort she puts into writing each and every word! 
It's another reason why I love these books so much: the author 
doesn't patronize us with the characters. She'll put in a little 
comment about what they've done, and leave us the choice of being 
affected by it, or ignoring it entirely. I wonder if this has some 
name in creative writing technique or not. I suspect it's harder than 
it looks. Any favourite moments (major or minor, anything that you 
found particularly effective) of these or other characters?

- Hella