It's All About Harry -- Percy Fans United

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 26486

Nothing gets me out of lurkdom faster than Harry discussion...

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amber ?" <inviziblegirl at h...> wrote:
> Is it any wonder I sympathize with Ron? *sigh* I understand the 
Normal Person Syndrome quite well. I've recently thought that perhaps 
some people sympathize with Harry over Ron because they have 
extraordinary qualities and understand the persecution that comes 
with being singled out. And perhaps the reason why some people 
sympathize with Ron over Harry is people they don't have 
extraordinary qualities and sympathize with the frustration of 
being ignored. Not to say that Ron doesn't have extraordinary 
qualities, but they are severely overshadowed when compared to Harry.
> 

Wow, Amber... I've never thought of it this way.  I thought it might 
be birth order issues myself, with oldests and onlys leaning 
Harryward and middle-to-youngest ones sympathizing with Ron.  Who 
knows?

I can't believe anyone would be jealous of Harry, though.  He might 
have all those stellar personal qualities, but would you switch 
places with him?  I'm sure he'd trade places with Ron without even 
thinking about it.

Finally, Harry is not perfect or abnormal.  The difference between 
Harry and what some would say is typical 14-year old male behavior is 
that he has a great deal of self-control and has learned to suppress 
his normal reactions/emotions.  Everyone here knows canon... you know 
all the times when Harry let his emotions flare up.  

Harry is not atypical for no good reason.  Harry was emotionally 
abused for a good ten years of his childhood.  Victims of abuse have 
various coping strategies.  What you see in canon is one of these.

What gets me is when people say that Ron acts like a typical 14 year 
old boy.  This is not necessarily the case.  I taught eighth grade 
last year and this year I have one ninth grade class.  It's a diverse 
class, in which several races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds are 
represented.  There are all types of personalities amongst the boys.  
I see Harry and Ron and Neville and Dean and Seamus and even *Draco* 
in my class.

One might feel sympathetic towards Ron.  I know I do at times... his 
character disappointed me in PoA and GoF.  But please, not at Harry's 
expense!

Amber again:

> *immediately starts bouncing up and down, waving her hand 
frantically, shrieking "Oh, oh, oh, ME!"* I'll join, I'll join! 
*shoves her sickles into the hands of whoever is in charge of 
P.I.N.E.* While Hermione is my favorite character (I'll join 
S.C.H.A.B.B. in a heartbeat), Percy is my second favorite character 
and needs as much support as he can get. Poor, misunderstood Percy...
> 

Great!  I take Percy-bashing to heart because his role in his family 
is my role in mine... so saying he's going to turn evil in OotP and 
beyond... them's fightin' words!

--Ebony AKA AngieJ