Angry Harry/ Strife

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 26700

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amber ?" <inviziblegirl at h...> wrote:
> 
> >From: catherine at c...
> >--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amber ?" <inviziblegirl at h...> wrote:
I suppose when I said that JKR could emphasize Harry's 
> feelings of jealousy for Ron's family, I was kinda reaching. 

No, I think that you were right in a way - he probably is envious in 
some degree.  I have to take on board what you and Luke have said.  
Perhaps I should have given reasons for why Harry *shouldn't* feel 
jealous instead of reasons why he *isn't* jealous.  I do still think 
that it is an emotion that I don't think of when I think of Harry, 
but I'm prepared to be wrong.  I am sure, however, that if he is 
jealous, he doesn't let him affect in the way Ron does - a matter of 
self-control?

One other thing about this struck me.  Would Harry trade places with 
Ron if he had the chance?  He must be very comfortable with his 
position with the Weasleys generally - I am still not sure how this 
would change if he and Ron were no longer friends.  I am hoping that 
I never have to find out, but that if I did, he would be still 
regarded as important to them.  Family loyalty v. loyalty to a friend?
I hope that doesn't happen - it would be nasty.  

So, would Harry trade places? (sorry, I sidetracked there).   Well, 
Harry hates living with the Dursleys, he is not happy about being 
famous, he obviously doesn't like his connection with Voldemort and 
all it entails, he misses having a family of his own, but I do think, 
that despite all of this, he wouldn't trade if he had the 
opportunity.  I can't back this up at the moment, so it is just a 
hunch, but I've been thinking about everything else Harry does have.  
Not only does he have the Weasleys, he has Hermione, he has Hagrid, 
he has Sirius.  He is developing into a very talented wizard, who has 
immense strength of mind, and he is great at Quidditch.  Looking at 
the above, I could add to Amber's list below:

Amber wrote:
> Let me see, when has Harry gotten really upset/angry?
> 
> 1)When Aunt Marge insulted his parents.
> 2)When he found out that Sirius Black was his parents' good friend 
and 
> betrayed them.
> 3)I suppose the Firebolt incident could be included, although I 
can't recall 
> how upset Harry actually was.
> 4)When Ron didn't believe that he hadn't put his name into the 
Goblet.

I, personally, wouldn't include the Firebolt incident, because he 
knew that Hermione had his very best interests at heart, and I think 
that he was egged on into not talking to Hermione by Ron.  

I would add:

He was very angry with Tom Riddle - not only for trying to kill 
Ginny, but for framing Hagrid.  His anger also brought out his 
loyalty to Dumbledore.

He was absolutely furious with Snape for being nasty about James.

He has lost his temper with Draco variously, but in particular for 
hexing Hermione (the teeth incident) and because of insults to Hagrid.

He was angry with Rita Skeeter - not so much because of what she said 
about him, but because of what she said about Hagrid.

There are probably others, but these illustrate the point I am trying 
to make:

> It seems that family is a touchy point with Harry. 

Yes, it is.  He has a very strong sense of family loyalty.  He is 
angry that his parents were taken away from him, and is very 
protective of their reputations (see conversations with Voldemort, 
Snape et al).  He is probably very angry that he is currently being 
deprived of his godfather.  But, it goes further than this.  It isn't 
just his family, it is what has become his extended family.  He is 
intensely loyal to those people who love him and to those who have 
tried, in whatever way appropriate, to fill the gap that was created 
by his parents' death and his neglect at the hands of the Dursleys.  
So, therefore, anyone criticising or trying to hurt the Weasleys, or 
any of the above will raise his ire.

So I guess that what I am trying to say is that one of Harry's main 
characteristics for me is his loyalty.  One thing he never had prior 
to his eleventh birthday was people around him who loved him, cared 
for him, *liked* him, even.  I think he is very appreciative of this, 
which is why I think that it keeps in check any feelings he may have 
about what others have.  Afterall, he has gone from having nothing at 
all, to having quite a lot.

Catherine, who finds it very funny and ironic that this whole Harry 
discussion has been sparked off by Amber, who is self-confessedly 
*not* Harry's greatest fan!