Harry's Intelligence

[anakzaman]

No: HPFGUIDX 32599

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "theo_kestrel" <theo_kestrel at y...> wrote:
> I'm curious to know what people's thoughts are on the subject of 
> Harry's intelligence. Harry is often described as being eerily 
> similar to his father in many ways, in regards to looks, Quidditch 
> skill, and even personality traits. Being the son of his father, 
who 
> was Head Boy in his time, and his mother, the Head Girl, I'm 
curious 
> why his own academic achievements seem to be less than impressive 
> when compared to his parents. Is he simply not as intelligent as 
his 
> parents? Is it because of his upbringing, when he had the Dursleys 
to 
> worry about instead of school? Why wouldn't he seek the shelter of 
> books like others often do when trying to escape the harshness of 
> reality? Do you seem him blossoming academically as he gets older, 
or 
> will the weight of his eventual confrontation with Voldemort 
further 
> put him off his studies-or will he take the opposite tack, and 
apply 
> himself more than he has in the past to arm himself with the 
> knowledge necessary for victory?  Some questions to ponder...

If I can have my two cents about Harry's intelligence...

James was born a wizard and knew that he was a wizard all along. 
Lily, even though muggle-born, had the time to experiment with her 
magic (PS/SS, when Petunia was complaining about her sister). But 
Harry lived for 11 years without knowing that he was a wizard, and 
then suddenly he enters Hogwarts, befriended the most clever girl and 
a boy who has been a wizard his whole life. And then the fact that he 
was involved in mysteries etc, that must have put him out of the 
books for a while.

He is talented at Quidditch, but he still needed to practice 5 days a 
week. And since he loves Quidditch more than he loved school (like 
any normal 12-13 yr boy would), I would assume that he studies just 
enough to get the grades he needs. 

Just look at an average schoolboy. Most of the intelligent people, 
they would just sit there and do just enough effort to get decent 
grades, while pursuing other interests. And Harry has no interest in 
being a Prefect/Head Boy.

-indra-

ps, btw, I'm a newbie, so "hi!"...