Why doesn't Harry ever ask questions?

[christi0469]

No: HPFGUIDX 33918

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "lipglossusa" <lipglossusa at y...> wrote:
>> I also realize that JKR intends to withhold info for as long as 
> possible in the interest of dragging out the suspense, but if I 
was 
> Harry, I would want to KNOW.  Like, what really happened to the 
rest 
> of James's and Lily's families?  Where was Harry born, and how 
long 
> were they living at Godric's Hollow?  Where are they buried?  ... 
and 
> all the other questions we ask each other on this list.  Harry 
should 
> be the one to ask, and he doesn't.  Any thoughts?


 Harry has been programmed by the Dursleys for 10 years. No matter 
how comfortable he is at school, it's going to take him quite awhile 
to overcome this version of "children should be seen and not heard". 
In his case it's "Harry should be neither seen nor heard". He has 
learned not to cry, not to ask questions, not to seem weak, and not 
to let Dudley catch him if it's at all avoidable. He has also 
learned that adults are not likely to be sympathetic to your 
situation. Imagine him complaining to his aunt and uncle that Dudley 
had hit him. The response would likely be along the lines of "Good. 
You probably deserved it. Hit him again, Dudley". Straight from 
canon, not asking questions was highly emphasized, especially if 
those questions had to do with the Potters. "DON"T ASK QUESTIONS-
that was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursley's". We do 
see him start to get past this training in PoA and GoF. He is slowly 
starting to ask question and seek advice. Unfortunately he holds 
back in confiding in Sirius because he feels it may lead to Sirius 
taking risks and getting captured. Harry does seek out Dumbledore 
the second time his scar hurts. I can think of two examples of this 
progress when he is stopped by Hermione. In PoA(18) he is Harry 
tries to ask Lupin what sort of animal Prongs(James) was when 
Hermione interupts him, and in GoF(36) he is just about to break 
down and cry on Mrs. Weasley's shoulder when Hermione loudly slams 
the window (I'm not sure if this is significant). Hopefully Harry 
will come to realize that its is O.K. to ask questions and seek 
emotional support. 

Christi (who, like Ron, wishes SHE had a niffler).