Harry's professional life...if he lives (Was: Harry's innate abilities)

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 45126

JOdel wrote:
>>>Interesting thread, but we've gotten off into a fruitless
comparison between sports and music. No one seems to be carrying the
observation back a step to a point where it makes somewhat better
sense.<<<

Melody:
Sorry about that.  In trying to explain why I believe talent is
different from skills, I got distracted.  The comparisons of sports
talents to music talents were an attempt to bring the discussion into
a realm where Michelle and myself knew more first hand knowledge.
Talent, whether for music or sports, is still talent, and I believe,
and I hope Michelle agrees, we were trying to prove, using modern day
examples, whether talent is inherited or a random gift.   Sorry it got
confusing.



abigail wrote:
>>>> All of these examples have to do with professional athletes or
musicians and their children - have we ever seen any evidence that
Harry's skill at Quidditch extends beyond that of a high school hero?
 Certainly Harry's brushes with the world of professional Quidditch
have not led us to believe that he, or anyone around him, is in that
league.  Harry's reaction to the Irish Chasers and to Krum during the
QWC is that this is Quidditch on a level that he was never aware of
before, and while Krum compliments Harry on his flying skills later in
GoF, one gets the feeling that this was the case of a professional
complimenting a talented amateur, not an equal.<<<<

Melody:
Actually Harry has been compared to a capable (could of been
professional) player quite a bit.  Let me attempt to prove this:

In the series, the one player Harry is compared to is the former
"best" seeker Charlie Weasley.

Charlie's talent/skills on the Quidditch field is repeated often in
book one PS/SS.
1)  The first introduction we have to Charlie is by Ron on the train
where he says "Charlie was captain of Quidditch." (Ch 6)
2)  Then in Ch 9, Fred told Harry, "We haven't won since Charlie
left..."
3)  Later in Ch 10, we learn from Wood (who lives, sleep, and breathes
Quidditch) "...he [Charlie] could have played for England if he hadn't
gone off chasing dragons."

Therefore, we know Charlie was not only a team leader but a good seeker.

Now, the first comparison of Harry to Charlie is by Professor
McGonagall when she said to Wood, "Didn't even scratch himself.
Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it." (PS/SS, Ch 9)

The second comparison is by Wood, who said "I wouldn't be surprised if
you [Harry] turned out better than Charlie Weasley..." (PS/SS, Ch 10)

Therefore, by the end of PS/SS, we the reader think that Harry is
quite a talented seeker, but still we do not *know* how good first
hand.  Maybe he is just good enough for school sports only, but it is
implied that Harry is good enough to be professional.


Little is compared in CoS and PoA other than the basic Harry keeps
catching the snitch even under the most precarious situations. (Dobby,
dementors, Malfoy)


But in GoF, Harry and Charlie finally met.  They get along, talk
Quidditch, happiness is everywhere.  Now at the QCup, Harry and
Charlie are sitting together from the same vantage point.  At the end
of the game, Ch 8, there is a confusion of where the snitch is when
Lynch crashed into the ground and the veelas attach.  Now let me quote:

"The Snitch, where's the Snitch?" bellowed Charlie, along the row.
"He's got it -- Krum's got it -- it's all over!" shouted Harry.

I took this to show that Harry's eyes are better than Charlie's.

Next time Harry and Charlie met is at task #1.  Charlie (along with
Krum) watched Harry fly with the Hungarian Horntail.  It has already
been compared by Harry that this felt like Quidditch.  Therefore, when
both Charlie and Krum compliment Harry's flying skill, I took this to
mean Harry genuinely impressed the two "great" seekers.  Once again to
quote:

Charlie's compliments, "...but that was unbelievable." (Ch 20)
Also Bill said that Charlie told him, "...you were incredible with the
Horntail."  (Ch 31)
And Krum said, "You fly very vell.  I vos vatching at the first task."
 (Ch 28)

So from these compliments, which I do think are sincere, I conclude
that Harry is talented/skilled enough to be a professional Quidditch
player.   None of the characters quoted have no alternative motives
(great assumption <g> ) in their words.  They are just commenting and
complimenting where it is due.

Melody
Who is still on her Beauty and the Beast buzz   :)
"There's something sweet...and almost kind..."