Harry's innate abilities

[animagi_raven]

No: HPFGUIDX 45128

I was going to avoid this thread but I feel that I have something to 
add.  It might end up that I just add a long post, but I want to see 
if I can get through this without being AKed by a genetics major or 
Crucio-ed by a moderator for being OT.  Hang in there, I have to 
start with inherited genetics but I do get to a very interesting 
thought that is on-topic (I promise)!

I'll start with a simple, measurable statistic such as height.  For 
two people of exceptional height, the male children's height will not 
be a simple normal (bell-shaped) curve about their father's height, 
but will be a skewed curve trending back towards the genetic 
average.  There is an influence from the mother's height as well.  
Keep that last thought, we'll come back to that.

Now for a seeker, there are possibly hundreds of factors that affect 
raw ability (balance, sight, hand-eye coordination, recklessness, 
etc.), some more than others.  I am talking strictly raw ability here 
since Harry's ability is noticed the first time that he is on a broom 
and he has never seen Quidditch played before that first broom lesson 
in PS.  Since he is the `best seeker in over 100 years' (rats, can't 
find the quote just now) and his father is described a `an excellent 
Quidditch player' (McGonagall, p.152 SS) he is probably beyond his 
father's talents at flying.

If his ability is genetically based and discounting that his 
abilities were not enhanced by some kind of magic (like that Anakin 
kid), Harry got the basis for his exceptional abilities from his 
father and mother.  His father's gave him a good start.  His mother's 
abilities have not been discussed to this point in the books.  Unless 
he got incredibly lucky (OK, possible in a book) his mother's 
abilities were possibly equal to or better than his father's for some 
of those abilities.  There could also be synergistic affects between 
the abilities he got from his parents.  That part of genetics gets 
beyond me.

I am also willing to accept that there was some early training of his 
abilities in balance, dodging, and observation by staying away from 
Dudley and his gang.  So therefore, IMO Harry's abilities came from 
both parents, some genetic luck, and some early training of some of 
his abilities.  Everybody gets to be a little right.

My guess is that his vision or awareness will be from his mother 
because of those green eyes.  It would be a nice literary touch.


Animagi-Raven  who does not think of himself as `moderated' but 
rather `under constant supervision for the benefit of society'.