SHIP: Harry and Cho

[Judy]

No: HPFGUIDX 75781

 "feetmadeofclay" wrote:
 "jenny_ravenclaw" 
 wrote:
> > Harry has had virtually no experience with girls and doesn't 
really 
> > know how to behave appropriately.  
> 
> Ummm... Is he not friends with Hermione?  He knows how to talk to 
> girls.  Just talk to them like he does Hermione, Angelina, Katie 
or 
> even Ginny. Be nice and get to know her.  
> 
> My problem is that Harry showed little to no interest in Cho as a 
> person.  She was a shiny bauble to him.  Something to be possessed 
> when it amused him.  He's now beyond that I suppose.  But I can't 
> praise what that actually means in the context of storytelling. 
The 
> moral implications are disturbing.  
> 
> I am not saying every kid will behave perfectly.  I am saying that 
> Rowling makes things very easy on us.  When Harry behaves badly he 
> gets called on it.  <snip>  It is hilarious but also a strong 
message - TREAT 
> GIRLS WELL.  But for some inexplicable reason this never applied 
to 
> Cho.  She was there for Harry when he wanted her and now that he 
> doesn't that is fine too.  Doesn't matter than he never really 
> treated her as a person.
> 
> Sad really.

Now, me,

This criticism is a bit harsh, don't you think?  Harry was sincerely 
lost with a girl he fancied. He just wanted to be with her. The text 
tells us he felt stupid and clumsy and couldn't think of anything to 
say.  I teach (this age group) and it is quite surprising to see how 
tongue-tied and uncoordinated boys get when they are around girls 
they like.  As for treating Cho like a bauble--please cut the kid 
some slack.  This was his very first crush, and he is just a totally 
inexperienced boy, not a thirty-year-old man who has learned to 
discern between 'beautiful packaging' and 'beautiful content.'  As 
for the other girls he is around,  Hermione is his friend of five 
years, there is a comfort level.  If you recall, he tried to talk 
quidditch and was doing quite well until the gang of Slytherin girls 
threw him off his game.  As for him wanting to 'possess her,'  I 
think your're thinking Ron, here.  Cho was the one who came at 
Harry, kissed him and led him into that 'snog-shack' where she and 
Cediruc used to go.  How insensitive can you get? She is a full year 
older with dating experience.  It could be argued that she has no 
perceptions to see that Harry is quite nervous.  Then, she wants to 
use their first date to pump him for information about Cedric.  So 
we might ask, who is using whom?
Judy