Harry's weak spot (was:Re: Choices)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 86507

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jwcpgh" <jwcpgh at y...> wrote:
> Laura:
  But Harry was 
> always in a hostile situation from the time he arrived at the 
> Dursleys.  His focus was to stay in one piece and protect himself 
as 
> best he could.  Since he never knew when or how the next attack 
> might take place, he learned to react.  That would have taken all 
of 
> his emotional and intellectual energy.  
> 
> Harry's time at Hogwarts hasn't freed him of the instincts he 
> learned living at Privet Drive.  He's still reacting rather than 
> acting.  But I can really see him getting into some dangerous 
> territory in an attempt to reconnect with his parents or bring 
> Sirius back.  I'm not sure he'd trust any DE who offered to help 
him 
> with this, but I can imagine him falling into a trap if it was 
laid 
> with enough subtlety.

Jen R: I totally agree with your assessment, Laura, but hope Harry 
isn't lured into another trap like in OOTP.

Harry seems to be maturing over the course of OOTP, showing signs he 
has integrated a voice of caution that wasn't there before (it 
sounds like Hermione's voice to him, but it's a start anyway...<g>.

He's able to think through options, when he's not under stress, and 
restrain himself at times. Like not using his invisability cloak and 
rushing with Dobby to find the Room of Requirement, or realizing it 
wouldn't be a good idea for Sirius to meet them in Hogsmeade.

Under stress he's still reactive, but he did agree with Hermione's 
plan to check at Grimmauld Place before racing after Sirius--that's 
the opposite of what he did in PS & COS where he raced off without a 
second thought. 

I found the loss of Sirius heartbreaking; I also think Harry learned 
from that loss and the worry he felt over his friends. Will he rush 
off next time the warning is sounded? Yes, because that's what is in 
his nature to do ;). But maybe he'll think twice and put a few more 
safeguards between him and disaster.

Jen R.