(was: The Sorting Hat)

[yolandacarroll]

No: HPFGUIDX 87495

Kathryn wrote:

> I wasn't saying they should have known the truth - I was arguing 
with
> someone who said he was aware of the dangers. I was just pointing 
out that
> he wasn't, not saying he should have been.

Yolanda here:
Okay.  I get what you're saying, but I think 
that he was aware of the danger.  I know that 
goes somewhat counter to what I posted last 
time, but I forgot the part where Hermione 
asks Harry what if "You-Know-Who" is there.  
Harry says that he got lucky before maybe he 
will again, so Harry *is* aware that he could 
end up facing off against Voldemort.  Also, 
whether Voldemort shows up or not, he would 
still have had to deal with Professor Snape 
(that's who they thought was the villain).  
Harry's mission was to get to the stone first, 
but he was aware that he might have to go up 
against an older, more skilled, possibly more 
powerful dark wizard and worse maybe his master, 
Voldemort, as well.

I do agree that Harry isn't as scared as Ron 
or Neville in many cases, but that isn't because 
he's not aware of the danger.  I do get the 
impression that Harry was scared when he went 
after the PS/SS.  He simply, courageously works 
past his fear.   Just because he decides to go 
after it and does so, doesn't mean he didn't 
realize what he was doing or that he wasn't 
scared while doing it.

Kathryn wrote:
> 
> I think that their main motivation, certainly Hermione's main 
motivation,
> was that Harry was going and they didn't want to force him to go 
alone. I'm
> not saying they always blindly follow him but rather that in any 
case where
> they think he might get into trouble and they could help him out 
they're not
> going to make him do it on his own even if they do have doubts 
about the
> wisdom of his actions. Had Harry not gone, they wouldn't have, 
hence my
> argument that they were only going because Harry was. Frankly I 
think Harry
> should be made to dwell on the fact that if he does something 
dangerous the
> others are likely to be right alongside him regardless of how 
sensible they
> think the course of action is - it might make him think first and 
act second
> as opposed to his usual modus operandi. (which to be fair isn't an 
unusual
> way for a teenage boy to act).
> 
> K

Yolanda here:

I think Harry is aware that his friends will 
follow him into danger.  I also feel that that 
won't stop him from going, because he feels 
that he has to.  In PS/SS, he wouldn't allow 
Voldemort to get the stone and endanger the 
entire WW just because he didn't want Ron and 
Hermione to get hurt.  I agree that Harry could 
think more before he acts, but his tendency to 
jump into danger can not be tempered by worrying 
about his friends.  He does worry about them and 
himself too for that matter, but he doesn't let 
that stop him.  

Actually, I think that's a good thing.  I, and 
many others, believe Harry is going to lead.  
JKR already had him leading the D.A. in OOtP.  
We know his future will involve leading others 
in the fight against evil. His ability to analyze 
the situation, make a decision, then despite the 
danger to himself and others follow through with 
that decision will be necessary.

Yolanda