[HPforGrownups] Re: Death in Book 5/ Harry's tears

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 49333

pepsiboy writes:

> Hedwig sandwich, anyone?

As much as I'd like to think you're kidding, you may be right.  Whether in Book 5 or not.  I stumbled across JKR's pet quote looking for something else last weekend.  She was asked if Harry could have a dragon for a pet.  She said they couldn't be domesticated, regardless of what Hagrid thought.  But that Harry might get a different pet someday.  Different.  I had remembered it as "another pet."  But she said different.  I wouldn't say I was getting a different pet if I already had one.  I'd say I was getting another pet.  Hopefully this is a British/American confusion?  Please?

grindieloe writes:

> I do remember Harry crying a few times... granted, not sobbing, but 
> still...
>
> 1.  You were right about Harry crying in front of Dumbledore in the 
> hospital wing. That's 1.

SS/PS Chapter 17 reads:
 
Dumbledore now became very interested in a bird out on the windowsill, which gave Harry time to dry his eyes on the sheet.

He can't have even pretended to be *that* interested in a bird, and drying ones eyes doesn't necessarily mean there are tears pouring out, right?  I read that as tears surfacing, not spilling so to speak.

> 2.  When Hagrid gave Harry the pictures/photo album of his parents in 
> SS...  That's 2.

No, he didn't cry there.  It says:

Harry couldn't speak, but Hagrid understood.

Which I read as the kind of thing if you open your mouth to say something you would cry, so you don't open your mouth.
 
> 3.  Doesn't he cry at the end of GoF on Mrs. Weasley's shoulder?  
> That's 3.

Chapter 36 GoF:

The thing against which he had been fighting on and off ever since he had come out of the maze was threatening to overpower him.  He could feel a burning, prickling feeling in the inner corners of his eyes.  He blinked and stared up at the ceiling.
"It wasn't your fault, Harry," Mrs. Weasley whispered.
"I told him to take the cup with me," said Harry.
Now the burning feeling was in his throat too.  He wished Ron would look away.
Mrs. Weasley set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around Harry.  He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother.  The full weight of everything he had seen that night seemed to fall in upon him as Mrs. Weasley held him to her.  His mother's face, his father's voice, the sight of Cedric, dead on the ground all started spinning in his head until he could heardly bear it, until he was screwing up his face against the howl of misery fighting to get out of him.
There was a loud slamming noise . . .

The rest of the chapter after the noise is just Mrs. Weasley and Harry breaking apart, Hermione whispering "sorry," Mrs. Weasley wiping her eyes, Harry drinking his potion and going to sleep.  

So while the tears are coming (thus the burning sensation) they don't spill out.  

There is another time, in PoA.  During dementor lessons, after Harry hears James' voice:

PoA Chapter 12:

Harry suddenly realized that there were tears on his face mingling with the sweat.  He bent his face as low as possible, wiping them off on his robes, pretending to do up his shoelace, so that Lupin wouldn't see.

As soon as Harry realized he was crying, he eliminated the evidence.  

I think in order for the emotional healing to take effect, a good cry is needed.  An all out sobbing, from the heart cry.  (Let's face it, I'm female, I have one of these once a month whether I want it or not!)  Not a "guy" thing to do naturally.  But something will happen and put it over the edge and tears will come.  Really come.

Richelle


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