OOP: Harry's emotional life

[ajlboston]

No: HPFGUIDX 66706


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I have finally recalled and dare mention what irked me during this 
book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.  I was thinking how some 
people were disappointed that after hearing that Moody and Lupin 
would return, those characters did not do much this time.  But 
recall, Lupin had all of Book 3 and Moody had all of Book 4 (well, 
no, but at least that was an impersonation of him...).  Sirius, too, 
this time, seemed mentioned less than I would expect (bear with me) 
but while reading, I was most struck by the case of Cho.  Book 4's 
description said that Harry 'wants to dream about his crush... and 
perhaps do more than dream.'  In that book, he is mentioned thinking 
about her several times, imagining showing off, noticing her, etc. 
despite all that's on his mind during the books.

Here, while we know there is a lot going on to describe in this 
novel, I am surprised at how little Harry's thoughts are mentioned of 
these other characters-- it's mainly Ron and Hermione that he speaks 
to.  Even if he found it rather boring having only Hermione as a best 
friend temporarily in Book 4, even if he is supposed to still fancy 
Cho, here he speaks with Hermione and Ron.  Most of the time I saw no 
mention of his thinking or dreaming about Cho and only those 
interactions of speaking or doing when he did meet with her.  He also 
must miss Sirius, and be glad to see Lupin again, but I didn't see 
much description of their emotional interaction while Harry was at 12 
Grimmauld or his thoughts about them while he was at school (though 
of course he thought of Sirius more often than Lupin).  Are we 
supposed to assume that Harry is bonding with S. and L. in those 
holiday and preschool weeks at Grimmauld and it's just offstage 
because we are busy learning about other stuff?  Are we to assume 
that Harry is madly dreaming of Cho all the time he's not being 
mindmessedwith by Voldemort, speaking at length to Hermione and Ron, 
studying for O.W.L.s, in detention, or... Despite how busy he is, 
when one is very busy and fancies someone one still manages to think 
of the someone often.  Did they not speak at all except on the 
dates?  (Other students seem to converse during meals and offtime.)  
No wonder they feel stilted!  No wonder Cho is jealous of the soul 
time Hermione gets, like Ron, if the trio is together and discussing 
things so much more than a couple.

I am sorry about Sirius's wasted life, I love Lupin, and I was glad 
for Harry after all the fuss in Book 4 that he was given a chance 
with Cho, but I was left with the feeling that he wasn't giving them 
enough of his emotional contribution/heart/thoughts/whatever.  (Yes, 
I know he is preoccupied and feeling self absorbed, but... it seems 
given that these characters are important to him, yet there were not 
as many words fleshing out this concept to back it up.)

Or is it all offstage?

A.J.