In Defense of Harry (was OotP: One More Time)

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 71047

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "remayo" <remayo at e...> wrote:
> Hello everyone, just joined.  Tried to read as much of the 
commentary on "Order of the Phoenix" as I could.  Anyway, at the risk 
of being redundant, I had a few  thoughts...<SNIP> 
As noted, the real star among the Hogwarts students is clearly 
Hermione.  She dominates much of central portion of the story.  
Rowling has made it clear that Hermione is her surrogate and she 
expends a great deal of effort to make sure her audience knows just 
how supernaturally clever the girl is.  

<Now, A.G.>  Have you visited the HP Lexicon site?  There are some 
great sites there which explore Hermione's character and how she is 
like and NOT like JKR.  Everything you say is fairly accurate, but 
keep in mind that Harry is such a beleivable "hero" because he 
accidentally falls into the role.  Unlike Hermione he has not read 
everything he possibly could on the issue of wizardry and Hogwarts, 
and does not let everyone know everything.  He fell into the role of  
savior as a baby because of the prophecy, and whether he wants the 
role or not people are beginning to expect him to fight 
their "demons". Historically, some of the world's greatest heroes 
were silent men and women who plodded courageously along until 
there "moment" was imminent.  They also knew enough to ask for help 
and had great resources (like Hermione) 

<SNIP><Remayo again>
In order to create a strong female character, Rowling seems compelled 
to turn the boys into would-be malefactors (Draco), miscreants (Fred 
and George), or borderline dunderheads (Harry and Ron).

<A.G.>  Dunderhead is a very strong word for the boys.  Ron is 
intentionally our comic relief.  Some of our best clues are hidden 
within his humor.  He and his family are also intended to be Harry's 
example of a fun-loving, closely knit pure blood wizarding family.  
As for Harry, I take exception to calling him a Dunderhead.  When it 
comes to Life or Death situations, and the real world he, not 
Hermione, finds the solutions.

As a baby, we know it was "old magic" and mother's love which saved 
him.  But, in SS, although H. solved the logic problem, Harry took 
lead and instructed her to go back while he went on.  Harry overcame 
Q. and V. on his own.  In COS, H. took almost as long as the boys to 
figure out the Basilisk-but again, the way the cards fell (her being 
petrified) Harry solved it and went forward on his own (after Ron got 
caught in the cave in) to save Ginny and defeat Tom.  In POA, Harry 
learned skills way beyond the OWL level, not Hermione and developed 
his Patronus and held off 100 Dementors on his own.  Granted 
Hermione's time turner came in handy, but Harry ruled.  Next, in GOF, 
Hermione helped Harry train, he had help from Dobby and Crouch/Moody, 
etc.  But, in the end, it was Harry who battled and came away 
triumphant.  Too, this is truly the point where we see Harry's 
mastery of DADA rapidly out pace Hermione.  He is formidable, and his 
practical experience awesome.

Finally, in OOP we see what I expected, a pubescent adolescent who is 
moody, angry, out of the loop, etc.  He wants to try dating but 
doesn't understand girls; he wants to protect Sirius at all costs; 
and sorry but he is a bit arrogant.  After all he has bested Tom/V. 
at least 4 times.  

Hermione could never accumulate enough practical experience to come 
within a Quidditch stadium's length of Harry-AND she knows it.  Which 
is why, being the brilliant girl she is-she decides to form DA and 
recruit Harry as the leader.  Keep in mind, in the "real" world 
(MoM), Hermione falls quickly (probably lack of experience)She could 
easily have been the one JKR killed off.  But, JKR wants her around.

<SNIP><Remayo again>...Harry took it upon himself to do something 
constructive without being prodded by Hermione or Dumbledore.  Now 
that he's seen Voldemort and Dumbledore duel, surely he must develop 
some sense of urgency about his lack of skills, right? 

<A.G.>  One of the recurrent themes throughout the epic novel series 
has been that Harry takes too much upon himself.  All along, he has 
attempted to do too much, hide things (sorting hat suggesting 
Slytherin, Parselmouth, etc.), shoulder too much by himself.  We get  
glimpses of him wanting more support(ie crying on Mrs. Weasley's 
shoulder at end of GOF).  But, really, how much more urgent would you 
have him?  What else could he have taken on in OOP?  He had classes; 
OWL preparation; a constantly feuding H and R to deal with; Cho; 
limited contact with Sirius; mind melds with V.; preparing lessons 
for and training 28 students; Dumbridge's terrors; Occlumency; 
Dumbledore's avoidance; Quidditch practice, then no Quidditch; being 
kept out of the loop by everyone (even R. and H. during summer); 
dueling with Death Eaters, Bella and V.; and even his owl was 
injured!  What else would you have him tackle?  Maybe being a prefect?

Clearly He can use the invisibility cloak, Maurauders map and his 
superb DADA skills to blend in, make his way and protect himself.  I 
really never expected him to become an animagi just because his 
father did.  After all, in the last several hundred years only 8 
people registered this trait with the MoM.  Why should we expect this 
from Harry?  If anything, I though Hermione's knowledge of the 
registered animagi and her stint as a cat in COS was foreshadowing 
her becoming one.
   
Now having defended Harry somewhat, let me say, all of your points 
about Hermione hit home.  She is phenomenal.  Harry will never defeat 
V. and the Dark Side alone.  He will need excellent and varied 
resources, and Hermione is one of his greatest assets. I think JKR 
intended all along that Ms. Know-it-all; Mr. Clown; and Mr. Overcome 
the worst of both worlds would join together to give us the best 
chance of all.

A.G.  (who apologizes for length, but got carried away)