OotP -- Spoilers! Be Warned!/Loyalty

[fordy_the_hobbit]

No: HPFGUIDX 72683

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "woodsie426" <kmeier at l...> 
wrote:
> While it may seem obvious, I think that this question deserves a 
> little pondering.  
>  
> Everytime I read/watch CoS I am struck at the end by Dobby's 
> amazing loyalty to Harry.  After he frees Dobby from L Malfoy, 
Dobby 
> refuses to allow Malfoy to harm Harry.  Now, why does this strike 
me 
> as important? 
>  
> V-v-v-oldemort has followers.  He commands their loyalty through 
> threats of pain and death.  Need proof... check out P Pettigrew in 
> GoF and Avery in OotP.  When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was defeated 
> the first time by baby Harry, all those DEs fled and denied any 
> association with him.  What kind of loyalty is that?  When it 
> comes down to it, Voldemort is going to find himself standing 
alone, 
> deserted by his followers!  
>  
> Meanwhile Harry is kind and helpful and humble.  (He doesn't 
> insist on being called Lord Harry!)  He does what is right and 
earns 
> respect in doing so.  Take my example with Dobby... after setting 
him 
> free from the Malfoys Dobby stands at his side, loyal until the 
end.  
> His friendships with folks like Ron and Hermione and Hagrid and the 
> others also evoke the same kind of loyalty.  In the end, these are 
> people who will risk everything (including death or Azkaban)to 
> help him in his fight.  I think that is going to become more and 
more 
> significant as the war is waged. 

Thats what I noticed; everything ive read so far (which isnt much 
admittedly) seems to think the secret quality Harry and the "good 
guys" have is simply love. I think it more likely to be loyalty (is 
this what's in the locked room in the DoM?); Voldemort gains and 
keeps followers with pain and terror tactics, but Harry doesn't need 
to; he thinks a few people will come to DA and hundreds 
(metaphorically;) turn up. One of the most interesting parts of the 
whole DA thing (just noticed D.E./DA symmetry,can't be the first 
though) for me is the bit with the coins; Harry seems very worried by 
the idea that he might become anything like Voldemort, but then they 
realise their solution is entirely based on loyalty; the DA don't 
have to keep the coins if they don't want to.

Peter
<snip>