[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's Guardian? ...& Reward

[Charlie Moody]

No: HPFGUIDX 73803

On Monday, July 28, 2003, at 10:29  PM, Petra Pan wrote:

> arobotti at lightspeedcommunications.net (Anne):
>> This has always bothered me, how come
>> Harry doesn't help the Weasleys out
>> more? He's got gobs of money sitting
>> in that bank, and he never even brings
>> a present when he goes over there.
>
> rdhdwldflwr at comcast.net (Sharon):
>> Me too!!  You never hear about what
>> Harry got anyone for Christmas
>> (except in HP5 when he gave Mr Weasley
>> the fuse stuff or when he told the
>> twins to get Ron new robes).

> I agree that trivials like a bouquet
> of flowers or a box of Chocolate Frogs
> whenever Harry stays over would be a
> nice gesture that couldn't be
> mistaken for anything but tokens of
> appreciation...however...we ARE talking
> about a 'realistic' teenage boy here,
> right?!  <wink>  He's also never had
> much time to plan on buying presents
> before he arrives at the Burrow.

Me (Charlie):

Well-handled, Petra - thanks!

The tension between Harry's wealth & the Weasley's mite
has been covered in the books so many times, it's hard to
imagine the question coming up.

Bottom line:  the Weasleys ARE sensitive about it (all of
them), and Harry knows it.  It would be rude, thoughtless,
  self-important of Harry to insist on lavishing them w/ prezzies
- against their wishes - no matter HOW much he wants to show
  his appreciation for their love and support.

Doing so would offend, not please, them:  a curious way
of saying 'thanks'.

In addition to your points, let me add that Harry is virtually
a prisoner on Privet Drive & has NO muggle money at all;
he has virtually NO chance at all to shop, even if he could do
so away from the Dursleys.

His opportunities for buying presents for his friends are limited
to pre-term treks to Diagon Alley, where he is under Molly's
watchful eye (highly unlikely she'd leave much 'unstructured
time' on these jaunts - the woman's been managing a three-ring
circus for years. now, & she knows better (especially after the
twins!)), and in-term visits to Hogsmeade (which have been
legal for him only since GoF).

Even assuming that gift-buying has been his number-one
priority (yeah...), it's totally understandable that he's found
few opportunities to do so.


Oh, and the thing w/ the twins , the QWC winnings & the WWW:
  that's not a gift, that's business.  I fully expect Harry to be quite
embarrassed when they proudly insist on returning the money,
with interest.
--
Charlie, who's a bit old-fashioned about these things too, sometimes