Harry "Winning"/Harry Can't Plan Ahead

[Tom Wall]

No: HPFGUIDX 60338

Aldrea wrote:
Could Harry's guilt be partially derived from the fact that Harry now 
knows that the only reason he was able to do so well in the Triwizard 
Tournament(the first Two Tasks, anyways) was because of an agent of 
Voldemort, helping him at every step..? Perhpas not guilt, but 
atleast disapointment at knowing that the things he had accomplished 
now didn't seem so great.

Rhianyn replied:
I've always thought that the money just sort of sickens Harry. Not 
only did he inadvertantly bring about Cedric's death, but he got PAID 
for it.

Tom adds:
I agree with Rhianyn on Harry's reaction to his winnings - all he 
wants to do is get rid of them as soon as Fudge hands over the sack 
of galleons, and I think that he wants to rid himself of money that 
he probably feels a) he didn't really win, and b) Cedric should have 
had.

But on the nature of Harry's accomplishments, with the sole exception 
being the Third Task, Harry really did some stuff that was worth the 
accolades he received.

I mean, in the First Task, yes, Moody helped him out. But everyone 
had help, and Harry knew it the whole time. In that sense, what 
difference does it make if Moody was actually a Death Eater in 
disguise? IMHO, that doesn't diminish Harry's extraordinary flying, 
or the fact that he tied for first place amongst his competitors, who 
also had advanced knowledge of the task AND the boon of age, and 
therefore extra magical knowledge. And the Death Eaters can't take 
Harry's flying skills from him - they're all his own.

As for the Second Task, same thing - Harry knew the whole time that 
Dobby saved his butt. So, to find out that a Death Eater prompted 
Dobby doesn't change anything - Harry knew already that he never 
would have passed that task without outside help. What's important 
here, and why Harry should still be proud, is that he tied for first 
place again out of his opponents, and this time, it was because of 
his moral fiber. Again, this moral fiber is something that is Harry's 
on his own, not the result of the Death Eaters' machinations.

And so, when we really look at it, although he had help (like the 
other three champions) Harry really did so well in the tournament not 
as a result of that help, but as a result of his natural abilities 
and strength of character.

I think that this is why he's in such turmoil after Fudge gives him 
that money - because, ironically, it is Harry's moral fiber that 
results in his determination to share the Cup. And this, of course, 
is the catalyst that leads, ultimately, to Cedric's death and 
Voldemort's rebirth - and he feels responsible for both.

-Tom