[HPforGrownups]SPOILERS! My defense of Harry (moved) OoP - Jenny's Big Questions /Opinions

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 61456

Lots of replies on here, all combined.  I think I'm replying to Marc (moved from OTChatter), Jenny, Marianne, and Laura.  I think that's all.

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Marc, commenting on my defense of Harry, when I said Harry was lured by his goodness:

> I disagree with is the comment above. I don't think he was lured by his
> "goodness", but rather his stupidity. "Hermy" was right on with her
> deduction, and I think most readers might have guessed it too. Was I the
> only one screaming in my head for Harry to use the mirror that Sirius gave
> him instead of the fireplace?  

So, wanting to save people is not good?  Wanting to save people is stupid?  Don't forget, Harry, regardless of how old he feels or acts, is just fifteen. And let's look back over the last four years.  He wanted to, and did, save the Sorcerer's/Philospher's Stone, 60 points to Gryffindor.  He wanted to, and did, save Ginny, 200 points to Gryffindor, special award for service to the school.  He's been rewarded in the past for saving people/things.  Was it stupid of him to think everything had suddenly changed?  Not to mention if he had ignored the first dream of someone hurt, Arthur would have died.  I do think it was goodness.  Not necessarily a conscious desire to do good, but an internal inate goodness that makes him (and I know this sounds corny) think like a hero.  Besides, Dumbledore was gone, Hagrid was gone, McGonagall was gone, and he forgot about poor old Snape being a good guy.  If anything was stupid, it wasn't Harry wanting to save people, it was him trusting Kreacher.  As for the mirror, I reckon Harry'd already forgotten about that, just like he forgot Snape was part of the Order.

Now, on to Jenny's questions.

Jenny asked these questions:

> 1. What do you all think of House Elves now, especially with the awful 
> Kreacher being introduced?  Do they really choose their lot or are 
> they completely "trained" by their owners (as Dumbledore implied)?

I think house elves are like people, they're all different.  Some have lives full of dark things and turn out awful (Kreacher) Some have lives full of dark things and turn out okay (Dobby).  I don't think Kreacher can be fully blamed for the way he is, but I wouldn't mind seeing his head mounted either.  (Sorry, Hermione!)

> 2. What do you think of Harry using Crucio on Bellatrix?  This was a 
> big shock to me.

I expected it.  Actually, I kind of expected him to try Avada Kedavra.  Just because.  But I think he tried the worst thing he could think of--pain.  But as you'll notice, even though he was horribly angry, wanted her to suffer, he must not have truly wanted to inflict pain, or at least he couldn't enjoy inflicting pain, because it didn't work so well.  I told my mom about it, and she thought nothing of it.  "Well, he was really upset."  

> 3. Why do you think JKR chose for Sirius to be the one to die?  Was 
> she taking it too far for Harry?


A bit.  But, then how good of a role model was Sirius turning out to be?  He wanted Harry to take more risks, he takes enough already in my opinion.  He may have been, as Molly said, trying to use Harry as a substitute for James.  And for the record, I think he's really dead.  JKR said in the interviews last week the person was "definitely dead."  Of course, she didn't say he would stay dead, but she has in the past said no one could be brought back from the dead, even with magic.  So who knows.

And on the same question, Marianne added:

>  What curse killed him?
>   If it was AK, why didn't we see a green light?

The color of light for that spell isn't given.  The first one (that he ducked) was red, but for the second it just says "light."  So we really don't know, it could have been AK, or not.

Back to Jenny now:

> 4. What do you think of the way JKR portrays the MoM - and government 
> in general?

I think she's pretty much on target.  They try to avoid seeing a lot of problems until it's too late for some people (Sirius, in this case).  Compare that to something as simple as roads with potholes.  Around here, theyr'e never repared until someone gets killed because they were speeding and hit a huge pothole, flew off the road and into a telephone pole.  Seriously.  Sad, but true.

> 5. Should Hagrid stay on as CoMC teacher?  Am I the only one who 
> continues to think he's a moron?

I don't know.  He's not the best CoMC teacher, but he's a nice guy.  I guess it depends on what all Dumbledore needs him to do.  For the order, or whatever.  He may not have time to teach.

> 6. Why did Percy turn his back on his family, especially his mother?  
> What will become of him now?

Because he got a promotion and he wanted to do whatever Fudge wanted.  As for now, it depends what Fudge does.  It seems he's now past denial and into acceptance.  Percy may follow Fudge again like an obedient little puppy, or he may be so power hungry that Voldemort will woo him.

> 7. Are we supposed to dislike James Potter now?

No.  We're supposed to understand that even those we think were the most perfect people in the world had faults.  I'm a bit curious, this Snape incident happened at the end of their 5th year, obviously, during O.W.L.s.  So when exactly did the Whomping Willow part happen?  If it was after, I'd say that's what changed James.  I should go back and check PoA, but I don't remember it saying.

Now, Marianne had some questions also:

> 1. When/how did Harry get the Map back?

That one is a toughie.  Either real Moody found it and gave it back, or Dumbledore, without us hearing about it.  When Crouch Jr was being questioned, the map was mentioned, and it was the first Dumbledore had heard of it.  But he did say "Potter's map" so Dumbledore may have returned it, even slipped it in his trunk as if nothing happened.  Why, I don't quite know, but Dumbledore's like that.  If it's not one of those options, it's a Flint. :)

> 2. Why did Harry not unwrap that present from Sirius (mirror)?

Being stubborn.  Not wanting to risk Sirius coming to his aid again and getting himself caught.  Not wanting to be responsible for Sirius's death or capture.

>3.  Why did Sirius have to stay virtually locked up in that awful 
>house?  Could he not occasionally have gone out Polyjuiced as someone 
>else?  And, perhaps not have been stir-crazy to the point that 
>knowing Harry was in danger led him out?

Quite honestly, I think JKR just figured we'd been about Polyjuiced out.  And rightfully so.  But couldn't he have apparated someplace else that was known to be safe?   Lupin has a place somewhere, that's where Dumbledore sent Sirius in GoF.  But once again, I guess Dumbledore wanted to play it safe.

> 4. How could Sirius, with no disguise, waltz into the MoM?

It's possible he came in as Padfoot.  Or perhaps no one wanted to mess with anyone Mad Eye was with. :)

> 5. Does wizard society not have funerals?  Granted, a public memorial 
> for Sirius was out of the question, and there was no body to bury, 
> but is anyone else disturbed that there was not even a mention of a 
> private service for those who knew him?  Wouldn't Harry have 
> benefitted from something like that rather than grieving by himself 
> at the edge of the lake?

I know what you mean, there was no closure there.  Just Harry's private little wake for Sirius by the lake.  Perhaps something like that will come up early in Book 6.  Which leads me to another question.  What about Sirius's house?  Who does it belong to now?  As the guy (can't remember his name) in the painting kept reminding us, Sirius was the last of the house of Black.  Would one of his cousins get it?  Or would it go to Harry, since he was his godchild?  Do wizards have wills?

Now on to Laura:

>2.  The prophesy was a bit "duh," I think.  Though I DID enjoy the inclusion of 
>the whole "Neville was a possibility" thing.  But, now it makes me think that 
>there's no guessing whether or not Harry dies because, if he died, then the 
>books would be left with the whole world being screwed over, so there's pretty 
>much no way she could have Harry die.

I wouldn't quite say the prophecy was "duh."  If it had said a child would be born as the seventh month dies and kill the dark lord, that would have been "duh."  But it had enough turns to keep it interesting.  As you say, Harry can't die or Voldemort wins.  Voldemort must die for Harry to truly live.  So if Harry dies, it won't be by the hand of Voldemort.  And it'll be after Voldemort dies.  I don't buy that one.  Personally, I like Trelawney's latest "prophecy" that Harry will live to a very old age, be minister of magic, and have twelve kids.  (notice the 12 there, anyone?!?!)

Richelle


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