OotP - feeling just a bit resentful...

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 61746

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Dennis Grant" <trog at w...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "shelaghcol" <ShelaghC at a...> 
wrote:
>  
> > What was the point for him?
> 
> Harry no longer has any family ties. He really *is* an orphan now. 
No
> more "Sirius to the rescue". He's on his own. The training wheels 
are
> gone.
> 
> This frees him up to start concentrating on the task at hand. Think
> Luke Skywalker discovering the burning corpses of his aunt and 
uncle.
> 
> DG

I just don't get this.  And, no, Dennis, this isn't an attack on you. 
You're not the first person to see Sirius' death in this manner.  
But,  I don't understand why the hero, the young initiate, the person 
on whom the burden is laid, has to have his support or parent or 
mentor die.  Is it logical to assume that this loss will make Harry 
stand on his own, when he still has Dumbledore and the OoP people to 
rely on?  We spent reams of cyberspace discussing how Harry would 
often be better off if he simply went to an authority figure for 
advice, instead of rushing off. And he's still rushing off.

I don't see Sirius' involvement with Harry as one so much of 
practical training in defeating the Dark Lord, but more of an 
emotional support and a connection to his parents.  Harry obviously 
needed to see that his impressions of Sirius and his father needed a 
good strong dose of reality.  We all come to the realization that our 
parents aren't perfect. That they make mistakes and sometimes do 
stupid, hurtful things.  We can learn that lesson without them dying.

I can't buy the idea that now, with Sirius gone, Harry's mind and 
strength can better concentrate on defeating Voldemort.  That may be 
what happens, and he may become the perfect engine to accomplish 
this, but without the emotional support of at least several important 
people in his life, he ends up as a tool and nothing more.

Marianne