OOP Spoiler: Analyzing the Gryffindor boys

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 62531


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Various things throughout OoP have got me thinking again about the Gryffindor boys.  Harry and Ron of course, we understand more.  But then there are the others, Neville, Seamus, and Dean.  Neville has come out a bit in this book, well, a lot really.  But I'm wondering a great deal about seamus and Dean.  Dean is gung ho to join DA, Seamus is not speaking to Harry for a good while.  The best place I found to analyze them (or perhaps the part that concerns me most) is when Harry dreams about Arthur being bitten.

First of all, these are boys who have lived together for going on five years now.  One of them suddenly seems very ill.  At least, that is what it looks like from their standpoint.  Middle of the night, Harry is thrashing about, in a cold sweat, clutching his head, throwing up, and shaking.  Definitely sounds like he's sick.  Ron, of course, is very concerned, he tries to be comforting, keeps him in bed, and does about the best job a 15 year old boy could be asked to do. 

Neville keeps his head too.  Since Harry appears to be violently ill, getting help is logical. But who to go to?  In my opinion, there were only two choices.  A) McGonagall or B) Madame Pomfrey.  But who to choose?  If he'd gone as soon as he said "Should we call someone?" he had only seen Harry holding his head and throwing up.  My instinct would certainly have been to get Madame Pomfrey.  But he stayed long enough to hear Harry's frantic "Your dad!  He's been bitten, it's serious, there was blood everywhere."  Then he leaves for help, and has apparently decided on McGonagall.  Well, he made the right choice. But I couldn't help but wonder if Neville was that perceptive, that Harry needed more than a nurse, or if it was because McGonagall was closer.  Either way, Neville at least DID something.

And then there are Seamus and Dean.  Could it really be so important for them to whisper (about what?  How loony Harry is?) to each other the whole time?  Obviously enough for Harry to notice it twice?  Maybe it's because I'm a woman, but if I'd have been in that situation, I'd have gone with Neville for help.  One go for McGonagall, one for the nurse.  Just DO something.  And if you just want to stand there watching Harry be sick, at least stay far enough away you're not a bother.

Maybe it's nothing, but it bothers me that they found something to talk to each other about in that situation.  There's plenty of time later for them to speculate about how crazy he is, either find something useful to do or keep quiet.

Does this bother anyone else?  Am I reading into this?  Because right now I've really got doubts about Seamus being very trustworthy in the future.

Richelle


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