OOP: Re: Bad Harry? OotP Spoiler

[Alon van Dam]

No: HPFGUIDX 62912

> From what have read in JKR interviews and such, she has already 
said 
> that Harry want be tempted by evil, that's just a rumor, but that 
he 
> is justifiably angry in this book.  I mean, honestly, the kid goes 
> through hell over and over again.  I was waiting for him to snap 
and 
> he did, especially in Dumbledore's office, which is probably my 
> favorite scene in the book.  And as far as the curse is concerned, 
> he was angry, guilt-ridden, and wanted vengeance, which is easier 
to 
> deal with than blaming yourself.  Sirius's death was too fresh, but 
> even when he used it, Lestrange replied that he didn't know how to, 
> that you have to mean to and enjoy causing pain, and Harry 
> inherently, does not.  He's too good.  Even at his weakest, his 
> heart takes over, just as when Voldemort possessed him at the end.  
> I think people are overreacting to the curse, and I too was shocked 
> when he used it, but she kept getting away from everyone, and he 
was 
> angry, and probably at a loss as to what spell to use.  He made a 
> mistake, but he, being Harry, couldn't pull off hurting someone in 
> the end.  Look how he looks at the prophecy - he doesn't think, oh 
> well, I was planning on helping to defeat Voldemort anyway, so I 
> don't mind having to kill the evil bastard.  He is honestly 
stricken 
> with the thought of having to commit murder.  Harry isn't evil, in 
> any way shape or form, he's a fifteen year old boy who keeps being 
> pushed to the edge of endurance.  He had to snap sometime, and I 
> felt like yelling right along with him.
> 
> Julia Adair

I would like to add that I agree with everything Julia has said. :)

Personally, I found Harry's behavior fully understandable. He 
might've carried the grudges a bit long, but when he lets Ron and 
Hermione stay in the room where Sirius and Lupin tell them stuff in 
the OOP-HQ, even his anger with them is over. (He needs to blow off 
steam before that.) Now, let me tell you that I, personally, am much 
better at Harry in anger management. I'm crap at keeping grudges and 
very rarely enter 'no speaking periods' with anyone. But when Sirius 
was killed, and Bellatrix was getting away, I was envisioning myself 
in that situation. And, before I saw what Harry did, I knew that I 
would have run after that &*^$# and would have cast Crucio! on her 
for Neville, for Neville's parents, for Lily and James and for 
Sirius. I would not have cared at that moment. I would have made her 
suffer like she's making me suffer and like she Neville's family 
suffer. I would have been merciless and cruel. I would inflict as 
much pain on her as possible. For once, I wouldn't care that she's a 
woman (I, personally, have a very big thing about hurting or hitting 
women, even in joke or mock-fight situations. Even with my sister) 
and I wouldn't care about demeaning myself to her level. Oh, I would 
have felt enormously bad about it later and regret it for the rest of 
my life! But at that moment, I would have had EXACTLY the fury that 
Harry had. I, for one, entirely understand why Harry cast the 
Unforgivable Curse on Bellatrix and am /very/ happy that JKR put it 
in.

"Errare Humanum Est" - To err is human.

Alon (really a nice guy once you get to know him)