[HPforGrownups] OOP: Dumbledore and lying/ Really for children?/ Annoyed with Harry (Spoilers!)

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 63289

Ersatz Harry wrote:

> Does Dumbledore lie?

Well, he does say in GoF that the truth is *generally* preferred.  Not
always.  In the instance you were referring to, the truth would have caused
some big problems.

Nic xx wrote:

> will appreiciate.  But its all so... adultish.. (yea I could
> of come up with a better word).  And what about the death?
> There was no blood (apart from Nevilles nose bleed... and can > I mention
blood when Harry was writing into his
> hands with Umbridge again?!) but don't you think that the Veil
> may scare children?

I think for very young children the veil will be a bit beyond them. Oh, and
don't forget all that blood in Harry's dream about Arthur.  Eww.  I think
children who have read and enjoyed the other books will enjoy this one too.
However, they may miss some of the deeper points.  Why the heck Harry's so
angry, for one thing.

Kneasy wrote:

> 2. Madame Pomfrey, commenting on Ron after his brainstorm,
> observes that thoughts cause the deepest wounds.
>
> Welcome back, Neville.

Yes, well, problem there is though Neville is psychologically scarred, or
marked, it wasn't caused by Voldemort himself, but by what the DE did to his
parents--after Voldemort was gone.  As far as we know.

anandinisekhar wrote:

> what I was feeling during and after reading OoP. Although I
> don't like feeling this way (I adored Harry for his honest
> modesty and innocence and genuine affection for others) --- I
> thought Harry was annoyingly arrogant, bitter, jealous, and
> disrespectful in this book -

I find it astonishing how many people are annoyed with Harry.  Have you ever
been fifteen (rhetorical question!)?  That alone can trigger a range of
emotions unparalleled.  Yes, he does scream and yell at Ron and Hermione
unnecessarily.  And the first time he does, he tries to apologize for it.
And they brush it off like he doesn't need to.  Imagine, for a moment, being
fifteen, fearing that horrible things are happening in your world, and being
forced to remain completely out of touch with reality for a month.  A month
to brew over it, to relive it, to imagine the worst.  I'd take it out on the
first person I ran into also.

As for Harry yelling at Dumbledore, Dumbledore simply says Harry's not
nearly as angry with him as he should be.  Dumbledore doesn't find it
unusual in the least.  I must say, I was quite angry with Dumbledore for a
while too--if you can't talk to the boy for a reason, give him a hint that
it's not him you're upset with!

And for all the times in between, his emotions were on edge.  He had so many
emotional highs and lows in this book alone, they were building up to the
point that anything set him off.  I'm like that once a month, regularly. :)
And yes, I will yell and scream at someone who has done nothing.  It's an
emotional release, just like crying.  Considering how many people (including
myself) thought Harry needed a good cry, why not let him have a few good
fits too?  It's a start.

Richelle