OOP: Harry's bullying was Favorite Lines...

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 63294


> 
> Well, I'm certainly not saying Harry is anywhere nearly as bad as
> Dudley, or even that he ever could be.  But it doesn't seem to me 
that
> making fun of Dudley--getting him as furious as possible--is doing 
any
> good for anyone.  And I understand giving Dudley grief when Harry is
> running away for his own safety, and Harry making fun of him when he
> asks whether Dudley boxes against 7 year-olds or 6 year-olds is
> understandable and hopefully makes Dudley feel guilty about little
> Mark Evans.  But when Harry is picking on Dudley about his 
pigginess,
> it's just out of meanness, and that's what I didn't understand.
> 
> 


It's out of ANGER, not necessarily meanness. Harry obviously knows 
Dudley is annoyed by pig comments, probably more because of Hagrid 
giving him a tail rather than his size.

I see Harry as telling Dudley. "Yeah, you're tough against 10-year-
olds, but let's see you hit ME for that."

What would you have had Harry do? Say, "Well, Dudley, I think it was 
wrong for you to attack Mark Evans. How do you think that made him 
feel?"

Dudley would have laughed his piggy ass off. Harry gave him an 
insult, essentially double-dared him to try something, and Dudley 
backed down, even though he KNEW Harry couldn't legally use magic.

Darrin
-- If anything, Harry reminds me more of Lily in that scene. Quick-
witted, willing to use physical persuasion, and the bully leaves 
feeling stupid.