Harry's Evolution, WAS: Re: The Black Dog

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 84112


 Richard Parker :
> 
> > He will grow from his experiences, but how long 
> > it will take for him to move on from such tragedy is anyones 
guess. 
> > I just don't think it is realistic to expect a bright and bubbly  
> > harry next year.
> 
> 
> Bohcoo comments:
> 
> You are right in your assessment that Harry is not going to ever 
> again be the innocent boy-man he has been throughout the series so 
> far. But, I think he has already decided to move on from his 
> tragedies:
> 
> OOP, ch. 38, page 870, American Edition:
> "... He somehow could not find the words to tell them what it meant 
> to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side. Instead he 
> smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way 
out 
> of the station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt 
> Petunia and Dudley hurrying along in his wake."
> 
> There are two very significant things in this last paragraph of 
Book 
> 5:  Up until now, Harry has always walked behind the Dursleys as 
they 
> leave the station. Not this time. This time, Harry leads.
> 
> And, they walked toward "the sunlit" street. That signifies hope, 
> optimism, strength and better tomorrows, don't you think?

Me:

That "sunlit street" bit was something I overlooked.  Certainly a ray 
of sunshine after all of the dark, gloom and claustrophobia of OoP 
might very well be a signal. But, I think the events of this past 
year have to have a lingering effect on Harry.  People don't 
necessarily move from one stage of grief to the next without some 
occasional backsliding.  (I speak from experience - my mom died when 
I was 13, and it took a long time to adjust and move forward).

And, this doesn't mean that I think Harry will sink into a depression 
or weep, wail and rend his garments in raging torrents of despair.  
But, I will find it very odd? questionsable? unusual? unreal? if he 
simply soldiers stoically onward, shrugging off these events like an 
old coat.

Marianne