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

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 84147

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "bohcoo" <sydenmill at m...> 
wrote:
> 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?


Jen: 

Good image, bohcoo! I didn't catch either of those significant 
points because I was so happy someone (a whole group, even) finally 
started taking a proactive interest in Harry's welfare. Before now, 
everyone has played such a reactive role regarding Harry, even 
Dumbledore. It seems once the blood protection was in place and 
Harry at Hogwarts, that's the extent of the proactive planning 
(well, maybe you could include Occlumency--thanks annemehr for 
pointing that out off-list <g>).

Ultimately I do think this is Harry's fight, his destiny, and he 
will have to find the strength within himself to move forward. But 
from the scene above, at least symbolically, we see everyone is 
finally on the same page and throwing their support *behind* Harry 
(the Dursleys only grudgingly, of course!).

The other quote near the end of OOTP that inspires hope is 
this: "And yet sitting here on the edge of the lake, with the 
terrible weight of grief dragging at him, with the loss of Sirius so 
raw and fresh inside, he could not muster any great sense of fear. 
It was sunny and the grounds around him were full of laughing 
people..." (OOTP, US, chap. 38, p. 856)

He's a true Gryffindor, his bravery is immense. Just as Harry could 
pull the sword out of the hat, I expect he will find the internal 
resources he needs, enough for himself and everyone else in the WW!

Jen, wishing she was half as brave as Harry....