Harry's Popularity

[augustinapeach]

No: HPFGUIDX 84881

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sharon" <sharon8880 at y...> 
wrote:
 (snipped)
 I still can't figure out why kids at Hogwarts didn't flock to him 
when he first arrived.  Yes, Draco made an effort & was rebuked, but 
I don't recall others.  As far as looks go, there are plenty of 
music stars out there that are not that great looking (Kid Rock, Axl 
Rose, etc), but are worshipped none the less because of their star 
status. I thought is was a common human desire to "rub elbows with 
the stars". Why didn't the kids at Hogwarts want to do this with 
Harry when he first got there being as how he kind of had this star 
status in the WW?
> Sharon

Now AP:

I think part of the reason is that Harry didn't encourage "star 
worship."  Up until he entered Hogwarts, he had apparently been 
quite good at being "invisible" in school to avoid Dudley and 
friends.  I would guess he has established some strong attitudes 
about superficial friendships because of his experiences in school 
("Everybody knew that Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in 
his baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody like to 
disagree with Dudley's gang" - SS, p. 30)  I've always thought Harry 
has a strong sense of self-worth -- how he managed to develop it 
growing up with the Dursleys, I can't imagine -- so he doesn't have 
the need for affirmation and adoration from the crowd (as some rock 
stars seem to).