Harry's Popularity

[yolandacarroll]

No: HPFGUIDX 84886

AP ("augustinapeach") wrote:
> I think part of the reason is that Harry didn't encourage "star 
> worship."  
<snip>
>He doesn't have 
> the need for affirmation and adoration from the crowd (as some rock 
> stars seem to).

The above statement explains Harry's reaction 
to "star worship", but it doesn't answer the 
question why didn't more kids in the WW try 
to befriend the famous Harry Potter.

Think about it.  He is the "Boy who lived" 
who "mysteriously" defeated the greatest 
dark wizard of the time while only a baby.
I wrote "mysteriously" for a reason.  We 
know what really happened.  At least, 
Dumbledore's explanation of it, but most 
of the WW does not.  To them Harry's a 
mysterious and powerful wizard, or should 
I say wizard in training.

I'd thought about this before.  Here's my 
take on it.  I've seen several interviews 
of up and coming young actors/actresses, 
who have gotten a chance to work with a 
big name, megabucks, movie star who in 
some cases they were a fan of and many 
of them have said the same thing.  Once 
they met the "big star" and started 
talking to them, they immediately realized, 
"Oh, right he/she's a person just like me.".

I think everyone that met Harry realized 
the same thing.

In PS/SS, on the Hogwarts express, Ron 
and Harry have one of those "just like me" 
moments.  PS/SS even says that Harry found 
Ron as fascinating as Ron found him.  They 
took turns talking about themselves while 
consuming a huge amount of chocolate.  It 
didnt take long for Ron to meet and get 
to know Harry, not "The Boy who lived", 
but Harry.

Harry's huge fame would have caused most 
of the students at Hogwarts to hang back 
for a moment to see what he was going to 
be like.  What they saw was a kid just 
like them who eats, goes to class, and 
walks around Hogwarts just like they do.

If everyone, that met Harry saw the same 
thing Ron did, then I'm not surprised he's 
not being fawned over.  It wouldn't/shouldn't 
take long to change people's perceptions 
from "Boy that lived" to "Harry Potter", 
once you've met him. 

Yolanda