Metamorphagi

[dcyasser]

No: HPFGUIDX 86133

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Helen R. Granberry" 
<helen at o...> wrote:
> 
> On fanfiction, and I'll go ahead and address it to the list 
because it has to do with both canon interpretation of Harry as well 
as fanfiction (which one could argue is also a canon interpretation 
of Harry in fictional form). 

Hear, hear. 

<SNIP>

>'Harry Stu' in the Harry Potter fanfiction world usually means a 
depiction of Harry where he is special, super powerful, often very 
handsome, etc.

<SNIP>
> 
> Fanfiction aside, there are a lot of people who don't want to see 
Harry be *too* special or *too* powerful in canon. I have seen
> this in discussions not related to fanfiction at all.
>  Even using the fanfiction term 'Harry Stu' to describe Harry if 
he were to be the Heir of Gryffindor, a Metamorhmagus, do wandless 
magic, etc. The fact of the matter is -- Harry *is* special. I would 
never knock a theory for making Harry too special. He is the hero of 
the books. He is destined to defeat Voldemort. He is special and 
important, whether he is any of those other things or not. 
> 
> Now... as for the JKR quote you are talking about... she is very, 
very specific whereas the interviewer is not:
> 
> SB: We're going to take a few more questions, and um, the next
one is will Harry ever turn into a shape-changer like his father?
> 
> JKR: Animagus. No, Harry's not in training to be an animagus...


<SNIP>

 
> She doesn't say 'no, he won't be a shape changer'. She 
says 'Animagus.
> No..." Becoming an Animagus *is* a very difficult thing to do. 
However,if Harry is a Metamorphmagus, he simply is one. He may need 
direction in terms of learning to use the skill, but 'Metamorphmagi 
are born, not made'. 
> 
> Personally, I think that particular quote supports Harry being a
> Metamorphmagus because of the way she corrects the interviewer and 
makes it very clear what she is saying no to. She doesn't say 'no, 
he's not going to be a shape shifter' she says 'Animagus' (what 
James does).
> Helen, who really, really thinks Harry is a Metamorphmagus in 
canon :)



Hi Helen

Thanks for the input, and for finding the JKR quote.  (I do 
apologize for snipping the end of it off, but I think I kept your 
point and my, this was getting long.) 

For my part,I like to keep as many doors open for Harry and Co. as 
canon allows. I mean, that's what makes this all fun, right?  
So I'll see your Metamorphmagus and raise you a wandless magic.  The 
beauty of these books (and good literature in general) is reading it 
the way you want to, gleaning the meaning that suits you, picking 
your traitor and sticking to him/her, and as long as your 
interpretation doesn't have the author standing on tabletops 
screaming "no! no! you're completely wrong!" , going on your merry 
way. Let's face it, people will still be debating the ships long 
after the series is finished, and they'll still be convinced they're 
correct no matter what they see in print. I don't think the Harry 
we've been shown will suddenly grow taller than Ron, amazingly buff, 
and start ordering Dumbledore around.  I do think the Harry we've 
been shown will continue to stumble upon powers he doesn't know he 
has, and become keen to learn more. And I don't just mean magical, 
as in Parseltongue and expert flying, but burgeoning if reluctant 
leadership (DA) and other human traits an adolescent can discover. 
After all, he's got a "full agenda coming up"  and surely JKR will 
arm him for that!    

cheers
dc