feelings...nothing more than feelings... (was: Re: Harry's disposition )

[jjjjjuliep]

No: HPFGUIDX 94755

I've been reading the thread on Harry's disposition and the perceived 
lack of warmth, and emotion, in the WW on the part of some 
listmembers with great interest and offer these comments in general 
response to what I've read.

What I find really interesting is the idea that Harry is without a 
support network.  OK, so summers with his aunt and uncle are pretty 
awful.  But now we know, after OoP, that as miserable as it is, Harry 
now knows that his aunt promised to take care of him, and there's a 
certain amount of comfort, and some power, in that.  And so I'm 
eagerly anticipating his return to Privet Drive, especially after 
that information and the Howler that Petunia received--now he knows, 
and now Petunia knows he knows.  Oh, I know it's going to be as 
aggravating, and as hurtful as usual for him, but I wonder if there 
might now be something else added there--maybe some gratitude on his 
part and some admiration her part.  Don't worry, I'm not getting 
carried away.  But suddenly Privet Drive is literally a sanctuary; a 
place where Harry is safe via his mother's love, and because of his 
aunt's loyalty.

I also don't see Harry as being let down by the people around him 
because to some extent he seeks out these situations where he ends up 
in trouble.  Yes, Snape could have handled the Occlumency lessons 
better.  But Harry opted, of his own free will, not to practice and 
not to close mind to the visions he was having.  Harry opted to use 
the Maurader's Map.  Harry opted to do a lot of the things which put 
him into danger (not all of them, mind you).  But he's not a passive 
victim.  He's a an active, willful, boy who makes his own choices and 
then has to deal with the consequences.

And when he's at Hogwarts I think he has a lot of support.  Certainly 
(at least it seems so to me) he spends more time with Dumbledore than 
anyone else, and is very close to Dumbledore's heart.  The Weasleys 
have truly taken him in.  He has Hagrid.  He has friends.  And even 
with the loss of Sirius, he has other elders who are there for him if 
he needs comfort or counsel--it's that so often he's engaged in 
behavior he can't or won't tell them about, so he can't necessarily 
avail himself of it.

To me, also, the WW seems pretty emotional.  Certainly we see all of 
the same emotions we do in the Muggle world:  the concern and care--
paternal love, even--of Dumbledore and Hagrid; the jealousy and 
malevolence of Snape; the annoyance and humor of McGonigal 
(especially in OoP with respect to Umbridge).  

Furthermore, and then I'll get off this hobby horse for tonight, 
Harry is in greater danger if he is coddled and cosseted.  He's got a 
daunting, if not seemingly impossible, task ahead of him.  He can't 
risk--the WW can't risk--missing any chance for his character to be 
tempered.

jujube (who really has to go do some other things this evening, like 
pack for a trip, but is enjoying herself too much with these 
interesting discussion)