Glasses

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 95064

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mcdee1980" 

Harry sees the world through his rose colored glasses and 
> his belief that there is good in everyone will ultimately be his 
> downfall.  Saving Wormtail is a prime example of his idealism.  
> Anyone else care to comment?
> 

I can't think of any instances in Canon where Harry states that there 
is anything good to be found in the likes of Draco (father or son), 
Crabbe, Goyle, Lockhart, Umbridge, etc - to say nothing of Lord 
Voldemort! Even when presented with Snape's teenaged memories of 
abuse and humiliation - experiences to which Harry can very much 
relate - he still expresses no empathy whatever for the present-day 
Snape (blaming him rather unfairly in his Chap 37 discussion with 
Dumbledore)

Harry's recommendation of mercy for Pettigrew was not because he felt 
Wormtail had some good in him, but because he realized that Black and 
Lupin would descend to the same moral level as Pettigrew if they too 
became murderers (even of one who richly deserved it). This type of 
mercy - fully recognizing the enormity of the crime perpetrated by 
the malefactor - is far removed from naive idealism.

I think Harry tends to take the pessimistic view - his default option 
is to assume that things are, or will be, going wrong.

   - CMC