You're in the Army, now. wasFalse Alarm? Was:Re: Adults "failing" Harry (in

[adesahafford at wmconnect.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 120043


Magda:
> Snape's comment that since the Arthur vision Voldemort was now aware
that he and Harry were sharing thoughts seems to have gone right past
Harry like a stiff breeze.  I think Pippin's right; it didn't occur
to the adults that Harry wouldn't connect the dots.  Just like
McGonagall got impatient with him when he kept getting detentions
from Umbridge and gave him another one so he'd get a clue faster. < 

Adesa:
But that's as much an adult's mistake as Harry's. Why on *earth* would 
detention help if a dozen of them hadn't already?! McGonagall didn't understand 
that, rather than think, "Maybe I should think about this another way," Harry's 
response to detention was, "Man, is she a b****. I'll show her I can take her 
on." In recalling my own teen years, I think JKR's version of Harry is *much* 
more in tune with reality.

Magda:
> This is my biggest beef with OOTP-Harry: not so much the ANGER or the
self-pity but the inability to connect the dots and figure out that
the guy who tried to kill him in the graveyard should be repelled at
all costs from his mind and that he should listen to what people tell
him (see paragraph above for an example).  You think if Hermione had
known that Voldemort was now aware of the mind connection she
wouldn't have dragged Harry to Snape's office every week for
occlumency lessons?  Darn right she would have.  Hermione has her
faults but an inability to see the big picture is not one of them. <

Adesa:
First of all, I find Harry's inability to see the big picture as part of his 
personality, not a flaw in the plot or a weakness in JKR's writing. Good Lord, 
I'm 33 and still need to be hit over the head sometimes before I "get it".

But I also think Harry really does have a "saving people thing". He has spent 
many many years under the Dursley's "care". He realized very early on that he 
had to take care of things himself, because no one in his life (from the 
Dursley's to school officials) came to his aid when he needed it. So why 
should he suddenly start seeking adult guidance? He's still getting used to 
the idea of there being adults around who are willing to help him: When he 
has the dream of V killing Frank Bryce, it takes quite a few minutes for him 
to think of Sirius as a counselor (GoF, chap 2). So it makes sense to me that he realizes he has this situation, but he is well-trained to think he has to handle it himself. He doesn't connect the dots because he thinks the *dots* 
are the problem.

Adesa