A child is, by definition, WRONG

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 120065


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "chrusotoxos" <heos at v...> wrote:

Chrusotoxos:
> In my opinion, Harry has always acted the little hero, never 
trusting the adults surrounding 
> him. Everybody said that the Philosopher's stone was well 
protected? Na, don't believe it! 
> Let's go and rescue it! And the same goes for the Chamber (why, why 
going down that 
> thing with Lockart!, when there are so many good teachers around 
them?) and for most of 
> the things Harry says and does.

Geoff:
Let's just consider the Chamber of Secrets scenario for a moment as 
an example.

Ron and Harry have found the notes in Hermione's hand and:

'And beneath this, a single word had been written, in a hand Harry 
recognised as Hermione's. Pipes.
It was as though somebody had just flicked a light on in his brain.
"Ron," he breathed, "this is it. This is the answer. the monster in 
the Chamber's a Basilisk - a giant serpent!"'

(COS "The Chamber of Secrets" p.215 UK edition)

'"But how's the Basilisk been getting around the place?" said Ron. "A 
dirty great snake... Someone would've seen..."
Harry, however, pointed at the word Hermione had scribbled at the 
foot of the page.
"Pipes," he said, "Pipes.. Ron, it's been using the plumbing. I've 
been hearing that voice inside the walls.."
Ron suddenly grabbed Harry's arm.
"The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets!" he said hoarsely. "What if 
it's a bathroom? What if it's in - "
" - Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," said Harry.
They sat there, excitement coursing through them, hardly able to 
believe it.'

(ibid. p.216)

Notice that they are about to go to Professor McGonagall (and not 
haring off on their own) when the announcement for all students to 
return to their dormitories is given; they hide in the staff room 
cloakroom to overhear the news that Ginny has been taken into the 
Chamber. Gilderoy Lockhart appears late and the staff remind him that 
he has claimed to know where the Chamber entrance is. So..

'Lockhart gazed round at his stony-faced colleagues.
"I.. I really never... You may have misunderstood.."
"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy," said Professor 
McGonagall. "Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make 
sure everyone's out of your way..."

So he leaves saying that he will be in his office, getting ready...

"Right," said Professor McGonagall, whose nostrils were 
flared, "That's got him out from under our feet. The Heads of Houses 
should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the 
Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow.."

(ibid. p.218)

So the person to deal with is Lockhart. The others are involved in 
the preparations for closing the school.

So, quite sensibly, they concentrate on Lockhart.

'"D'you know what?" said Ron. "I think we should go and see Lockhart. 
Tell him what we know. He's going to try to get into the Chamber. we 
can tell him where we think it is and tell him it's a Basilisk in 
there."'

(ibid.p.219)

No mention of going to the Chamber themselves; just an intention of 
making sure that GL has some inkling of where to start. But, what do 
they discover? That Lockhart has gone into "rat deserting the sinking 
ship" mode. The extent of his lying and boasting is revealed and, 
after his attempt to hex the boys, he is disarmed and Harry and Ron 
take him to Myrtle's bathroom. They have been forced into this 
situation because, prior to his attempt, they might have been able to 
summon help from other staff but have had to take this course of 
action to save themselves from his attempt to attack them magically 
and to try to get Lockhart to the Chamber because of the threat to 
Ginny's life.

We get down below the bathroom and Lockhart makes another attempt to 
silence the boys. The spell backfires on him, and leaves Harry cut 
off behind a wall of fallen rock. OK, now what? Should Ron go for 
help while Harry attempts to get back through? But does Ron know how 
to get back up to the bathroom through the chute?

So Harry thinks on his feet and feels he needs to go forward because 
of the threat to Ginny's safety. We know what happens in the event. 
This begs the question of whether members of staff would have been 
able to cope with the situation in a better way. Harry at least knew 
something about Riddle from the diary and the inspiration to use the 
fang to destroy the diary and Riddle came to him. 

Would any other person have called Fawkes or conjured the sword of 
Godric Gryffindor? We do not know. But the fact seems to be that 
events dictated that Harry had to be the person to face off with Tom 
Riddle and magic of one sort or another seemed to provide the means 
for him to do it.

Geoff
http://www.aspectsofexmoor.com