[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's revenge on Snape?

[Silverthorne Dragon]

No: HPFGUIDX 90480

{Sue}

By the way, as totally compelling as it is, I HATE the idea of
Voldemort snaking his way into Harry's mind and creating havoc there,
too sad! :(

{Andrew}

I agree. You can't always speculate like that, and actually expect
anything in the story. It is JKR's story and you have to think what
she is likely to do. Will she do certain things to destroy the
charactar she created, I highly doubt it. Plus this is a 'childrens'
book. Well, not anymore. Just as Lord of the Rings wasn't a
childrens book at all. You always have to remember these are
charactars that JKR created, not real people.


{Anne}

Well....no offence, but why not? If we can speculate Snape is a vampire, why
not the possibility that Harry is open to manipulation? Rowling has indeed
opened the possibility--the things Snape tells Harry during Occulimency
lessons supports it...(You allow emotion to rule you, a Leglimens can get
into your mind and wreck havoc). Not to mention that Voldemort did indeed
invade Harry's mind in the fifth book and played the kid for exactly what he
wanted Harry to do...not only that, but Harry's 'open door' to his own mind
has not been closed yet, either. He's still linked to Voldemort...and he
still has not learned any decent level in Occulimens as of the end of the
book...

I'm not suggesting that its permanent thing that would happen either...after
all, Harry is being made out (at least from clues that are constantly sited
from the Harry supporters...and yes, before I get blasted for that, I do
agree he is the hero of the books...if a bit messed up at the moment), to be
**above average** as a wizard. He may be open to manipulation, but that
doesn't mean he'd fall permanent prey to it. Many of the best legends and
fantasy stories (even children stories), deal with the 'what is *really* the
'right' thing to do' issue...no matter what you WANT to do because you are
hurt, upset, abandoned, hated, etc...and it includes what happens to the
hero when he 'screws it up'...and then the final victory over himself when
he finally gets the idea of what really *is* right or wrong...("A Self
Divided" anyone?)

Harry at this point in the books has been set up as angry, hurt, and
betrayed, including by the adults he has trusted the most. He is being
confronted by issues that will shape his very being for the rest of his
life...and 'good' he may be...but at some point he will (or should, if
Rowling really is rounding out his character), have to decide for himself
what moral code he will follow, whether it's going after Snape in revenge,
or defeating Voldemort. And the possibility of possession is likely to force
that on him--after all, if he's being pushed to do something he wants to do
anyway by an outside force (or has envisioned doing in his mind, such as
taking 'revenge' on Snape) , would he do it? Especially if he was relatively
unaware of the outside influence...

Now, to clarify, I'm not saying he would...in fact, if he's as sparkling
clean soul-wise as he 'should' be as the hero, then some part of him will
refuse at the critical moment....and that will be his salvation and the
block that keeps him from ever jumping off that 'moral cliff'. In which
case, the victory will be stunning, both for him (and hopefully) for the
readers...after all, if he does the 'right' thing after all, despite Voldy,
despite his own still relatvely immature impulses, than that is a huge
victory indeed...

I will agree that it all boils down to what Rolwing wants to do with her
characters....and you are right that she may not go that route...then again,
she might. The ground work is there for the possibility to occur...and, as a
final thought for those objecting to the idea that Harry would not do such
an 'evil' thing...

Remember, he is human...remember also that Rowling has an uncanny ability to
make her characters very human as well....and remember that even the best of
humanity can screw up and do the wroing thing...Even Dumbledore admits that
at the end of book 5.

The question, as always, is what do you do after that? Do you allow it to
drag you further down into the morass of Darkness (as in Tom/Voldy's case)?

Or do you bravely fight your way out of it?

I'm all for seeing Gryffindor's finest fight his way out of it. It would be
a hell of a victory, and proof that even the most evil of us all has a
chance for redemption...if we bother to take it...

Anne
(Silverthorne)