Producing a Patronus + reaction to a Dementor

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 89229

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "naamagatus" <naama_gat at h...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Doriane" <delwynmarch at y...> 
> wrote:
> > "naamagatus" :
> > 
> > > I think that's the important point. When Harry wasn't 
suffering 
> > > under the draining presence of a dementor (and his reaction to 
a 
> I would say that JKR intends Harry to be great of heart and 
> character, rather than super magical. He doesn't seem extra 
brilliant 
> in magic per se (Hermione is much better than he is), but when the 
> magic requires also strength of character, he does seem to be head 
> and shoulders above his peers (and elders): holding on to 
Quirrell, 
> producing a Patronus, beating Voldemort in the graveyard, freeing 
> himself from Voldemort's possession in OotP. 


I think Harry just oozes magic. He is able to do many things 
instinctively. Remember all the untrained magic he did before going 
to Hogwarts? He also has done other wandless magic under 
extraordinary circumstances (blowing up Aunt Marge, opening the 
locked cupboard under the stairs; when Harry yells REVERSE the Ford 
Anglia came alive and moved on its own; He lights his wand in OOtP) 

Harry is not inclined to study, he's very much a typical teen in his 
attitude. However, when he perceives a real need to learn, he can 
apply himself quite diligently. In CoS, he gets paired with Malfoy 
in a duel, something he had NO experience doing. He holds his own 
against a formidable opponent. Harry works well under pressure, is 
able to improvise, and is not afraid to react quickly. 

As Harry gains confidence and experience, he becomes more and more 
powerful. As Naama said, it is a combination of his magical ability 
and his character that makes him particularly strong. As far as his 
teaching ability, students often make better teachers... they 
remember how it was to start from zero knowledge. Still, the DA were 
learning to do patronuses without the pressure of a Dementor in 
their presence. Remember in PoA that Lupin drove off the Dementor in 
the train car with a mere whisp of silvery stuff out of his wand. 
Not a corporeal patronus, apparently. When Dumbledor drove off the 
Dementors at the quidditch match, he did it with a non-corporeal 
patronus. Although Harry was not facing the Dementors when he 
produced his stag in PoA, he still was under stress. He later 
successfully sends a patronus after a boggart Dementor in GoF. And 
of course, his ultimate triumph was with the Dementors in OOtP. He 
not only was able to produce the Patronus, but also direct it, 
something we've never heard about previously. Again, practice and 
success improved his ability. 

As far as Harry's ability to learn Occlumency, I fault Snape's 
teaching methods. Simply attacking Harry's mind over and over again 
was something like throwing a child into the pool to teach it to 
swim. Some actual instruction must be done! Of course, Snape's 
teaching in general can be called into question. We know he is an 
excellent potions master, but his method of dealing with students 
would get him in trouble in the Muggle world in short order. How 
much do you think the Slytherins learn when they are not required to 
produce adequate results? The Gryffindors probably often do better 
since they have to try so much harder to achieve passing scores. 
Harry has had to learn potions in spite of Snape, not because of him.

I think Harry is capable of doing anything he decides to do, once he 
is given all the facts. He has spent the past 5 years working with 
little real information, and yet he has managed to survive and 
rescue others under incredible circumstances. 

Karen