Harry's compassion (was Re: Quirrell dying (was Harry's far from ruthless )

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 89239

 Naama wrote :
>>> On the other hand, Harry is remarkably nice and compassionate to 
everybody else, not only to his particular friends:  He protects 
Neville in PS (and he barely knows him at that point);>>> 
 
 Del answers :
 
>>> He protects Neville because he's a Gryffindor, but mostly 
because Harry doesn't like whoever is attacking Neville (Draco, 
Snape) and wants to fight them anyway. Neville is just an excuse.>>>

Ali:

IMO, there is no evidence that Harry protects Neville because he is 
in Gryffindor. I believe that he protects him because he dislikes 
the bullies who attack him, but that isn't the same as *wanting* to 
fight them. It's standing up and fighting for what he believes, a 
very different position.
 
 Naama wrote :
 
> > he risks his life for Ginny in CoS;
 
 Del answers :
 
>>> That's his saving-people thing. And that's also his being in the 
 wrong place at the wrong time thing :-)<<<<

I agree that Harry does have a "saving-people" thing. I believe that 
to be one of his virtues, even if it has led him to act rashly. But 
his desire to save people is hardly evidence that he isn't 
compassionate, is it?

Harry and Ron deliberately tried to get into the Chamber of Secrets. 
Ron would have gone with Harry if the tunnel had not become blocked. 
I don't think that could be called being in the wrong place at the 
wrong time. He knew he was taking enormous risks, and he still chose 
to do it.

<a big snip of Del's response to Harry's feeling towards Lupin, 
Sirius and Fleur's sister>

> Naama wrote :
 
> > >It's odd, but Harry seems to treat practically everybody with 
 compassion, *except* those who richly do not deserve it. In my book 
<g>, Harry is exceptionally kind, compassionate and brave.<<< 
 
 Del answers :
 
>>> Let me just give you a few names. The Creevey brothers. Ginny 
Weasley at first. Luna Lovegood. Cedric Diggory. Percy Weasley. 
Seamus (? That was Seamus, whose mother had a problem with 
Harry,right ?) in OoP (much compassion Harry showed, not wanting to 
ease Seamus's dilemma). And best of all : Hermione in PoA, and Ron 
in GoF. MUCH compassion he showed them !<<<

Ali:

Del, I'm not sure that I understand your argument. Colin Creevey 
follows Harry about. He idolises Harry and acts as a psychophant. 
Harry does want to get away from Colin, he doesn't like his fame. 
But, he's not cruel to Colin. He teaches him Defence against the 
Dark Arts and puts up with him. No, he doesn't relate to Colin in 
the same way he does to Hermione or Ron, but he is kind he is 
compassionate.

Cedric, he feels jealous of. But, when he sets aside his 
embarassment about losing the Quidditch match and Cho to Cedric, he 
does act very fairly towards him. He tells him about the First Task, 
he saves him from Krum and from the spider. He forces Cedric to take 
the cup with him.

Harry does come to learn and respect Luna. He does find her strange 
and he is embarassed when Cho finds him with Luna, Neville and 
Ginny. But, Harry fancied Cho and wished to be seen in as positive a 
light as possible. That feeling he experienced reminded me of my 
early teenage years when it was really embarassing to be caught out 
with my parents and family.  But, notice how he matures in OoP. By 
the end of OoP, Harry nolonger cares for the pretty, popular but 
(IMO) fairly vacuous Cho. He has grown up. Harry isn't perfect, I'd 
find him fairly insipid if he was. 

I'm not sure I'd describe Harry's reaction to Seamus' "dilemma" as 
lack of compassion. His friend, his room mate of four years is 
unsure whether Harry is mad or not. Now, I don't think that Harry 
helped the situation, but given the stress he was under, I don't 
feel his anger to be exceptional.

Harry did react badly to Hermione in PoA. He knew he did. He was a 
young teenage boy who acted thoughtlessly. Hagrid pulled him up 
short for it. In terms of his reaction to Ron, Ron caused their fall 
out. Harry didn't make up, but it coincided with one of his roughest 
patches at Hogwarts. Pointed at and sneered at on all sides, Harry 
didn't have the mental energy to spare to mend his relationship with 
Ron. Yes, the episode was silly. But, it doesn't point to a lack of 
compassion, only maturity.

Ali