Quirrell dying (was Harry's far from ruthless )

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 89326

> > >> In short, Harry tends to dislike with very good reason. All 
> > these 
> >  people (other then Snape, maybe) do not *deserve* 
> > compassion. And  when I say that they don't deserve 
> > compassion, I mean that *JKR* doesn't see them as 
deserving 
> > compassion. So, it's hardly fair to  blame Harry for this, is 
it?<<

Pippin, previously:
> > Lupin and Sirius aren't setting a good example, are they? 

Naama:
> Err.. what do you mean? Where? In the Shrieking Shack?
> 

Pippin:
Exactly. Neither Sirius nor Lupin bothers to check on Snape, 
though he might be seriously injured, until they're ready to leave, 
and then Sirius goes banging Snape's already injured head 
against the roof of the tunnel. And they appoint themselves 
judge, jury and executioner for Peter Pettigrew, though they're 
hardly disinterested parties. They're not setting a good example 
when it comes to treating others as they'd like to be treated 
themselves, IMO.

I didn't think much about  Quirrell as deserving of 
compassion in PS/SS. But Voldemort's description of him in GoF 
"a wizard, young, foolish, gullible"  reminded me  of Ginny as she 
seemed to be in CoS - an innocent ill-prepared to cope with the 
wiles of Voldemort. 

I think we are saying the same thing, that Harry shows 
compassion appropriate for his age and we can expect him to 
grow in compassion as he continues to mature.

Harry's inability to cast the Cruciatus on Bella reminds me of the 
dialogue between Galadriel and Frodo in LOTR. Frodo asks why 
the Ring doesn't give him more of its powers, and is told that to 
use them he would have to become far stronger and train his will 
to the domination of others. 

In order to use Cruciatus, Harry would have to train his will to 
cause pain. Anger alone won't do, it seems. It may even hinder 
the spell. Those who can cast Cruciatus don't seem to be angry 
when they perform it, do they?

I think JKR has a practical reason for making clear it takes more 
than raw emotion to power the Unforgiveables. Children 
sometimes  fear that their angry wishes can actually take effect. I 
think JKR wants to show that even in the Potterverse it takes 
more than wishing to hurt someone.

Pippin