Occlumency and Shield Charm

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 89491

> Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> > 
> > I hesitate to say this to the whole list, because I think a lot 
>> of people get sick of those of us who think Harry is "gifted" 
>> with special talent & abilities, but that's how I would explain 
>> it.  I mean, had Harry ever been *shown* a Shield Charm, or did 
>> he just somehow know to use it?  
> 
> Geoff:
> "He had soon mastered the Impediment Jinx, a spell to slow down 
> and obstruct attackers, the Reductor curse which would enable him 
> to blast solid objects out of the way and the Four-Point spell, a 
> useful disocvery of Hermione's which would make his wand point due 
> north therefore enabling him to check whether he was going in the 
> right direction within the maze. He was still having trouble with 
> the Shield Charm though. This was supposed to cast a temporary, 
> invisible wall around himself that deflected minor curses; 
> Hermione managed to shatter it with a well placed Jelly-Legs Jinx."
> 
> (GOF "The Third Task" p.529 UK edition)
> 
> So he had come across it.
> 
> May I add my two pennyworth by saying that I don't like the Harry-
> bashers either but neither do I accept that he is invincible and a 
> second cousin to Superman. He is talented and on occasion displays 
> exceptional abilitites but he is also a teenager learning the 
> ropes of life, often the hard way. 
<snipped remainder...>

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
Geoff, thank you for pointing out what I should have remembered 
about the Sheild Charm [she admits sheepishly].

I'd like to go on to add that NEITHER do I believe Harry 
is "invincible" or "a second cousin to Superman".  My goodness, not 
at all.  If he were invincible, we wouldn't all be sweating the end 
of this series, would we? :-)  Your point is well taken that he is a 
TEENAGER learning the ropes, who makes emotional decisions at times, 
can't seem to shake grudges even when doing so is vital, etc.  

Harry is NOT perfect, and I hope that I didn't imply that I think he 
is.  My saying Harry is gifted or talented beyond many--beyond 
almost all other--wizards & witches does NOT mean that I think it's 
all a breeze for him.  I think when he's in dire straits--when he is 
focused; when he isn't allowing his own thoughts or emotions cloud 
his judgment--his abilities tend to rise to the surface, but they 
don't always in "regular" situations or where less is at stake.  I 
don't think he always KNOWS how to access his abilities; yet I 
believe they are there.  

This doesn't mean he COULDN'T be defeated--heavens, he could easily 
have been in the MoM fight...though I think with time and maturity, 
he SHOULDN'T be defeated.

Hoping I'm making a modicum of sense here,
Siriusly Snapey Susan