Chapt. Discussion: Chapter 22 - Harry's Support

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 104987

Steve wrote:
> Would it really be that hard for one or two adults to stand face to 
> face with Harry and say, 'I'm here. I understand. You can count on 
> me. I'll listen.'.

Del replies :
No, but I'm not sure it would work at all. First because it's a lie :
they *don't* understand, and they are not much here. And second
because Harry doesn't want to talk, he wants *answers* and that's
precisely what he can't get.

Steve wrote :
> If they had even given Harry a seconds thought they would have
> realized after the trama that he went through, the last thing he
> needed was to be alone with nothing but his depressive thoughts for
> company.

Del replies :
I agree. Unfortunately, as has been pointed out many times before,
emotional support is almost an unknown concept in the WW.
Moreover, I'm not sure any of the adults were *able* to support Harry
at that time, because the return of LV, not matter how expected, was a
trauma for them too ! If a war started tomorrow in my country, I know
I'd be less available for whoever might need me for a while.
And finally, time isn't the same for everyone. The adults were all
busy getting the Order back into shape, I'm sure they didn't realise a
month had passed already. Harry was all alone, for him each day must
have felt like a week. Inversely, each day must have felt like an hour
for the busy adults.

Steve wrote :
> They could have easily told Harry about Figg, knowing the a piece of
> the wizard world was close by if he needed it, would have been very
> reassuring.
> 
> Would it have really been such a terrible thing for Harry to spend a
> day or a weekend at the Burrow? 
> 
> Would it have been so horribly dangerous, if Harry met Ron and
> Hermione for tea at Diagon Alley?
> 
> There is absolutely no need for Harry to be 100% cut off from the
> wizard world during the summer holiday. As long as he spends the
> majority of his time at the Dursley's, he's as protected as he can 
> be. And, occassionally straying into the wizard world, especially if 
> it is in a place where other wizard are close by in case of trouble 
> does NOT represent any sigificant danger.

Del replies :
Did you never wonder why people were tailing him, not coming openly to
walk with him ? If Lupin, for example, was on tailing duty, why didn't
he come and talk to Harry, instead of keeping hidden ? If the Order
had *wanted* to give Harry some company, it would have been easy to
tell him to meet his protector for the day at 9:00 at the corner of
Privet Drive every morning. But they left him very visibly alone. Why
? My idea is that they were quite simply trying to figure out LV's
plans. They knew he could be after a certain number of things (Harry,
the Prophecy, more followers...) and they ostensibly left those things
alone to check what he was going to try and snatch. Giving Harry
wizarding company would have compromised this, and made it harder for
the Order to figure out LV's plans. So yes, there might very well have
been a strong need for Harry to be alone all summer.

This is unfair for Harry I know, but then war is never fair. At the
end of GoF, when DD is giving out his orders to various people, he
doesn't give them any sentimental support speech first. It's just "you
go there, you do that". The only one he's worried about is Snape, but
even then DD doesn't go emotional.
So I'm afraid the Order has precious little time to spare during that
first month, while they are over-busy setting up their resistance
group. Even during August, we see that the members are working long
hard hours. They have no time to spare. And emotional support for
anyone is low on their to-do list.

Del