Chapt. Discussion: Chapter 22 - Harry's Support

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 105013

Steve wrote :
> While you are telling us the way it is, we are telling you the way it
> should have been.

Del replies :
No, I'm telling you why the way you think it should have been *could
not* be. And also sometimes why it shouldn't have been at all.

Steve wrote :
> The orignal questions that sparked this were about whether Harry was
> properly supported by the adults around him. I think the answer is
> that he was not. 

Del replies :
Sometimes he was, and sometimes he wasn't. And when he wasn't, it was
mostly because the adults had much more pressing matters on their
hands. That's the problem with being an orphan with no readily
available guardian : it's nobody's job to take care of you. It's cruel
but it's true. I grew up without a father, but I don't resent any of
the men that were close to me for not stepping in : it wasn't their
job. They could have chosen to do so, but they had no obligation to.

Steve wrote :
> Also, to your point that Harry wouldn't take any help that might have
> been offerred to him. Believe it or not, that's not the point, take 
> it or not, at least it was offerred, at least he knows it's there if 
> he needs it. It's not about taking the help, it's about the comfort 
> of knowing the help and support is there.

Del replies :
But it was always there ! Even when he was left alone at the
Dursleys', he was still receiving letters from his friends. It was
limited support I agree, but it was support nonetheless. Had Ron and
Hermione been there in person, they would not have been able to tell
him more.
And once Harry got to GP, it was very obvious that many people were
willing to help him : Sirius, Remus, Molly... The problem is that
Harry didn't see that, and also that he didn't want to talk. But the
support was always there.
Moreover, there's another problem : what help can anyone give Harry
anyway ? All they can do is listen, but Harry doesn't want to talk.
They can't relate to what he's feeling, they don't know what it's
like, they can't give him any useful advice for fighting LV. Just
telling him "I'm there" will do Harry no good.

Steve wrote :
> None of my suggestions compromised the priorities of The Order in any
> way. Mrs. Figg was already there watching over Harry. Her presents
> didn't drain any resources from other tasks because that IS her task.
> She did, in fact, invite Harry to tea several times, and if Harry had
> know she was a Squib in contact with the Order and Dumbledore, he
> would have been there in a second.

Del replies :
Harry was *dumped* at Mrs Figg's by the Dursleys when they went
celebrating Dudley's birthday, back before Harry went to Hogwarts. Mrs
Figg never invited him. It would have looked mightily odd if she
started inviting him suddenly this summer, for no reason.

Steve wrote :
> In addition, Harry protectors visible at Figg's place would not have
> had to compromise their secretly following Harry. They could pretend
> like they dropped by to check on Mrs. Figg. Again, Harry would have
> had company and a connection to the wizard world, and someone to talk
> to. These guards are already there in Little Whinging, it just a
> matter of whether the cloak is off or on.

Del replies :
I don't think you understood the full extent of my explanation as to
why Harry was left alone. The Order was trying to determine LV's
intentions. So they left Harry very visibly alone as a *bait*. Any DE
who might have been sent to check on Harry must never see Harry with
another wizard. And if you think a simple wall can block the view,
think of Mad-Eye Moody's eye again.

And I'd like to point that this plan worked very well indeed, even if
it was not LV who ate the bait. I'm sure Umbridge sent spies to Little
Whinging before she sent the Dementors. If she'd seen Harry with other
wizards, it could have spelled troubles for the Order.

Steve wrote :
> That would have certainly reduced his sense of isolation. That
> certainly would have increased his comfort level. That certainly 
> would have allayed his anxiety level. And would have actually made 
> the job of his personal invisible guards easier. It would be a lot 
> easier to guard Harry when his guards could be visible at Figg's 
> house, than it is to follow him aimlessly around the neighborhood. 
> Contained at Figg's is certainly safer that wandering around in the 
> open.

Del replies :
If the Order's only goal had been to guard Harry, they would have sent
a member to *live* at the Dursleys'. Or maybe just Ron and Hermione
for that matter : they could have stayed in Harry's room all day long,
and go out when an adult member came around to visit them. Now *that*
would have made Harry's life easier. But it would have thwarted the
Order's *primary goal* : force LV to move.

Steve wrote :
> I say once again- There is absolutely no need for Harry to be 100% 
> cut off from the wizard world during the summer holiday. 

Del replies :
And I say once again : there was probably a very good reason for him
to be isolated.
By the way, Harry was no more cut off from the WW than his previous
years, or than any other Muggle-born kid. He received the Daily
Prophet and letters fron his friends. What he was cut off from was the
activity of the Order - and that was intentional.

Steve wrote :
> Also note that Harry's state of mind and general well being increase
> dramatically once he was at 12 Grimmauld Place. He just needed to not
> have to face his demons alone.

Del replies :
What he needed most of all were answers. He got mad at Ron and
Hermione when they coudn't give him any. And he felt better when he
learned all he was allowed to know. In fact, I'm always amazed at how
little his demons seem to bother him. Sure he has nightmares about
Cedric dying, but that's about it. No much IMO.

That is *my* story and I'm sticking to it, at least until someone
comes and convinces me otherwise :-)

Del