Original Order, Imperius and Inheritence and traits

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 108097

> Amey: 
> Thanks to you and Kneasy too for making my point more clear (in 
fact clearer than I could make). Yes, this was exactly my point. Of 
course, people inherit some traits, and they develop some. Also some 
people have inborn abilities (like magic in all children going to 
Hogwarts), some get some abilities after working hard for them. What 
we make of these traits and abilities is what counts, more than 
actually having them. 
<snipped examples>
 It is the difference between cherishing an ideology which makes a 
man inferior because of his birth and an ideology which keeps his 
abilities above his bloodline. That is why Dumbledore is called 
Champion of Mudbloods by some, and The Most Powerful Wizard by some. 
> 
> Amey, who thinks he has succeeded in confusing people even more


Jen: No, it's not confusing, actually very eloquent. And JKR is 
defintely giving us that message and it won't change in Books 6 & 7.

The part I keep wondering about is whether JKR isn't also sending 
message about origins being important to understand who you really 
are. Harry was certainly hurt by 11 years of not knowing he was a 
wizard, thinking his parents died in a car crash. Even though I 
personally believe Dumbledore made the best choices he could in a 
bad circumstance, those years were painful for Harry and were "false 
years" in a way. And perhaps Dumbledore intended that Harry know 
more about his past before he did, but the Dursleys chose to keep 
Harry in the dark. Whichever one, Dumbledore felt it was crucially 
important for Harry to know the Truth when the time was right.

And what Riddle doesn't know about his origins would probably fill a 
book. He's made a life for himself based on half-truths, 
speculation, etc., it seems to me. Perhaps if he had known more he 
would have made different choices? I don't know, but JKR did say he 
wasn't born evil.

And then there's all the stuff Harry *doesn't* know about which 
continues to haunt him--who was James, really? Why does he have no 
other relatives? Would he have done better in Sytherin? There's so 
much he doesn't know about himself and his & his parent's past yet, 
but it continues to shape his actions & fuel his fears in the 
present.

I definitely don't disagree with or misunderstand what you're saying 
Amey, I do think blood in and of itself means nothing and JKR fully 
intends to get that message across in HP.

Jen Reese