Re: Harry’s anger: neither teen angst nor channeling Voldemort

[steffy07]

No: HPFGUIDX 94399

Steffy:

I've noticed that I keep forgetting to sign my posts.  I'm going to 
have to try harder to remember that...

Harry's "teen angst" is a weird issue.  I don't think it is LV 
acting through him, or it is out of character.  I think it is the 
brilliance of JKR.  Harry is a teenage boy, who is pummeled with 
emotions at every turn.  I think his emotions are normal...that 
having being said...

Neri :
> The telling part is that Harry is not just angry in OotP, he
> actually *enjoys* his friends' hurt. This is definitely not Harry.
> Our Harry doesn't have a sadistic streak in him. Well, perhaps
> towards Dudley in moments of discord, or towards Snape, but
> certainly not towards Ron and Hermione.

Steffy:

Sometimes, I think that Harry, unintentionally, hurts the ones he 
loves.  

Neri :
> Yet JKR has made a point of describing Harry "not sorry at all" or
> even actually taking pleasure in hurting his friends at least four
> times in OotP (and I might have missed more cases). The quotes are
> below for those who want to dwell on the details. Note
> especially "deep satisfaction" and "vindictive pleasure". Note
> also the words indicating the unexplained suddenness of the anger
> feelings: "for a split second", "nasty impulse", "anger that had
> just flared so unexpectedly". (snipped)

Steffy: I cut the quotes out of the post for length sake, but the 
first two examples are from before Harry left Grimmuald place for 
Hogwarts.  Harry was angry and bitter at his two best friends and a 
little jealous because they knew so much information about what was 
going on, and he was left in the dark.  Did he get some pleasure 
that Hedwig had nipped their hands? Yep. Would I have?  You better 
believe it!!  

Example:
OotP (US), Ch. 5, p. 91:
'Harry'll tell me and Hermione everything you say anyway!' said Ron
hotly. 'Won't — won't you?' he added uncertainly, meeting Harry's
eyes.
For a split second, Harry considered telling Ron that he wouldn't
tell him a single word, that he could try a taste of being kept in
the dark and see how he liked it. But the nasty impulse vanished as
they looked at each other.
'Course I will,' Harry said.

Harry only considered it FOR A SPLIT SECOND!!  

Example:
OotP (US), Ch. 30, p. 681
'You can't tell me you've stopped having funny dreams,' Hermione said
now, 'because Ron told me you were muttering in your sleep again last
night.'
Harry threw Ron a furious look. Ron had the grace to look ashamed
of himself.
'You were only muttering a bit,' he mumbled
apologetically. 'Something about "just a bit further".'
'I dreamed I was watching you lot play Quidditch,' Harry lied
brutally. 'I was trying to get you to stretch out a bit further to
grab the Quaffle.'
Ron's ears went red. Harry felt a kind of vindictive pleasure; he
had not, of course, dreamed anything of the sort.

Ok, ok...Harry is being a really mean and vindictive here.  Harry's 
mad, but that's not an excuse.  I don't consider myself to be a mean 
person, or the nicest person in the world either.  I have a sadistic 
side, but I have a tight group of friends.  The benefit of having a 
group of friends like that is knowing that sometimes you can slip up 
and be mean, but your friends will understand.  Ron hasn't always 
been the nicest person to Harry.  As Del pointed out in her post, 
they weren't friends for awhile in GOF, but I am going to disagree 
with Del, and place most of the blame on Ron for that one.  Ron was 
mean to Harry.  Yes, when Ron came down the stairs and interuppted 
Harry while he was speaking to Sirius, it ticked Harry off, but 
think of what Ron had done.  Harry had always counted on Ron to 
believe him and be there for him, and when he needed him the most, 
up to that point, Ron was nowhere to be found, except nursing his 
bruised ego.  Don't get me wrong, I love Ron.  The point I'm trying 
to make is that they are teenage boys and girls.  Prone to make 
stupid mistakes, prone to hormonal arugements and fits of rage and 
emotion.  THe fact that JKR can make them so believeable and give 
them such a range of emotions make them loveable characters.  Who 
would believe a friendship of two teenage boys and a girl that never 
once got into an arguement and stopped speaking for a couple of 
weeks at a time?  The Trio care for each other deeply, I think there 
is much evidence to prove that, and I think that they understand 
each other, and ultimately their love for each other will bring 
about the downfall of LV and the DE's.


I hope that makes sense...
Steffy