Harry & Seamus.

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115421


Finwitch wrote :
" First of all, I'm not even certain Harry even was angry at Seamus,
just the mother."

Del replies :
It started like that, but unfortunately Harry did get angry at Seamus
too *before* Seamus ever said he believed his mom. Seamus later called
Harry's testimony rubbish, but one could argue that it was just out of
reciprocal anger towards Harry.

Finwitch wrote :
" So in Harry's mind, this testimony from Seamus makes his mother as
bad if not *worse* than Dursleys. In effect, very much like Dursleys
are to Harry. Since Seamus defies his mother, Harry assumes he now
feels the same about her as Harry has felt about Dursleys all his life.

Empathy question: How would Harry take it if someone insulted the
Dursleys? Answer: Possibly make him very happy."

Del replies :
And how does Harry react when anyone insults his *parents* ? He's NOT
happy...

Finwitch wrote :
" So in effect, Harry - by insulting Seamus' mother IS answering the
question: His anger over such belief should tell it's not true. It's
also anger for her to treat Seamus so - (attempting to prevent his
coming to Hogwarts)."

Del replies :
You might be right about Harry thinking that anger is a proof of
innocence. I remember being a teenager and thinking the same as far as
*I* was concerned. In other words, I expected people to realise that I
got angry because I was right. *However*, and that's where it gets
interesting, I usually reacted in the complete opposite way where
other people were concerned : if they got angry, it was because I had
hit a sore spot, because I had caught them in their lies, because they
felt *guilty*. The more they got angry, the more I would deny their
point of view. I'm afraid that might have happened with Harry too : we
have no proof that Seamus shared his mother's opinion before Harry got
mad, but we do know that he refuses the truth right after Harry's
outburst. In Seamus's mind, it could very well be that he was ready to
believe Harry, but that Harry's anger proved that he had something to
hide.

As for Harry being angry at Seamus's mom for the way she treated her
son, I don't think it fits with the way he talks about her. He calls
her a liar, and he suggests that Seamus change dormitory, to "stop his
mommy from worrying".

Finwitch wrote :
" Now let's get back to the Question Seamus asks Harry:
He, as *everyone* in Hogwarts (except for the first years) know that
Cedric Diggory died during the third task.
Dumbledore told them of the matter: 
a) Voldemort murdered Cedric.
b) Harry brought Cedric's body back to Diggorys at the risk of his life.
The question is: 
Do you believe Dumbledore or not? If you do, you need not ask about
Voldemort's return."

Del replies :
That's a dangerous path to tread, *blind* acceptance and obedience.
That's *Percy's path* ! Percy blindly obeys authority figures, without
trying to figure things out for himself. So I think it's not something
we should expect the other kids to do, to just accept DD's second-hand
testimony without any proof or explanation. If it were me, I don't
think I would believe in something of that magnitude and gravity just
because the Headmaster says that a kid says he's seen those things
happen and we should all believe him. And I don't think I would want
my kid to believe it blindly either.

Finwitch wrote :
" with most WW considering Harry a liar, how could he *ever* convince
anyone he's not, except by getting angry at anyone who wrongly accuses
him, and correcting these lies whenever there's someone to confront
about it (namely Umbridge)?"

Del replies :
As long as Harry stuck to that method, he almost didn't get any
results. This method simply doesn't work. If you shout loud enough,
you might *scare* people into *apparently* accepting your word, but
anger never brought about any real conviction.

However, when Harry stopped trying to keep everything for himself and
decided to *testify*, he actually managed to convince some people. And
testify is exactly what Seamus was asking of him. I'm pretty sure that
if Harry had done just that, Seamus would have supported him
completely right from the beginning.

Del