"Power the Dark Lord Knows Not" -- Attachment

[docmara1]

No: HPFGUIDX 137694

> Mara writes:
>   (Snip)
>  There is a lot of thoughtful talk and speculation referring to 
>  the "Power" that Harry has that LV is missing, with Love being 
>  the most likely contender.  What I propose is that there is a 
>  fundamental feeling/experience that is a precursor or 
>  prerequisite for what we usually call Love.  This experience 
>  is *attachment*.  <snip>
 
> Deb <djklaugh at c...> writes: 
> <snip> I also think Harry is a bit of an empath... even before 
> learning of Legilimency he picks up on peoples emotional states 
> quite well.  Besides Legilimency is the forcible reading of 
> emotions and memories ... Harry does not seem to need to throw 
> this spell at anyone to be able to read their emotional state. 

Absolutely agree!  He's attuned to others -- isn't blinded by how 
they want him to see things...seems to move past that rather easily 
for the most part.

> Deb writes:
> And I think the experience of the Mirror of Erised helped 
> because he was able to see the physical resemblences through 
> several generations ... including one old man who had Harry's 
> knobby knees - plus of course James' unruly hair, and Lily's 
> green eyes. I think this kind of kinship recognition would be a 
> really powerful AHA experience "Yes! I do belong. I do fit into 
> this family. These are my people".    

Oh, man, trying to snip here <aaaah, this is what you get for 
writing a really, really long post :))...

Deb, I had to resist writing "I agree!" to your extensions of what 
I wrote :)  Thanks for the welcome to the list.  I did want to comment on the mirror thing...

The term that we often use for that experience of feeling "seen" and 
loved and being welcomed by another is called "mirroring." :)  After 
entering Hogwarts, for the first time in years, Harry was able to 
look in a mirror and see the physical resemblances of family 
members, and also the "gleam" in the loving looks of his parents 
gazing out at him.  Because he had experienced these as an infant, 
they would have resonated with something deep and real inside of 
him.  The function of mirroring in relationships is to solidify and 
enhance the feeling of safety and being understood.  Mirroring is 
soothing, it lets you know that you are seen accurately and not 
being torn apart in one way or another.  One example that comes to 
mind from PS/SS (same school year, so seems particularly relevant) 
is Snape's first contact with Harry.  "Harry Potter, Our New 
Celebrity."  Such a stark contrast to Harry's view of himself, and 
his perception of his place in the WW. Snape wasn't mirroring Harry, 
he was projecting his own rage and envy on to him.

Wasn't somebody talking about writing a dissertation on HP?  :)

Mara