Harry a Squib? (Was: Your greatest fear . . .)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 121475


Geoff wrote:
> "Bear in mind, though, that Harry /had/ performed involuntary wandless
>  magic before he knew he was a wizard."
> 
Del replied:
> Well, yes, but in a scenario where Harry was born a Squib but a part
> of LV's magical powers were transferred to him at Godric's Hollow,
> Harry *would* show magical abilities after 15 months of age.

Carol responds;
I still think Hagrid's comment that Harry's name was down in the
Hogwarts book since the time of his birth can be taken at face value.
Also I'm pretty sure that Harry must have demonstrated indications
that he was a wizard even in babyhood--enough that his parents would
believe the Prophecy about his being the One to destroy Voldemort.
Also Squibs are very rare and it seems unlikely that two powerful
wizards (one excelling at Transfiguration and the other at Charms)
would be likely to produce one.

We don't know what powers other than Parseltongue were transmitted to
Harry at GH, but I'm guessing that his parents passed on many if not
most of their powers to him. Certainly Harry's skill in Quidditch
comes from James rather than Voldemort! I think his so/so performance
in Charms and Transfiguration is more a lack of interest (he's more
concerned, understandably, about DADA) than a lack of ability.

And surely the ability to produce a Patronus--to fight against the
powers of evil with a protective father symbol--comes from James
rather than Voldemort? I'm unable to imagine LV conjuring up a
Patronus because he has no happy memories, and if he did, it would
probably be Salazar Slytherin or the Dark Mark or a basilisk, all of
which would be more likely to join the Dementors than scare them away.

Anyway, I know you don't really think that Harry was born a Squib. You
were just challenging my assumption that he was born a Wizard.

For the record, I only suggested the Squib idea to describe what he
would become if he lost all his powers in the final confrontation with
Voldemort. IMO, it's unlikely that he would lose the powers he was
born with (as opposed to those he acquired from Voldemort, which I
think he can and *will* lose). And now I'm trying to support my view
that he was, indeed, born with powers of his own.

Carol, thinking that even with an unreliable narrator and a lot of
missing information, there are a few things we can safely take for
granted (and this is one)