Harry's entitlement - Long!(was Re: "Some won't like it".)

[kateydidnt2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 130019


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "phoenixgod2000" <jmrazo at h...> 
wrote:
> > Ginger:  

<snip>

>Frankly I think they
could have gotten away with hiding a whole lot more from Harry if
they just made him feel like what he was doing mattered to the war
effort. if Dumbledore or Snape connected learning occulomency to
some kind of reward like becoming a junior member of the order or
some knowledge about what was going on, I think Harry would have
thrown himself into the lessons with gusto, regardless of who was
teaching them. but he was expected to just learn them with no added
promises of being brought more into the know. contrast that with if
he could just make it through that door...

<snip>

I agree wholeheartedly here. From the way I interpret Harry he works 
best when he understands the *reason* behind things. When there is a 
clear goal or explanation he is just fine, but, in my personal 
opinion, when he is not given a clear reason or his questions are 
ignored it reminds him of the Dursley's, and so he reacts 
accordingly. The cardinal rule for Harry growing up was "Don't ask 
questions!"  So Harry doesn't automatically understand as most 
children learn that sometimes there is a good reason for an adult not 
to answer a question, he would certainly not connect the lack of 
communication to it being for his saftey because in his experience 
the Dursleys never answered his questions simply to be spiteful and 
hurtful towards him.  In the first book, Harry accepts Dumbledore's 
explanation that there will be a time when it is appropriate for him 
to know exactly *why* Voldemort is after him, because Dumbledore 
states very clearly that there is a reason but that he cannot tell 
him at that point.  He doesn't exactly give a full explanation but he 
does say more than "don't ask questions!" and Harry accepts it.  
However, following the traumatic events of the third task Harry is 
feeling, rightfully so, that he *needs* to know more about why 
Voldemort is after him.  But he is basically being told "stop asking 
because we won't tell you."  If Dumbledore had bothered to talk to 
Harry at this point instead of plain ignoring him things would have 
probably gone smoother at that point.  However, Dumbledore's 
treatment of him coupled with his questions being ignored without 
explanation would lead Harry back to feeling like the adults he 
thought he could trust were acting just like the Dursley's.
Kateydidnt