[HPforGrownups] Re: Explaining the danger to Harry (was: Changing the title because I'm tired of it)

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 130090

As for blame, DD took the largest part of it, not only because he did 
bear a large part of the responsibility, but because he wanted to 
spare Harry from being overwhelmed with guilt while Harry is still 
reeling from the death of his godfather.

But in the end, once he's quit shifting all the blame onto Snape, 
Harry will blame himself. THANK GOD. Because if Harry didn't 
recognize that his own mistakes, as well those of DD and Snape, led 
to the confrontation at the DoM and the resulting death of Sirius 
(whose own mistake also contributed to his death), then there would 
be little hope of Harry becoming the man he is destined to be. 
Accepting blame for our own mistakes is part of the maturing process 
for all of us. 

That said, another part of maturing is putting it all into 
perspective. Harry (as well as DD, Snape, and Sirius) all made 
mistakes that ultimately *led* to the confrontation between Sirius 
and Bellatrix. But none of them killed Sirius. That was Bellatrix's 
doing alone. When Harry recognizes that fact, then he will truly be 
able to accept the loss of his godfather and move on.  

Julie 

Sherry now:

Excellent post, Julie.  I think you clarified what so many of us have been
trying to say.

The only thing I would like to point out is that I doubt that the best
occlumency lessons with all the detailed explanations in the world would
have stopped Harry going to the ministry to rescue Sirius.  The incident
with Arthur and the snake would have made him feel he couldn't risk waiting
to find out.  He may have taken some better precautions, tried harder to
find an adult he could trust to help, but he would still have gone.  Would
any of us have just sat around and waited, if we believed our dearest loved
one was in deadly danger?  We'd call the police and then we'd rush off to
try to help.  I am so against the idea of Harry ever blaming himself or
accepting blame for that.  Of course, he will blame himself, as would
anyone.  But to me, there is only one person to blame, two actually, Bella
and Voldemort.

Sherry