Harry's character development

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 139490

CathyD:
> I have days when I'm surprised the kid can find his way to the 
Quidditch pitch without signposts.  Well, no, maybe not the 
Quidditch pitch .... 

Geoff:
>I hate to say it but that seems a rather patronising remark....

CathyD:
I presume my quote above is what you're bothered by, Geoff?  Or perhaps it was the "I thought, well, 
certainly more than Harry who's found out nothing"?  

Dumbledore says: "Secondly, the castle is a stronghold of ancient magic.  *Undoubtedly* Voldemort had penetrated many more of the secrets than most of the students who pass through the place..." (HBP 404 Can Ed)  From what I have read, Harry has never, ever, even thought about the ancient magic in and around the school, nevermind tried to penetrate any of it. There is no evidence, anywhere that I can see, that shows otherwise.  Hermione has to remind him, constantly, of the simplest fact that a person can't Apparate into or out of the Castle and grounds.

As to my opinion of - oops, I was going to write Frodo...now see what you've done ;-) ...Harry, I think he's a bit of an idot. He puts very little effort into his homework, pays little attention in class, accomplishes learning only at dire need (Patronus, throwing off the Imperius curse, or when cramming, with Hermione's notes, for exams), never really tried to learn Occlumency (apart from what JKR says that he would not accomplish it anyway) despite how important it was for him to do so, yet he claims "it seems as though *I always knew* I'd have to face him in the end..."  Seems pretty stupid to me although that is just my opinion.  The only thing he has really excelled at is Quidditch.  Of course, maybe he's going to fly past Voldie on his broom and plant a big wet kiss on his face and Voldie will disintegrate, but somehow I don't think so.

>>Harry also spotted Peter Pettigrew on the map - 
and told Lupin.

When?  It never happened in my book.  As far as I can tell, from a quick read-through this morning, Harry only used the Map twice, both times to get into Hogsmeade.  The second time, in February, he was caught by Snape and the map was confiscated by Lupin.  Lupin found Peter on the map the night Ron was dragged into the Whomping Willow by Sirius and Harry and Hermione followed.  He had the map open on his desk and saw HRH going to Hagrid's Hut then saw Pettigrew with them when they left.  I honestly can't fiind anywhere that says Harry saw Pettigrew on the map and told Lupin about it.

>>Give credit where it's due. Even heroes work in partnerships. where 
would Frodo have got to without the Fellowship and, later, Sam?

You mean, where would Sam have been without Frodo, surely?  Sam is, after all, the one who got the ring to Mount Doom and Gollum was the one who destroyed it.  Frodo only carried the ring; Sam was the real hero, IMO, and wouldn't have needed Frodo at all if he'd had the ring himself.  He should have left Frodo in the Tower at Cirith Ungol and gone on alone.  Only then Frodo would have been killed when the ring was destroyed along with all that was made by its power.  Of course, then we wouldn't have had that sappy, drivelly, off to the Undying Lands, bit at the end of the book.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]