[HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore on the Dursleys in OotP (LONG)

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 151513

Quick_Silver
What bothers me is that Dumbledore really "kid gloves" Harry...he doesn't
really point out that Harry bears a large amount of responsibility for what
happened that night (among the "good" side Harry bears the most
responsibility IMO...more then Snape, Sirius, or Dumbledore). 



Sherry now:

Oh my gosh, no, no, no!  Harry does not bear any blame.  Sirius does not
bear any blame.  Bella and Voldemort bear the blame.  This is the line that
will always get a response from me.  It's like blaming the victim, and I
can't bear it.  Harry did exactly what any sane loving person would have
done if they thought their loved one was in danger.  He rushed off to help.
Who would not have done the same thing?  He had every reason to believe the
vision was real, because of the very real vision of Arthur's attack.  He
could not risk the vision being correct and not helping.  He had to try.  He
shows the depth of his love and concern by doing it.  It doesn't matter
about the occlumency lessons or what Snape supposedly tried to teach him.
If Dumbledore had spoken to Harry straight all year, Harry might have
hesitated.  but he had no reason to have confidence in what he'd been told
about Voldemort planting things in his mind because of the messenger who
told him.  No matter what you think of Snape, at the point of where their
relationship is and knowing Harry is only 15, he couldn't be expected to
take Snape's word, against the absolute truth that he had seen Arthur's
attack and been able to get help to him on time.  In my opinion, Harry did
the absolute only thing he could have done under the circumstances, and
still be true to his nature and his role as hero.  The only blame goes on
the ones who betrayed the depth of the bond between Harry and Sirius, and
Bella and her master for setting it up.  I think if I thought I was
responsible for the death of someone I loved I'd kill myself.  Could you
imagine a child having to carry that burden?  Shudder.

Sherry