Regressed Harry (Was: DD and Delores)

[kibakianakaya]

No: HPFGUIDX 163162

Alla <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
Big Snip
>
> As I said in another post I **loved** CAPSLOCK Harry of OOP, I
> thought that his rage was long overdue and my only dissappointment
> was that he dissappeared in HBP completely and all was fine and
> dandy with Dumbledore again.
>
> As my friend said - it is as if Harry regressed from rebelious
> independent teenager to obedient child. :(


Lilygale here:

I disagree that Harry regressed between OotP and HBP.  In OotP Harry
was definitely a rebellious and independent teenager, and acted both
bravely and somewhat foolishly, as teenagers tend to do.   I
recognize that  while other times Harry was a rage-driven teenager.
His rage resulted from  IMO, post-traumatic stress disorder combined
with a year of stress that most adults would have difficulty in
handling.

Harry's rage was *directed* at Dumbledore much of the time, but it
did not always emanate from Dumbledore.  Yes, being ignored by his
mentor fueled some of Harry's anger, but I read Harry's reactions to
being ignored by Dumbledore more as hurt than rage.  CAPSLOCK Harry
seemed to derive from other sources, e.g. LV's emotions bleeding
over into Harry's, the events at the end of GoF that left Harry
suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder most of the year,
ongoing abuse by Umbrage, all on top of Harry's 15 year old hormones.

However, I see no regression in HBP.  Harry continues to act
independently, but in a more mature and conbtrolled manner.  He acts
logically and with purpose.  He becomes somewhat obsessed with
Malfoy, but looks for evidence to back his hypotheses up by studying
the Map and asking the elves to keep an eye on Draco.  This despite
no encouragement from anyone else, teacher or peer.

Harry complies with Dumbledore's request to obtain Slughorn's memory
only after repeated prodding and mild shaming because he is more
focused on events that are more relevant/important to him (Draco,
Ron, Quidditch); a childishly obedient person would put Dumbledore's
concerns before his own.

Furthermore Harry does not agree with Dumbledore's assessment of
Snape, and brings up his disagreement.  However, 16 year old Harry
is no match for overriding his Headmaster, not only because of the
different in age and experience, but also because, despite
disagreeing with Dumbledore, Harry deep down respects his wisdom and
position as headmaster.

Harry certainly acts independently in testing the Half-Blood
Prince's suggestions, and, although the Prince's methods are
unorthodox by other adult's (Slughorn's) standards, Harry pursues
them to see what happens and gets good results.  This certainly
smacks of independence (as a willingness to try something
unsanctioned by the current curriculum.  (The question of whether
this independence borders on cheating is appropriately addressed in
other threads).

Lilygale, who thanks Alla for dependably interesting and well-argued
posts.  You always get me thinking :-)