Young Dumbledore (wasRe: Why Leave Harry at HW at the End of HBP?)

[susanbones2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 148387

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Miles" <miles at ...> wrote:
>
> susanbones2003 wrote:
> > That passage hit me like a ton of bricks. I started wracking my
> > memory. When did Harry wheedle information out of people? This
> > suggests that he's been a calculating, manipulating little sneak
> > thief or something and I can not for the life of me think when! 
<snip>
> > He tried his best to
> > be numb around Aunt Marge but he never wheedled anything out of 
her.
> > He did lie quite often to DD (about things that were bothering 
him)
> > but it was never a wheedling, conniving thing. How did Harry get
> > experience that would allow him to identify with LV?
> 
> Miles:
> You gave the answer, but didn't work it out: Harry was used to get 
small
> benefits from the Dursleys (including information). Just before 
the desaster
> with Aunt Marge in CoS (?) he made Vernon to promise him an early 
escape
> from Privet Drive. Later he very well played the "Sirius, the mass 
murderer"
> card without any open threat. So yes, Harry can be very 
manipulating if
> necessary.
> 
> Miles

Hi Miles,
I realize he had to be less than forthcoming with the Dursleys but 
the things he did with them, they don't seem to be at the level he's 
identifying with LV. He made a bargain with Vernon, that he'd be a 
good boy if he could have his permission form signed, and well, that 
didn't even work out. And he was not after anything in a sneaky 
fashion, it was all above board, a straight deal. And the "Sirius 
the mass murderer" bit hardly qualifies as wheedling information out 
of less-than-forthcoming people. For a laugh almost, he let it slip 
that his godfather was a mass murderer and realized an advantage he 
really hadn't calculated. He did use it to his advantage, but it 
just doesn't seem to be, again, at the level of manipulation and con-
man artistry that he's identifying with LV. Maybe the fact that he's 
writing a letter to Sirius was very calculated but I just don't see 
Harry doing anywhere nearly as manipulative and calculating as LV, 
at least until he meets Slughorn, gets the Prince's book, or needs 
that memory. Then I see him developing skills in these less-than-
appealing areas. Felix Felecis gives him such a leg up in this area. 
It seems to introduce him to a level of falsehood and manipulation I 
didn't know he had in him. He plays Slughorn in such an obvious and 
melodramatic way. Then is when, in the pursuit of a good, I saw him 
behave most like LV. It was not pleasant and I don't want to see 
Harry put the end entirely before the means to that end. Then he'd 
lose his humanity, his pure and untarnished soul.
Jen D., suddenly feeling a little sad...