Leader of Order of the Pheonix -Harry, Moody, Arthur, other

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 149041

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister"
<gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Patricia Hurley
> > <patriciah711@> wrote:
> 
> Mrcbolt:   
> > > I was wondering if anyone has thought about who is going to
> > > lead the Order ...? ...
> 
> Patricia:
> > > I can't see Harry wanting to lead it because there are so 
> > > many  gifted older, more experienced Wizards.... I think
> > > the best person is Arthur. ...
>  
> > bboyminn: 
> > ... I don't think Harry is in a position to be the official 
> > leader of the Order. ... While it could be Arthur, for the 
> > moment I am going to vote for Mad-Eye Moody.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> > I'm not against the new leader being Arthur, I just think Moody
> > is more qualified. Either way, regardless of who the appointed 
> > leader is, I think functionally, people will turn toward Harry
> > for direction.
> 
> Geoff:
> I hope that the suggestion in the last sentence will prove to be
> the final "truth". ... Personally, I would not favour seeing 
> Moody as the head of the OOTP, not because I do not trust his 
> loyalty but because I do not trust his paranoia.
> 
> Harry is now - or will be by the next school year - of age and
> can choose to go his own way. Hermione and Ron have already 
> pledged their support but he may be wary of what the Order 
> wants. I doubt that he will be their leader - either elected 
> or de facto but I believe that Harry will have to be the driving 
> force behind what they do rather than vice versa; the Order will 
> therefore act as an arm of the campaign against Voldemort in 
> backing him up.
>

bboyminn:

You may have been attempting to disagree with me, but your final point
is exactly the point I was trying to make. Harry will not be their
leader, but he will determine the direction and purpose of their actions.

I don't see this happening all at once. No one is going to say,
'Moody's in charge, but we follow Harry'. I see this all gradudually
and subtly falling into place. Right now the Order is lost. With out
Dumbledore and his grand plan and his grand planning, they are
directionless and purposeless. Let's face it, Dumbledore WAS The Order
of the Phoenix. Without him, I see the Order as ineffective. 

Yet these are determined dedicated individuals; they don't give up
easily. They are still all bound and determined to oppose Voldemort.
But how, when, and where? They will flounder for a while seeking some
systematic method of opposition. In the meantime, Harry will stuggle
along with his two friends trying to accomplish what is essentially an
impossible task on every front. At some point, he will realize that he
has to trust someone if he is to succeed. I believe that someone will
be Lupin. 

There after Lupin will assist Harry, yet the task will still be too
big. So, Lupin, devulging as little information as possible, will get
some of the Order to help him. Through this gradual process of
expansion, soon the entire Order will be working for Harry. Like I
said, Harry will give them new direction and purpose. And while Harry
will not be their formal leader, it will still be in his interest and
under his 'orders' that they act. 

Harry is at the center of everything. To act in Harry's interest, to
serve him, is to serve the greater good of the wizarding community,
and to further act against Voldemort.

As the Order gradually works more and more in Harry interests, the
pretense of an appointed formal leader will fade, and members will
defer to Harry. In a sense, I don't see Moody as a General, I see him
as a strict Drill Sargent. As I said, he has command authority, people
will defer to him, and follow his orders. But behind the scenes, it
will be Harry and Harry's needs that are directing those orders.

Without serving Harry, I see the Order stumbling around in the dark.
Once they are on board with Harry, they once again have direction and
purpose. Once again, they are a force to be reckoned with. So the
point I'm making is subtle. I don't see Harry controlling the Order
the way a General control his troops. I see Harry sitting at the side
of the table, not at the head. Yet, as discussion become deeper, and
plans become more complex, it will really be Harry that controls the
direction of things.

I do agree about Moody's paranoia being his biggest draw back, but he
is still the most senior member, and the most skilled, experienced,
and effective Dark Wizard fighter. I see him as carrying the title of
(sort of) 'General', but functionally, I see him as Harry Sargent in
command. He gives the orders and makes the assignments, but they are
all based on Harry's interests.

I see Arthur as having the brains and leadership skills, but I don't
see him as having the experience. Nor am I sure he has the 'command
authority' to get people to unswervingly and unquestioningly obey him.

Moody has the experience, but to some extent I think his greatest
Auror accomplishments were achieved as a loner, not as a leader. 

Lupin might be a nice choice, but he hasn't been the most decisive
person, and a leader must be decisive. Though, if the Head of the
Order, is simply an extension of Harry, then perhaps Lupin could
handle it. I think he would be good at planning and strategy, but less
apt at making the final decisive decision. Remove that one aspect, and
I think he would be very good.

I'm not sure I see anyone else that is trusted enough by Harry or by
the Order to take on the roll as leader.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn