Sportsmanship in Harry Potter

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 151741

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_svirn" <a_svirn at ...> wrote:

a_svirn:
> And let us not forget that where cunning and resourcefulness are 
> concerned Harry failed spectacularly. He never solved anything by 
> himself; he only made it through the tasks because Crouch made sure 
> that he would. Actually, even his daring in this instance is 
> questionable – since he was compelled to participate by the 
> unbreakable magical contract. No wonder he didn't want the prize 
> money. It was unfairly gained and *indeed* should have been Cedric's.

Geoff:
If I might misquote Shakespeare - 
"Some are born to take part in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, some achieve taking part in the 
Tri-Wizard Tournament, and some have taking part in the Tri-Wizard Tournament thrust 
upon them."
:-)

Once the age limit has been announced, apart from a little daydreaming, Harry had 
accepted that he would be a spectator.

He was pitchforked unwillingly into the tournament, hating the fact that the school 
thought him to be a cheat. He didn't know until the end that the person who, apparently, 
was on his side and took him under his wing was the actual creator of all his turmoil and 
was working towards causing his death; Harry was working all the time at a disadvantage 
because of his age and inexperience.

He did not "fail spectacularly". He had to be given hints as to how to tackle the tasks but 
who was it who got the golden egg by dint of his prowess at flying? It wasn't fake Moody.

Who was it who actually swam under the lake, coped with the Grindylows and the 
Merpeople and decided (maybe unnecessarily) that he needed to help Gabrielle Derlacour?
It wasn't fake Moody.

Who was it who, in the maze, coped with Blast-ended Skrewts, Boggarts, a Sphinx and a 
spider and took time out to help Fleur and Cedric along the way? It wasn't fake Moody.

Sure, he needed to be helped to get launched into the three tasks but when he was 
involved, it was he alone who managed to get through al the various dangers which he 
met. No one handled his dragon for him; no one dealt with the underwater creatures and 
no one stood between him and the eprils in the maze.

"Failed spectacularly"? I think that is a harsh judgment on someone who was being 
manipulated for evil ends.