Harry's remorse (Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24,)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 161271

Magpie:
> Well, Harry's on to everything working out really well after that 
> unfortunate incident earlier. Is the author just wrapping up the 
> plot threads?  Hard to say--Harry does tend to avoid ever really 
> thinking about his own actions. Whenever he does something that 
> leads to serious consequences he tends to either push the blame to 
> someone else, justify himself completely or just move on as the 
> universe rights itself again. 

Jen: I'm not sure that makes Harry different from a fair percentage 
of teenage boys who prefer action or avoidance to introspection.  
JKR does a good job of showing how teenage male relationships *can* 
turn volatile with the right provocation, not only in the 
relationship between Harry and Draco but with Snape and the 
Maruaders as well.  I doubt Draco was sitting around worrying about 
the bathroom incident, either. Life moves on and they both moved 
with it. 

Plus, I think avoidance IS a sign of remorse for Harry.  He isn't 
going to dwell on his guilt like he did with Sirius' death, but the 
fact that he wants to put it from his mind indicates he's not 
comfortable with what happened.  We saw that pattern already with 
him once he moved past dwelling on Sirius' death and decided he 
didn't want to think or talk about it.  Things do bother him.  Also, 
Draco and Harry aren't so different, Draco isn't expecting an 
apology because it's not something he would do or expect. 

Magpie:
> Despite earlier complications Harry "wins" again--Gryffindor gets
> the Quidditch cup, and even though he didn't play as captain its
> his victory, his getting banned wasn't a problem because Ginny
> backs him completely (she also defends his use of Sectumsempra).
> Plus he wins the girl. After a description of their sunny day kiss
> he looks over her head ans surveys the defeated: Ron looks shock 
> but accepts, Romilda is disappointed and Dean's so upset he breaks
> a glass iirc.  

Jen: But he's the hero!!  He's supposed to get the girl and win the 
Quidditch match. :) He also gets most of the crap jobs, like facing 
Quirrellmort, slaying the Basilisk, force feeding a horrible potion 
to his mentor, and being the only one who can defeat a psychopathic 
killer.  Harry has to have *something* good happen every once in 
awhile. 

Although my son (8) is home today and out of curiousity I asked him 
what he thought about those good things happening so soon after the 
incident in the bathroom.  He said: "No...that wasn't right.  They 
should have at least tied the game." Heh. So, you may turn out to 
have more support than I will on whether this was the best ending 
for the chapter.

Jen R., who pretty much agreed on the Ginny issue and didn't care 
for her much in HBP.