Dark Magic and Snape (was:Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 161378

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at ...> wrote:
>
> Jen R: There's a definite connection between Voldemort and dark
> > magic, and dark magic being at least one path to his service.
> > Dumbledore tells Harry that despite his privileged insight into
> > Voldemort's world, he's never been 'seduced by the Dark Arts,
> > never, even for a second, shown the slightest desire to become one
> > of Voldemort's followers.' (HBP, chap. 23)
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> > Right, but Dumbledore's wrong about Harry's interest in the Dark
> > Arts.  Harry tried to throw a Crucio in OotP.  That's why this
> > statement confused me.  Does Dumbledore not know that Harry 
> > reached for an Unforgivable when he was desperate?  Did JKR forget
> > that she'd written that scene, or was Harry's failure good enough
> > for her?

Geoff:
But the fact that Harry tried to use an Unforgiveable at the Ministry does 
/not/ necessarily mean that he has been seduced by the dark arts. As 
you say, Harry was desperate but I am prepared to bet that we will all do 
things which are questionable - particularly when life has us up against 
the wall. I can remember a few occasions when I've chosen wrong 
solutions in similar circumstances and quietly felt guilty afterwards.

Harry is not an angel; that is what makes him so believeable. Even the 
pleasantest of people has a dark side - not in the Voldemort sense but 
in general terms. If he never stepped out of line, he would be too 
squeaky clean to be the sort of hero who appeals to so many different 
folk.

But it doesn't make him Death Eater material, not by a long chalk.