Requiescat in Pace: Unforgivables

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 174696

Dennis:
> 
>  > it's easy to second-guess decisions made in the heat of battle

Lee:
> There WAS no "heat of battle". There was just Carrow, spitting on 
> McGonagall, and Harry tucked safely away under his Cloak, until he 
> stepped out and ambushed Carrow.
> 

Julie: 
I've now decided that I DO understand what JKR was trying
to get across--that even someone as good as Harry can act
badly (and he does act BADLY here, as even JKR said this 
moment showed that he wasn't "perfect") if there is enough
pressure on him. The problem for me is the *execution* of
this message. Harry isn't angered to the point of being
out of control, as he was after Bellatrix killed Sirius,
and again after Snape killed Dumbledore. He is in fact 
calm and controlled when he tells Carrow "You shouldn't
have done that."

So what would have worked better for me? If Carrow had
killed McGonagall (and I'm sorry to say, I wouldn't have
missed her all that much!). Or had done something else that 
drove Harry to mindless anger. Because that was what always
drove Harry to attempt a Crucio before, that red haze of
all-encompassing anger. For Harry to so calmly and coldly
perform a Crucio in this scene felt very out of character. 
(Unless JKR was implying that Harry had realized that cold 
calculation while using the spell is what is required for
him to "mean it," which is more than a bit scary. And in 
this case, some follow up with Harry recognizing this new
and unsavory part of himself, and vowing if only internally
not to give into it again would have helped make the point.)

IMO,
Julie