HP and Moral Choices

[Sharon]

No: HPFGUIDX 176078

Hi all, I am new to this list. I'm interested in the moral choices
made in the books and what it means for kids. So I was wondering what
other people thought about the following:

In the 7th book Harry is being chased by Draco, Crabbe and Goyle in
the Room of Requirement and they are trying to capture/injure him so
they can deliver him to Voldemort.  Crabbe and Goyle are also trying
to actually kill Ron and Hermione. Crabbe starts a fiendfire and the
baddies get trapped. Harry goes back to save them from being killed in
the fire.  Why would Harry want to save someone who wants to kill him?
He doesn't seem interested in redeeming them in the sense of winning
them over to the good side. He seems more intent on his quest to find
and destroy Horcruxes, and Draco et al are just in the way. 

Later, as you know, Harry gives himself up to Voldie to save the
others in the castle (and humanity as a whole). So here are my
observations:

(1) Harry never ever even considers using a killing curse against his
enemies, although they throw plenty at him (he does use the Cruciatus
and Imperius curses on some death eaters though)
(2) Harry saves Draco twice in the last book, even though Draco is
trying to kill him (or take him to Voldie to kill him)
(3) Harry offers himself up to die in order to save the rest of the
people at Hogwarts from harm

All of these are supererogatory because they go way beyond whatever
moral duties Harry has to the others involved. However, it seems to me
to be more than heroism, because heroes usually save the goodies and
kill off the baddies. His approach resembles the Christian "loving
kindness" virtue which exhorts us to love our enemies, except that
Harry clearly doesn't love his enemies -- he just doesn't want anyone
to die.  So it's either that he feels empathy for them, or he is
driven by a principle of the sanctity of life or some such. He doesn't
seem virtuous to me (in the Aristotelian sense) because his behaviour
is way too extreme -- a virtuous person balances extremes and looks
for the mean as their guide.

What do you reckon?  Have you ever heard of another character in
history or literature who puts himself in danger to save someone who's
trying to kill him?  I can't find any other such incident. Harry
doesn't even resemble JC really because although he gives himself up
to save the others, he doesn't actually die and so doesn't need to be
resurrected, although he does end up being "master of death" like JC
(having obtained ownership of all the Deathy hallows)

Anyhow, just wondered what others' take on it would be?
Sharon