[HPforGrownups] Re: Krum's Intellect/Father Figures(Karkaroff as Headmaster (WAS: Snape&Lucius)

[Ronin_47]

No: HPFGUIDX 164804

--Magpie wrote--
>>>I don't know how I missed this the first time--I agree with zanooda. 
Krum is never a dumb jock or not charming. He has an accent and he's a 
bit awkward, but he's never stupid or a jock. Nor is he any more of a 
gentleman at the end of the year than he was at the beginning, that I 
remember. He was always the way he is (and never wavered from his 
fixation on Hermione). I don't remember Hermione saying anything about 
his lack of wit. Also, he's never a 'celebrity Krum' who would have 
said "See you around, then." He's trying to get her to visit him in 
Bulgaria after the Second Task. I don't think this has to do with 
manners, exactly, though. Krum's not interested in his fangirls and he 
really likes Hermione and is jealous of her attentions to Harry.

(His trouble with her name isn't really fair--there's no reason he 
should mispronounce her name that way. I always thought it was JKR's 
clever way of giving the pronounciation to the many readers who were 
apparently unfamiliar with it and mispronounced it as they read.)<<<



--Ronin's Comments--
I remember that I've always had the opinion that Krum was a bit slow when it came to certain things, not the best communicator and somewhat of a celebrity jock type. But, my personal feelings aside I will wait until I can re-read the book before I make any further comments on the subject because I fear that my perceptions have been clouded by the movie.



Betsy Hp wrote--

>>>Well, yeah. But when Harry is in trouble or is troubled, he
doesn't seek out McGonagall. He turns to Lupin or Arthur or Sirius or even Snape.<<<


--Ronin's Comments--
I haven't really been following the father figure thread, but I spotted this and had to comment. In OotP, Harry wants desperately seeks out McGonagall after his dreams. She takes him to DD after the first dream which saves Arthur Weasley and after the second dream (during his Magical History OWL) he can't find her because she's been sent to St. Mungo's. He thinks something to the effect that the one person he never thought would fail to be there for him is gone. She was his rock whenever he needed someone.

"There was nobody left to tell. Dumbledore had gone, Hagrid had gone, but he had always expected Professor McGonagall to be there, irascible and inflexible, perhaps, but always dependably, solidly present...."  - pg. 730, 1st American Edition, Hardcover, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I also think that McGonagall is very protective over Harry, like a son or grandson. From the beginning, it is her that gets him on the quiditch team. She stands up for him against Umbridge and is always there to keep things fair between Harry and Snape or Harry and the Slytherins in general. McGonagall, pledges to help him become an auror if it's the last thing she does and advises him to take his potions NEWTS when Slughorne takes over.
Aside from how she is with Harry, I think Minerva McGonagall is one of my favorite characters. She's a strong and talented witch who is not afraid to twist the rules to make a stand for a fair and just outcome. She's also, probably Dumbledore's closest ally and confidant, not to mention at least temporarily, his successor.
I wouldn't be surprised if she convinces Harry to return to Hogwarts in DH, to finish his NEWTS and enter into his Auror training. She may also have some special instructions left behind by Dumbledore to help Harry. I think she will play a big role in the finale.




--zgirnius wrote--

>>>Sorry to interrupt...Snape? When was this? I also can't recall Harry
turning to Arthur for help, though that is less interesting. And
(despite your feelings about it) by the conditions you are giving for
impartant father figures, Dumbledore should be on the list. He both
is a figure that can make Harry think, and one to whom he turns when
he is emotionally troubled.

However, I'm not arguing that there aren't some important father
figures in the story, only that Lupin isn't one of them.<<<


Ronin's Comments--
The only time I can ever recall Harry turning to Snape is out of desperation in OotP. When he is in Umbridge's office and he tells Snape that Sirius is in trouble at the MoM. During this scene, Harry thinks to himself that he'd never even considered Snape, the only remaining member of the order at Hogwarts.
Harry does turn to Arthur a bit, but Arthur isn't really around all that much to be considered a steady parental figure. However, in the beginning of HBP, Harry pulls Arthur aside on platform 9 3/4, to tell him about Draco Malfoy's side trip in Diagon Alley. Arthur is also the one who brings Harry to his trial in OotP and tries to support him and who tries to look out for him as if he were his own son on many occasions. 
This doesn't make Arthur a true father figure which could mold Harry's character, but in a caring compassionate way, he is someone who Harry can look up to and come to for help and who can teach Harry through his example of being a family man.
Dumbledore is Harry's mentor. I agree that he should be on any list of fatherly figures in Harry's life.
Lupin was sort of fatherly in PoA, teaching Harry to get in touch with his feelings and use his inner strengths to overcome the desperation he felt when facing the dementors. He wasn't much of a father figure after PoA though, mainly because he was off watching after the werewolves and couldn't be around much. Harry seems to look up to Lupin and really care for and trust him. Lupin does try to help him with his grief and emotional issues, etc, but he's not a steady father figure. He's more like an uncle I'd say.


Cheers,
Ronin




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