[HPforGrownups] Harry's Characterization (was: Satisfaction of the story to date )

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 163417

Mike:
OK, maybe "believable" is the wrong word, how about palatable? When I had to
take a class with a teacher I disliked, I tried extra hard to show that I
was better than that teachers opinion of me. I don't want Harry to start
liking Snape, hell, I don't like Snape and he's never done anything to me.
<g> But Harry, supposedly this wiz (can I use that term in this context?) at
DADA, is stuck on despise for Snape. 
In the few short weeks since that little speech in the shed, he's forgotten
about Voldemort and can't get past his irrational hatred to learn something
from Snape. Is this the logical progression of a kid who has just found out
Genghis Khan with a wand is gathering his hordes to come after *him*? On
second thought, maybe "believable" was the word I wanted.




Sherry now:
I had the impression in HBP, that Dumbledore--remember him, the all wise,
knowing and always right? *forgive the sarcasm, not aimed at mike but aimed
at the character*--Dumbledore was teaching Harry what he felt Harry needed
to learn for the battle to come.  Not defensive spells; not ancient runes,
not any of that.  It was all about Tom's past and about horcruxes, maybe
even a bit of bringing out the Slytherin within.  As for what Harry did or
did not learn in Snape's DADA lessons, we really have no idea, because it
was mostly off screen, um, page I mean.  So, we don't know if Harry learned
anything or not.  It was obviously not important to the plot of HBP Frankly,
I was glad of that, because if there's one thing I didn't need was much more
page time of Snape sniping at Harry, and Harry getting mad and frustrated
over it.  The less Snape from now on, the better!  It seemed to me that in
many ways, HBP was preparing us for Harry not to be at school next year,
because the things that were important in sixth year, don't seem to have
been much to do with lessons.

Sherry