Dueling was Re: Harry's Characterization

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 163502

---  "Stacey Nunes-Ranchy" <Aixoise at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> bboyminn wrote:
> <snip>
> I have already acknowledged that it will not be Harry's
> dueling skills that matter /in the end/, but we are not
> /in the end/, we are, in a sense, at the beginning. 
> 
> Also, remember that Dueling is only one of the many 
> magical skills that Harry needs to win the day. ...
> <snip>
> 
>  
> 
> Stacey now:
> 
> (Apologizing profusely for ... interrupting ...
> 
> Bboymin's post brought to mind a thought about dueling
> in the wizarding world.  I wonder if during a true 
> battle ...dueling even has a place.  Perhaps it is just
> semantics but to me, the idea of dueling actually has 
> this GentleWizard/ GentleWitch connotation ...
>
> Stacey 

bboyminn:

Apologies for my own slightly off topic reply.

You are absolutely right, 'Dueling' occurs on many levels;
Sport or Competition Dueling, Grudge-resolution Dueling,
and what we are talking about 'Combat Dueling'.

Really, 'Combat Dueling' is somewhat improper because in 
active combat there are no gentlemenly rules that are
obeyed. It's kill or be killed, everyman for himself.

But as with all subjects, we tend to find a shortcut
way of expressing a concept, and in this case 'dueling'
is our way of expressing a skill at engaging in and 
surviving combat that includes accuracy (something
Neville greatly needs to practice), a thorough knowledge
of effective curses and /counter curses/ and other 
spells.

I think counter curses are important, more than once
someone has been disabled by a curse that could be
quickly removed if only someone had remembered the
counter curse. I think a basic compliment of First Aid
curses would go along way toward people surviving a
combat engagement. 

My point is that I don't think it is reasonable for
Harry not to start out obssessed with improving his
skill in this area. Even having a desire to learn 
every dark and dangerous curse he has ever encountered.
But as the books progresses I think people with cooler
calmer minds and more experience will get him off the
'dark and dangerous' path. 

In his mind, what Harry knows right now is that he
will have to find and destroy the Horcruxes then face
Voldemort in a head-to-head to-the-death fight. And
I have to reasonable believe /that he believes/ he will
need to be as ready for that has he possibly can be.

At this stage, I just can't see any other reasonable 
path. Even as I say that I know 'fighting and other
magical skill' will not be the key in the end, I
honestly don't think Harry is wise enough to see that
from his perspective at this point in time. 

It is not what will matter to the story in the end 
that is important; it is what will matter to Harry
when the next book starts, and I say the only rational
thing is to start the long and hard preparation
for the tasks ahead. 

In the end, things will change completely, but in the
beginning, I just don't see any way Harry can take a 
passive approach even given what we know he knows.

Fortunately, JKR has given Harry all the resources he
needs to draw on to bring his skills up to speed; Bill,
the Twins, Mad-Eye, and many others. I believe at some
point Harry will even strike a deal with the Ministry
to draw on their resources; though I am confident
Harry will strike a deal that is extremely one sided 
and very much in his own favor. 

Just a few more thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn