Killing != Murder

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 170921

 

Dave:
> I can appreciate that POV and probably agree... The  problem is, my
> reading of Canon indicates that Harry *will* lose sleep,  if not be
> emotionally scarred:
<snip canon> 
> So in  Harry's mind and conscience, killing LV *would* be murder.
> Granted, I  think he's accepted the necessity of it, but he's not 
> happy about it;  and I worry about his future emotional state, even 
> if he  survives.

SSSusan:
That is a fair point, Dave... an excellent point.  :( I imagine those 
who argue that Harry 'shouldn't' kill Voldemort are  thinking of this 
as much as (or more than) legal definitions of  murder.  

Yesterday Kemper mentioned something that I appreciated,  too -- that 
Harry having to kill Voldy might be able to be deemed necessary  and  
understandable and all of that, but that he didn't want it to  happen 
because it would be sort of like taking that one last bit of  innocence 
away from Harry.  I found that a very poignant  statement.

Yeah.  It's going to be hard if it  happens.




Julie:
I agree, and that's why do I hope Harry doesn't have to kill  Voldemort. I 
also
think the greatest favor Snape has done Harry so far is when he saved  Draco
from the Sectumsempra curse. Harry doesn't see it that way, at least not  yet,
but I'd like to see him recognize the huge influence Snape's action will  
have on
his future (which he will have post-Voldemort, I tell you!).
 
I know we've debated whether Harry could have claimed self-defense if  Draco
had died, and I have no doubt whatsoever a good lawyer could make that  
defense
stick with the smallest effort. Draco was about to attempt an  Unforgivable 
Curse,
and Harry displayed genuine anguish (at least briefly) over his own  
miscalculation
in using a spell with which he was so unfamiliar. He clearly didn't intend  
to kill
Draco, but was caught up in the moment of defending himself. But...
 
It doesn't only matter what Harry intended. What also matters is  the end 
result.
No matter how justified, the end result of killing another person is living  
with that 
death, forever. If Draco had died, more than Harry's innocence would be  
gone. 
While his soul might remain intact (having killed in self-defense rather  
than in
deliberate murder), I think Harry's heart and his spirit would be forever  
damaged.
I cannot see Harry going on the defeat Voldemort, especially to defeat him  
with
the power Voldemort "knows not" if Draco had died. Harry might still know  
that
power, but he would never be able to harness it with the same untainted  heart
and unfettered spirit as before. 
 
I think Harry will also suffer if he has to kill Voldemort. The difference  
though is
that Voldemort has been and will be trying to kill Harry until the end,  
while Harry
had no reason (nor do we) to believe Draco had any intent to kill  him. 
Killing 
Voldemort would cost Harry some of his innocence, but I think he could  still
grow from the experience, and even gain strength from his resolve. He would 
move on with his life, a little older and wiser, but ultimately at peace  
with himself. 
 
Which doesn't mean that I *want* Harry to kill Voldemort. But if he  has to 
in the 
end, then he'll find the strength to do it, and I think he will  survive it 
both physically 
and emotionally intact. And maybe one day he'll have the opportunity  to 
thank Snape
for not only protecting his life several times, but for protecting  his heart 
and spirit in the
bathroom that day ;-)
 
Julie 



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