Harry's DADA skill was Re: Albus and Gellert/Voldemort's Power

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 182629

Carol, who prefers a Harry who is not a miniature Dumbledore
> capable of casting spells like those that DD and LV (or Snape
> and McGonagall) cast against each other and is instead forced
> to rely on luck, resourcefulness, courage, and friendship to
> defeat his nemesis

Mike, agreeing with Carol's general assessment but wanting to claim
a smidgen more talent for Harry than she's willing to allow


Alla:

Mike, snipped your whole post just to say a big ME TOO, but I do want 
to elaborate just a  little bit on it and will interject some 
snippets from Carol too.

Of course it is one of the theme of the series that ordinary kid 
finds himself in the extraordinary circumstances and of course Harry 
is not a miniature Dumbledore, but I do not believe that it is a 
theme of the series that ordinary kid with below average abilities 
finds himself in the extraordinary circumstances. Let me give you 
personal example. As you know I went to law school. My grades in the 
law school, especially in the first year were BAD – Bs and Cs, etc. 
There were plenty of students who were getting As, giving amazing 
arguments, etc, etc. So I was an average student. But was I really a 
person of average abilities? I mean, sorry I know it sounds cocky and 
arrogant, but I really does believe that this example works here. I 
went to law school when I still struggled with my English, and I did 
it, I did not get any Ds, and even managed to earn some As in my 
second and third year  ( except legal writing that is LOL). I managed 
to get a law degree in my second language ( and so are quite a few 
other people of course), so while there were plenty of people much 
better than me, I do not think that if you judge my performance 
considering all my circumstances, that would mean that I am all that 
average.  I will probably never achieve the level of oral argument 
and writing that many people have, but not everybody can do what I 
did either.

If one is average in comparison with others, that does not  
necessarily mean IMO that one is average on his own merits.

So, eh, going back to Harry. Of course he is no genius and of course 
there are people who are more talented than him, but he was getting 
Es in most of his OWL subjects, that tells me that he is quite an 
intelligent kid or teen. And, I never thought that Ron was stupid 
either, so the fact that Harry says that he is no better than Ron 
really does not tell me much.

And on the subject of Hermione writing their essays, I agree with 
Mike, but I also want to add that we do see Harry writing his essays. 
I can hunt for more but the one that comes right away is the 
beginning  of PoA.

And he remembered the potion that he did not do, didn't he? Hermione 
brewed Polyjuice and was just telling them what is included there and 
Harry still REMEMBERED it three years later, theory part I mean. That 
tells me that he has quite a good memory, personally.

Carol:
<SNIP>
For example, Hermione talks Harry into giving them all DADA lessons,
yet she's the one who helped him learn all those spells.
<HUGE SNIP>

Alla:

Yes but so what indeed. After all Hermione sees that Harry is the one 
who seems to have much more teaching abilities towards the group than 
her.



Carol:
< HUUUGE SNIP>
She knows perfectly well that Harry didn't defeat Voldemort
in GoF, the Priori Incantatem did.
<SNIP>

Alla:

Oh ? And would that had even gotten to the moment where priori 
incantatem took place but for Harry deciding to stand up and fight? I 
am afraid that I disagree that Harry didn't defeat Voldemort in GoF, 
I believe his behavior prior to this deserves credit as defeating 
Voldemort.


Mike:
<SNIPPPP>
IOW, I think Harry was
naturally inclined towards DADA and naturally talented separate from
whatever talents he got from LV's soul piece.

<SNIP>

Alla:

Yes, agreed.


JMO,

Alla