Looking Back Question...

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 182025

> Geoff:
> One thought springing immediately to mind is one I have constantly 
> quoted in my four and a half years of membership - Dumbledore's 
> famous remark:
> 
> '"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more
than  our abilities."
> (COS "Dobby's Reward" p.245 UK edition)
Just> 
> This of course is something which I hold as a cornerstone of my own 
> Christian faith but it is something which Harry uses to great effect
- > sometimes not always the desired one(!) - throughout the books and 
> which also gives me food for thought with people I would like to
have  seen fully redeemed such as Draco.
>

Pippin:
Well, Harry has lots of friends, but who else is there to be friends
with Goyle? I'm not sure Draco is in so much need of redemption anyway
-- given the choice of saving his friend, his wand, or the diadem of
wisdom (shades of the judgement of Paris!) we know what Draco chose.
He's obviously still got some issues, but then so does Ron.  

How many of us thought, as we contemplated how the books might end,
that among the things a more tolerant WW would have to tolerate would
be a certain measure of disunity? But at least Harry has learned
some respect for Slytherin courage (he already respected their skill
and their power) and for Snape's memory and service to Hogwarts
(ditto.)And Draco shows some respect for Harry, too. At least they've
learned not to pick fights with each other. It's not Harry's fault if
Al finds legend more compelling than truth. Harry was the same way at
that age. But *we* don't have to be. 


What I love is the interplay between legend and reality in the books.
I think it's important that Hermione has to learn again as an adult
what she knew as a child in CoS -- that legends always have a basis in
facts. Looking at stereotypes in that light, perhaps it isn't *so*
strange to discover that even the hurtful ones can't be completely
dismissed, hard as that might make it to cast our favorites as  the
good guys (another stereotype, and one that may be just as harmful if
it keeps us from recognizing a wrong.) 

Just as I was finally feeling sorry for Petunia (gosh, if I had a
sister like that, I'd hate her too! Looks, brains, personality *and*
magic? Does life have to be that unfair?), it turns out that Muggle
persecution is a real threat to wizards. Flame freezing charms are all
very well, but what happens if you don't know how to do one? Or you
get caught without your wand?

House-elves  aren't just like us.

Even the nicest werewolf can show his wolf side in human form.

A true Gryffindor can be a coward. 

Just because a wizard doesn't use dark magic doesn't mean he *can't*.

Life in the WW would be a lot more enviable if those things had been
untrue.

But Slytherins, even if Harry's right to think they're a hard lot,
still have more in common with him than they do with Voldemort. Unlike
Voldemort, they want to be loved -- they're just not very good at
being lovable. Not if selfishness gets on your nerves.


Of course, some people are more annoyed by arrogance...Gryffindors may
make more attractive heroes than Slytherins, but heroes can be just as
dangerous. Though the text overplays  Draco's  panic for comic effect
when Harry is trying to save the diadem, the subtler laugh is on Harry.

There was no need at all to save the !@#$ thing from the flames. 

Pippin