Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 183085

> Carol responds:
> Harry's *fate* and *destiny* are not ordinary, nor are the unique
> events that led to his becoming the Chosen One. But none of that has
> to do with Harry himself; it's more what happened to him. Thanks to a
> series of events--Snape's eavesdropping, his revelation of the partial
> Prophecy, Voldemort's decision to go after Harry, Snape's request to
> save Lily, Wormtail's breach of the Fidelius charm, Voldemort's offer
> to let Lily live, Lily's sacrifice, Voldemort's attempt to kill Harry
> after the love magic activated--Harry is suddenly famous, having done
> nothing except survive through no effort of his own. He's "famous
> before he can walk and talk" for something he didn't even do. 

Montavilla47:
I agree with this greater point, Carol, and I actually thought Dumbledore
was making a good call, leaving Harry with the Dursleys (that was before
I knew how they were going to treat him, of course.) 

I can't help thinking about whats-her-name's baby, who was in the 
headlines for months because no one could figure out who her father
was.  (Did they ever?  I don't know.)  Every time I saw that poor kid's
little feet kicking on the front of a tabloid, I felt sorry for her future,
therapy-ridden self.


Carol again:
>To
> himself, however, he's just a skinny orphan with a scar on his
> forehead who sleeps in a cupboard under the stairs. 

Montavilla47:
That's three extraordinary things right there.  Most kids aren't
orphans, hardly any of them have lightning-shaped scars on 
their foreheads, and, while I slept in the hallway for a year or 
two and in a small closet for a weekend, I'd never heard of 
anyone who slept in a cupboard until the age of 11.

Carol:

> Sure, Harry has a soul bit in his forehead, but all it does is enable
> him to speak to snakes, feel pain when Voldemort is near or feeling
> strong emotions, and, later, see into Voldemort's mind. Handy powers
> if you're going to fight Voldemort, and highly unusual, but that's as
> far as "extraordinary" goes. 

Montavilla47:
I thought Harry got some enhanced magical power as well.  Wasn't 
that pointed out at one time or another?