CHAPTER DISCUSSION: PS/SS 15, The Forbidden Forest

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 188616


Catlady:
> << Harry and Draco witness a hooded figure drinking unicorn blood. Draco screams and runs away. The figure looks up at Harry, then comes toward him. Harry cannot move for fear >>
> 
> Some people have claimed that this shows that Harry is brave because he didn't run away, but I believe the text shows that it wasn't courage that prevented Harry from running away. 
> 
„« I admit that Draco is cowardly in this chapter, but I think that running away should not be too strongly stigmatized, or we'll get people who refuse to evacuate from a house on fire because they're too proud to run away from danger.

Potioncat:
I'm glad you brought that up. There are several events just in these few pages that reveal different types of courage. This chapter really is a study in courage, and the lack of it.

While Draco looks like a coward, and Harry looks very brave, JKR makes it clear that it is not courage keeping Harry at that spot. I'm not so sure it's cowardice that makes Draco run---anyone, particularly any 11-year-old ought to be running. Maybe someone like Hagrid or Dumbledore could stand their ground out of bravery, but not too many could.

Firenze chases the cloaked figure away, knowing who it is. That alone must take some courage; he is also rebelling against the customs of his people by interfering with events and by allowing Harry to ride on his back. He shows great moral courage that will continue for several years.

At the beginning of the chapter, when McGonagall appears, she has Neville in tow, saying he was trying to warn them about Draco. Harry is mindful of what that must have cost him. Neville has left the common room after hours to warn Harry. Leaving the common room after hours is something Harry does without a thought, but it is something that takes courage on Neville's part. It is the difference between a calculated effort and a rash act. (And the comfort of an Invisibility Cloak.

By the same token, keeping quite about the real reason for the nighttime outing was brave too. Granted, they couldn't have told the teachers, but they might have told the other Gryffindors. Fred and George would have been proud of them. As far as I can tell, they never even told Neville the truth. Which makes Neville a very good friend; over the years he never waivers in his support of Harry.


Potioncat would like to thank Zara for her help with this chapter discussion and for posting it for me.