[HPforGrownups] Hopes for Harry (was Re: Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter

[Margaret Fenney]

No: HPFGUIDX 190262

> > > "omegafold" wrote:
> > > One thing does disappoint me about Harry. He never seems 
to evolve, he just grows up slowly and aside from trite incursions, 
he lacks any true planning genius and ends up needing rescue from 
friends. It's getting repetitive and predictable.

> > Potioncat:
> > I don't think you're alone in this; someone else has said the 
same thing in a slightly different way---Severus Snape.
> 
> > He feels Harry is merely ordinary, who succeeds entirely 
because of incredible good luck and the support of friends. 
> <snip>
> > I think JKR purposely made him Everyman (is that Geoff's term?)
--he doesn't succeed because of great skill but because of his 
great character.

> Joey:
> I'd agree with Potioncat here. While Harry may not have invented 
spells or thinking maps, meeting LV face-to-face twice, when almost 
entire WW refuses to say his name, could have given Harry enough 
food for the drive to prove himself.
>
> Yes, this wasn't done by pure individual skill but it was 
certainly done by strength of character. <snip>


Margie:

I think Harry does evolve in the regular sense of the word "mature" 
and in the sense of his magical abilities.  One example is his 
success in teaching Dumbledore's Army which involved quite a lot of 
maturity and magical as well as non-magical skills.

I also think it is important to consider that Harry started from 
scratch when it came to the magical world; even kids from Muggle 
homes like Hermione had some knowledge but Harry didn't know 
anything at all.  He also had a great many things to occupy his 
time outside of school work every year with the various mysteries 
he and his friends worked to solve where most kids can use their 
discretionary time however they choose.  Even beyond that, he had
to deal with being "the boy who lived" after a life of being taught 
he was a waste of space, then being vilified and then with being 
recognized as "the chosen one" by the besieged wizarding community. 
That kind of stuff is especially difficult to deal with at those 
ages, even without the rest of it.

I agree with the statements about Harry succeeding primarily because 
of his great character but he did develop some extraordinary skills 
such as being able to perform the Patronus charm, perform magic 
under highly stressful conditions, fly well enough to earn Krum's 
respect, etc.

I would also like to note that all of the kid-developed magic in 
the books was motivated either by the desire for fun (the marauder's 
map, the Weasley twins inventions and Snape's upside-down spell) or 
the desire for revenge (Sectumsempra), which indicate a lack of 
maturity rather than the reverse.

JMO, too.  :)

Margie