'Clue to his vulnerability' (Coming to a conclusion )

[Jen Reese]

> > Jen: Lol on the pavers image, but Harry *is* possessed of the 
> > adequate light or the story will sink. That's why he seeks the 
> > stone, but not to use it, and gains courage from the phoenix 
> > song. JKR probably *is* saying Harry's vulnerability or weakness
> > is his inability to read situations correctly, but no matter,
> > he's saved by his untarnished soul at the most criticaljunctures.

> Carolyn:
> Jen, pardon the irritated tone after trying day in the office, but
> what *is* this insistance on Harry's 'untarnished soul'??

Jen: Hey, this is JKR's construct not mine. I'm trying to fit the 
story around what I understand to be fact now. I do have some 
thoughts on this idea, though, since you ask ;).

Carolyn:
> As you know, I'm a heathen, therefore damned for ever more 
> according to the second sight only vouchsafed to the converted,
> but *really*. What we have in these books is a reasonable portrait
> of a teenager, warts and all. The kid has made several (justified 
> IMO) attempts at chucking  unforgiveables at people he dislikes;
> he lies frequently (some signs of intelligence in the lad);
> instinctively avoids creeps like Creevey, Rita and Lockhart and is
> not unreasonably confused about Snape, who's playing a deep game,
> hand in hand with DD.

Jen: Yes, well...since nothing can be done for your soul, I'll look 
at Harry's. HBP convinced me the health of the soul is a much more 
important concern in the WW than either physical or mental health. 
The soul seems to be more vulnerable in the WW, and open to injury 
from the powers of dark magic.

The banter between Dumbledore and LV made this clear--there's
love magic and dark magic, and a huge part of being a magical person
is choosing which road to go down. One keeps your soul healthy and
strong, and the other is degrading and injurious.

>From Harry's example we find out a magical person doesn't have to be
perfectly well behaved to have an untarnished soul! What seems to be 
remarkable about Harry is how many times he's been in contact with 
pure evil and never succumbed to darkness. He's been touched by the 
curse-that-failed, had his thoughts invaded by Voldemort, been 
possessed, partially soul-sucked, etc. From a WW perspective, I 
think we're meant to see his still-pure soul as a Very Big Deal. 

Whether you buy this idea is another matter.

Carolyn: 
> The only incidents I can think you are referring to are is his 
> expulsions of Voldie from Quirrell!Mort, and when Voldie possesses
> him at the MoM. Neither of these episodes had anything to do with 
> untarnished souls, but in the first case, him suddenly realising
> that he can hurt Quirrell by holding on tight, and in the second
> case a pretty sensible wish to be dead and with his godfather,
> rather than endure the pain he was in at that point. 

Jen: I don't know if the specific incidents are so important as the 
magical clues we have about Harry. I already mentioned the Mirror of 
Erised incident, and gaining courage from the phoenix, which is 
something only granted to the 'pure of heart'. Another symbol is his 
white stag patronus, symbolizing purity and creation. I guess I'm 
saying his soul isn't there *doing* things to prove itself, it just 
is. 

I'd imagine Riddle, in contrast, would have given his true essence 
away pretty quickly if he'd looked in the Mirror and shown 
Dumbledore his secret desire for immortality at all costs! I'm not 
saying people and symbols can't change, either. Just 'cause Riddle 
might see immortality in the Mirror one time, he could change his 
vision along the way.

See, you may not think that stuff as important, but I think it's 
going to save Snape's butt, because it will prove his Nature in a 
way Harry's biased POV could never do. JKR has very carefully hidden 
clues to Snape's soul from Harry and therefore, us. We don't get to 
see his greatest fear, or what he sees when looking into the Mirror 
of Erised. If he has an animagus form, we don't know what it is, and 
his patronus form is a mystery. We don't know anything about the 
wand that chose this particular wizard, or what it was good for. 
Nothing, nada, zip. We get no outside corroboration for who Snape is 
expect that DD trusts him. Pitiful little to go on.

Carolyn: 
> Perhaps JKR really does see it this way, that the boy is possessed
> of some extraordinary qualitity of love, vulnerability, whatever
> that will conquer all in the end. Very touching I'm sure. However,
> the way she's written him comes across to me as a good deal more
> prosaic, and I hope she doesn't lose sight of this in the final
> resolution. 

Jen: Harry will still act like Harry, even if he is carrying around 
the weight of an untarnished soul. He'll know what to do to vanquish 
Voldemort, but I doubt he's going to change externally.
 
> Carolyn, grumpy.

Jen: Chocolate? wine? One of those should do the trick.