Remote Control

[mike_smith]

My job's gotten a little more hectic since I got back from Vegas, which kind of throws off my plans. Nevertheless, I'm too masochistic to stop myself from reviewing this book, so no worries there. It'll just take me till Christmas to finish

Comments

[sistermagpie]

It doesn't bug me so much that Harry would be this self-centered, but why is there no one else popping up to point out that Harry's crossed a line here? I mean, OK, he's not going to jail for this, and it was just and accident, and Harry's hardly mature enough to be expected to keep his emotions in check.

Oh, the emotions don't even cover it, you'll be happy to know. Harry winds up just as unremorseful after cool-headed discussions with his friends as well.

Case in point, an incident from Book V (feel free to skip if you've got enough to deal with with Book III!): You may remember the Vanishing cabinet of Book VI? Which Draco learned about because a friend of his was stuck in it and, according to Draco, "almost died?"

The kid in question was shoved into the cabinet by Harry's friends the Weasley twins because he tried to take house points from them. When the kid was found days/weeks (can't recall how long) later stuck in a toilet, Harry's first thought is of course how it benefits him: Since the kid is a Slytherin and on the Quidditch team Snape's likely to want to take him to the infirmary himself (and so leave Harry alone for a few minutes).

Months later the kid is still in the infirmary, apparently suffering from some long-term brain damage. Hermione wonders aloud if they shouldn't tell the school nurse what happened to him (them being the only ones who know as friends of the kids that did it) in case that will help in his recovery. Ron and Harry immediately quash this silly idea--it's more convenient to them that the kid remains brain damanged in the infirmary.

So to review, not only are the heroes okay with the original damaging act, but months later, when given the possibility of helping, they actively choose prolonged suffering. And in case you're tempted to check Book VI, when Harry learns that this cabinet prank indirectly led to Death Eaters attacking the school no, he does not think that maybe his own behavior contributed to the bad outcome.

As to why people don't talk about this, keep in mind that many in the Harry Potter fandom consider this justice--remember, the kid tried to take house points! From Harry's house! And the kid was a Slytherin!!

[mike_smith]

And in case you're tempted to check Book VI

Ah, yeah, been there, done that.