Harry Potter (character)

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Harry Potter character

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Harry James Potter
Gender Male
Hair colour Black
Eye colour Emerald green, almond-shaped [1]
House Gryffindor
Parentage Half-blood
Allegiance Order of the Phoenix & Dumbledore's Army
Actor Daniel Radcliffe

Harry James Potter (born 31 July 1980) is a fictional character and the hero of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

The stories concern events at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where his best friends are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. His most intriguing physical characteristic is a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, which he gained when the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort attempted to murder baby Harry with the killing curse, Avada Kedavra. Voldemort also killed Harry's parents and destroyed their home on 31 October 1981. Harry is famous throughout the wizarding world for being the only known person to have survived Avada Kedavra and in so doing caused Lord Voldemort's downfall.

According to the novels, Harry is the only child of James and Lily Potter. He is often told that he resembles his father, with the same perpetually untidy jet-black hair, but that he has also inherited his mothers green eyes. At the start of school, Harry is described as being small and skinny for his age, but later is described as tall. His appearance is often characterised by his round spectacles.

In 2002 Harry Potter was voted No. 85 among the 100 Best fictional characters by Book magazine.[2].

By happy coincidence, Harry shares his birth day and month with the author of the books, J. K. Rowling. The books generally avoid giving exact dates for events, but the birth year of one of Harry's classmates, Draco Malfoy, was released by Rowling at a charity auction as part of the Black family tree. For a discussion of other dates within the books see Dates in Harry Potter

In the film adaptations of the series, Harry has been portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

[edit] Background

Harry Potter is famous in the wizarding world beacause as a one year old baby he survived a murderous attack by Lord Voldemort, one of the most powerful and feared wizards ever known and the primary villain in the series. Harry's parents, James and Lily, were killed in this incident on 31 October 1981 in their home in Godric's Hollow. James died first, dueling Voldemort to protect Lily and Harry. Lily's dying act placed Harry under ancient magic that protected him from Voldemort. Dumbledore explains to Harry that this protection involved her love for him, and the fact that she willingly sacrificed her life in his defence, but exact explanation awaits the final book of the series.

Voldemort tried to kill Harry but the curse backfired against him, so that Harry survived unscathed apart from the now-famous lightning-bolt scar on his forehead. Voldemort did not die but lost his powers and his corporeal form, leading to his exile and decline in the wizarding world. Ever since, Harry has been heralded as a celebrity — often touted as "The Boy Who Lived" — and many in the wizarding world credit him for Voldemort’s downfall.

After his parents' death, Harry was forced to live with his only remaining family–his mother's Muggle sister, Petunia Dursley, and her husband, Vernon, in the small town of Little Whinging, Surrey, England. The Dursleys live at Number Four, Privet Drive in a large, impeccably maintained house and seem moderately well off. However, throughout Harry's first eleven years, they neglect him in favour of their own son, Dudley, and attempt to remove all traces of Harry's magical self. They reveal nothing to him about his past and isolate him from the wizarding world. Dumbledore later explains that he had arranged for Harry to live with the Dursleys, because despite their treatment of Harry, continuing to live with blood relatives would maintain the magical protection against Voldemort which Lily had created and which Dumbledore later enhanced.

Harry is categorised as a half-blood wizard, even though both his parents were magical. His mother Lily (Evans) Potter was Muggle-born, and according to Rowling, to those for whom blood purity matters, a Muggle-born is equivalent to a Muggle - and derogatively referred to as a "Mudblood". [1]. Little is known about Harry's relations.

Harry's father, James Potter, was born into a pure-blood wizarding family, to somewhat elderly parents, apparently their only child. It is likely Harry is distantly related to other pure-blood families through his father, since according to Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, all the old pure-blood families are related through intermarriage. James's family were wealthy and consequently Harry found that he he had a large amount of money stored in a vault at Gringott's bank. He inherited more after Sirius' death.

Harry may also be related to his godfather. According to the Black family tree one Charlus Potter married Dorea Black, granddaughter of Phineas Nigellus Black, with the result that James and Sirius may have been first cousins once-removed. This seems to contradict Rowling's statements that James's parents were "old in wizarding terms" when they died, because she has also said that wizards have "a much longer life-expectancy than Muggles" (Griselda Marchbanks is known to be over 160) - Dorea died at only 57. However, Charlus and Dorea were born into the same generation as Sirius's grandparents, so it is possible they might be James' parents. Regardless, since no living Potter relatives or any unrelated wizards named Potter have yet appeared in the series, it is possible that Charlus Potter, and thus Sirius, were somehow related to Harry.

For more, see Relatives of Harry Potter.

[edit] Life at Hogwarts

[edit] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, eleven-year-old Harry learns he is a wizard when Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and aide to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, hand-delivers his invitation to attend the school. Previous letters were intercepted and destroyed by his aunt and uncle, who want nothing to do with magic. Hagrid tells Harry about his magical background and his fame in the wizarding community, but Harry soon comes to dislike his celebrity status that causes many people to fawn over him or be resentful.

Harry soon begins his studies at Hogwarts and is sorted into Gryffindor House. He becomes friends with Ron Weasley, and eventually Hermione Granger. Sharing his dormitory are Ron, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. Draco Malfoy, who was sorted into Slytherin, tries to be friendly but becomes Harry's enemy because of his natural assumption of pureblood supremacy, and by insulting Hermione's muggle parentage. This storyline is echoed later in the series, when it is revealed that in his parent's generation, his father James, a Gryffindor, had formed a near instant dislike of Severus Snape, a Slytherin. Harry becomes the youngest member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team for 100 years because of his natural flying abilities.

Unfortunately, Lord Voldemort has secretly returned to the wizarding world. Using Defence against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrell as a host body, he searches Hogwarts for the Philosopher's Stone, which he believes can give him immortality and restore his body. Voldemort is thwarted by Harry, with help from Ron and Hermione, and — unable to defeat Harry and seize the Stone — the Dark Lord abandons Quirrell, leaving him to die.

After completing his first year at Hogwarts, Harry returns to the Dursleys knowing for the first time that there are people who care about him, and he now has a place to call “home.”

[edit] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The diary of Tom Riddle becomes a focal point during Harry's harrowing second year.
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The diary of Tom Riddle becomes a focal point during Harry's harrowing second year.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry faces more challenges. Some are merely annoying (such as Gilderoy Lockhart's attempt to exploit his fame and Colin Creevey's hero worshipping), but more serious incidents include ostracism by most of the school after Harry is revealed to be a parselmouth (that he can talk to snakes) and suspicion that he is the Heir of Slytherin. The Heir is believed responsible for attacks on Muggle-borns throughout the school. Harry’s toughest challenge, however, is a deadly Basilisk that is released by a soul shard (see Horcrux) of Tom Riddle, a younger "memory" of Voldemort hidden within his old diary. Riddle releases the serpent from the chamber of secrets by controlling Ginny Weasley, after she starts to read the diary.

Harry proves his mettle in the book's climax by rescuing Ginny from the Chamber, killing the Basilisk with the sword of Godric Gryffindor, and defeating Riddle by stabbing the diary with one of the Basilisk's venonmous fangs, destroying both the diary and the Soul Fragment within.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry uses his remaining strength to summon a Patronus Charm in order to hold off an army of Dementors.
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Harry uses his remaining strength to summon a Patronus Charm in order to hold off an army of Dementors.

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry undergoes many changes — the constant danger and horrific events have taken a heavy emotional toll. Harry also enters puberty, as do Ron and Hermione, and all suffer mood-swings. When Harry and Ron start 'noticing' girls, Cho Chang, a pretty Ravenclaw student, particulalry catches Harry's attention and becomes his first crush.

Harry becomes the target of Sirius Black, a murderous wizard who has escaped from Azkaban (Britain's wizarding prison). Hunting Black are strange hooded creatures called Dementors, the guards of Azkaban. It was Black who divulged James and Lily Potter's secret whereabouts to Voldemort and murdered their friend, Peter Pettigrew. More disturbing — Sirius was James' best friend and Harry's godfather. Harry vows to find and kill Black, but eventually discovers that Sirius never betrayed his parents — Peter Pettigrew had faked his own death, implicating Black for both crimes after betraying the Potters himself.

Sirius offers Harry what he most wants: a home away from the Dursleys. Harry accepts, only to lose this opportunity when Pettigrew escapes. Sirius now has no proof of his innocence and is forced back into hiding from the authorities.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hogwarts hosts an inter-school competition called, the Triwizard Tournament. Two other wizarding schools, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang Institute are also participating. After one champion from each school is selected, Harry is mysteriously chosen as a fourth competitor, even though he is underage and never entered his name into the Goblet of Fire.

The triwizard champions face three dangerous challenges on their way to the Triwizard Cup. Although most students, including Ron Weasley, believe Harry cheated to enter, Hogwart's champion Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff befriends Harry after Harry passes on a tip about the first challenge. Harry also experiences romantic feelings for the first time and copes with complicated personal relationships. Even more daunting, a dismayed Harry learns he is required to attend the Yule Ball and must find a date.

At the start of the third challenge, Cedric and Harry are tied. Because they help each other, they agree to reach for the Cup simultaneously, unaware it is actually a portkey. It transports them to a graveyard where Lord Voldemort awaits.

Harry struggles to maintain hold of his wand during the Priori Incantatem
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Harry struggles to maintain hold of his wand during the Priori Incantatem

On Voldemort's order, his servant, Peter Pettigrew, kills Cedric using the Avada Kedavra curse. Harry is bound to a tombstone and forced to witness a ritual (which uses a drop of Harry's blood) that restores Lord Voldemort's shrunken body to a near-human form.

Voldemort summons his Death Eaters and berates them for not faithfully searching for him while he was in exile, before engaging Harry in a wizard's duel intended to kill him. But unbeknownst to Voldemort, his wand and Harry's are "brothers": each core contains a tail feather from Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes. Because brother wands work improperly against one another, their magic interacts and produces a Priori Incantatem effect, which replays spells performed by a wand. Harry forces the magic backwards into Voldemort's wand, causing the spirit "echoes" of its victims to spill out, including James and Lily Potter and Cedric Diggory. The combined spirits shield Harry from Voldemort and the Death Eaters long enough for him to escape through the portkey with Cedric's body.

Harry discovers that Voldemort's servant, Barty Crouch Jr., has been impersonating Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, "Mad-Eye" Moody, using polyjuice potion. It was Crouch who entered Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire and ensured he reached the Triwizard Cup. Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall obtain Barty's forced confession with a truth serum, Veritaserum. Unfortunately, Barty is executed by a Dementor on the orders of Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, before he can publicly repeat the confession. As a result, still no one believes that Voldemort has resumed his rise to power.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix begins with Harry at the Dursleys' for the summer. He is desperate for news of the wizarding world, knowing that Voldemort is now back (which the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe). He is attacked by dementors and has to use a Patronus Charm to save himself and his loathsome muggle cousin, Dudley, although underage wizards are forbidden to use magic outside school.

Harry is taken to Number 12, Grimmauld Place, a dilapidated house in London owned by his godfather Sirius Black that now serves as headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. He learns the Order is preparing for Voldemort's return, but is denied any additional information. Ron and Hermione tell Harry that Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has been organising a smear campaign against him and Dumbledore; The Daily Prophet has been publishing articles which portray Dumbledore and Harry as liars for 'claiming' Lord Voldemort has returned.

The ministry summon Harry to a hearing about his illegal use of magic, which may result in his expulsion from Hogwarts should things go badly. Despite the venue and time being changed without notice, Dumbledore manages to produce a witness Arabella Figg, who testifies that Harry used magic in self-defence and he is cleared of the charges. However, Fudge uses his authority to appoint Dolores Umbridge to the vacant Defence Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts, so that she can spy on the school. It later becomes clear that Umbridge had ordered the Dementor attack upon Harry.

Appointed Hogwarts High Inquisitor, Umbridge is empowered to arbitrarily change school rules, limiting what students and staff are allowed to do. She does not teach her classes any practical Defence Against the Dark Arts, instead only Ministry-approved theory, and tries to force Harry to renounce his claims about Voldemort with sadistic punishments, but he refuses to recant, steadfastly believing the wizarding world must know the truth. Urged by Hermione, Harry secretly starts an underground group (sarcastically called 'Dumbledore's Army, or the D.A., in mockery of the Ministry's paranoia) to teach students self-defence.

Throughout the year, Harry is haunted by disturbing visions, one of which leads to the rescue of Arthur Weasley after he is attacked by Voldemort's snake Nagini. While visiting Mr. Weasley at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Harry inadvertently learns his visions are glimpses into Voldemort's mind and fears he is being possessed by him, though Ginny, who had been possessed by in Chamber of Secrets assesses his case and evaluates that he is not being possessed, and that something different is happening between Harry's and Voldemort's minds.

When Voldemort becomes privy to the mental connection between him and Harry, he implants a false vision into Harry's mind that Sirius is being tortured at the Ministry of Magic. Harry and DA members Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood, fly to the Ministry offices in London on the school's Thestrals - winged, reptilian horses. There they are ambushed by Voldemort's Death Eaters, who are attempting to steal a glass sphere containing a prophecy involving Harry and Voldemort. Only those whom the prophecy concerns can touch the sphere, but Voldemort cannot risk exposure; instead he lures Harry there to retrieve it. The students battle the Death Eaters, with both sides suffering injuries. In an act of cruelty, Bellatrix Lestrange tortures Neville, just as she did his parents some years before. During the fight, the fragile sphere is smashed, destroying the prophecy. Just in time, Order members rush into the Department of Mysteries and fend off the Death Eaters. Tragically, Sirius is killed by a bolt from his cousin Bellatrix's wand; his floating body disappears into a mysterious veiled archway. Enraged, Harry chases Bellatrix into the lobby, vowing to kill her, unsuccessfully trying to use an unforgivable curse. Voldemort suddenly appears and attempts to fatally curse Harry, but Dumbledore arrives, and the two fiercely duel. Voldemort escapes with Bellatrix by Disapparating, but not before being seen by the Minister and Ministry employees.

The Ministry of Magic publicly acknowledges Voldemort has returned. Back at Hogwarts, Dumbledore tells Harry the prophecy is why Voldemort attempted to murder him when he was a baby, and recounts to Harry his own memory of the prophecy, for it was Dumbledore to whom Trelawney told the prophecy originally. Still stunned by Sirius' death, Harry cares little about the prophecy, and for now, is unaffected by his foretold destiny, that he must either kill Voldemort, or be killed by him.

[edit] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the wizarding population has come to call Harry "the Chosen One" — the Daily Prophet having leaked that there is a prophecy predicting Harry will kill Voldemort. Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the prophecy but refuses to help the newly elected Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, saying he is 'Dumbledores man'.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione observe Draco Malfoy acting suspiciously in Diagon Alley, Harry suspects he may have joined the Death Eaters. Ron and Hermione consider this absurd, however, and the subject strains Harry's relationship with them — particularly Hermione.

Back at Hogwarts, Harry is horrified to learn Snape is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The Potions position has been taken by Dumbledore's old colleague, Horace Slughorn. Slughorn lends Harry an old potions textbook once belonging to a student identified only as, "The Half-Blood Prince." The book's copious handwritten notes help Harry excel in Potions class and he wins a vial of Felix Feicis, bottled luck. Meanwhile, Harry finds a new love interest in Ron's sister, Ginny.

Dumbledore begins giving Harry private lessons which are actually trips into memories concerning Voldemort collected from various individuals and stored in a Pensieve. One memory, Professor Slughorn's, has been tamperered with and Dumbledore tasks Harry with persuading Slughorn to reveal the crucial missing portions. Harry uses a dose of Felix Felicis and gets the memory, as well as sorting out several minor problems in his life apparently just by 'luck'. The memories reveal not only Voldemort's personality, but also how to kill him, as it seems he has divided his soul into seven parts, hiding six pieces in objects called Horcruxes. The seventh piece remains within him. Even if Voldemort's body is destroyed, he cannot be killed while parts of his soul remain earthbound. The memories suggest what magical objects may guard Voldemort's sectioned soul.

At Christmas, Harry overhears an argument between Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy in which Snape admits to having made an Unbreakable Vow to help Draco complete a task for their "master." Hermione still refuses to believe Draco is a Death Eater, and Professor Dumbledore says he is unperturbed by the conversation; both reactions frustrate Harry.

Dumbledore asks Harry to come with him to retrieve a Horcrux hidden in a cave. Just as they leave, Harry meets Trelawney, who tells him more about the prophecy, so that he realises Snape was originally responsible for telling part of it to Voldemort, before Harry was born. She also tells him about strange happenings inside the room of requirements, which leads Harry to think that Draco has finished preparations for some plan against Dumbledore. Dumbledore is unconcerned and their mission continues, but Dumbledore is seriously injured.

Dumbledore and Harry return to the school to find it invaded by deatheaters. Harry, wearing his invisibility cloak, is immobilised by Dumbledore when they are confronted on top of the astronomy tower by Draco. Just as Dumbledore talks Draco out of going through with the plan, they are joined by more death eaters who confront Dumbledore. Snape joins them and orders the death eaters to stand aside, but then uses an Avada Kedavra to kill Dumbledore, sending his body flying over the edge of the tower. Harry is unable to move and forced to watch in silent horror.

Harry chases Snape, who identifies himself as the Half-Blood Prince. He deflects every curse Harry hurls at him, but does not harm Harry, and prevents other death eaters from doing so. Harry recovers the locket from Dumbledore's body. A note inside reveals it is a fake; the real horcrux has already been stolen by one R.A.B.. An embittered Harry realises that Dumbledore's death had been for nothing.

After Dumbledore's funeral, Harry decides to leave Hogwarts, swearing to destroy Voldemort's four remaining Horcruxes. Two have already been destroyed — one (Riddle's diary) by Harry and another (a ring) by Dumbledore — and the mysterious R.A.B. may have destroyed a third (the locket). Harry also desires revenge, now hating Snape as much as he does Voldemort. To protect Ginny from Voldemort, he ends their relationship, but Ron and Hermione determine to accompany Harry on his search for the Horcruxes.

The reaffirmation of Ron and Hermione's loyalty to Harry follows a year when the trio's deep bonds were strongly tested. This gesture, along with Harry’s approaching 17th birthday (the age of adulthood in the wizarding world), and the possible closure of Hogwarts symbolises the end of any remaining childhood innocence in the characters. They are nearly adults and ready to face Voldemort together.

[edit] Harry Potter: Year Seven

Information regarding what is known about the unpublished last book of the series can be found in the article Harry Potter book seven.

[edit] Character and relationships

Harry Potter's appearance in Goblet of Fire
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Harry Potter's appearance in Goblet of Fire

Being raised in the Dursleys household with little love for him or any sort of magic, Harry’s primary desire is to be among those who care for him, and for loved ones to be safe from harm. He gradually realises this is impossible while Voldemort is alive. Curious about the magic world, he often takes on adventures that put himself at risk; but he usually tries to convince his friends not to endanger themselves by accompanying him. Nevertheless, his most loyal friends refuse to let him face any challenge alone.

Harry is easily angered when those he cares for are insulted or threatened. He has little tolerance for anyone he perceives to be on "the other side" — whether these be Death Eaters, people disbelieving his testimony to Dumbledore at the end of GOF, or some Slytherins. Like his friend Ron, Harry is not always a diligent student, often relying on Hermione for help. Harry has also developed a cutting, sardonic sense of humor, with a tendency to turn other's insults against them.

Some of Harry's faults can be attributed to the many calamities in his life. Harry personally witnessed three murders and was forced to relive his earliest terrifying memory - the murder of his parents as they faced Voldemort. He was present when fellow student Cedric Diggory was killed by Peter Pettigrew, saw his godfather Sirius Black sent to his death by a Death Eater at the Ministry of Magic, and witnessed his greatest protector and mentor, Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore die at the hands of Severus Snape. Thus far, Harry has confronted Voldemort five times, counting Voldemort's initial attempt on his life as an infant and was tortured by him with the Cruciatus Curse.

For most of his early life, Harry has contended with his cruel and insensitive guardians, the Dursleys, who take every opportunity to denigrate Harry, his parents, and the magical world. In his second year he came under suspicion by the whole school for releasing the basilisk upon the students. In his fourth year he was accused of cheating to enter the triwizard tournament. In his fifth year, he endures most of the wizarding world turning against him, believing him to be an attention-seeking liar and fraud; he thus becomes isolated in school and is taunted by students.

Harry also copes with the usual teenage difficulties in relationships. For example, even though he easily forms close friendships with Hermione and Ron, he has great difficulty asking out Cho Chang, a pretty Ravenclaw. Sometimes Harry gets impatient and even angry with Ron and Hermione, especially when they argue with each other. However, friendship strengthens over the years, with Rowling saying that Harry has effectively adopted Ron and Hermione as a surrogate family[2]. During their sixth year, when Ron and Hermione have a serious argument, Harry is determined to remain friends with both, which (despite him still seeing Ron as his best friend) indicates that Ron and Hermione are now more equal in his life; in a similar situation in their third year, Harry chose to remain friends with Ron at the expense of his friendship with Hermione.

Harry develops many close relationships with adults, particularly with Rubeus Hagrid and Albus Dumbledore. The Weasley family become a surrogate family who allow Harry to periodically stay with them. Mrs. Weasley in particular becomes something of a mother figure; she thinks of him as a son, and to some extent treats him even more kindly than she does her own children. Similarly, the Weasley boys generally treat Harry as another brother, and Mr Weasley shows a paternal fondness for Harry. When Harry learns of the close relationship between Sirius Black and his parents, Harry looks to him as yet another father figure. Harry also strongly favours former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin, one of the Marauders, and another of his father's close friends.

Harry is loyal to his friends and expects loyalty in return, although this trait often prevents Harry from being objective. He tends to follow his instincts, feeling strongly about whom he can and cannot (or will not) trust. For example, from their first meeting, Harry is reluctant to show any trust for Severus Snape, the Potions Master, despite Dumbledore's open and firm confidence in him.

[edit] Romantic relationships

Harry's platonic relationship with his closest female friend, Hermione Granger, is occasionally misinterpreted by some characters. Viktor Krum, who is romantically interested in Hermione, grows jealous in Goblet of Fire because she often talks about Harry; Rita Skeeter, an unethical tabloid journalist, uses the nonexistent "love triangle" between Harry, Hermione and Viktor as juicy story material for the Witch Weekly. When Cho Chang becomes Harry's actual girlfriend (of a kind) in Order of the Phoenix, she also misunderstands their friendship, failing to recognise that Skeeter's articles were pure fabrication. Harry and Hermione have only ever been platonic friends, and no romantic feelings exist. In an interview given to fansites The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet, Rowling revealed that Harry sees Ron and Hermione as his adopted siblings, like a brother and sister. In another interview Rowling also stated quite clearly "We now know that it's Ron and Hermione."

Harry's relationship with Cho has roots as early as Prisoner of Azkaban, where he notices how pretty she is and becomes nervous in her presence. A year later, his interest becomes a crush, and he gathers courage to ask her to the Yule Ball, only to learn she is going with Cedric Diggory. Cho and Cedric are tragically torn apart by his death at the end of Goblet of Fire. The following year, Harry becomes the new focus of Cho's attention - still struggling with Cedric's death she turns to him for support. He manages an on-and-off relationship with her throughout the year, even getting his first kiss with her, but ultimately, the relationship cannot endure. The disparate teens are not looking for or experiencing the same things; a still grieving Cho sees Harry as a substitute for Cedric, unable to accept that he is gone. Harry expects a simpler relationship that would relieve his stress rather than amplify it.

Cho's misplaced jealousy of Hermione (who was actually advising Harry and was concerned he was insensitive with Cho) also adds to this dissonance and reaches a breaking point when Cho defends Marietta Edgecombe who betrayed Dumbledore's Army, an action Harry finds unforgivable. After a heated argument over Marietta, Cho's eyes sparkle with tears. When Harry warns he won't tolerate her crying anymore, an insulted Cho stomps off angrily, after which they drift apart. By the end of Order of the Phoenix, Harry has no emotions left for Cho, and she now belongs in his "other universe" that he left behind with Sirius' death. Comments Rowling, "They were never going to be happy, it was better that it ended early!" [3]

Harry's failed relationship with Cho is a contrast to his eventual one with Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, who Rowling says is Harry's "ideal girl" and "total equal". Ginny's (painfully obvious) unrequited crush on Harry, introduced in Chamber of Secrets and continuing into Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, apparently fades in Order of the Phoenix with Hermione off-handedly informing Harry that Ginny "gave up" on him. She indeed appears to have done just that; her shyness around Harry disappears, and he finally interacts with the girl that, according to Ron, "never shuts up normally". Harry was generally kind with Ginny and her crush on him, but he simply didn't reciprocate her feelings. During his fifth year, Ginny often put the moody and temperamental Harry in his place and is perhaps the most successful dealing with his dark moods. When a disillusioned Harry realises his father was indeed as arrogant as Snape always said, he turns to Ginny to talk about it, trusting she will be non-judgmental. Both having been "tainted" by close encounters with Voldemort and struggling to overcome it is a binding thread between them, as is their similar sense of humour.

In Half-Blood Prince, it is Harry who develops unrequited feelings for an apparently uninterested Ginny, which he struggles with throughout the year, including jealousy of her boyfriend, Dean Thomas (although he never openly shows it). Ron vocally disapproves of Ginny's relationship with Dean, which Harry interprets as him objecting to her having any boyfriend, leaving him worried he will have to choose between a relationship with Ginny and his friendship with Ron. Harry's pessimism is unfounded, however: Ginny and Dean break up (provoked by a passing brush with Harry after he has taken some Felix Felicis, liquid luck), and when Harry is swept up in the high of Gryffindor's Quidditch Cup victory, he spontaneously kisses her in front of the entire Common Room. Ron, who has mixed feelings about a romantic relationship between his best friend and his sister, ultimately expresses his approval. Harry's relationship with Ginny over the next few weeks is described as making him "happier than he could remember being for a very long time".

By the end of Half-Blood Prince, however, Harry ends the relationship to ensure Ginny's safety, fearing Voldemort will target her. Although Ginny accepts this, she confesses that she never truly gave up on him. Harry is pleased that she overcame her crush and learned to be herself around him. This allowed Harry to get to know the real Ginny Weasley and see her for what Rowling has described as Harry's "ideal woman."

[edit] Strengths

Generally, in spite of his late start, he has become an exceptionally powerful wizard for his age: with combat skills unrivalled by any in his age group, due largely to Voldemort "marking him as his equal", and the ability to love, as mentioned above.

[edit] Interpersonal

Perhaps one of Harry's greatest strengths (and likely the one that will help him survive Voldemort) is his ability to love others despite the continuous suffering and grief in his life. This is most clearly seen in his substantial leadership skills and potential, sufficient to teach his teenage classmates to hold their own and survive against a cadre of Death Eaters (when he teaches Dumbledore's Army, and later during the Battle of the Ministry), which was a likely reason for his promotion to captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. His ability to inspire loyalty means that he has always been surrounded by friends whose skills complement his own, and who are willing to defend him to the point of death. (Compare this with Voldemort's circle of Death Eaters, who serve him out of fear.)

[edit] Character traits

At various times through the series, Harry has shown the ability to remain level-headed, retain his composure, and perform advanced feats of wizardry during moments of extreme crisis. Is clever-minded and quick-witted; very strong intuition; can make great 'mental' leaps while under enormous stress; generally has a sense of humor and a positive outlook on life despite the burdens placed on him. He has been shown to be fiercely determined and self-reliant, almost to a fault, although beginning with the fourth book this has been viewed by some people as a tendency to "play the hero".[HP4]

[edit] Academic and athletic

Generally, he receives admirable marks in most classes (especially Defence Against the Dark Arts) from fair and/or competent teachers (Professor Lupin was technically fair in marking Harry's grade and tests). In the OWL's, without the pressure of dealing with classroom teachers, Harry peformed well, as evidenced by his results. He can also use certain spells successfully after watching others perform them just once. For example, in Book Two he successfully performs the Expelliarmus spell without any practice, having watched Snape perform it several months earlier, and in Book 6 he successfully performs the 'Episkey' healing spell on his first try after having Tonks perform it on him some time ago, and masters several of the Half-Blood Prince's spells without any lessons at all. Also, in the second movie he masters the 'Aranya Exumai' spell on his first try afterwatching Tom Riddle perform it in a memory (although this is not at all canonical). Harry was even able to perform the Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix, even though it only had a fraction of its actual power.

Athletically, despite having never ridden a broomstick before attending Hogwarts, Harry has made use of talent inherited from his father James and rigorous training imposed first by Oliver Wood and then Angelina Johnson as team captains to become a successful Quidditch player, as noted many times throughout the series by various people. Harry is Gryffindor's Seeker for every year that he has been at Hogwarts thus far, and is made the Quidditch captain in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Superlative reflexes, born of his Quidditch training, allow him to dodge curses.

Although Harry is commended for his Quidditch abilities, he has only participated in one House Cup final. In his first year, he is injured, and Gryffindor actually loses the Cup. In his second year, the Cup is cancelled because of the Basilisk attacks on the school. The next year, in Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry plays and wins the first Quidditch House Cup for Gryffindor. In his fourth year, there is no Quidditch throughout the year due to the Triwizard Tournament. The following year, Harry is banned from Quidditch by Dolores Umbridge long before the end of the season. In his sixth year, Harry is held in detention by Snape on the day of the match.

[edit] Magical

Harry has a number of unusual talents as a wizard.

  • The lightning-bolt scar on his forehead is a remnant of Voldemort's murder attempt when he was an infant. The scar serves him later at Hogwarts, burning painfully as an indicator of Voldemort's presence, or whenever the Dark Lord is feeling particularly murderous or exultant. According to Rowling, by attacking Harry, Voldemort gave him, "tools (that) no other wizard possessed – the scar and the ability it conferred, a magical window into Voldemort's mind." [4]
  • Harry is a Parselmouth: Harry is able to communicate with snakes, an art both associated with Dark wizards and inherited by descendants of Salazar Slytherin. Albus Dumbledore noted that the gift is merely a useful tool rather than an 'evil' power. Again, he gained this ability from Voldemort himself who, according to Dumbledore, unwillingly transferred some of his powers to Harry when he tried to kill him.
  • One of a small percentage of the magical population capable of successfully (and repeatedly) casting a corporeal Patronus Charm to banish Dementors from his presence. Harry learned this at an earlier age than any other wizard or witch. Harry's corporeal Patronus takes the form of a stag (his father's Animagus form). Many others see this as impressive, and it earns him a bonus point in his OWL test for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
  • Due to great practice in dueling, Harry has developed wizard dueling skills probably unmatched by any student in the school.
  • Harry is an excellent broomsman. This is another parallel drawn between Harry and his father James, who was also an exceptional Quidditch player. Harry can outfly anyone in the school, even impressing professional Quidditch players Victor Krum and Ludo Bagman.

[edit] Weaknesses

[edit] Character flaws

Harry generally has trouble dealing with emotions and can be subject to near-extreme mood swings. He has trouble opening himself up to others, attempts to solve everything by himself and veers between self-doubt and over-confidence; has moments of low self-esteem due to poor treatment by the Dursleys, but these are very few and do not last long. He can undervalue his friends - usually prefers to "do it alone" in dangerous situations; has a heroic nature that causes him to rush into situations without first assessing the dangers and makes him predictable to his enemies, and can be very sensitive about being disbelieved in difficult-to-believe situations. He has a tendency to make leaps of judgment, which played to his disadvantage in the sixth book when he was convinced, and subsequently tried to convince others, that Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater.

At the other end of the spectrum, Harry can be easily angered when derogatory comments are directed to his parents or friends. In his anger and his shame, he can sometimes do impressive damage to an enemy without consciously meaning to do so. He often refuses to accept advice or criticism either from someone whom he has decided he doesn't like (such as Severus Snape), or those with whom he disagrees (his friends and Professor Dumbledore in book 6). As he gets older (and experiences more terrible events), his anger and hatred grow colder and harder, and he increasingly gives way to dark feelings. More than once he has attempted to torture a Death Eater with the Cruciatus Curse; in any case, his combat skills are unrivaled among his peers. Harry has clearly been scarred by the horrific events in his life which manifests itself in his anger. This may be partially due to typical teenage hormones, in addition to Voldemort's projecting thoughts/feelings from his own mind into Harry's as Dumbledore revealed (in Half-Blood Prince) that Voldemort had stopped doing this before the book's events began, making Harry less ill-tempered in the sixth book than he is in book five.

[edit] Other weaknesses

While Harry (initially) lacks intellectual curiosity, rarely taking the initiative to learn new spells and powers that he is capable of performing unless he needs to, he shows curiosity in almost everything else. More than one time has Harry caused himself trouble for wandering the school corridors after lights out.

Harry is extremely visually impaired; he perpetually wears glasses, which cost him an important faculty in his development.

He is a mediocre student (for his potential); until his OWLS., he gets barely higher than average standardised test scores, though he does get high marks in Defence Against the Dark Arts.

[edit] Magical

There are a number of magical skills that Harry has yet to master:

  • Difficulty with consciously performing non-verbal magic. However, this may have been due to a mental block and a hatred for his unfair and cruel teacher (Snape). Yet he is able to perform a small amount of non-verbal magic when he practices on his own, especially Levicorpus.
  • Similarly, difficulty with wandless magic. However, after he drops his wand at one point, he achieves a successful wandless Lumos.
  • Snape attempted to teach Harry Occlumency through the use of Legilimency. Although Harry learned some of the basics of the two arts, he had an overall poor success rate. Rowling says that this is because Harry has been "too damaged" in some ways, and his emotions are always too close to the surface to be suppressed.
  • Harry cannot non-verbally block or parry strong spells (although he is masterful in using the Shield Charm, Protego, aloud). Several of Harry's enemies, including Snape and Voldemort, are able to. Snape suggests that blocking is connected to Occlumency and non-verbal magic (see above); this might, however, be construed as Snape using Legilimency to anticipate what spells Harry intends to use.
  • Harry has shown no aptitude for developing new original magic of his own. In contrast Voldemort, Snape, James Potter, and Fred and George Weasley had all developed new charms, potions, etc. at his age. Given Harry's lack of exposure to the Magical world and the Dursleys' attempts to suppress his magical heritage when in their home, this isn't entirely his fault. It also does not mean he is incapable of it; he simply has not done so yet.
  • While Dumbledore uses his sensitivity to magic to explore a magical cave, Harry appears to be insensitive to the presence of magic, although it is suggested that he might have perceived a small amount of it within the cave.
  • Harry shows weakness in some classes, including Potions, History of Magic, and Divination, which results in poor knowledge and lack of ability in these branches of magic. However, the corresponding instructors are half-responsible for this. In Potions class (and elsewhere), Professor Snape constantly antagonises and insults Harry. In History of Magic, Professor Binns is so boring that only Hermione can withstand his droning teaching manner, and even she lapses occasionally. In Divination class, Professor Trelawney is constantly predicting his doom, which only adds to Harry's discomfort and disgust in the class.

[edit] Notable possessions

Spoilers end here.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Harry's eyes are described as green in the novels, although actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays him in the film adaptations, has blue eyes. The contacts he had been given to wear irritated his eyes and were not comfortable to wear.
  2. ^ Book Magazine Harry Potter among best characters in fiction since 1900, npr.com

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Angelina Johnson		 Gryffindor Quidditch Captain
August, 1996 -		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Charlie Weasley		 Gryffindor Seeker
September, 1991 - November, 1995		 Succeeded by
Ginny Weasley
Preceded by
Ginny Weasley		 Gryffindor Seeker
June, 1996 - June, 1997 [citation needed]		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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